第17章

But how? How could a video game cause physical manifestations and terrifying events in the real world? Unless… the game was not just a program, but a gateway? Or, worse, a living entity?

I frantically searched through my belongings for my laptop, which had a backup of the game client and some of its data files. Despite the lack of power, I managed to connect it to a small portable generator we had. I needed to examine the game’s code, its assets, its network traffic logs, anything that could shed light on this madness.

However, the moment I booted up my laptop, the strange symbols appeared all over the screen, flickering and distorting the image. The whispers in my ears turned hostile and aggressive, like angry data streams trying to overload my senses. A cold wave washed over me, and I felt a familiar weight on my chest, heavier than ever.

Then, I saw it. Projected onto the wall opposite me, shimmering like a mirage, was the black tower from my dreams. It wasn't a hallucination this time. It was solid, three-dimensional, and radiating an intense, oppressive energy. It was as if the tower from the digital realm was manifesting in our physical world.