The Madman's Plan, The Creator's Guidebook

Over the explosion's ashes and the battle's lingering echoes, the night served as a silent cloak. Nicolas was carried far into the forest by the masked woman, whose name he did not yet know, to a secret depression where the branches of old trees entwined overhead like a cathedral's vaulted ceiling. He staggered through heavy vegetation on the way there, each step causing him new pain. The smell of the forest floor, a subtle tapestry of moist moss and rotting leaves, eventually overcame the sharp smell of blood and ozone from the lab. Nicolas laid his back against the rough bark of a massive tree.

The silence was broken by the woman. She reached up and took off the white mask that concealed her face, removing it in one smooth stroke. In the dim moonlight, the face it exposed was youthful, possibly as young as Nicolas. Her eyes were what held him, despite her face's sharp angles, high cheekbones, and resolute jawline. A profound intelligence that appeared to dismantle all it stood on, they glowed with a piercing, analytical brilliance that revealed insight well beyond her years.

"Why did you have that psychopath?" Her question was barely audible beyond a whisper, but the hollow's acoustics picked it up with crystal-clear clarity. "More significantly, why haven't I seen you around here"

For a moment, Nicolas kept silent as he observed her, looking for something he could rely on in a society where trust was the most valuable thing. But only minutes before, she had saved his life. He took a deep, strained breath. His voice was tired and broken as he started, "I was doing an investigation." Concerning OldMind Studios. Then a machine appeared, followed by a violet light, and all of a sudden...

She interjected, asking if you had logged into the game. A glimmer of real surprise appeared on her face. "Interesting. I thought that everyone outside had completely forgotten about us and this game.

"It's not their fault," Nicolas murmured, recalling the passages from the reports he had read in that shuttered office. "The business came up with a cover narrative. They announced to the world that the whole test team had perished. They kept people from getting too near and learning the truth.

She rapidly regained her composure as a small but unmistakable shadow of pain went over her face. "And the psychopath? Why did he bring you along?

"He claimed that my brain was "active." That I held the secret to leaving this world. The woman took a sudden gasp, interrupting Nicolas's sentence.

"A way out of this world? That isn't feasible. However, what if? She seemed to be mentally putting the pieces of a complex puzzle together as her eyes strayed into the distance.

"What if what?" With his query lingering in the crisp night air, Nicolas pressed.

There was a startling flash of revelation in the woman's eyes. "Obviously! Why hadn't I considered that earlier?

"Will you explain what's happening to me?" With a fresh hint of agitation in his voice, Nicolas inquired. Or should I worry that you're equally as awful as the Professor?

She said bluntly, "If I were, I would have let you die back there." With the intensity of a scientist about to make a discovery, she turned to face him. "Unlike ours, your brain's neurological connection to the outside world is still active and new. The reason for this is that you have just recently joined the system. Pazzo had that plan. He could create a shockwave that would affect all of the servers in the simulation by sending a strong enough wave through your head, which would cause a system crash, a hard reboot, and the expulsion of all of us. Whoa, the psycho is a true genius.

Nicolas gulped hard, the explanation's reasoning as brilliant as it was terrible. "My name is Nicolas."

The woman nodded slightly. "My name is Katrina. However, the locals refer to me as "Kunoichi" because of my capacity to disappear.

"How did you come across me? You saved me, but why? Above all, how did you find out about this?

Katrina's lips formed a little smile. You truly work as a journalist, don't you? There are always questions. I happened to see you fighting one of those mechanical monsters Pazzo made while hunting in the forest. It's fortunate that I did, as I never once thought the psycho's only goal was to leave. He probably has much more in mind for you. I thus alerted the warriors of the kingdom to his whereabouts, and now we find ourselves in this situation. I have lived here for a very long time, so I am aware of all of this. Journalist, do you have any more questions?

"Now what do we do?"

There was a heavy pause between them both that was broken by that simple query. Katrina let out a sigh. Even though I am quite knowledgeable about this location, I am unsure on what to do next. We'll need to speak with the founder about that.

Nicolas's forehead wrinkled. "Is this Doctor Aris?"

Katrina said, "No." To make it easier for players to advance, he wrote a guidebook, which is a comprehensive list of all the game's details, bugs, and system exploits. Instructions on how to carry out this evacuation procedure securely are undoubtedly included in the book.

"Are you aware of the book's location?"

"Sadly, no," Katrina acknowledged. "However, I know someone who could."

Nicolas felt an uncontrollable shiver as he recalled the horrifying instrument in Pazzo's hand, the icy metal against his forehead, and the sensation of being just a few seconds away from bone splintering. "This process," he said, his voice quivering a little. "What if it is equally as excruciating and possibly lethal as what that professor was attempting to accomplish?"

Katrina's eyes, natural and comforting, met his in the shadows. "It seems like we have little choice but to find it and find out," she remarked quietly.