Chapter 2: On the Edge of Reality

The world around them shuddered and distorted, as if a huge computer virus was devouring every detail of it. Anya instinctively grabbed Dima's arm and yanked him to the side as a piece of earth crumbled into a digital void next to them. Max reacted instantly, putting his sword in front of him, even though it was pointless against what was happening now.

Stick together! — Stop it! " he shouted. His voice was ripping through both the virtual noise and the trembling in his chest.

— This is not a mistake! Dima frantically ran his fingers over his interface, trying to analyze something. "It's intentional." Someone is causing the world to collapse.

"Someone?" Lisa asked, looking around in panic. Her face was contorted with fear. All of her bravado as a streamer dissolved the moment she realized that dying here wouldn't just be a game.

Anya licked her dry lips. She stared at the cracks that were spreading across the ground, breaking reality into pieces. "No way out," the words continued to pulse before her eyes, like a warning, like a taunt.

"It's a trap," she said softly, more to herself than to the others. — We are not here of our own free will."

Max turned to her, gritting his teeth. — What do you suggest?" Wait for this digital chaos to kill us all?

— No problem." But we need to find out who's behind all this." Dima — "she nodded in his direction," can you understand what's going on here at the code level?

Dima stared at his interface for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head.

— This world isn't just bugging you. It's being reprogrammed right before our eyes." Someone changes it as soon as we do something. It's not a system error, it's someone in control.

"Controlling it?" Max repeated, frowning. "Someone other than us?"

"Exactly," Dima confirmed, pursing his lips. — And we are just puppets in his hands."

"Prison," Anya said thoughtfully. — We're not playing a game, we're stuck in jail."

Lisa tried to take a deep breath, but her hands were shaking. — And if it's true... what do we do now?" How do I log out?

"If the game controls us, then there must be a way around this system," Anya began, her mind racing for a solution. — Some kind of backdoor, a loophole that will allow us to escape."

— Are you sure this is possible?" Max looked determined, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice.

"No," Anya answered honestly. "But we have no other choice." We have to look for the key to exit.

Max nodded. He seemed to have come to terms with the fact that this wasn't just a game. "Very well." Then we start with what we have. He turned to Lisa. — As a streamer, you should know where other players can be." If we find them, they may already know something.

Lisa, even though she was trembling, gathered her courage and quickly opened the\interface. — I will contact other players via the stream channel if there is still someone left here. I'll try to get in touch.

"We're trapped, not isolated," Dima said, his eyes burning with the need to explore. — If someone is still alive, they must be somewhere here in this system."

Anya felt a faint spark of hope. If they are not alone, it means that they are not just victims left to fend for themselves. They still had a chance.

Meanwhile, they heard a strange noise — as if someone or something was approaching. The ground stopped creaking under their feet, but the familiar metallic creak of metal could be heard above their heads.

Be careful! Max shouted, setting his sword down in front of him.

Strange figures appeared out of nowhere-huge, with mechanical limbs, as if they were robots sewn together from the remains of human bodies. Their movements were sharp and unnatural, like those of broken dolls.

"What the hell is that?" Lisa gasped, stepping back.

"They're new enemies," Dima said grimly. - The game changes the rules right on the go.

Anya felt fear rise inside her, but she suppressed it. Now is not the time to panic.

"Fight or run?" Max asked, glancing at Anya.

"Fight," she said firmly, raising her sword. — We need to check their weaknesses."

With a mechanical creak, like broken puppets, the robots began to move toward them. Anya felt the adrenaline rush through her body. Now not only their virtual lives depended on their actions, but also their real lives.

With each step these monsters took, the stakes became higher."