Chapter 7: The System Core

When each of them had passed through their own personal trials, the group reunited once again at the entrance to the system's core. Anya, Max, Lisa, and Dima all looked exhausted, but there was determination in their eyes. They knew that only together would they be able to overcome the final hurdles." In front of them was a giant digital space-the heart of the game, a place where all the lines of code and reality intersected.

The core shone with an unnatural, cold light. It was like a huge crystal surrounded by ever-changing data streams. This world, created from the system itself, was alive and unpredictable.

"This is it," Lisa said softly, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and admiration. - This is the center of the game.

"And our only salvation," Anya said, studying the moving codes. — We need to find a way to connect to it, crack the security, and open the backdoor."

"But the director said it would take a sacrifice to get out," Dima reminded, his face still serious. — We must be prepared for any eventuality."

Max took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the crystal.

— We won't sacrifice any of us." We came here together and we will leave together."

"If only it were that simple," a cold voice rang out from deep within the core.

Everyone froze, their hearts clenching with tension. Out of the light in front of them, the Headmaster appeared. His avatar no longer flickered or distorted — it now looked like the embodiment of the power of the system, merging with it into a single whole.

— Do you really think you've come this far and can just walk out?" his voice was like an echo of program code, harsh and unnatural. — This game is not just a survival challenge. This is a test of your willingness to take extreme measures.

"We won't play your games anymore," Anya said coldly, her eyes alight with determination. — We will find a way out and destroy this system."

The headmaster chuckled, his face twisted into a sinister grin.

"You don't understand, Anya," he said, coming closer. "This system is part of me." You can destroy it, but it will consume you before you can get out. This was my goal from the very beginning: to test you, to study you, but most importantly, to make you make one decision."

— What other solution?" Max snatched up his sword, his muscles tensing. He was ready for battle, but he had the feeling that the enemy was superior not only in strength, but also in cunning.

— How many of you are willing to sacrifice your life so that the rest of you can survive? The Headmaster asked coldly, his eyes glittering with an icy glint. "Your freedom is worth exactly one life." Who will be the victim?

Silence hung in the air. Everyone felt the pressure of this choice. Sacrifice to save the others. It wasn't just a test, it was a moral test that tore them apart from the inside out. Dima was trembling, his eyes darting between the core crystal and the Director, as if he wanted to find another way out.

"We're not sacrificing anyone," Max finally said, his voice firm, but there was an inner tension in it. "It's your game, but we won't follow your rules."

"Then all of you will die," the Headmaster said with cold confidence. "And you'll stay here forever." I've already done everything I can to make you understand that." In this world, there is no real exit without losses."

Anya looked at Max, Lisa, and Dima. She knew the Director was telling the truth. Their strength is in unity, but the system was built to break that unity." She had to find a solution that didn't require the sacrifice of one of them.

A sudden thought struck her.

— What if the victim isn't one of us?" Anya said, her eyes fixed on the crystal. — You said yourself that this system is part of you." If we destroy the core, we will destroy you."

The director paused for a moment, his smile fading.

— Do you really think you can destroy me?" he sounded like he was trying to hide his surprise.

"We won't be manipulated by you," Anya continued. — If this game is just your illusion of power, then the core of the system is your weak spot." We destroy it, and you lose control."

Max frowned, but quickly realized where Anya was leading him. He looked at the others.

"She's right." We must destroy the core to end this once and for all."

— But if the core disappears, what happens to us?" Dima asked, his face showing concern. — We can also disappear with the\system.

"Either we disappear with the game, or we'll live in this trap forever," Anya said coldly. — I prefer to take the risk."

"This is crazy," Lisa whispered, but her eyes were still bright with determination. "But this may be our only chance."

The headmaster suddenly laughed, his laughter echoing through the space.

— You won't get anywhere, " he said, moving slowly toward the crystal. — I am the system itself." You can't destroy me without destroying everything around you."

Anya took a step forward, her eyes never leaving the core of the game. She felt that this was their last chance. Too much was lost in this game, and she couldn't let them stay trapped forever."

— We have to take the risk, " she said to the others. — If we don't do this, we'll never get out."

Max nodded, his face intent.

"Then let's get started."

Together, they stepped toward the core crystal, surrounded by streams of data that sparkled and pulsed around them. Within the core, there was a hidden power that controlled this entire world." They knew that this was their last fight.

The headmaster no longer tried to stop them — he watched them with a cold sneer, as if he thought their actions were pointless. But Anya knew they had to try again.

As they neared the core, Anya raised her hand and touched its surface. At that moment, the world spun around her, and she felt reality begin to crumble.

"It's now or never!" — Stop it! " she shouted, and at that moment a bright flash of light lit up everything around her.

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Epilogue: Beyond the Game

When Anya opened her eyes, she wasn't in the game. She was sitting in a chair, her neurohelmet lying next to her. All around — the white walls of the laboratory. The air was fresh, but it felt foreign. 

— We... we got out?" Lisa, who was standing nearby, whispered, her eyes filled with surprise.

Max and Dima also slowly came to their senses." It was all strangely real, but their heads were still spinning from the recent experience.

"Is this the real world?" Dima asked, looking around.

Anya looked down at her hands, her breathing ragged but steady. Everything seemed too real to be another illusion.

"Yes, — she said softly. — We did it.

They were finally out of the trap, but the question of why the Headmaster had allowed them to leave remained unanswered.