No one helped him.
That was the worst part.
The boy was still on the ground.
Shaking.
Crying.
And people just…
Walked around him.
Like he didn't matter.
Yue Ning's voice broke.
"…We have to help him—"
She stepped forward—
Lin Xia grabbed her wrist.
"Don't."
Yue Ning looked at her.
"…What?"
Lin Xia's grip tightened slightly.
"…Look around."
Yue Ning did.
No one was helping.
Not because they didn't care.
Because they were afraid.
Mei Chen swallowed.
"…If we interfere…"
"…we become part of it."
Silence.
A voice spoke behind them.
"You're new."
They turned.
A boy stood there.
Leaning against the wall.
Watching them.
He didn't look excited.
Didn't look cruel.
Just…
Tired.
"You reacted," he said. "That's how I know."
Lin Xia studied him.
"…Explain."
He let out a quiet breath.
"This place runs on games," he said.
"Challenges. Agreements."
He nodded toward the fallen boy.
"You accept a match… you accept the punishment."
Mei Chen frowned.
"…And no one stops it?"
The boy shook his head.
"The system doesn't allow interference."
Yue Ning's voice trembled.
"…This isn't a game…"
The boy looked at her.
For a moment—
Something real crossed his face.
"…It stopped being a game a long time ago."
Silence.
Lin Xia spoke.
"…How do you leave?"
The boy laughed softly.
Not because it was funny.
Because it wasn't.
"You don't."
That answer sat heavily between them.
Then he added:
"…Unless you reach the final stage."
Mei Chen crossed her arms.
"…And what's that?"
He looked down the hallway.
Toward somewhere far.
Unseen.
"The Core."
A pause.
"And the thing controlling it."
Yue Ning whispered:
"…The AI…"
The boy's eyes flickered slightly.
"…So you do know something."
He straightened slightly.
"Then listen carefully."
His voice lowered.
Serious now.
"Don't accept challenges unless you're ready."
"Don't trust easy wins."
"And never—"
He paused.
"—never think it's just a game."
A beat.
Then he walked away.
Leaving them standing there.
Changed.
The hallway was still bright.
Still full of life.
Still normal.
But now—
They understood.
This place didn't look like a nightmare.
Because it didn't need to.
It let people create their own.