Outside his bedroom, the squeaking stopped right in front of his door. Then, the doorknob began to slowly turn.
In the center of the screen stood a soldier. He was wearing full tactical gear—Kevlar vest, digital camo pants, and combat boots—but his face was painted in a grotesque, permanent white grin. A massive, bulbous red nose sat where a tactical mask should be. Instead of a helmet, he wore a bright green wig made of synthetic yarn that defied game physics, twitching independently of his head. There was only one option on the menu. Viktor clicked it.
Suddenly, the door to the apartment burst open. Three AI-controlled soldiers rushed in, guns raised. But they weren't shooting. They were screaming in terror.
The screen didn't flicker. It didn't glitch. Instead, a Title Screen appeared in blinding, high-definition color.