Chapter 7 - The Day the Game Became Reality
"Good morning. This is Jimmie from Good Morning. Here's today's weather report. Skies will be mostly clear across the country today, with fine dust levels remaining low. A bright and sunny autumn day is expected..."
A faint voice drifted from the radio, crackling from inside an overturned car.
Sunlight streamed through shattered glass, falling across blood-spattered seats.
Droplets dripped steadily onto the dashboard.
It should have been an ordinary morning.
Another bright day, another clean blue sky.
But today was different.
The air reeked of blood.
Smoke stung the eyes, turning everything into a haze.
Breathing felt heavy. Wrong.
It had only taken minutes.
Starting precisely at 6 AM, strange phenomena erupted across New Capital, swallowing the nation whole.
The internet lit up instantly — a flood of panic and disbelief:
[Blood-stained streets... New Capital turns into a battlefield.]
[Unidentified monsters appear in downtown New Capital?]
['Exodia 2' — Monsters from the game show up in real life?!]
Trending searches, headline news — everywhere, one word blazed like wildfire:
Exodia.
Early reports were grim.
Hundreds dead already.
The government scrambled to deny, to cover up, while the internet exploded with rumors.
Fear and doubt churned through every message board.
And somewhere inside a quiet dressing room, Millie stared down at her phone.
Lost in thought.
"Is this really Exodia...?"
The screen showed a live video, burning up YouTube's trending list.
A fancam from illumination gate Square.
It looked absurd —
but to her eyes, it was chillingly familiar.
A Dungeon gate.
How could she not recognize it?
She was a ranker.
A top-tier player who had lived and breathed Exodia for years.
She knew that world better than the back of her own hand.
Still, seeing it bleed into reality...
accepting it...
That was something else entirely.
Millie hesitated.
Could it really be happening?
Outside the window, strange sounds carried faintly on the breeze.
Not yet loud. Not yet near.
But ominous.
The door to her dressing room banged open.
"Millie, pack it up. Today's schedule is canceled!"
Her manager rushed in, voice tight with urgency.
"We're heading back to the dorm!"
"Brother, look at this—"
She held up her phone, ignoring his scolding tone.
"When did you even sneak that out?! After all the warnings from the CEO—!"
Today had been supposed to be a big day —
an early-morning pre-recording at SBC's Tree districtstation for Inkigayo.
Millie barely heard him.
"Just look!"
She shoved the screen under his nose.
The video played in brutal clarity:
A yawning hole splitting the ground at illumination gate Square.
Lizard-like creatures spilling out, wielding spears, stabbing civilians without hesitation.
The manager frowned.
"...Is this a movie?"
"No. It's live."
She didn't need to say anything more.
She knew what they were.
"Lizardmen," she whispered.
Creatures known for pack hunting.
If left unchecked, they would organize, form armies —
and cities would fall like sandcastles.
"If only someone could wipe them out now..."
Without waiting for his reply, Millie pulled up another video.
This time, it was south mountain Tower.
The skies above swarmed with flying reptiles.
Small squads forming formations.
Perfect, disciplined movements.
"Red Wyverns," Millie muttered grimly.
Fire-breathing monsters.
Deadly not just for their speed — but for their ability to nest and expand their territory.
If they dug in at south mountain...
"...It'll be a disaster."
"And there's more—"
"Millie. Enough."
Her manager's voice cut sharply through her words.
"Phone. Hand it over."
Before she could react, he snatched it from her hands, fast and firm.
Millie stared at him, stunned.
Maybe because no monsters had yet appeared here at Tree district Station,
he hadn't realized.
Hadn't seen the truth yet.
"Give it back," she said, reaching for it.
"No."
"This isn't the time for this—!"
"I said no!"
His tone was absolute.
Millie bit her lip, frustration boiling inside her.
She had heard the rumors.
Whispers spreading online:
— The key is inside Exodia.
Stories that people were AwaKyleing —
receiving quests.
Summoning items.
Opening status windows.
And all of it — everything —
tied to their phones.
If she didn't act now,
she would be left behind.
If she didn't move,
she would die.
"Please, Brother. Please!"
Her voice cracked with urgency.
And then—
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!!
The ground shook violently, throwing them both to the floor.
Props clattered. Lights toppled.
Amid the chaos, Millie acted without hesitation.
Gritting her teeth, she lunged —
wrestling the phone free from his startled grip.
"Millie! It's dangerous!!"
Ignoring him, she clutched the phone tightly.
And then it vibrated.
A system notification popped up.
Without missing a beat, Millie moved.
She thought Inventory —
and immediately, a translucent screen shimmered before her eyes.
"It's real."
She almost laughed.
Rank 12.
The Magic Gunslinger, Clarke.
Her Exodia character —
the one who had climbed to the top of the shooting charts.
A revolver materialized in her hand.
Heavy. Solid. Real.
She had never held a real gun before.
But as soon as her fingers wrapped around the weapon, she knew.
She could do it.
She could fight.
GRAAAAAARRRGH—!!
From somewhere nearby, a monster stumbled through a portal.
Its flesh rotted and peeled away,
empty sockets gaping where eyes should have been.
The stench of death filled the room.
A Ghoul.
But Millie didn't hesitate.
BANG!!
One shot.
The bullet punched straight through the Ghoul's forehead.
It crumpled without a sound.
Another reward materialized —
a longsword gleaming brightly in the air.
She barely glanced at it.
Her mind was racing ahead.
One single thought burned inside her:
"If I want to survive..."
Her fingers tightened around the revolver.
"I have to find Kyle."