Call
Hae-Won couldn't contain his excitement as he navigated through the smartphone's interface, still marveling at the concept of having such a device in the VillainVerse. It felt surreal, almost like a cheat code in a game he never expected to find.
He tapped on an app icon that simply said *Phone*, intrigued by the potential of what lay inside. The screen shifted, displaying a list of contacts, but what caught his eye was a flashing notification at the top: *Missed Calls: 74*.
"Seventy-four?! Who in the VillainVerse has been trying to contact me?" He chuckled incredulously. "I must've been really popular, huh?"
A sudden wave of curiosity washed over him, mingled with an undercurrent of dread. What if these calls were from powerful entities in the VillainVerse? Was someone trying to recruit him, or worse, challenge him?
Without thinking twice, he selected the phone icon and began scrolling through the list of missed calls. Names and numbers flashed across the screen, but they were all strange — no familiar faces here, just random names he didn't recognize. It was a little unsettling.
"Alright, let's see who the big shots are in this universe," he muttered to himself, his heart racing as he selected the first number on the list.
*Call Connected…*
The line rang twice before a deep voice echoed from the other end. "You've finally decided to pick up, huh? Where have you been, Hae-Won? I thought you were dead!"
His stomach dropped at the unexpected intensity of the voice. "Excuse me? Who is this?" Hae-Won replied, feeling a mix of confusion and apprehension.
"*I am Choi Min-Seok, a Level 7 Master,*" the voice continued, unfazed. "You've been missed in the VillainVerse. A lot has changed since you've been... MIA. You need to catch up."
Hae-Won blinked in disbelief. "Wait, catch up? What do you mean? I just got here!"
"Doesn't matter. There's a lot at stake. The Master's Tournament is starting soon, and you need to prepare. If you want to be someone in this world, you can't afford to stay low. You need to up your game," Min-Seok said matter-of-factly.
"The Master's Tournament?" Hae-Won echoed, the weight of the words sinking in. The Tournament was known across the VillainVerse as the ultimate test for Masters, a chance to gain prestige and power. It was where the strongest fought to earn their titles.
"Yeah. You'll need allies, skills, and strategy. You've got a lot of catching up to do." With that, Min-Seok hung up, leaving Hae-Won with more questions than answers.
---
"What just happened?" Hae-Won muttered, staring at the phone in disbelief. He'd gone from a nobody to being thrown into a tournament that could determine his fate in the VillainVerse. The pressure was mounting, and suddenly, all those missed calls felt like a harbinger of something significant.
He scrolled through more missed calls, deciding to try another number. This time, he picked one at random, just to see what would happen.
*Call Connected…*
"Finally! I thought you'd never call back! This is Jin Ah-Rin, Master of Illusions." Her voice was bubbly and energetic, a stark contrast to Min-Seok's. "I've been trying to reach you about a party we're throwing for all the new Masters! You should totally come!"
"A party? For new Masters?" Hae-Won raised an eyebrow. This felt like a stark deviation from the seriousness of Min-Seok's call.
"Of course! It's a chance for you to meet other players, make allies, and maybe even learn a thing or two! Besides, it's gonna be epic! You don't want to miss out on the fun!" she exclaimed.
He couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "When is it?"
"Tomorrow night! Just look for the Black Rose Club in the Dusk District. You can't miss it!" she chirped before hanging up.
---
Hae-Won was torn. On one hand, he had Min-Seok's urgency echoing in his mind, but on the other, Jin Ah-Rin's invitation tugged at him with the promise of socializing and fun. *Allies and skills,* he thought, reflecting on her words. Maybe mingling with other Masters could give him insights and help him gain an edge for the upcoming Tournament.
With a determined nod, he decided he would go. He could play the social game while simultaneously planning his next move in the VillainVerse.
He navigated back to the main screen, noticing an app labeled *Events.* A list of upcoming activities and tournaments populated the screen, including the Master's Tournament and the party hosted by Jin Ah-Rin.
"Alright, Hae-Won, it looks like you've got a lot to do," he said to himself, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.
As he put the phone away, he glanced at the shadows swirling around him, the remnants of his upgraded *Nightmare Aura* still flickering at the edges of his vision. *This could be the beginning of something incredible,* he thought.
---
Hae-Won took a deep breath, ready to embrace the chaos of the VillainVerse. He had a smartphone in his pocket, skills to upgrade, and an entire world waiting for him. With the weight of possibility lifting his spirits, he set off toward the Dusk District, prepared to navigate this uncharted territory.