Republic of Minova, Federation Headquarters

  The heavy metallic table rattled under the General's palms. His scarred face and jet-black hair framed eyes sharp enough to cut steel.

  "Comrades, we've been humiliated long enough by that terrorist scum. A year ago they stole our improved airship model, then our finest Chimera subject before nearly destroying all the rest! It is time to retaliate."

  Around the oval table, eight officers stared down in heavy silence.

  A young officer in black uniform finally spoke, voice subdued. "We understand, General, but their location is hidden, and their forces—"

  "It's been a year already!" The General's words cracked through the room like a whip.

  No one dared to breathe, let alone reply.

  His gaze shifted to the doorway. "Researcher. The other subjects,

  have they awoken?"

  A man with wire-frame glasses stepped forward, scrolling through his tablet. "Yes, sir. All forty-nine remaining Chimeras awakened without incident." He hesitated, frowning. "But... there's something strange."

  "Spit it out," the General barked.

  "They speak using... game terminology. They act as if this world weren’t real. Some have even panicked, claiming they can't 'log out' and still have families back home."

  The General's lip curled. "Were their brains damaged during the process?"

  "No, sir. Psychological scans show no error within the person."

  "…Do they not even remember their life before before being chosen as chimera subjects?"

  The researcher slowly shook his head, awaiting a reprimand; but nothing came.

  A long exhale sounded in the silent room. The General's tone shifted, cooler now. "Send them to Prosova. Colonel Basor will shape them into soldiers. Meeting adjourned."

  Chairs scraped back in unison. "Yes, sir." The officers filed out, followed by the uneasy researcher.

  The General, left alone, sat back in his chair and rested his chin over his hands, worrying about unforeseeable predicaments.

  ***

  Prosova, Federation Training Camp

  The yard buzzed with chatter. Just under fifty young men and women, all strikingly handsome in simple black uniforms, clustered in small knots.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Were you trapped here by that game too?"

  "Yeah. Thought it'd be a fun experience... now look at me."

  "I still think it's insane this exists. It feels way too realistic."

  "Yes, and there even is a system! By the way, what is your status?"

  ...

  Opinions clashed—some excited and amazed, some bitter and concerned, others quietly calculating their next move.

  "I heard there were supposed to be fifty of us," one girl murmured.

  "Yes! Apparently one got snatched by some sort of evil group," another replied.

  A boy scoffed. "Brilliant deduction—you noticed forty-nine was odd."

  Before the banter could escalate, a booming voice cut through the air.

  "Attention!"

  An older man with a frame like a granite statue stood on a pedestal, eyes sweeping over them like searchlights.

  "I am Colonel Basor Verdra. My job is to make you the Federation's strongest soldiers. Weakness will get you killed, by the enemy, or by your own incompetence."

  The crowd stilled.

  "You will obey every order. A grading system will determine your privileges—top ranks live well, bottom ranks live on scraps. Train hard, or fail hard. That is all. Dismissed."

  He stepped down, disappearing into the barracks. Soldiers moved in, handing each recruit a paper with a dormitory number.

  ***

  While the others drifted toward their rooms, one man slipped the other way.

  Louis, ex-military and sharper than most despite years spent hiding in video games, hid his ashen hair under a stolen cap, his eyes scanning corridors for blind spots between patrols. He moved with the easy confidence of someone who belonged.

  He'd read the "game" briefing carefully back on Earth. Chimeras didn't exist publicly, and his own gene profile contained monsters absent from the catalog. And he didn’t believe that the system could lie to him about this sort of information. That meant someone here was playing a deeper game.

  And he wanted answers.

  He slipped into the locker room, the air thick with sweat and detergent. Metal clanged as he opened a locker, pulling out a low-grade soldier's uniform. The cap shadowed his face perfectly.

  Footsteps echoed from a nearby corridor, gradually approaching.

  Louis ducked behind an open locker door, heartbeat steady. A soldier entered, muttering, yanked his own boots from the shelf, and left without noticing him.

  Louis exhaled, slid the stolen recruit uniform on, and hid his original clothes in the small pocket dimension only he could access.

  Fairy genes had their perks being creatures that use spatial magic daily. The disguise was convincing—except for his lack of official identity. That meant talking to soldiers was risky.

  He then continued his investigation of the place.

  After a moment, footsteps approached from behind.

  "Recruit. What are you doing here?"

  Louis turned. A man in formal uniform stood with hands behind his back—Louis quickly glanced at the man's chest, Captain, the symbol on his badge read.

  Louis saluted crisply. "Sir! I don't know the place much and got lost, sir. Looking for the bathroom."

  The Captain's eyes narrowed, then pointed. "Wrong way. Go down the corridor, second door to the right. Need help finding your quarters too?"

  "No, sir."

  A pause. "...Very well. You're dismissed."

  As the man walked past, Louis kept his pace steady until he reached the bathroom. Inside, he exhaled slowly. 'Too close... He thought, I should be more careful. Let's go back for now and continue my exploration of the place tomorrow.' He swapped back into the 'players' uniform, checked his dorm number, and headed out.

  ***

  Dormitory 8

  "Man, this game's amazing," one recruit said, sprawled across his bunk. "We have powers and are treated as super VIPs even in a military camp... why go back?"

  "Yeah," another laughed, "only idiots would return to a boring life on Earth."

  A third scoffed. "Easy for you to say—you were broke. I had money. Real money."

  "Your parents' money," came the dry reply.

  "You wanna say that again?" The bunk creaked as fists clenched.

  A fourth voice, half-asleep, cut in. "Shut it. We're all stuck here. Act like it."

  Silence fell... until someone asked, "Shouldn't there be five of us?"

  "Maybe it's a girl?" one grinned.

  "Nope. Genders are separated. He's probably lost. The soldiers will probably bring him soon."

  The door creaked open as if confirming his saying. Louis stepped inside, reading the room instantly.

  "I got lost on my way here. I'm Louis. Nice to meet you all."

  And with those words, he went to the last available bed and laid down comfortably whilst his roommates silently stared.

  ___ ___ ___