Chapter 2: First Encounter

Ava's heart raced as she made her way toward the Plaza of Bonds. Her mind was spinning, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The warning from the mysterious figure still echoed in her ears, but she refused to let fear control her. This was just a game. It had to be.

But the timer on her wrist told a different story.

Time Remaining: 29 days, 23 hours.

The plaza came into view, a vast circular space in the heart of the city, lined with marble columns and shimmering fountains. In the center stood a large statue of two figures holding hands, surrounded by glowing runes that pulsed softly in the evening light. Ava approached cautiously, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of what—or who—she was supposed to meet.

The moment she stepped into the center of the plaza, a notification flashed before her eyes.

First Match Detected.

Player: Luke

Class: Warrior

Role: Soulmate Candidate

Level: 15

Ava's stomach twisted. Soulmate candidate?

Before she could process the information, a figure appeared at the edge of the plaza, walking toward her with confident strides. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his presence seemed to command attention. Dressed in leather armor, with a sword strapped to his back, he looked every bit the part of a battle-hardened warrior.

Luke. Her first match.

Ava swallowed hard, trying to calm her nerves. If this game was going to pair her with someone, she'd better start making allies. She straightened her posture and gave him a polite nod as he approached.

"So, you're my match," she said, forcing a casual tone.

Luke stopped a few feet away, his piercing blue eyes studying her intently. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable. "Looks like it."

His voice was deep, but there was no warmth in it. Ava shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. He didn't seem particularly happy about the situation, and it wasn't exactly the warm welcome she'd expected.

"Well," she said, trying to break the tension, "I'm Ava."

Luke didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced down at the timer on her wrist, then at his own. The same heart-shaped symbol hovered above his head, accompanied by the same ticking countdown.

"Let me guess," he finally said, his tone dry. "You just started the game, right? First time playing?"

Ava nodded, unsure where this was going. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

Luke sighed, shaking his head. "Because you're not taking this seriously."

Ava blinked, surprised by his bluntness. "Excuse me?"

"This isn't just a game," Luke said, his voice low and serious. "I don't know what you think this is, but if you don't start treating it like life or death, you're going to regret it."

Ava felt a chill run down her spine. He sounded exactly like the mysterious figure from earlier. "What do you mean? This is a game, right? It's not real."

Luke's expression hardened. "That's what I thought when I first got here. But it's been days, maybe weeks—I've lost count. I can't log out, I can't contact anyone outside the game, and the people I've met who lose… they don't come back."

Ava's mouth went dry. "What happens to them?"

"They're just… gone. Their avatars disappear, their names vanish from the player list. I haven't seen anyone who's lost a challenge come back."

Ava's mind reeled. This couldn't be happening. It had to be part of the game's immersive experience, right? But the fear in Luke's eyes was too real to ignore.

"So you're saying…" Ava began, her voice shaky, "if we don't win, we're stuck here?"

Luke nodded grimly. "Exactly. And the challenges only get harder."

Ava's heart pounded in her chest. She glanced around the plaza, the once beautiful scenery now feeling oppressive, like a cage she couldn't escape from. "What's the point of the game, then? Just… find your soulmate and win?"

Luke's jaw tightened. "It's not that simple. The game tests everything—trust, loyalty, strength. The system throws challenges at you, designed to push you and your match to the edge. And if you fail, both of you suffer."

Ava stared at him, trying to wrap her mind around what he was saying. This was supposed to be a dating sim, a fun distraction from her stressful life. How had it turned into a life-or-death situation?

Before she could respond, her wrist vibrated again.

First Challenge Initiated: Bond Trial

Objective: Complete a task with your match to prove your compatibility.

Reward: +200 Bond Points

Penalty for Failure: -10% Health Reduction

Ava's heart skipped a beat. A health reduction? Was that even possible in a dating sim?

Luke glanced at the notification and grimaced. "Looks like we're up."

"What kind of task?" Ava asked, her voice rising in panic.Before Luke could answer, the ground beneath them began to shift. The marble plaza cracked and split, revealing a staircase that spiraled downward into the earth. A cold draft wafted up from the opening, sending shivers down Ava's spine.

"This is insane," she muttered.

Luke drew his sword, his face grim. "Welcome to the real game, Ava. Stay close to me, and maybe we'll get through this."

Ava stared at the dark staircase, dread pooling in her stomach. This wasn't the game she'd signed up for. But if Luke was right—if this was more than just a game—then she didn't have much of a choice.She took a deep breath and stepped forward, following Luke into the darkness.