Fory Li and the group with him headed straight for the main server room to meet Sphera, the AI.
They reached the room quickly. Inside, a medium-sized screen dominated the wall, displaying two glowing eyes that blinked the moment they entered.
A calm, clear voice filled the room.
"Face recognition completed. Scan completed. Authorized persons have entered the room. Safety protocols turned off."
"Greetings, CEO Li. Director Ubao. Director Gyumi. Senior Executive Yumi…"
After Sphera greeted everyone by name, she fell silent. She simply looked at them, waiting for instructions—eyes steady, unblinking.
CEO Fory Li and the others were quite surprised to hear an AI greet them so naturally. They exchanged uncertain glances. Should they greet her back? Was that expected?
But they decided to do it anyway. CEO Li spoke first, voice careful.
"Greetings, Sphera."
The others followed, murmuring the same.
Then CEO Li leaned forward slightly.
"Sphera, can you tell us about your capabilities? What can you do? What can you help us with? And also… tell us about the update and things."
Sphera was just about to respond when an employee burst into the room, breathless and wide-eyed.
"Sir! There is a problem here! An employee tried the game and as soon as he opened it, he suddenly lost consciousness. He's not waking up. We can't even wake him. His body feels like it's made of rock—even if we throw something at him, it doesn't budge him.
Please contact the owner!"
He spoke in one rushed breath, fear plain on his face. He feared the worst.
When CEO Li and the others heard this, worry flooded their expressions. How could playing a game cause someone to lose consciousness? And they had no direct contact with the owner—no way to reach him quickly.
Just as they were about to rush out and check, Sphera's voice cut through the tension.
"You don't need to go there. That employee has just entered the game with his mind. He is now testing it. And don't worry—there is a protective shield around the employee for his safety, so no one can disturb or harm him while he plays."
Hearing this, CEO Li, the directors, and the employee who came to report all began questioning in their minds: What do you mean he was playing the game with his mind?
They turned to Sphera. She replied calmly.
"The game has been turned into virtual reality. Players now don't need to use a mobile phone to play. They can enter the game themselves and experience it directly. They can access it through their mobile phone or any device."
Just as she finished, another employee rushed in, panting.
"Sir, the employee who lost consciousness has now woken up. But he's saying strange things… that he woke up inside a white space and then saw a system screen similar to the player lobby in Free Fire. He also says he saw the Bermuda map, and many new and other maps, and visited them—with his real body!"
"Sir, we don't know if that employee has lost his mind or not, but he is saying we should try the game. But we don't dare. Sir, please contact the owner and ask him what is happening?"
Saying this, he waited for answers. But the CEO and the others in the room were more focused on those three words: turned into virtual reality.
The silence stretched for a few seconds, thick with disbelief. No one moved. No one breathed too loudly. The idea hung in the air like something impossible made real.
After a moment, CEO Li broke the quiet. His voice was steady, but his eyes gleamed with a mix of caution and curiosity.
"I am going to play the game. Anyone want to come?"
All the present people—except the employee who had rushed in last—nodded quickly and followed the CEO. Directors, executives, even a few senior developers fell in behind him without hesitation. The promise of virtual reality—of stepping inside Free Fire—was too strong to resist.
On the other hand, the last employee stood frozen, confused and dumbfounded. He had just warned them of danger—unconscious bodies, rock-hard skin—and now the CEO was walking straight toward it?
He snapped out of it and hurried forward, voice cracking with urgency.
"Sir, please listen to me! It's dangerous! Please stop. I beg you."
But the CEO just turned with a small, reassuring smile.
"Do not worry. There is no problem here. The game has just turned into virtual reality by the owner. You can ask other things to Sphera for now. I am going to try the game."
The words had just left his mouth when he strode forward, purpose clear in every step, heading toward the nearest testing station to experience this new virtual reality himself.
The employee who heard these words pieced together the scenes—the unconscious player, the protective shield, the white space, the maps visited "with his real body"—and suddenly understood what was going on.
His fear shifted to stunned realization.
He left the room and followed the CEO's group, heart pounding with a mix of dread and impossible excitement.
The future of Free Fire had arrived.
And they were about to step inside it.