He froze for a moment. Was there still a place for the real Rick, or was he consumed by Scarlet's illusion? No answer was given.

Rick leaned back in his chair and smiled bitterly at the screen. The old profile looked pathetic. Worn-out armor textures, simple weapons, no sparkle, no charisma. Everything that once seemed significant now looked ridiculous against the background of luxurious modern avatars.

"Who the fuck is playing like that anymore?" He muttered, tapping his finger lightly on the mouse.

He opened the inventory. Emptiness. A few basic skins, a couple of outdated bonuses, and old trophies that once seemed valuable. All this only emphasized its abandonment.

—Fuck it, Silenus,— he chuckled. — You've really become something like a dinosaur.

But it was this simplicity and angularity that somehow stirred something in his soul. He remembered the days when every step in the game was a real challenge. When skins for real money were a luxury, and victory was a reward for hours of work, not for tons of donations. He played fair in those days. Back then, he had not yet hidden behind someone else's voice and used other people's feelings for profit. It all happened because of Marucho's death and the subsequent change of leadership on the board of the corporation, which changed its previous policy towards Wirsal.

—Okay, Silent,— he said aloud, as if trying to inspire himself. — Today we will try to remember what it feels like to be real.

He clicked on the "Log in" button, and the server started loading. A slight feeling of excitement prickled in his chest. It seemed like it wasn't just entering the game, but returning to the past.

The light from the screen reflected in his eyes, making them shine like a man who had found an old friend again.

But even when the interface loaded, and Rick found himself in an old city filled with new faces, he felt a slight discomfort. It was as if he was being watched. No, not other players. It was Scarlet's shadow that seemed to be looking at him reproachfully. Her image was too vivid, too strong to just disappear.

—Funny,— he muttered, looking around at his old avatar. "Even here, in my old skin, I can still feel her next to me.

He sighed and took his first step into a game world full of contradictions. Quickly leaving the busy city streets, Silent headed for the portal, north of the city, which teleported players directly to the entrance of the goblin dungeon. After casting a spell, Silent disappeared into the bright light, arriving at the entrance to the dungeon, Silent jumped into it without hesitation, while messages about player victories in tournaments were coming in the notifications.

The faint glow of crystals soldered into the stone walls barely dispelled the thick, oily darkness of the dungeon. The air was heavy, cold, and permeated with dampness, as if the stone itself was squeezing moisture out of itself. Every step was accompanied by a dull echo, which threateningly spread into the distance, reminding that this place had long forgotten about the presence of light or warmth.

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Silent froze at the entrance to the corridor, listening to the rustling. Somewhere far away, there was a hoarse growl, like the guttural sound of an awakening beast. The dim light of the torches cast flickering shadows that danced across the walls, like the shadows of the past come to life.

Rick's fingers gripped the mouse tightly, and his heart began to beat faster in his chest. His character slowly moved forward, the blades flashing crimson, reflecting the faint light. The mechanics of the game were perfect — every rustle underfoot, every vibration of the earth was remotely transmitted through the speakers.

The very walls of the dungeon seemed to be alive. It seemed as if black liquid was about to burst out of the porous cracks or an eye would appear, following Silen's every move. The wind, although weak, felt real — it stirred the flaps of the mantle, making the textures sway as if the player was in the real world.

—Welcome back, Silen," he whispered, clutching the mouse as if it were the hilts of his daggers.

There was movement in the shadows to the left. Silent, having reflexively activated the ability "Call of shadows", disappeared, leaving behind a barely noticeable smoke. A pair of massive goblins came out of hiding, their eyes glowing yellow, reflecting bloodlust. Their breathing was heavy and ragged, as if they were wheezing instead of breathing. One of them, armed with a huge axe, raised a weapon that shone with a jet-black luster.

The interface suggested that his goal was to eliminate the main boss, the Thunder Lord, and collect an artifact that provided a powerful bonus to stealth and attack speed. Ordinary players didn't even dare to try to get it alone. But Rick knew that if he could pull off this solo, he would not only regain a sense of his former skill, but also remind everyone in the game who Silent was. In addition, it will significantly reduce the gap from other pro players.

The character slipped into the shadows, almost merging with the surroundings. Rick tensed, listening for every sound. The ability to control Silence returned to him quickly, as if he had never left the game. The first group of enemies appeared around the corner—three thug guards with huge axes. Their level was much higher than his current one, but Rick just smiled maniacally.

"Let's see if I still have my old skill," he muttered, activating the Shadow Strike ability.

Silent disappeared into the haze and instantly appeared behind the first guard. The blade flashed with a crimson light before the opponent could raise his weapon. One is down. The others turned around, but it was too late. Silent, like a shadow, slid to the next enemy. His movements were fast and precise. A few seconds later, both guards collapsed to the ground.

Rick felt his heart beat faster. Emotions overwhelmed him, just like in the good old days, when every victory seemed to mean something.

"I still remember how to do it," he chuckled, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Moving deeper into the dungeon, he came across traps and new enemies. Every fight was a challenge, but Rick didn't give up, with the corpses of hundreds of slashed goblins lying behind him. Soon, he found himself in front of a massive door that led to the main hall. The boss was waiting for him inside.

"Well, Thunderlord," he said, holding his breath. — It's time to remind you why Silent was a legend.

He activated all his powerups, drank 3 bottles of potions giving a +10% attack speed buff, and without hesitation, pushed open the heavy door. A bright electric glow flashed in the hall, and a giant monster appeared in front of him with a hammer that could smash him in one blow. This was the Thunder Lord, the legendary boss of the middle dungeon that every player dreamed of killing. His eyes glowed bright blue like lightning bolts, and the hammer he held seemed so massive that a single blow could wipe Silent off the face of the virtual world. With a booming growl, the monster stepped forward, and his every step vibrated in his headphones, as if Rick was not in a virtual world, but was in this gloomy dungeon in reality. The stones under the Lord's feet crumbled, scattering to the sides. Electric sparks ran across his armor, and the air around him crackled with tension. The other goblins parted as if afraid to approach their master.

—Let's start the show," Rick said with a smile, preparing for the final battle.