Adrian woke up to the sound of rain lightly tapping against the window, his apartment dimly lit by the gray morning. The hum of his PC filled the silence, familiar, comforting. He lay there a while, staring at the ceiling. It still felt surreal. A whole month rewound. He didn't know why or how, only that he had one more shot.
And this time, he wouldn't waste it on streaming schedules or audience reactions. He was going to dive deep into the game on his own terms.
His eyes wandered to the corner of the room. Dusty gear sat untouched. The same mic he used to review the beta. The same notes he'd scribbled about game mechanics, early builds, broken weapons, NPC routes—everything that had mattered during the first run. He'd used it all for content. Now, it was like reading a cheat sheet before the test.
He swung his legs over the bed and stretched, joints cracking slightly. No cameras. No overlays. Just him, a hoodie, and a quiet, heavy resolve.
The day passed in low effort. He made instant ramen, cleaned out his inbox, and quietly organized folders full of secret screenshots and early-game maps. The release was in seven days. He had time to prepare smarter.
But by late afternoon, as he was zoning out watching the rain again, the calm was interrupted by a loud knock and the unmistakable beep of the hallway's keycode being punched in. He didn't even need to ask.
Sarah.
The door opened with a casual swing. "Yo, Adrian!" she called out before even seeing him. "Are you alive or did you finally code yourself into a coma?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow, still sitting at his desk. "I'm alive. Barely."
Sarah strutted in wearing a cropped anime hoodie and ripped jeans, tossing her umbrella by the door. "You didn't answer your messages. Thought I'd do a wellness check."
"You could've just texted once."
"I did. Like, four times." She plopped down on his couch, legs curled under her. "You ghosting your fans now?"
He shrugged. "I'm not streaming anymore."
Her expression froze. "Wait, what?"
Adrian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I'm done with it. I want to actually play the game this time. Not for content. Just… play."
Sarah blinked. "Wow. That's kinda huge. You're serious?"
He nodded.
There was a pause. Then her eyes sparkled. "So does that mean I can join you day one?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You have the nerve to ask that after you flamed my dagger build in your story?"
"Hey, I only said it was trash with love," she shot back, grinning. "But seriously—I got in on that promo bundle thing, remember? I'm gonna be rolling a Wraithblade. Fast, stabby, sexy."
He smirked. "That fits. Also sounds like bait for early deaths."
"I'll survive," she said, puffing her chest like a proud anime protagonist. "So, I'm in, right? Party up?"
Adrian hesitated.
He wanted to play solo. That was the plan.
But if he was being honest… it was more fun with people who gave a damn. Sarah might've memed his reviews, but she watched them. She actually paid attention. And knowing what was coming, he could guide her through the rough early zones.
"…Yeah," he said eventually. "You're in. But no screwing around. This time I'm not carrying anyone."
Sarah pumped her fist. "Yes! Finally! You won't regret this."
Before he could say anything else, another voice chimed in from the hallway.
"Did I just hear you two talking about that demon dungeon game again?"
Alice stood in the doorway, earbuds dangling around her neck. Her platinum blonde hair was lazily tied in a side ponytail, and she wore a tank top with pajama shorts like she hadn't planned to go anywhere. Ever.
Sarah grinned. "Come on, Alice. Join us."
Alice rolled her eyes. "I don't do games. That's your thing."
Adrian turned slightly in his chair. "You've got the reflexes. I've seen you demolish rhythm games at the arcade."
"Rhythm games are different," she replied with a yawn. "They don't require… thinking."
"You don't have to think much," Sarah said, smirking. "Just follow my lead and die a few times. It'll be fine."
Alice raised an eyebrow. "So tempting."
Adrian leaned forward, his voice calm. "You'd be good at it, Alice. The early game needs people who can stay cool under pressure. And you're the chillest person I know."
She eyed him, like she was trying to read something in his expression. "You really want me to play?"
He didn't answer right away.
He didn't want to say: Because I know what's coming. Because if I can keep you both close when the world shifts, I might be able to protect you from what I couldn't stop the first time.
Instead, he just said, "Yeah. I do."
Alice stared for a moment. Then she shrugged. "Fine. But I'm not waking up early. And if I die to some weird tree monster, I'm logging out."
Sarah squealed, "Yes! Full squad vibes!"
The next few days passed in a blur of preparation, with Adrian taking on the unofficial role of Alice's personal RPG tutor. She was less than thrilled at first, but something about the way he broke down the game mechanics clicked for her.
It wasn't long before Alice began to understand the basics, albeit in her usual laid-back way. Unlike Sarah, who dove into every detail with the intensity of a competitive player, Alice took her time, savoring the process like she was learning a new dance move.
Adrian kept it simple. He focused on the key things that made the game's world tick—how leveling worked through skill practice instead of just grinding, how stat allocation wasn't as simple as just pumping up one number, and how class choices affected the types of abilities you could unlock. It wasn't rocket science, but it required patience.
"Alright, so you've got your Wraithblade class," Adrian explained, sitting cross-legged on the couch with his laptop open, showing Alice a guide on basic combat mechanics. "You'll need to focus on Agility and Intelligence to unlock the best moves for it. No point in dumping points into Strength unless you're looking to tank."
Alice glanced at the screen, fidgeting with her phone as she scrolled through music apps. "Right, right. So, basically, I want to hit stuff fast and hard... without looking like a noob."
"Exactly," Adrian said with a smile, glad that she was at least paying attention. "And you'll need to learn how to combo your skills. No button mashing in this one—it's all about timing."
She grinned lazily, raising an eyebrow. "So it's like… rhythm game, but for fighting?"
"More or less," he said, tapping his fingers on the desk. "It's a lot like that, but with a lot of thinking involved. Each move builds into the next one. And if you play your cards right, you can chain attacks together without missing a beat. Like, check this out…"
Adrian pulled up a video clip from the previous collection he had—a high-level player performing a flawless combo with a Wraithblade. The quick, fluid movements on-screen were impressive, a dance of attacks and dodges that looked like something out of an action movie.
Alice sat up, her curiosity piqued. "Alright, that looks pretty badass. Can I do that?"
"If you keep practicing," Adrian replied with a chuckle. "It's all about learning the rhythm. You've got the reflexes—now it's just a matter of translating that to in-game. If I can teach you how to time your attacks, you'll be wrecking enemies in no time."
She gave him a lazy smirk. "You're way too serious for someone who's not streaming anymore. Is this your way of compensating?"
He rolled his eyes but didn't bother responding. "You'd better stop procrastinating and get your character set up. Sarah's been hounding me about the game, and we'll all be playing together. I'm not letting you hold us back when it launches."
"I can handle it," she said, swiping through her phone. "Just don't expect me to lose my mind over it."
Adrian sighed. "I never expected you to."
That was Alice's charm—her laid-back attitude in everything, even when she was learning something new. She was cool in a way that made Adrian wonder how someone so carefree could possibly survive in the world he lived in.
Later that afternoon, as the sun dipped behind the clouds, the Carter sisters and Adrian found themselves sitting together in the living room of their father's apartment. Sarah was on her phone, already browsing through in-game cosmetics for the game, while Alice was lazily scrolling through her playlist on her phone.
Adrian looked between them, tapping his fingers against his knee. It was the perfect moment to bring up the next hurdle: the money.
"Hey, uh… there's just one thing we haven't figured out," Adrian said, breaking the silence.
"Money?" Sarah asked, without even looking up from her phone.
He nodded. "The game's got a hefty price tag for the collector's edition. I didn't factor it into my budget."
Alice's gaze flicked to him, her expression flat. "What? You mean you're short on cash?"
"I mean, yeah, kinda," Adrian said, not bothering to hide the frustration in his voice. "I've got enough for one, but I'm short just enough to cover the cost of all three of us. And if I don't get in on launch, I won't be able to level up with you guys."
Alice gave a small laugh. "So now you're relying on us, huh?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You think I'd ask if I wasn't desperate?"
A grin spread across Alice's face. "Alright, alright. I'll call Dad. I'm sure he'll give us a little extra." She stood up and walked toward the kitchen, her voice drifting over her shoulder. "You two stay here. I'll go talk to him. Just… don't make it sound like we're begging."
Adrian watched her walk away and then glanced at Sarah, who was still tapping away at her phone.
"You're not worried, are you?" Sarah said, looking up briefly.
"I'm just hoping she doesn't get us stuck doing chores for the next month," Adrian muttered, leaning back against the couch.
"Well, she's your best shot. Alice has Dad wrapped around her finger," Sarah said with a small chuckle. "Besides, you know he's not gonna turn her down. He can't resist her charm. Don't worry, we'll get it."
Adrian couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I guess we'll see."
Ten minutes later, Alice returned with her phone in hand and a look of mild triumph on her face. "He's giving us the money—" she paused, eyes glinting with mischief "—but only if I help him organize the storage unit this weekend. Which, fine by me."
Adrian couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh. "Thanks, Alice. That'll cover it."
She threw him a thumbs-up. "Anything for my favorite gaming nerd."
"Good to know," he said, smiling. "Looks like we're all set. Now, we just need to make sure we're ready for launch."
Sarah leaned back, already planning in her head. "I'll be on at midnight. No excuses."
Adrian nodded, feeling the familiar rush of excitement bubble up inside. He didn't care how much time it took to get there; that game is going to be their playground, and this time, they'd be ready for everything it threw their way.
Alice may have been casual about it, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he didn't want to do this without her.
And deep down, part of him was glad that this time, they were all in it together.