Chapter 11: Forced Logout

Joshua woke up with a sharp intake of breath.

Unlike the last time, there was no lingering pain, no exhaustion. In fact, his body felt… light. Refreshed. As if he had just woken from the most restful sleep of his life.

He sat up, his fingers brushing against his chest, and froze.

His skin, once unmarked, was now covered in intricate, glowing lines—etched in perfect symmetry, flowing like streams of liquid silver across his flesh. He turned his hands over, examining the delicate symbols carved into his palms, his arms, his shoulders.

Then he hesitated.

Slowly, with an unsettling feeling creeping up his spine, he pulled off the fur blanket and glanced downward.

His breath hitched.

"Fuuuuuck."

Even his little brother was covered in lines.

He clutched his forehead. No wonder I nearly passed out. She really meant every inch.

As he ran his fingers across the markings, they felt like his normal skin—no raised scars, no indentations, just pure, seamless integration. Yet beneath the surface, something pulsed. A faint hum of energy, alive and dormant at the same time.

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away.

"How many days has it been this time?"

Just as the question crossed his mind, a sudden chime echoed inside his skull.

WARNING!

Organism has reached maximum threshold!

Force Logout in 10 seconds!

"What the fuck?!"

Before he could even react, the world around him shattered.

A violent pulling sensation tore through his being, yanking him backward. The room, the fur, the fireplace—everything fractured into glimmering shards, dissolving into darkness.

And then—

Joshua gasped as he shot up in bed.

His body felt like lead, a crushing fatigue weighing him down. He blinked against the dim lighting of his apartment, his breathing heavy. A dull headache pounded in his skull, and his limbs trembled as if they had been through a marathon.

He forced himself to move, groggily stumbling out of bed. His throat was dry, and his bladder felt like it was going to burst.

"Shit," he muttered, making his way to the bathroom.

Warm water cascaded down his body as he stood under the shower, letting the steam clear his foggy mind. He leaned against the cool tiles, exhaling.

"Three whole days…"

He had been inside for three days.

No wonder his stomach felt like a black hole.

The moment he stepped out of the shower, he grabbed his phone and placed a massive food order—enough for five people. Screw portion control. He needed to eat, now.

Fifteen minutes later, the smell of hot, greasy food filled his apartment. Joshua wasted no time, digging in like a starving man.

The first bite was euphoric—crispy fried chicken, the skin perfectly seasoned and golden brown, giving way to juicy, tender meat. The savory richness burst across his tongue, and he barely paused to chew before shoveling another piece into his mouth.

Next came the rice, steaming and fragrant, soaking up the rich, spicy sauce from the beef stew he had ordered. He mixed it with scrambled eggs and took a massive spoonful, his taste buds tingling with satisfaction.

Fries—salty, crisp, and golden. He dipped them into a thick, creamy cheese sauce before popping them into his mouth. The contrast between the crunch and the velvety smoothness made his stomach growl for more.

Halfway through devouring his meal, he grabbed his laptop and powered it on, mindlessly scrolling through news articles and gaming forums.

Then—he froze.

His reflection on the dark screen caught his attention.

Faint lines.

His fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

He looked down at his wrist, tilting it under the light.

No way.

Shoving his food aside, Joshua bolted toward the nearest mirror.

His hands trembled as he stripped off his shirt.

The markings were still there.

Though faint, they shimmered under the fluorescent bathroom light, pulsing slightly when he moved.

Joshua's heart pounded. He traced the lines on his chest, his arms—then, with an uneasy gulp, he lowered his gaze.

"Goddammit."

When she said every inch, she meant every inch.

He groaned, gripping his head.

"This is insane."

It was just a game. A full-dive VMMORPG. Nothing more than data, ones and zeroes. The body inside the game shouldn't have affected his real one.

But the proof was right in front of him.

His breathing quickened. What the hell had Maydee done to him?

Joshua squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to stay calm. Panicking wouldn't solve anything.

Think.

The first time he logged in, there was no UI, no status screen, no logout option. He had assumed it was just an ultra-immersive experience. But now?

Now he wasn't so sure.

There was only one way to get answers.

But not yet.

His body was still weak, and his head ached from the forced logout. He needed to get his strength back first.

Pushing aside his thoughts, he finished his meal, cleaning up the mess before grabbing his wallet.

A trip outside would do him some good.

The grocery store was relatively empty at this hour. The soft hum of air conditioning filled the space as Joshua moved through the aisles, tossing essentials into his basket—instant noodles, bottled water, frozen meals, and enough energy drinks to last him through another long session.

He made his way to the checkout, nodding absentmindedly at the cashier before stepping back outside. The cool night air greeted him, and he took a deep breath, enjoying the brief moment of normalcy.

For a second, he almost felt like everything was fine.

Almost.

By the time he returned to his apartment, exhaustion had set in again. His body still wasn't fully recovered.

He put away the groceries, took one last sip of water, and collapsed onto his bed.

His mind raced, replaying everything that had happened.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, he would log back in.

Tomorrow, he would get his answers.

As his eyelids grew heavy, his last thought lingered.

What the hell did I get myself into?

And then, sleep took him.