The glow of the monitor painted the dark room in cool blue light. Fingers flew over keys with practiced precision. In the digital world, he was ＥＭＰＥＲＯＲㅤIV, a name that struck respect and fear across every server. Yet tonight, like any other night, he played quietly, focused, and alone.
A new notification popped up: "New player joined your squad."
He raised an eyebrow. Not many dared join his team—most heard the name ＥＭＰＥＲＯＲㅤIV and either fled or bowed from afar.
Elina Grace.
Her avatar blinked into existence, sleek, precise, and oddly confident. From the very first mission, it was clear—she wasn't just another player. Her movements were flawless, her strategy sharp.
"Nice move," he typed quickly, watching her dodge a trap he barely noticed.
"Thanks," she replied almost immediately, her tone confident but friendly. "You're not bad yourself."
A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He liked that. Most players either flattered him blindly or ignored him. She… didn't.
Mission after mission, they began to sync effortlessly. Where he went, she followed—not blindly, but with understanding. Where she acted, he adapted.
Hours passed unnoticed. They laughed over small mistakes, teased over strategy disagreements, and slowly, the chat became more than instructions—it became conversation.
"You always play this aggressively?" she typed, a playful jab.
"Only when it matters," he replied, grinning. "You're the only one who keeps up."
Her laughter emoji popped up, simple, yet it carried warmth.
It was late when the game ended, but neither of them logged off immediately. The digital world had introduced them, but it was their words—small, real, and genuine—that began to build something unspoken.
Before they finally signed off, she typed one last message:
"See you tomorrow, ＥＭＰＥＲＯＲㅤIV?"
He stared at the screen. Her name, Elina Grace, lingered in his mind long after the chat closed.
Tomorrow wasn't just another game. Tomorrow… felt like the beginning