AN HOUR LATER
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
She was here. In my home. I didn't need to steal her away. Didn't need force or manipulation. All I had to do was wait. And now… Isabella was mine. Even if she didn't realize it yet. Michael might've played the savior fed her the antidote, stood by her bedside with that golden boy charm, but where was he now? Not here. I let that satisfaction simmer behind my cool exterior as I stepped into the hallway outside her guest room, shutting the door gently behind me. Her scent still clung to the air. Soft, soothing, and frustratingly addictive.
She trusted me enough to rest under my roof. That was all the permission I needed. And Michael? He'd realize he lost her soon enough. I grinned faintly to myself. That's when the air shimmered. A familiar pressure settled behind my eyes, cold, clinical, and laced with digital precision. The System.
"Welcome, Xavier. Full system access now granted. Game title - Alpha's Chosen One. Role - Male lead No. 2 (Rival route activated). Primary heroine - Rosalie (Status: active/ charisma Buff: +20%). Unique variable - Isabella (Luna Candidate - side route activated. Deviant path. High-impact variable.)." System said.
I froze for a moment. Rosalie? That name struck a chord in the back of my head, like static crawling over my skin. My memories weren't false, but they were layered. Rewritten. Enhanced. Controlled. And Rosalie had always been there, hadn't she? Always smiling. Always too perfect. But it wasn't real. None of it. And yet… Isabella? She wasn't supposed to be this important. And still, here she was, tangled in every major event like gravity itself pulled her into center stage.
"Emotional paths. Rosalie – 43% (Base attraction, programmatically enhanced). Isabella – 72% (Authentic connection. Protective response rising). System said.
My throat felt dry. Rosalie had been… convenient. Expected. The sort of woman who said what the world wanted to hear. But Isabella? She asked questions. She thought. She disarmed me with silence and broke defenses I didn't even know I had. I leaned back against the stone wall, the cool surface grounding me. So the game wanted me chasing Rosalie. But my heart, what was left of it in this glitched-out mess of a reality, it wanted someone else. And the best part? Michael didn't know yet. He still thought he had the lead. Let him.
The system's cold voice reverberated in my skull as it dropped one more bombshell. It felt like an earthquake shaking my entire existence.
"You are a player from Earth, Xavier. Similar to Isabella. Origin confirmed. The path you walk has been altered by your inherent connection to the game world. Warning. Emotional connection deviation has triggered. You will experience heightened empathy toward the heroine and other game elements. Proceed with caution." System said.
A wave of dizziness hit me, and I staggered back, gripping the stone wall for support. Earth? I… I'm from Earth? The realization slammed into me like a wrecking ball. Of course, the idea that we were all somehow connected trapped in this game, had been gnawing at me for some time, but now? Now, it felt real. Raw. But there was more.
The system was rewriting everything. It had given me an identity here in this twisted version of reality, and now it was revealing the truth I'd suspected, but refused to fully acknowledge. I was just like Isabella. I belonged to the real world, not this game. But that didn't matter, did it? The thought of being trapped, manipulated and used? No. I couldn't let it control me. Not like it had controlled Michael. The system's voice filled my mind again, and I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to listen.
"You have been assigned the path of male lead No. 2. Your route involves emotional and strategic complexity. You will likely develop strong feelings for the heroine (Rosalie) but, given the deviation triggered by your presence, secondary attractions may occur. You will experience conflicts with other characters, primarily Michael, who has been identified as an obstacle in your path. Emotional conflict is expected. System said.
I couldn't shake the bitter taste in my mouth. Michael. The bastard. He had everything handed to him on a silver platter, while I was stuck playing second fiddle, unable to break free of this 'script.' But that wasn't the worst part.
"You are also identified as a key player in the Luna Candidate's route. Isabella's emotional connection with you will grow, though it is not yet significant. As the story progresses, you may face new emotional challenges. Proceed with caution."System said.
Isabella? A quiet laugh escaped me, dark and bitter. I wasn't just fighting Michael for Rosalie. I was fighting for control over my own narrative. And if I could shift Isabella's emotional path, twist it just enough in my favor, then maybe, just maybe I be finally break free of this loop, this game. I felt an unsettling excitement bubble in my chest. I was caught in the middle of this game's design, but there were ways out. The System was playing me, but I'd play it right back. I wasn't just some pawn. And I would get Isabella. I would have everything I wanted, and no one not even Michael—was going to stop me.
I couldn't shake the weight of the System's revelations. The more I uncovered, the deeper the labyrinth seemed to become.
"You are classified as Michael - taken player 003 of 10. Your status allows you to manipulate certain aspects of the game world, but you are of a lower rank than Player 002, Michael, who holds greater access and control over the system. "System said.
But that wasn't the most unsettling part.
"Who is player 001?"I asked.
"Player 001 identity is classified. Access restricted."System said.
Player 001. The name sent a shiver down my spine. Someone above Michael. Someone with even greater power, lurking in the shadows, pulling strings from behind the scenes. Now, there was a new layer to this game, a hidden player, shrouded in mystery, their intentions unknown. Who were they? And why were they hidden from the rest of us? I couldn't let this new information distract me.
Isabella was here, within my reach, and I had to focus on her. She was the key to unravelling this entire web. But the existence of player 001 lingered in my thoughts, a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. I had to find out more. About them. About the game. About everything. But for now, I had to play my part. Charm Isabella. Win her trust. And maybe, just maybe, uncover the truth behind this twisted game we were all trapped in.