I Don't Need To Log Out

June clicked on the second headline.

[Is This Really a Game? (Ongoing Discussion)]

This post had been circulating near the top of the forums for a while now, and for good reason.

The number of people questioning the nature of EVR was growing by the day.

June wasn't surprised.

She had known the truth for months now, but watching others slowly put the pieces together was both fascinating and unsettling.

She opened the thread and began reading.

***

[Is This Really a Game? (Ongoing Discussion)]

"Alright, I know this discussion has been going on for a while, but let's put everything we know in one place.

First, the most obvious point—this game is too advanced. The leap in technology is too big.

We went from basic VR headsets to fully immersive full-dive in the span of what? A year?

Technology doesn't advance in giant leaps. It builds up gradually. And yet, somehow, we all just accepted that Zeno exists without questioning how.

Second, no one knows who the developers are.

Think about it. We don't even know which company released EVR anymore.

When the game first launched, we were told it was developed by an unknown group of geniuses working in secret. No big names. No corporate backing.

But now? No one even remembers who made it.

Try searching for the original announcement. Try finding an interview. You won't.

Third—and this one is recent—Zeno capsules don't work the way we thought they did.

Originally, we were told that a physical connection to the capsule was required for the brain-interface to function.

But now, turns out that's not true.

Someone tested it. They unplugged the capsule while someone was inside.

You'd think that would instantly disconnect them, right?

Nope. It took seconds before they were forcefully ejected.

Why? How? If this was just a game, the second the cable was out, the system should have lost power and disconnected.

Instead, it's like something was delaying the disconnection—like the person wasn't inside the capsule anymore, but somewhere else entirely." [Post Owner]

***

- "You forgot the biggest piece of evidence. If a player dies to an opposite faction player, they can't log in again.

Not only that, but their Zeno capsule also breaks. We've all seen the posts. People who got killed by the Keldars can't re-enter EVR.

Their capsules become completely unresponsive. Explain that. If this was just a game, why would the hardware itself stop working?" [Answer]

- "I agree with both PO and the guy above me. Here's another weird thing: You can do anything in EVR. A mage can pick up a sword and use it.

An assassin can use a shield. There are no class restrictions. Well, except that not all classes can cast magic spells.

In any normal MMO, skills and abilities are locked behind specific roles. Here? If you train, you can learn anything. That's not how games work. That's how reality works." [Answer]

- "Lmao, you guys need to touch grass. You're acting like this is some kind of isekai novel." [Answer]

- "Next thing you know, they'll say EVR is a government experiment to send people to another dimension." [Answer]

- "Mock all you want, but be careful. If this is real, and if you're on the wrong side, don't forget that the NPCs aren't real NPCs.

They don't revive. They don't respawn. When they die, they die permanently." [Answer]

***

June stared at the words for a moment before leaning back in her chair.

That was a sobering thought.

She had already come to terms with it long ago.

But for the average player, that realization would be terrifying.

They weren't just playing a game.

They were part of something far bigger.

She clicked out of the thread.

Exactly what I expected.

She took a deep breath and moved her cursor to another headline.

This one would be fun.

***

[Can Arlon Really Be a Prophet?]

"I don't remember exactly when this happened, but it wasn't long after the game was released. Probably around the time Arlon hit level 100.

There was this news segment on Channel X.

I remember it clearly because Jihan—yeah, the PC game genius—was one of the guests.

But the real highlight was the other guest: Kane.

You know, that Kane. The conspiracy theorist from Wetube.

At the time, we all laughed at what he said.

He was going on about how this game was sent by the gods or some higher beings or whatever.

And more importantly—he claimed that Arlon was either a prophet or the 'chosen one.'

Crazy, right?

Except… can we really laugh at it anymore?" [Post Owner]

***

- Kane is a proven lunatic. (Okay, not legally proven, but come on.) This is the same guy who said the moon landing was staged by lizard people. [Answer]

- Are you seriously watching that guy? This forum is getting weird. [Answer]

- I mean… if the game is real, then technically, that possibility isn't impossible. [Answer]

- Lmao, next you'll tell me Arlon is going to bring the apocalypse. [Answer]

- So what's next? We start praying to him? 'Our Father, who art in EVR, hallowed be thy username'? [Answer]

***

June stared at the screen for a moment, then exhaled sharply through her nose.

This last post was ridiculous.

A prophet? Seriously?

She had expected weird theories, but this was on another level.

Sure, one could argue that Agema was technically a god—at least to Trionians. But even then, she wasn't the kind of divine being people thought of when they said "god." She wasn't some omnipotent, all-seeing entity.

And even if she was… that still wouldn't make Arlon a prophet.

He wasn't receiving divine guidance or grand revelations. He was just… Arlon.

Although…

June tapped her fingers against her desk, frowning slightly.

Was there really no one backing him up?

Agema was helping him, but that was more like a mentor-student relationship. And Arlon had his own reasons for growing stronger—he wasn't being chosen by anyone.

But still…

Is there even that kind of god in Trion?

She quickly shook the thought away. It was pointless to dwell on things she had no answers for.

With a sigh, she moved her mouse and closed the forum tab.

She had seen enough.

There was no need to check the remaining headlines—especially the one about the so-called "secret leveling spot." She already knew exactly what it would say.

Instead, she leaned back in her chair and stretched.

Time to do something more productive.

Since she spent far more time inside the Tower than outside, she needed to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything important.

And that included her coding skills.

With a few clicks, she pulled up her work files and got to it.

Even if she was practically living in another world, she wasn't about to fall behind in this one.