August 24th, 2125
In the year 2100, the DMMORPG Solo Nexus Online was released — a game developed through nanotechnology. With special VR helmets, players could fully immerse their consciousness into the game world.
In the vast world of Solo Nexus Online, heavily inspired by Norse mythology, players could travel across different realms, explore the environment, engage in PvP battles, and much more. The possibilities were nearly endless. The game managed to stay popular for 12 years.
After those 12 years, the game was finally shut down. One last time, Blank logged into Solo Nexus Online before it was all over.
Still grinding away, Blank Tempest fought one last boss. Just as he was about to land the finishing blow, his screen went black.
> "The game… shut down," he muttered sadly.
It felt like a power outage—sudden, unpredictable, and worst of all, at the wrong moment.
Carefully, he removed his VR helmet and set it down on the bed. Rising from his blue gaming chair, he glanced around his dark room. He'd left it that way on purpose—to keep electricity costs low.

---
Blank Tempest walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
> // Oh yeah… 12 years of Solo Nexus Online are over. I still remember coming home after my 12-hour shift, logging in right away, and playing until 6 a.m. My job started at 8… Two hours of sleep — that wrecked my body. But hey, as long as Solo Nexus Online was being played, it was worth it. //
He emptied the glass and suddenly burst out laughing when a scream echoed from the next room, making him almost choke.
> "Aaaaarghhhhhh! Solo Nexus Online is deaaaaaad!" screamed the voice next door.
> // Oh no… Misa. It's rough for her too. Without Solo Nexus Online, she can't catfish anymore… //
"Oyy, Misa, calm down. It's just a game. No need to lose your mind over it!" Blank shouted.
Her door burst open, and Misa stormed out — furious, almost possessed. Slowly, with a menacing tone, she said:
> "Just… a… game…? Are you insane? I was in an online relationship! We were like Kirito and Asuna!"
Blank sighed.
> "Was that love or catfishing?"
> "What kind of question is that? Of course catfishing!" Misa snapped, offended.
> // Oh man… she's really gone off the deep end. She had over 15 online relationships in Solo Nexus Online. She scammed all her 'boyfriends' and switched servers afterward. Sure, she made a ton of money… but she also messed with a lot of lives. And the craziest part? She has a real boyfriend in real life. He's rich, started his own company… If only he knew what kind of person he's dating… //
Misa's footsteps came closer to the kitchen. When Blank saw her, he had to blink twice. She was barely 1.5 meters tall, with long white hair that reached the floor. Her pupils were blue, but around the iris circled a golden ring — and at the center, a golden star shimmered. She wore a lilac-colored school uniform, twice her own size, and on her head sat a crooked golden crown.

---
"Uhhh… Misa, are you wearing a cosplay?" Blank asked, confused.
Misa looked at him, equally puzzled.
> "What nonsense are you talking about? These are my normal clothes. But here's a better question — why are you so tall? What did you do?"
Blank stared in disbelief.
> // She's probably just trying to mess with me. But that outfit… it looks exactly like her Solo Nexus Online OC… //
He kept watching Misa for a while.
Something about her seemed… different — more childlike, perhaps. Yet her eyes radiated something inhuman, a sort of majestic beauty that both fascinated and terrified him. So beautiful it was almost frightening. Blank began to wonder if this could really just be a cosplay.
Misa, noticing his gaze, realized he was staring at her openly.
> // Why is he looking at me like that? … Did he fall for me? Does he actually… want his older stepsister? //
A reddish glow crossed her face, and with an awkward smile she said:
> "Blank-kun, you're having the wrong thoughts. We're siblings — not by blood, but in spirit. Besides… I already have a boyfriend."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Both of them jumped in shock.
> "Are you expecting anyone?" Misa asked.
Blank just shook his head. Then came another knock — louder, more insistent this time. It felt as though a wild beast stood outside. Instinctively, they both held their breath, trying not to move.
Misa glanced at him — her star-shaped pupils glimmering — and gestured for him to open the door. Blank sighed and tiptoed toward it.
A third knock thundered through the room.
With trembling hands, Blank reached for the handle. Sweat dripped down his fingers. He gathered every ounce of courage — and opened the door.
Standing before them were several armed figures. They wore red armor, helmets, and blood-red cloaks. In their hands, they held two-meter-long silver staffs.

---
Blank froze. He knew those armors.
> // Impossible… they look exactly like the Royal Guards from Solo Nexus Online. //
One of the men stepped forward.
> "I am a Royal Guard of the noble house of Bethmuth. We were sent to deliver a final warning: Pay your debts, House Silverhorn!"
Blank stared at him in confusion and shook his head.
> "There must be some mistake. We're not the Silverhorns. We're the Tempests. You've got the wrong people."
> "Oh really? Then what about that?"
The guard stepped aside. Blank and Misa looked past him — and couldn't believe their eyes. Their old apartment building was gone.
In its place stood a massive mansion: the Silverhorn Estate.

---
Blank stepped outside, took a few shaky steps back, and turned around. His knees nearly gave way. Where their gray concrete block once stood, a magnificent manor now rose atop a hill, surrounded by manicured gardens.
> "Uh… argh…" he stammered nervously. "I think there's been a misunderstanding."
> "Enough!" the guard thundered. The siblings flinched, instinctively stepping back.
With an authoritative voice, he continued:
> "You have exactly one week to pay 9.6 million credits. Otherwise, you will face the wrath of Odin!"
The siblings stared at each other in shock.
Then the guards unfurled wings, took to the skies, and disappeared into the clouds.
Blank and Misa stood outside, speechless — until the reality hit them.
They were trapped inside Solo Nexus Online.
> "Shit…" Blank yelled.
> "Yeeaahhh!" Misa cheered instead, bursting with excitement.
Blank just stared at her in disbelief and shook his head.
To be continued…