The world erupted in chaos as the massive letters appeared in the sky.

Reactions varied widely, from conspiracy theorists blaming the U.S. government to doomsday preachers proclaiming the end times. But those who played *Arcana Online* knew what this meant.

With billions of *Arcana Online* players worldwide, the news spread quickly, dominating headlines for days.

As for me, I moved in with Leah for a while.

She was probably too worried to leave me alone.

“If anything feels uncomfortable, just let me know. I’ll fix it,” she offered.

“I’m already comfortable. Besides, I’ve been coming over regularly to work out with you. What’s there to worry about?”

I reassured Leah, glancing at the numbers hovering in the sky.

So much time left…

Whatever those numbers mean, if they lead me to my little dragon, then that’s all that matters.

Every day, as I gazed up at the sky, Leah coordinated with our guild members, just in case something unexpected happened.

Today, Leah drove us to meet the guild members for a planning meeting.

“It’s your first time meeting the guild in real life, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I’ve only seen them at the guild headquarters.”

“They’re all good people, so everything should go smoothly.”

Entering the restaurant, we were led to a private room where several people were already gathered.

I recognized the familiar faces from the game, yet they looked strange without their character features.

Most of all, Sasha seemed almost unrecognizable without her signature ears.

“Kyaa! Yuna, you’re even cuter in real life! No, you’re even cuter than I imagined!”

Sasha hugged me with joy.

“Sasha, it’s strange seeing you without your ears and tail.”

“What did you say?! Take that back!”

“Ow, ow! That hurts!”

With a mischievous grin, she pinched my cheeks until Leah rescued me, sparing my poor face.

As we settled in, Leah started speaking.

“We don’t know what the letters in the sky mean, but one thing is clear: it’s connected to *Arcana Online*.”

“So… could things from the game show up in reality like in novels?”

“There’s a possibility.”

Leah continued, describing the strange events that had happened in *Arcana Online*.

“Remember how players could tame monsters from the continent? But at some point, creatures from another dimension began attacking Arcana.”

With that, Leah pulled out a projector.

The screen filled with footage showing various scenes.

“I heard from a friend working in the Celestial Realm that high-ranking angels gather daily to discuss these dimensional intruders.”

They had tried everything to fend off the invaders, but the attacks on Arcana grew more frequent, and both the Celestial and Demon Realms suffered heavy losses.

“And then, the game was abruptly shut down, and those letters appeared in the sky. It’s as if the game could affect reality.”

“Come on, Leader. That’s straight out of a fantasy novel. How is that possible?”

“If you’re curious, look up at the sky.”

“Oh… it’s possible.”

Sasha scratched her head, sheepish.

As I held her hand to steady her, she seemed relieved.

“So, the question is, how exactly is *Arcana Online* affecting our world?”

The most plausible scenarios were twofold.

The first possibility was that Arcana’s continent would appear in the real world. The second was that we would be transported to the Arcana continent.

If the first happened, the continent might emerge somewhere over Earth’s vast oceans, which cover 70% of the planet. If it was the second…

“Then we’d be transported to Arcana, just like logging into the game. Like, what do you call it… possession, like in stories?”

At that, Sasha raised her hand to ask a question.

“So, which one would be better?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure.”

If monsters appeared here, it would cause global chaos, and if we were transported to Arcana, there would likely be mass disappearances.

In short, both options were problematic.

Personally, it didn’t matter to me.

It wasn’t my original world, and all I wanted was to see my little dragon again.

After dinner, Leah and I drove back, and she kept glancing at me.

“What is it? Do you have something to say?”

“No, nothing!?”

She refocused on driving, but a few moments later, she stole another glance.

What’s wrong?

Is there something off about my expression?

Back at Leah’s place, I said goodbye and went to my room.

Looking out the window, I saw the letters floating in the sky.

   [Main Scenario Quest conditions have been met.]
   [CHAPTER 1: ■■■■ ■■■ ■■.]
   [Time Remaining: 419 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]

“Not much longer. Just hang in there.”

*

*

*

The time had finally arrived.

   [Time Remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 59 seconds]

Only one minute left.

Could it be that I was finally about to see my little dragon again?

   [Time Remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds]

   [The Arcana Continent and Earth No. 562 are merging.]

Merge…? Wait, what’s with the number in front of Earth?

So we’re… Earth No. 562…?

As the notification announcing the completion of the merge faded, nothing seemed to happen.

“What… what’s going on? Why isn’t anything happening?!”

I clung to Leah, who looked equally stunned, and she quickly turned on the TV.

   [Breaking news! An anomaly has occurred in the Pacific Ocean!]

The news showed satellite footage revealing a new landmass in the Pacific.

It was a shape I recognized well.

“Is that… the Arcana Continent?!”

“It… it looks like it!”

The first theory was right.

But the problem was, we couldn’t reach the Arcana Continent right now.

Governments restricted travel to prevent chaos and announced plans to send military forces to investigate.

The news displayed helicopters approaching the Arcana Continent, but something strange happened.

A massive barrier appeared around the continent, and as helicopters collided with it, they were instantly destroyed. The broadcast cut away abruptly.

I stared at the TV in shock, then another breaking news update appeared with the letters displayed across the sky.

   [Main Scenario Quest conditions have been met.]
   [CHAPTER 2: ■■■■ ■■■ ■■.]
   [Time Remaining: 239 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]

So now that the Arcana Continent is here, will the Celestial or Demon Realm appear next?

Or maybe… the Netherworld?

But all I care about is seeing my little dragon.

I could see the Arcana Continent beyond the screen. Why couldn’t I go to him?

Why…?

Then a golden notification window appeared.

   [Synchronization initiating.]

With that message, blue particles began surrounding me.

The same phenomenon started with Leah, who stood beside me.

“W-What is…?”

Another alert appeared as we struggled to understand.

   [Synchronization successful.]

And with that, something within me stirred.

It was the same sensation I’d felt in *Arcana Online*.

It felt like… the same power as when I used magic.

Somehow, I felt like I could do it now.

“Little dragon, please help me.”

As I spoke, blue particles gathered, and then my little dragon appeared before me.

“Gwee!”

“Is it really… you?”

“Gweeoo!”

He grumbled as if scolding me for forgetting his face after only a month, and tears welled up in my eyes.

I knew he missed me too.

I knew… but seeing him again…

“Little dragon, you’re going to stay by my side forever now, right? You’re not leaving without saying goodbye again, right?”

“Gweeoo!”

He licked my tears, promising to stay with me forever.

Ah, my little dragon.

As I hugged him tightly, he nudged me with his head.

“Gwee.”

He wanted food.

“Just a moment, okay?”

I called out for my inventory, but nothing happened.

Were all the items in my inventory gone?

Just as despair began to creep in, he spoke.

“Gwee.”

“Huh? You want me to picture the item in my mind and reach into the air?”