I Got a Notification on my Laptop and Got Legendary Powers

Eli paced the dimly lit confines of the analysis chamber, his hands stuffed deep into his jacket pockets. The artifact Yumi had been poring over pulsed faintly on the workstation before her, its shifting patterns casting eerie shadows across the room. Yumi was completely engrossed in decoding its secrets, her frustration manifesting in the sharp clack of her keyboard keys.

"Any luck yet, Captain?" Eli teased, leaning lazily against the wall.

Yumi shot him a glare. "This isn't luck—it's analysis. And I need silence to focus."

Eli smirked but fell silent, his eyes wandering toward the artifact. As much as he played it cool, something about it unsettled him. It wasn't just the way it seemed alive, its energy shifting unpredictably. It was the sense of being watched, like whatever power it held was aware of their every move.

Suddenly, the room's ambient hum shifted. A faint shimmer appeared in the corner, barely noticeable at first, but it grew brighter and steadier. Eli straightened, his instincts screaming danger, while Yumi's fingers froze mid-typing.

"Someone's coming," Eli said, his hand already on the hilt of his blade.

The shimmer solidified into the outline of a figure. As the glow subsided, a familiar face stepped forward, his expression calm but determined.

"Arjun?" Yumi's voice was a mix of disbelief and relief.

Eli blinked, lowering his weapon slightly. "Well, if it isn't the prodigal nerd."

Arjun ignored the jab, his dark eyes scanning the room with quiet intensity. His appearance had changed. He looked leaner, sharper—his once casual demeanor replaced by a quiet confidence. He wore a sleek set of armor that seemed to hum with power, the system interface subtly integrated into its design.

"I had a feeling I'd find you two here," Arjun said, his voice steady but carrying an edge of urgency.

"What the hell happened to you?" Eli asked, folding his arms. "Last I saw, you were still figuring out how to use a sword without stabbing yourself."

Arjun smirked faintly. "A lot's happened since then. Let's just say I've been busy."

Yumi stepped forward, her analytical mind already racing. "You disappeared without a word. We thought you were..."

"Dead?" Arjun finished, raising an eyebrow. "Not quite. But I've been off-grid for a reason."

He reached into his inventory, pulling out a small, glowing crystal. Placing it on the table next to the artifact, he activated it with a swipe of his hand. The crystal projected a series of intricate diagrams and energy signatures, all converging on a single, pulsating node.

"This," Arjun said, pointing to the node, "is what Azrael doesn't want us to find."

Eli frowned. "And what exactly is 'this'?"

"The core," Arjun explained. "The central point where all the system's energy is channeled and redistributed. Every quest, every artifact, every player—it's all connected to this. Azrael's been using us to power it."

Yumi's eyes widened as she processed the data. "You're saying the system isn't just a game. It's... a machine?"

"Exactly," Arjun confirmed. "And it's not just any machine. It's a weapon—one designed to reshape reality itself."

Eli let out a low whistle. "So, what? We're batteries in some cosmic war machine?"

"Something like that," Arjun admitted. "But it's not fully operational yet. That's where the artifacts come in. They're keys, each one unlocking a part of the system's true power."

Yumi's mind raced. "If that's true, then Azrael's endgame isn't just about us. It's about control—over both worlds."

Arjun nodded grimly. "And if we don't stop him, there won't be a real world left to go back to."

Eli ran a hand through his hair, his usual bravado slipping for a moment. "Great. So now we're saving the universe. No pressure or anything."

Arjun placed a hand on the table, his gaze steady. "I didn't come back to scare you. I came back to fight. Together, we have a chance to stop this—if we're willing to take it."

Yumi met his gaze, her determination rekindled. "We'll need more than just the three of us. If we're going to take on Azrael, we need allies."

Arjun smirked faintly. "Funny you should mention that. I've already started recruiting."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "Recruiting? Who'd you rope into this crazy mission?"

Arjun's expression darkened slightly. "Others like us. Players who've seen through the system's lies. But they're not all... cooperative."

Before Eli or Yumi could press further, the room's lights flickered, and the system interface chimed ominously.

Warning: Unauthorized data transfer detected.

Arjun's jaw tightened. "We've been flagged. Azrael knows we're onto him."

Eli grinned, drawing his blade. "Good. I was getting bored anyway."

Yumi sighed, adjusting her glasses. "You're insufferable."

As the trio prepared for whatever came next, a sense of purpose settled over them. The odds were stacked against them, but for the first time, they weren't fighting alone.

The game had changed. And they were ready to play.