As always, Evan kept his eyes down and avoided everyone.
If there was one thing he truly hated, it was how people constantly made fun of his weight. Yes, he was chubby—but it wasn't like he chose to be. Still, they called him names like "fat pig," and laughed behind his back.
He didn't talk to anyone, didn't play with anyone. He only spoke when he had to, and that was mostly with teachers.
Evan was smart—really smart. Whenever a teacher asked a question, he always knew the answer. But he never raised his head. He kept his eyes glued to his desk, trying not to give anyone a reason to pick on him.
Right now, he just sat there, quietly counting down the seconds until the bell rang. Home was his only safe space. Once there, he'd lock himself in his room and dive into his video games. In that world, he wasn't the chubby kid everyone mocked—he was a legend. Even the same people who bullied him in real life unknowingly admired him online.
Nobody knew who he really was. Not a single soul. But his gamer name—PLAYER-488—was all over the internet. Every gaming server, every social media post. Everyone was talking about him.
"Man, that guy's a beast," one of Evan's classmates said as he walked into the classroom with his friends. "He might be the best player to ever play that game."
Evan didn't look up. He didn't need to. He recognized all their voices. Looking at them would only invite more problems.
Another student chimed in, shaking his head. "I still don't get how anyone passed level 12—especially beat the Demon King. That stage is supposed to be unbeatable. Even pro players with maxed-out gear can't touch it. And this guy made it all the way to level 16 and finished the game?"
"What's even crazier," a third person said, "is that he only started playing three months ago—and he just finished the whole game last night."
"Three years," someone else muttered. "That's how long I've been stuck on level 5. And this guy just breezed through it like it was nothing?"
"You haven't even seen his stats," the first boy jumped in. "He started from E-rank and hit SSS-rank in just one month—by the time he reached level 7. And guess what? He never spent a single coin. Didn't buy any weapons or skills."
"That's true," another guy said. "Luiz posted about it too. All his gear came from random players in the same lobby. They just gave him stuff to help out. Ever since then, he's been leveling up like a total beast."
"He's basically famous now," someone added. "People are sending him free coins. And since the game lets you cash out real money now—he's probably loaded."
"Yeah, and no one even knows who he is," someone whispered. "What if he's not real? Maybe just a bot the game makers created to keep people hooked."
"Right? After five years of no one beating the game, this PLAYER-488 guy shows up and finishes it in one night?"
"Even his name sounds fake," another laughed. "No cool gamer tag, just some numbers. But he's also the top player in Legendary Beast Maze. Not the only one who cleared it—but still way ahead of everyone in Infinite Demon Castle."
"They're giving him five million bucks," someone else said. "The devs are even putting his picture on the main banner."
"I saw it on Luiz's blog," another added. "And Luiz never gets gaming news wrong."
Evan just sat there, listening quietly. His chest swelled with pride. He chuckled to himself, feeling like a king—but he didn't dare smile. If they ever found out he was PLAYER-488, they'd never believe it. Or worse… they'd laugh. Maybe even beat him up harder.
So, like always, Evan stayed quiet.
But his small moment of peace didn't last long. A crumpled piece of paper hit the back of his head.
He turned around slowly. It was Becky and her group of mean girls. As soon as they saw him looking, they burst out laughing.
"Oh look," Becky said loudly, "the chair just gained five pounds!"
Another girl giggled and added, "Someone help that desk. It's begging for mercy."
Becky faked a sad face. "Maybe if you roll fast enough, Evan, you'll crash into a gym."
They all cracked up, giving each other high-fives like they were on stage.
Evan didn't respond. He just turned away and laid his head back down, hoping the bell would ring soon and end it all.
The girls kept laughing, and every second felt like forever. They watched Evan squirm, enjoying every bit of it.
But what hurt the most—what really made it worse—was that Evan actually had a crush on Becky.
He didn't even know why. Maybe it was her laugh before she turned mean… or how she walked around like she owned the place.
But he knew it would never happen. A girl like her would never look at him—not unless it was to insult him.
So, like always, he pushed the thought away.
Then finally, the school bell rang through the speakers. Evan didn't wait. He grabbed his bag and rushed out the door.
This time, the boys didn't even notice him. They were too busy talking about PLAYER-488 to bother making fun of him.
If only they knew.
"I'd love to see their faces…" Evan thought, hands tucked into his pockets as he walked home.
"When the creators of Infinite Demon Castle post my photo as PLAYER-488—maybe then, finally, they'll treat me with some respect."
A small smile crept onto his face.
Even Becky had sent him a message on the game server, practically begging to be his friend. And she wasn't the only one—dozens of others had messaged too, all wanting to meet him, talk to him, or team up.
But that smile didn't last.
"What if they hate me the second they see me in real life?"
He let out a sigh.
"I know I'm not good-looking. I probably seem like some weird, obsessed gamer… But I'm not just anyone. I'm the top player in the country right now."
It was the one thing that kept him going. The one thing he could hold onto.
"Tomorrow's the weekend," he muttered. "I need a new game to stay busy. Not in the mood to scroll through fandom drama on Infinite Demon Castle servers again."
His steps quickened as he made a sharp turn down the alley. Mr. Parker's shop was just ahead—a small but cozy gaming store tucked between a laundromat and a bakery.
A few minutes later, Evan walked in.
"Evan!" Mr. Parker greeted, beaming behind the counter. "I was hoping you'd stop by today."
Mr. Parker wasn't just a store owner. He was the one person Evan could genuinely call a friend. With him, Evan didn't have to pretend. They joked, argued about game mechanics, shared theories—it was one of the few places Evan actually felt like he belonged.
"You heard the trending news?" Parker asked.
Evan raised a brow. "What news?"
"About Infinite Demon Castle—someone finally finished it! I saw it all over the forums this morning."
"Oh," Evan replied flatly, disappointed. He thought Parker had found a new game for the weekend, something fresh.
Parker noticed something had changed in Evan's mood. "What's wrong? Don't tell me that game's already too easy for you."
"It was," Evan replied, completely serious.
Parker blinked. "Come on, no way. I've been stuck on level nine for months! I'm pretty sure I told you about the game just a few weeks ago. Don't tell me you gave up already?"
Evan gave him a small, teasing smile. "Can I trust you with a secret?"
Mr. Parker stood up a little straighter, picking up on Evan's serious tone. "Of course you can."
Evan pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and held it up for Parker to see. On the screen was a screenshot of a game profile. Bold letters at the top: Username: PLAYER-488.
Parker's face went stiff.
"Wait… you're kidding, right?" he whispered, eyes going wide. "Please tell me you photoshopped that."
"It's real," Evan said calmly.
"But… you just started this game three months ago!" Parker leaned closer, squinting at the screen. "Wait—you're PLAYER-488?"
Evan gave a small nod.
Parker froze, eyes wide, mouth half open. He looked like his brain just hit pause.
The silence said it all.
"I still can't believe it," Mr. Parker finally said, staring at the screen like it might change. "I've been grinding that game for five years, Evan. And you finished it in three months?"
Evan slipped his phone back into his pocket with a shrug. "I'm not saying it's easy," he said, calm as ever, "but it's not the impossible monster people think it is."
He leaned on the counter, more at ease now.
"See, in most games, once you max out your gear, you feel untouchable. But not here. Sure, upgraded weapons let you land deadly hits on the demons—but even with SSS rank powers, one fatal hit from them? Boom. You're back in the lobby."
Mr. Parker let out a low whistle. "And you still beat it?"
"I died more times than a failed YouTuber's dream," Evan muttered. "But yeah. I made it."
"Mr. Parker stared at Evan for a moment, then reached under the counter and pulled out a small black box.
"I think I've got something for you," he said. "Something… different."
Evan raised an eyebrow. "A secret game?"
"Kind of. But it's not for sale. And you don't get to pick it."
Evan blinked. "Huh? What does that mean?"
"The game chooses you," Parker said, his eyes narrowing a little.
Evan looked at him for a second—then burst out laughing. "Alright, Gandalf. What's next, I get a magic sword and a talking raccoon for a sidekick?"
Parker didn't laugh. Didn't even crack a smile.
"I'm serious."
Evan's grin faded. "…Wait, really?"
"Really," Parker said. "Ever heard of a game called Azra?"