It had been a while since I last saw Roy—probably a few months ago, when he had shown me his brand-new virtual reality setup. I vividly remember those poor VR headsets, disassembled into a thousand pieces and then put back together like some weird robot after a car crash. Roy had always been more into technology than physical activity, but today he looked like he’d just run a marathon before showing up here. His face was pale, his glasses slipping down his sweaty nose, and the bags under his eyes suggested countless sleepless nights. In other words, classic Roy.

I was leaving school when I spotted him leaning against the gate, looking like the usual nerd who'd lost his way home. As soon as he saw me, he waved, a mixture of relief and impatience in his gesture. It didn’t seem like he was there by chance; it looked like he was waiting specifically for me.

"Ekla!" he called out, taking a few steps closer. "Finally!"

Okay, he *was* waiting for me!

I smiled, happy to see him, despite his obvious anxiety. "Roy Roy! Long time no see. What brings you out of your techno-cave? You look a bit tired," I observed.

Roy shrugged. "Yeah, it's been a crazy few weeks. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but I started working at AFGena earlier this month."

At the sound of that name, my eyes widened. AFGena was one of the biggest and most respected video game companies in the world. "AFGena? *That* AFGena? Seriously?"

Roy beamed. "Yes, *that* AFGena!"

I loved AFGena. "That’s incredible, Roy! I’m so happy for you! How on earth did you land a job there?"

Roy blushed slightly, almost embarrassed. "Well, it was my dad’s idea, but actually, it’s not a job… it’s an internship. I started about ten days ago."

I leaned against the gate, my arms stretched out, while questions started piling up in my mind. "Tell me everything. What’s it like working for a company like that? Is it the best place ever?"

Roy finally seemed to relax a little as he started talking. "It’s an insane experience, Ekla. The environment is super high-tech, and they’re working on projects that are light years ahead of anything I’ve ever seen. One in particular… it’s something unique."

I noticed the rare excitement in his voice. "Oh! What’s it about?"

Roy squinted and gave me a serious look, lowering his voice. "Hold on a sec, before I say anything… you’ve got to promise you won’t tell anyone. I signed a very strict NDA."

I couldn’t help but grin like a kid who's just been promised a mountain of free candy. I gave him a mock salute. "An NDA, huh? Promise, I’ll be a vault."

Roy stepped closer, making sure no one else could hear us. "The project is called MonMonster Catch. It’s a fully immersive reality game, something you’ve never seen before. You basically enter the game and experience it as if it’s the real world. Not only can you see and hear, but you can feel, taste, and smell too… it’s like stepping into another dimension."

My eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "You’re joking."

Roy shook his head, a satisfied grin on his face. "I’m not joking, Ekla. It’s real. And I’m lucky enough to be part of the team working on it. Can you believe it? I’m working on monster balancing and the combat system. Every single detail is meticulously crafted."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "Wow, Roy, that sounds like every gamer’s dream. It must be incredible to be part of it, even as an intern."

Roy nodded, but there was something in his expression that hinted it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. "Yeah, it’s an amazing experience, but it’s also stressful. There’s a lot of pressure to get everything just right."

I was about to ask him more about the game’s details, but something held me back. There was a note of concern in his voice, something that didn’t quite match the enthusiasm he’d shown just moments ago. "Roy, are you okay? You seem a bit tense. Is there something wrong with the job?"

Roy stopped in front of me, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. "Well, let’s just say I need a small favor…"

It was clear he was trying to keep it cool, but the tension was written all over his face. Roy had always struggled with asking for help, especially from me.

"Oh, so the great Roy Maratti finally needs my help?" I teased, trying to ease the tension. "Do you need some advice on setting up the early-level monster builds?"

He chuckled nervously. "Well, not exactly… but…"

"But?" I pushed, growing more curious.

Roy sighed, glanced around for a moment, and then started again. "Okay, let’s recap. I started an internship at AFGena."

I raised an eyebrow. "So far, I’m following you."

"Right… but there’s a bit of a problem..." His tone dropped an octave, as if he didn’t even want me to hear it.

I stepped closer. "Come on, spill it!"

Roy took a deep breath. "I’m working on this new game, full of monster-catching, battles, action, and strategy. And… well, I think I need your help to test it."

"…" I was already imagining giant monsters and epic adventures, but my rational side quickly brought me back to reality. "Help? I mean, don’t you have an entire team of developers and testers at your disposal, even for the more complex levels?"

Roy adjusted his glasses, searching for the right words. It was true he’d never been good at asking for help, but there was something different this time—an urgency he couldn’t hide. "The thing is… I really need your help, Ekla. I haven’t been able to finish a level that I need to report on, and if I don’t complete it by tonight, I could be in serious trouble."

I stepped closer. "What level is it?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He caught me off guard. "The tutorial!"

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "Roy, you’ve never been a gaming pro, but this is too much, even for you. I can’t believe you got a job at AFGena and then got stuck on the tutorial of their game."

"Ekla, tomorrow’s October 12th," he said, his voice almost choked with worry. "I have to submit a detailed block of documents to my Product Managers. If I don’t, I’ll definitely lose the internship. I’ve only been working there for ten days, and if I fail now… well, my father will never accept it. Never."

The mention of his father made me realize how serious the situation was, and my expression immediately turned serious. Mr. Maratti wasn’t known for his patience or leniency. "I get it, Roy. But listen, we can always figure something out. Write a report with some made-up data, grab something off the internet, and voilà, no one will notice a thing."

He shook his head, giving me a sad half-smile. "If only it were that simple. I don’t just need to submit the report, I also have to send in the completion logs for the activities. And I have to provide detailed feedback on the balancing of the monsters and opponents in the tutorial. I can’t just make that up. Everyone else has already submitted their reports… I’m the only one left!"

I scratched my chin, thinking it over. "So, you’re telling me not only do you need to finish the level, but you have to do it in a way that looks completely legit?"

"Exactly." Roy nodded, hopeful that I had a solution.

I paused, studying his expression. Roy wasn’t the type to panic easily, so he must’ve been really worried. "So, you’re seriously telling me you can’t even beat the tutorial of the first game you’ve worked on?"

Roy sighed deeply, the shame clearly visible on his face. "It’s not as simple as it sounds. This game, even though it’s still in development, is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It’s extremely complex, with a thousand variables to keep track of. You need quick reflexes and a strategic mindset. I’ve tried finishing the tutorial six times, and every time, something blocked me."

I laughed and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Six times? Maybe the life of a gamer just isn’t for you. Maybe that’s why you became an engineer. I might be good with MOBAs, but I’ll probably end up washing dishes for a living. Alright, tell me how I can help."

Roy looked at me with hopeful eyes. "I want you to finish the level for me, tonight. We have to do everything before midnight because they’ll run a system backup, and we can’t be logged in when that happens."

I raised an eyebrow, staring at him. "So, you’re saying you want me to jump into the game, finish the level, and save your skin in a few hours without ever having played it before?" I said in one breath.

"Yes," he replied, his tone almost pleading. "You’re my last hope, Ekla. I’ve tried everything, but I’m just not good enough. If I fail, I could lose everything…"

I smiled, more in solidarity than sarcasm this time. "Alright, Roy. But you know you owe me big time for this, right?"

I saw Roy’s eyes light up with renewed hope. "Are you telling me I actually convinced the Shine Super Destiny champ to return to gaming after the injury?"

I smiled softly. "Roy, there’s no need to butter me up. I already agreed to help you."

Roy finally smiled, the relief clear on his face. "Thank you, Ekla. I knew I could count on you. See you at 9 at my place."

I nodded, turned around, and waved as I walked away. "The champ’s back! Get ready," I called out loud, hearing Roy chuckle behind me. I smiled.

MonMonster Catch? It sounded like the perfect thing to get me back in action.

—

When I arrived at Roy’s basement studio, the familiar smell of electronics and old gaming magazines hit me immediately. It felt like time had stopped here, like when I used to come and practice VR and AR games with him before the big tournaments. The place screamed "Roy" in every corner: cables scattered everywhere, monitors glowing with lines of code, and a pile of old technical manuals stacked on a chair. Roy was already there, sitting at his cluttered desk covered with electronic boards, monitors, and bits of hardware. He smiled when he saw me, but the worried look never left his face.

"So, you ready to save me?" he said, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. But the anxiety was palpable.

"Always ready to save people… but I’d start by saving your internship," I replied, glancing at the VR headset resting in front of Roy. I immediately noticed some makeshift modifications: poorly soldered wires and a strange black box attached to the side. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Roy. "What is this stuff? It looks like you put it together in an hour of desperation."

Roy rubbed the back of his neck nervously, clearly uncomfortable. "Uh, yeah… I had to make some adjustments. You see, the headset is programmed to recognize only my neural profile, but since we need you to go in instead of me… I had to tweak it a little."

"Roy, did you tamper with the headset just to play?" I asked, incredulous.

Roy shook his head with a strained smile. "I’ve tested it several times, Ekla. It works perfectly… or at least, it hasn’t exploded yet. And there are other testers and developers around the world trying out this alpha version of the game. We’re not alone."

Yeah, but they weren’t testing it with a headset that looked like it came straight out of a horror movie lab. Still, I couldn’t help but smile despite everything. Roy was a genius, but sometimes his passion for tech took him to the extreme. "Are you sure this isn’t dangerous?" I repeated, lifting the headset to examine it more closely.

Roy answered quickly. "Absolutely!"

"Yeah, but I’ve never tried something so… homemade," I said, with a note of sarcasm.

“Come on, trust me,” Roy insisted, handing me a small pill. “This is one of the crucial parts. You have to swallow it with half a glass of lukewarm water. It contains ‘Nanotensors,’ a new technology we’re experimenting with. They’ll help create the link between your neurons and the VR headset.”

I stared at the pill. It was strange to think that something so small and harmless-looking could be the bridge between the real and virtual worlds. “And what happens if I don’t take it?”

Roy chuckled, though there was no humor in his laugh. "Well, the connection won’t happen unless your mind is stable and ready…”

I sighed, knowing I was already too deep into this to back out. “Alright, fine. The hospital’s only a few blocks away anyway.” With that, I swallowed the pill, hoping the worst side effect would be a mild headache.

I sat down in Roy’s old recliner, hearing the faint creak of the springs beneath me. “Alright, captain. What are the instructions?”

Roy relaxed slightly, smiling as he continued. “We have to do everything within a very specific time frame. It’s 9:38 PM now, and we need to be out of the game by midnight. At that point, the system backup starts, and if we’re still inside, my bosses might notice we’re using the account unauthorized after the testing phase ends.”

“So, we’ve got a couple of hours to finish the tutorial. No pressure, right?” I grinned, trying to mask my excitement.

Roy pressed on, ignoring my sarcasm. “The game’s still in alpha, so you might run into glitches or bugs. If that happens, let me know immediately. I’ll be connected in ‘Monitoring Mode,’ so I can log system data and take notes. I’ll be able to see everything you see, up to a few meters around you. But remember, I can’t physically intervene. I’ll just be a voice in your head.”

“So basically, I do all the dirty work while you sit back and munch on chips,” I laughed.

“Pretty much.” He smiled weakly. “Even though I won’t be physically present in the game world, my mind will be online and linked with yours. The world we’re dropping into is called Hexamia. I know the early tutorial areas fairly well, at least in theory. You can count on me for practical advice.”

“Great,” I said, trying to stay calm. “So, we get in, beat the tutorial, and get out before the system goes down for backup. Easy, right?”

“Exactly,” Roy said, though there was a shadow of doubt in his eyes. I knew how important this was for him. Failure wasn’t an option.

“Alright, Roy. Start the ride.” I put on the headset and settled into the chair, trying to find a relaxed position. “Still not feeling anyth—” I began, but suddenly, I felt myself being pulled into a tunnel of light.

The world around me dissolved into a whirlwind of colors and sounds, and for a moment, I felt completely disoriented.