The pedestrian lights flashed green, and I crossed the empty road.

It had been a bit over a week since I arrived in Platinum. In total, I had seen cars on the road maybe four or five times. At this point I waited for the pedestrian lights mostly out of habit. It wasn't like there were any cars driving by. And even if one rammed into me, I'd soak up the damage just fine. My HP was high enough now that I could shrug off a hit that'd splatter an ordinary human.

By the time I arrived in Platinum, I had reached level 10, thanks to all the fights I had been through near the end of Gold. My stats had grown substantially.

[SOPHIA

HP: 1400/1400

MP: 950/950

Arcana Point: 350 (+105)]

I continued down the crosswalk on the other side. The crosswalk, too, was barren, and I walked alone. This city felt even more deserted than the suburb back in Gold. I could roam the streets here for hours on end before running into anyone. I'd wager there were more skyscrapers here than people. The city spanned several miles across, and I doubted this place had over a thousand people. I was practically alone. The few times I saw others on the street, it was from afar, and I had steered clear of them to be safe.

And it was always nighttime. Strangely, the plants here, normal-looking trees and flowers, could survive without much problem. I chalked it up to magic.

At last, I arrived at my destination. McDonalds.

Generous lighting illuminated the restaurant, and the silence greeted me as I entered. Inside, it was empty and clean. A robot – like the ones found in the Arena – stood by the counter motionlessly.

"A Big Mac meal please," I said, and paid the robot $3. Footsteps rumbled in the room behind. After a short wait, another robot stepped out and handed me my order, packaged and warm.

Robots staffed the shops here. Food was reasonably cheap compared to back on earth, as were most other items. And I had a bit over $300,000 with me, taken from the Bounty Hall's treasury while I was the leader.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I sat down at a table and began to eat. The Big Mac tasted just like back home. The flavored cheese, the salty meat and sauce, the pickles and bits of onion.

In this city, I was alone. I was lost. But each day, without fail, I would find the Big Mac. And it would find me.

If I persevered, I'd be back home soon. I'd be able to go back once I beat Platinum. That was a wild thought. At long last, the finishing line had arrived within reach. It had been a fantasy I dared not entertain until now. Mom. Dad. Are you still waiting for me? Soon, I could be back in the city I left behind. I'd be back in the neighborhood where I grew up and went to school. My friends and classmates would be there. I'd finally get to see everyone again. Almost everyone. But not the ones taken away by this death game.

The door swung open behind me. I jerked around while reaching for my gun.

"Wait!" cried a panicked voice. It was a human.

He stood frozen at the door, staring at me and my gun, chest heaving. He seemed young, perhaps high school or college age. He carried no weapon with him. Nor did he wear armor; he had on a simple navy-blue hoodie, unzipped to reveal a pine-green tee beneath. And he wore ripped jeans and skateboarding shoes. His brown hair was unkempt and had a slight curl. He lacked any semblance of a warrior who had survived until Platinum.

"What are you doing here?" I interrogated. Those words felt strange on my tongue. I realized, it was my first time talking to a human since arriving here.

"Uh, well," he began. "I usually come here to eat. Once a week. Kind of as my cheat meal."

He chuckled nervously and eased the door close behind himself.

"Well, uh…" he continued. "That was, until you started coming. I decided to avoid you, since, you know, we don't know each other. I didn't know if you were a cold-blooded killer or anything."

"I don't see a reason to fight you," I told him.

"I mean, I didn't know that. Uh, anyways. I came back the next day instead, and saw you here again. And, uh, it turned out you came here every day, for, like, ten days straight. I was actually getting concerned."

"About?" I asked.

He shifted his weight back and forth. "I guess…your mental health? Sorry, no offense. I just don't know why you kept coming here."

I sighed. "Look, I like cheeseburgers."

"Oh. OK."

He walked over, slowly and cautiously, like if I were a gang member or something. "Mind if I join?" he asked with a sheepish voice.

I really, really didn't know what to think of this guy. Looks might be deceiving, but so far he seemed harmless enough. Also, was I just holding up his go-to McDonalds this whole time? How was I supposed to know that?

"Do what you want," I finally said.

Ugh. I hadn't interacted with anyone since arriving here, and my social skills were already rusting over.

He sat down opposite me.

"So," he said. "Mind if I take one of your fries?"

I sighed once more. "Do what you want."