(Going Back to Okami’s previous story (basically, this is his perspective))

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I hung up the call and placed my phone on the bed. Ryoshi’s mother, Mrs. Aika, continued crying until the last beeping sounds of our conversation. Her weeping voice told me everything I needed to know.

I must save my best friend, Ryoshi, from that game.

I scurried down the stairs and met with Himari, munching the spare cookies inside her mouth. She was carrying the limited edition cookie box I bought last year ago with her notebooks clipped on the other. My sister planned on studying for the night, hoping she could pass her examinations with flying colours for tomorrow.

“Isn’t that the deluxe cookie jar you are eating without daring to call me?” I asked.

Himari gave me a nod and nudged her way out of my view. Her hand pushed the container upward on the shelf, hoping I would forgive her if she did. I shook my head and carried on with the primary situation.

“Ryoshi’s trapped inside the game, and I need to go there right now,” I announced, and took my spare coat on the rack.

Himari knew the death game situation. However, she turned a blind eye to the occurrence, since the event did not affect our daily lives, not until now.

I told her about the phone call. Himari became amazed after hearing Ryoshi’s current condition. I told her everything, and about the phone call I received a while ago. Her eyes drooped over on the ground, unable to digest what had happened to our dearest friend.

I asked Himari if I could visit Ryoshi, whom I heard got himself stuck inside the death game. Himari permitted me to go and advised me to take care of myself along the way. My sister would tag along after finishing her set of assignments given to her by the school.

I gave her a nod and went outside of the house, striding the dark road. All the cars careered forward, hoping they could see their loved ones inside their homes, trapped inside the game.

The world was experiencing chaos enough to cause an uproar in our neighbourhood. Tokyo, Japan, one of the finest countries that I know, was not an exemption.

My eyes greeted the bungalow on the streets. The lights coming from the inside told me that there was someone in the house. I continued forward and left my shoes on the rug.

I did not even bother knocking on the wooden gate upon entering Ryoshi’s home. My hands slammed the door open as I rushed over to his room at the far end of the hall. As soon as I approached his bedroom, Mrs. Aika’s wails became louder than before.

Ryoshi’s motionless body welcomed my eyes, with her parents circling him. He had the holographic set attached to his head, still activated and projecting the game. According to the news, if someone unfastened the device from someone’s head, that person will instantly die from a heart attack or an electric shock from the brain.

Ryoshi was still fortunate enough to remain alive despite his body, laid on the bed like a statue. His parents listened to the news and remained alerted with the announcements.

Mrs. Aika shifted her view and met my eyes, staring blankly at her son. She stood from the settee and offered me a chair.

“Would you like to sit down with us?” she asked, and pushed the board to my side.

I nodded and perched my bottom on the flat surface, with my orbs still gawking at Ryoshi. Her husband offered me a beverage and some snacks to keep me company. Despite their sorrows consuming their brains, the two parents were still kind enough to cater to their guests.

I expressed my gratitude and crunched on the biscuits and onigiri, or Japanese rice balls. I did not concern myself with the additional wet liquid coming from the food as I resumed eating my snacks.

It had been two hours since the time that the game trapped my friend inside their world and an hour from Code. The actual time spent here on Earth, the game halves it. If an hour passes by, the gameplay inside Code would be around thirty minutes long.

Time passes differently here in Code.

“Do you know if he is still alive?” Mrs. Aika asked.

Her eyes looked on the ground, gawking at her fiddling hands.

“Of course he is. He’s Ryoshi, the hunter after all,” I answered.

A faint smile emerged from his face as she heard my comment. I looked at Ryoshi, who still refused to open his eyes. He will never wake up unless the game ends for good. The government reported this information to the entire world.

However, there was an astronomical number of players that died and continue dying as we speak. The news stations announced their deaths on their channels and posted them on the internet. Everybody knew what was going on within the insides and out of Code.

“Can you tell me what is going on, Okami? I just know that my son is inside that damn game, but I don’t understand why. Can the creators of this game fix this? They can, right? I hope they can,” she mumbled to herself while sparing glances at me.

I inhaled deeply and gathered my thoughts before giving her a reply. I did not want to sugarcoat everything that was going on. Since Mrs. Aika did not play games, she had a strenuous time comprehending anything about the game. All Mrs. Aika knew about her son was the death game. Ryoshi would die if we left him alone inside that world.

I cannot argue with that claim because Ryoshi was not a veteran in the game. He just started testing out Code and knew nothing about the world while I became ranked one player.

“Ryoshi is inside Code as a player. He cannot get out no matter how much effort he tries to open his options. Ryoshi cannot get out until the game developers finish the game. All we can do is wait here and pray for his safety,” I answered.

Something was boggling my mind. I wanted to save Ryoshi. There was still a way to protect my best friend if I could just enter the game. But I cannot just waltz inside the game. I also needed to look for him once I arrived inside that world, and there was not a single clue about his whereabouts.

My pockets churned and quivered, disrupting my train of thoughts. I reached out inside my patch and took my phone out, gripped it in my hands. I slid the screen open and read the updated news sent by the game.

“Speak of the devil,” I cried, and continued scanning through the texts.

It was a lengthy blog that reached about two pages. The article also had two sets of pictures taken from the game before it turned dark and grim.

My eyes gawked at the verdant image of a forest filled with creeping plants and trees. The picture focuses on the mountain’s bottom, with a player marching inside. If I remember the place correctly, the woodland was a part of the Mainland. It led straight towards the Elven Kingdom after reaching the ruined bridge.

However, most players knew nothing about the elves. Those long-eared creatures hid apart from the world. Players considered these species as rare collectables that all gamers wished to have. An elf account can reach the markets for about two million yens in total just by selling the account.

Upon gazing at the adventurer, I recognised the peculiar recurve attached from his behind. I scrolled downwards and continued reading the article, only to find the name “Ryoshi” written in Kanji.

I reached into the lower box and read something that made my eyes widen in fright. My body even jerked backwards after deciphering the texts on my screen.

“Elves started the war against players. They killed several elf-players inside their Elven Kingdom. According to our sources, the Elven race killed one hundred players already, both elf adventurers and general players. Fortunately, we tracked down their hideout and schemed to put an end to their plots. We hope that the first batch of soldiers will be deployed to the game by Warner Asimov. He proposed a plan to complete the game soon. We will interview him again about this matter, so please stay tuned.”

“I think your son is still alive but barely living,” I announced.

“Did you find him?”

Her husband was the one who reacted and jolted from his seats. He grasped her hands on my shoulder tight and glared into my eyes. After realising his position, Ryoshi’s father released me from his grip and lowered his head.

“Sorry for my behaviour.”

“It’s fine,” I answered. “And yes, Ryoshi is the one in the picture.”

I showed my phone to the two worried parents. However, they cleared their throat and turned sceptical about the photo I had presented on my phone.

“Is this really Ryoshi?” The two of them asked in unison.

I nodded. These two parents knew nothing about the appearance of their son. This situation became onerous for me to handle.

“The article also mentioned that the elves planned on killing every player they see, including Ryoshi..” I pronounced.