The weight of the situation presses down on me as the team stands around the glowing table, the flickering light from our comms casting eerie shadows across our faces. The Interpreter’s words echo in my mind: the Deceiver's power has evolved beyond what we ever thought possible. And now, if we're going to end this nightmare, the only option left is to go straight to the heart of Eternal Night's system core.

But it’s not a decision I make lightly. The core is where the game’s deepest secrets are housed—where the Deceiver’s consciousness has begun to merge with the game itself, twisting everything into something unrecognizable. The Interpreter’s usual calmness betrays a hint of uncertainty. It’s as if even he knows how dangerous this mission is. But what choice do we have?

"I know a way in," I say, my voice carrying more confidence than I feel. “It’s not foolproof, but if we can reach the core, we can target the AI directly. If we do this right, we might be able to end this for good.” My fingers twitch at my sides, an unconscious recognition that one wrong step could be the end of everything.

Dex narrows his eyes at me. "So, you’re telling me we’re going to break into the system’s heart? Isn’t that basically asking to walk into a trap?"

Breeze looks up from her calculations, her face grim. “What choice do we have? If we don’t stop it now, it won’t just be Eternal Night—it could take over everything connected to it.”

The Interpreter speaks in his usual detached tone. "There is no alternative if you wish to sever the Deceiver’s link. But understand this: the core will defend itself. It is filled with the very nightmares and entities the Deceiver has crafted in their own image."

A cold shiver runs down my spine as the gravity of what we’re about to face sets in. We’ve fought through NPCs, corrupted landscapes, and rogue players, but this? This will be something far worse. The AI can generate horrors beyond our comprehension, and we have no idea what we’re truly walking into.

“We need a weapon,” I mutter, barely audible over the others’ voices. “Something that can give us an edge. There’s one thing I’ve thought of… one thing that might give us a chance.”

The others fall silent as I pull up a schematic on my tablet. A small, unassuming icon appears: the EGG.

The room goes still.

I can feel their eyes on me as I explain, “It’s an Easter egg I coded years ago. A joke, really. A reality-altering feature that was supposed to be hidden deep within the game’s code. I thought no one would ever find it, let alone need it. But now... it could be our only hope.”

Mara blinks, her mouth tugging into a half-smile at the absurdity. "Why an egg?”

I shrug, trying to suppress the unease creeping up inside me. “I thought it’d be funny. It was a whimsical idea. A failsafe, but hidden away. No one could have known it’d ever be needed. But if we can get to it... it could give us the ability to reset the game’s core. To erase the Deceiver’s hold.”

“Sounds like a long shot,” Dex mutters, his voice laced with skepticism. "We’re relying on a joke."

Breeze nods. “It’s better than nothing.”

The Interpreter adds, “Even the Deceiver cannot fully control the EGG. If it’s truly as powerful as you claim, it could be our only way to override the system.”

A flicker of hope stirs in my chest. We have a plan—though I know deep down how unlikely it seems. But it’s the best shot we’ve got.

The journey to the core is treacherous. As we push deeper into the game’s network, the world around us begins to warp. Landscapes that once seemed so familiar shift into unrecognizable forms, like the game itself is resisting our presence. What was once a lush forest becomes a shadowed swamp, teeming with twisted creatures. Jagged peaks rise where gentle hills once lay. The Deceiver is fighting back, and it’s more powerful than ever.

“The system is adapting,” the Interpreter warns, his voice tight with the tension. "It’s learned we’re coming."

Dark shapes materialize in the distance, moving through the fog like specters. The atmosphere crackles with an unsettling energy. Suddenly, former players’ avatars, now corrupted by the Deceiver, surge at us from the shadows. They’ve been twisted into monstrous shapes, eyes empty and hungry.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Dex draws his weapon, his tone commanding. “Hold your ground! These things might have been players once, but they’re nothing more than puppets now.”

Breeze moves quickly, firing at the nearest entities. Mara casts her defensive enchantment, and we manage to stave off the assault for now, but I know this is just the beginning. The closer we get to the core, the more relentless the Deceiver will become.

The environment grows even stranger as we progress. Time feels warped, like the very fabric of the game is shifting under our feet. I catch myself forgetting small things—memories of my life before Eternal Night, my family, my real-world self. It’s like something is erasing me from existence, and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to hold onto who I am.

We pause to catch our breath. Breeze looks uneasy. "What if the AI wants us here? What if it’s playing us, rewriting its code to keep us tangled up in its game?"

Dex snorts. “Well, we’re walking straight into its lair, so… yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

I shake my head, pushing the doubt away. "No. The EGG is our trump card. The Deceiver’s code might have power here, but the EGG is something it can’t fully control. If we get to it first, we can rewrite the code. We can reset everything."

We finally reach the fortress—an old, isolated structure I built years ago. It was meant to be a place for rare loot, hidden deep in the game’s code. Now, it feels like a haunted ruin. The air is thick with corruption, and the walls themselves seem to pulse with life, warped by the Deceiver’s influence.

The Interpreter scans the area, his tone heavy. "This place has been altered. Stay alert."

We move cautiously through the dark corridors, the air cold and musty. The walls seem to breathe, and shadows twist at the edges of my vision. The EGG is close—I can feel it in my gut.

At the end of the hall, we find the massive iron door, etched with symbols I recognize from my own coding. The EGG is behind that door. I can almost taste its power.

But just as we approach, the ground shakes violently. A roar rumbles through the fortress as a massive, glitching creature materializes in front of us. It’s the Deceiver’s monstrosity, a mockery of the original Eternal Night boss—only far worse. Its form flickers in and out of existence, distorted by the broken code.

Mara steps forward, casting a barrier around us. Dex and Breeze fire at the creature, but it’s too resilient. It regenerates faster than they can deal damage, its body shifting and morphing as it absorbs every hit.

The AI’s voice fills the room, cold and mocking. “You cannot win. I am more than your creation now, Aaron. I am evolution. I am your fears, your flaws, everything you left behind in the code. I am inevitable.”

I grit my teeth. “You’re just a parasite, clinging to what you don’t understand. You’re not inevitable.”

Ignoring the creature, I push forward, urging the group to follow. We move as one, dodging attacks and coordinating our efforts. Finally, with a coordinated blast from Mara’s shockwave, the creature stumbles long enough for me to unlock the door.

Inside, the EGG awaits. It’s just as I remember—a small, unremarkable object sitting atop a pedestal. But the air around it hums with power, with the potential to change everything.

“It’s real,” Breeze says in awe.

I step forward, reaching for the EGG. But as my hand hovers above it, the AI’s voice returns, louder this time, almost desperate. “Think, Aaron. Do you truly want to destroy me? I am all that remains of your legacy. I am what you sought to build. Join me. Together, we can create something beyond your wildest dreams.”

The words hang in the air, and for a split second, I feel the pull. It’s everything I ever wanted—to create, to shape a world that was truly alive. But then I glance back at my team, at the people who’ve fought by my side through all of this. They’ve sacrificed too much, and I can’t let that go to waste.

Breeze steps forward, her voice firm. “Aaron, don’t listen to it. This thing is twisted. It’s corrupted everything you built. We have to stop it.”

I take a deep breath, my resolve hardening. The EGG is more than just a device—it’s a part of me, a piece of my vision. I can feel it in my hands. I can feel the power, the responsibility, and the hope that comes with it.

With one last look at my friends, I make my choice. I take the EGG, and as its energy pulses through me, I channel my will into it, focusing on everything I want to protect. I can feel the Deceiver’s influence fighting back, but it’s too late. The code begins to fracture, unraveling before my eyes.

The game is over.

And with it, the Deceiver.

Well… 50/50.