Iliya checked his phone. Sure enough, his phone had been taken over by the World Game Room app. This time, he would be able to click on the open tabs at the top if he wanted to, but Iliya was more interested in the message left on the screen.

Challenger Red, you have been assigned the mission challenge First Escape.

To win, you must do as the Moderator asked within the time frame of 2:00.

Lose, and you will suffer punishment.

Once again, he had a two hour time limit. Iliya looked up from his phone and met eyes with Wolf. His dark eyes were intense, and he held out his hand. Wordlessly, Iliya handed it over. Wolf checked his mission and nodded. It seemed that he had wanted to confirm that he and Iliya were meant to work together.

Iliya offered the larger man an uneasy smile. “I think we’ll be able to beat this, no problem!”

Wolf ignored Iliya. He stood unmoving as he cast his eyes around the room. Was he looking for something? Traps? “I don’t see an easy way out.” Wolf told Iliya.

“Then we should look for clues,” Iliya said. He was about to go over to check the drawers in the desk, when Wolf stopped him by grabbing his wrist. His hand burned where it met Iliya’s skin.

“Tell me about your other game first. No.” Wolf looked down at where he was holding Iliya’s wrist. “I want to know where it was. It was where you started the game, right?”

Iliya bobbed his head up and down in a fast nod. “Yeah, I played Feed the Kitten at a school building. Why?”

“Everything was the same, right?” Wolf was clearly trying to ask about something specific, but Iliya wasn’t sure what.

“...Yes?”

Wolf dropped Iliya’s wrist and strode back to the door. He stopped right in front.

“You can’t open the door without the key,” the Moderator said, looking bored.

Wolf grit his teeth. “Stand back,” he told Iliya. Iliya took a few healthily sized steps away from Wolf and the door. Then Wolf pulled back his arm and punched through the door.

“What-” the Moderator jumped up from his stool in shock. Iliya just watched, mouth gaping open as Wolf pulled his fist back. He looked completely unaffected, and his fist had none of the damage one would assume it would take after punching through a goddamn door. Holy shit, Iliya thought. So that’s what he meant by punching.

It was honestly kind of hot.

Wolf’s phone went off with a cheerful little tune, and he ignored it as he punched through the door again, this time making a hole just above the door knob. Wolf unlocked the door from the outside. His phone started chirping even louder. The phone was most likely giving him an error message, just like the one Iliya got in the last game. Iliya was impressed.

“What- You can’t just do that!” The Moderator sputtered, yet he made no move towards Wolf.

“We have to leave the room.” Wolf flicked his eyes towards the Moderator. “So we’re leaving.”

“You know, you never did say how we had to leave the room,” Iliya pointed out. Wolf nodded in agreement. “Mr. Moderator, sir, if anything we just saved you a lot of time and resources. You can just let us pass, and you don’t even have to reset the escape room!” If that’s even something the Moderator would have to do manually, anyway.

The Moderator looked like he wanted to protest, but he just looked at the open door and sighed. It seemed like he couldn’t do anything now that the door was open, and Iliya and Wolf were not technically playing the game anymore. “Augh!” He screamed, and made shooing motions towards Iliya and Wolf. “Just get out! I’ll give you the reward, just get out!”

Iliya looked at Wolf, who just shrugged. They calmly left the room, and the poor Moderator slammed the door behind them.

“So, punching, huh?” Iliya grinned up at Wolf. Wolf sheepishly stared down at Iliya, a faint blush coating his cheeks.

“Punching,” Wolf confirmed.

Iliya waited for Wolf to elaborate. He did not elaborate. “Well,” Iliya held up his hand for a high five, “great work, team!” Wolf high fived him, and Iliya suppressed his grimace at the string left from Wolf’s strength. How could his hand still be fine after punching through a door multiple times?

“Come in for some coffee,” Wolf said. “You can check the app in there.” Iliya agreed, and followed Wolf back into his apartment. Instead of standing awkwardly in the empty main room, he was pulled into a tiny side kitchen. This area was clearly more lived in. Pots and pans hung from racks, and a spice cabinet hung ajar. Mugs lined the sink, and a pot of coffee was sitting on the counter. Wolf nodded his head towards a small table with two chairs in the corner. Iliya took a seat, and Wolf poured two mugs of coffee.

“Thanks.” Iliya took a sip. The coffee was lukewarm, but it had a mellow flavor that helped keep the brew palatable. Iliya sighed in relief as his headache slipped away. He decided to check his phone, when he noticed Wolf doing the same.

Congratulations, Challenger Red for completing your challenge!

Challenges Completed: 2 / 4

Do your best to become a full Player!

You are not eligible to receive a bonus reward. Endeavor to do better on your next challenge!

No bonus reward, huh. He wondered if Wolf got a reward for ending the game within seconds, or if his illegal and abrupt end robbed him of any rewards. The man’s face revealed nothing as he sipped his coffee. Iliya clicked out of the pop up window, and noticed that he had unlocked a new tab on his main window. Next to GAME and PLAYER, there was a new tab titled Friends.

Register fellow challengers and players as friends here.

You may also petition to block challengers and players. If enough challengers and players block one specific person, they will be removed from the World Game Room.

Note: Anyone registered as a friend will not be eligible to play against you in pvp games.

Below, there was another blacked-out line. Presumably, the tab had another function Iliya had yet to unlock. Or there was a reference to another function that Iliya had yet to unlock. Before doing anything else, Iliya registered Myrtle as a friend. His request was sent off, and was marked as a pending request. Iliya hoped Dassi would accept his request even though she didn’t know he was going by “Red” in the World Game Room.

“Hey,” Iliya said, catching Wolf’s attention. The man had a very serious, focused gaze. Iliya shifted in his chair, unused to such a look. “Want to be friends?” Iliya held up his phone and waved it.

Wolf tilted his head, a little confused. It reminded Iliya of a puppy trying to remember its person’s commands. “Okay.”

Iliya typed Wolf into his friends tab, and sent off the request. “Oh.” Wolf hadn’t realized that you could add friends. He accepted a friend request from Red. After the request was accepted, Iliya was able to click on Wolf’s name under the tab.

Challenger Wolf

Games Completed 2

Ability Punching

Wow. It seemed like Wolf’s ability was literally called “Punching.” Iliya licked his lips. Seemed a lot more simple than his own ability.

Speaking of, Wolf said “what the hell is your ability.” It didn’t sound like a question, more like a confused, monotone statement.

“I’m not actually sure?” Iliya gave a half hearted smile. “I got a pretty cool skill though. Apparently, I can befriend monsters in games and summon them to help me later. Check this out.” Iliya summoned Peaches, who appeared from nothing to land on top of the table with lithe movement.

Wolf reached out his hand and let Peaches give it a few careful sniffs. Deciding his scent was acceptable, she rubbed her face against his palm. Iliya watched Wolf pet the cat in a content manner over the rim of his coffee mug.

“This is Peaches. She followed me out of the previous game.” Iliya reached out and flicked her ear. Peaches turned back and glared at him, before continuing to purr at her new favorite person.

Wolf stuck out his finger, and Peaches nipped it. “The hungry kitten.”

“Mmhmm,” Iliya confirmed. “She’s like a normal kitten in the real world, but I think she gets her strength back if she’s summoned during a game. We’ll see.”

Wolf continued to pet Peaches, who was preening at the attention. He stopped, hand on the kitten's back, and looked Iliya in the eye. “Red. Want to start another game with me?”

Iliya thought back to how Wolf effortlessly punched through the door. “I’d love to. Thanks for playing with me!”