Reality Hacker: Apocalypse Loop

Ethan's voice pierced the silence: 

"What if something's pulling their strings?" 

Wang Zichen blinked, sweat flocking against his collar. 

"Controlled? By what?" 

"Just a theory…" 

Ethan's mind flickered through bloody memories: 

Mother's possessive chokehold 

Cops hiding his "corpse" 

Solo hunters… until now 

"Selfish beasts." He put a hand on his pounding back. "Unless there's something on a leash-something herded us." 

Wan'er's knuckles turned white. "How long has it been watching us? Police Chief?" 

"It's not human." Ethan felt his stare knock Wang back. "It was present when we met you. Both timelines." 

"God, fuck me sideways." Wang recoiled as if he touched a live wire. 

Prophecy powers - could be game-breaking. 

> SYSTEM LOG: [PLAYER ARCHIVES] 

[ WANG ZICHEN ] 

« Veteran Status: Tier-8 » 

« Known Associates: John Chen (Tier-11) » 

« Gov. Clearance: Gamma-Level » 

"Where to now?" Wang rasped.

"John's," said Ethan, already limping toward the garage. "Your 'mate' is our best shot at some answers."

"How impenetrable my bunker is--‐"

"SHUT IT." Ethan let a hard stare on Wang, one that could strip paint. Rolling fangs. Dripping sap, tendons snapping. Not going through that again.

The underground garage smelled of oil and fear.

Wan'er froze in front of two hulking armored beasts. "How?!"

"Gov issue," Wang said, giving one of the steel beasts a manly pat in pride and exhaustion. "Registered players get toys, and we are humanity's duct tape."

Ethan's brows shot up. Heroes? Guess he had Wang wrong as a smuggler.

"IRL?" Wag yanked open the driver's side door. "Been making us stupid rent bloats. No army tanks with your Starbucks."

Ethan faced Wan'er. "Did they train you at the police academy to drive hurt?"

Wan'er squinted. "Why?"

"…we can talk about it later," Not with death sitting on their neck.

Ethan flopped in the shotgun. "You drive, and I will navigate."

Wang grumbled, and begrudgingly slid behind the wheel like he was an embarrassed chauffeur.

Tires shrieked as they blasted out into the daylight.

Ethan, said, "Other players in the prophecy. How do they work?"

"Can't trust those stealthy bastards," Wang realized what he had said. "No offense." He had met one in "Sky-Tree Hell".

"Trees?" Wan'er leaned between the seats. 

"Giant pieces of shit stabbing into the clouds." Wang's knuckles went white on the wheel. "Only safe area." He paused. "Floor below?" He shook his head. "Living furniture that consumes human flesh. Couches with teeth. Dressers with claws…"

"Climb or die. We got to Jiang's summit… killed the zone boss. Rewards are right there…"

His voice went to powdered glass. 

"Then the outsiders crawled up. One—prophecy player—smiled like the Cheshire cat with canary feathers in its mouth."

"And?" Ice water slipped down Ethan's spine.

"Rigged the tree. Gave up all of our benefits to elevate his being."

The ultimate betrayal.