Chapter 62

Sebastian's eyes gleamed, his whole expression alive with a rush of excitement he could barely hold back."Tell me this isn't some kind of prank. Cloudstrider really logged in?",

The moment he got the confirmation, Sebastian darted into his account. There it was, plain as day-Cloudstrider had logged in just minutes ago. Relief spread across his face as a grin finally broke free.

His idol was back, and the thought alone made his chest tighten with joy. All that money and time he had poured into snagging this rare account,which was in Cloudstrider's friend list, had been worth it.

For minutes on end, Sebastian hovered over the chat box, typing a line and erasing it, then starting again.At last, he settled on something simple."Cloudstrider, is that really you?" Sebastian kept clicking the chat box open and shut,his eyes lingering on the screen for what felt like forever before he finally logged out of the game.Even so, the thrill and eagerness stirring inside him refused to fade.

He kept logging back in every now and then,checking obsessively to see if there was a response or even the faintest sign his message had been noticed.

Collapsing into the couch, he scrolled through social media feeds packed with Cloudstrider's name.

The endless stream of praise gave him a strange sense of pride, as if the spotlight shining on his idol was brushing over him too.

"Sebastian, what's got you grinning like that? Come on, let us in on the secret," Violet asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Since stepping into the hospital room,Sebastian had barely spoken beyond a quick hello. He sprawled across the sofa, eyes locked on his phone, a ridiculous grin plastered on his face.

"Nothing big," Sebastian said at last, lifting his head with a smile that refused to fade. "But the legend of the gaming world-the one who ruled every major platform years ago-just came back."

"Who are you talking about?" Violet asked, her brows knitting together as she tried to place the name.

Sebastian's smile faltered. A flicker of disappointment crossed his features. Violet used to remember without hesitation. She had even teased him about it, sometimes digging up news about Cloudstrider just to watch him light up.

That bond had been one of the things that tied them together. Yet only a few years later, Cloudstrider had slipped entirely from her memory.

"You mean Cloudstrider is back?" Rodger's voice cut in,tinged with genuine surprise.

Rodger had never been much of a gamer, but even he recognized the name that carried such weight in the community.

A pause followed before Violet's eyes widened."Wait, Cloudstrider? He's actually appeared again?"

Violet lifted her hand to her lips as if shocked,feigning excitement that never reached her eyes.

Inside, she scoffed at the idea. What good was being brilliant at video games? Without wealth or status to back it up, it all seemed pointless.

Professional gamers only shone for a handful of years before fading, and Cloudstrider didn't even have the courage to reveal his face.

He was probably someone who might not live up to the glamorous image. To her, skill in gaming could never compare to the power that came with influence and money.

"Yeah," Sebastian answered quietly. Realizing she had forgotten everything she once knew about Cloudstrider drained the joy from his words, and the eagerness to talk to her slipped away. Violet's exaggerated excitement clashed awkwardly against his subduled tone, leaving her unsettled.

With a strained smile, she tried again. "Isn't he your hero? Don't you ever dream of meeting him?"

"Of course I do. But he's impossible to track down.I even paid a hacker once to dig him up, and instead of finding him, they got hacked themselves. That's how good he is!" Sebastian's voice lifted, the spark returning as his admiration spilled out.

There was a shine in his eyes, glowing with unmistakable admiration.

That incident had only cemented his belief. To Sebastian,Cloudstrider wasn't just a master gamer-he had to be an elite hacker as well, someone untouchable on every level.