Beatrix returned to his room and used a paper cutter to open the sealed package.
But when he opened the box and saw the same blue eye mask from the game lying in front of him, he fell into stunned silence.
It wasn't an illusion—it was real.
He hesitated, then reached out and picked it up.
The material was unlike anything he'd ever felt before—cold, soft, almost unnaturally comfortable.
He tried it on.
Somehow, the mask didn't need a strap or any mechanical fastener. It simply adhered to his face on its own.
The size was perfect—like it had been custom-made just for him.
And as described in the game, it didn't interfere with his vision or movements at all.
If you weren't paying close attention, you might not even notice he was wearing it.
Beatrix took the mask off, eyes wide as he stared at the open package.
What the hell.
The box had no shipping label, no return address, no recipient information—nothing.
It was like… the moment he clicked the "summon" button, the package just materialized outside his door.
What was this? A courier from a 2D world? Or a literal instant delivery service?!
This delivery was so fast it would put the Flash to shame.
But more importantly, this proved one thing—
The game could affect reality.
---
Green Arrow.
Also known by the media nickname "Sugar Arrow," thanks to his minty gum branding.
His character design was clearly a tribute to Robin Hood—bare arms, a sleek martial arts build, and mastery over archery.
His bow and high-tech equipment might have been practical in combat… but a mask?
What could a little eye mask possibly do?
Still, pulling a real item from the game—useless or not—had unlocked a world of possibilities in Beatrix's mind.
What if other equipment could be summoned too?
Like Batman's grappling hook, batarangs, or armor?
Spider-Man's web shooters?
Iron Man's suit?!
If those things could cross over into reality, then he wouldn't just be playing a game—
He'd be becoming superhuman.
Beatrix sat back down at the computer, gazing at the glowing game interface with a swirling mix of emotions.
He entered the simulation training module again.
But this time, it was different.
Last night, he'd just gone through the motions.
Today, he trained with purpose.
He wasn't just playing a game anymore.
He was learning real skills.
Training for the real world.
He practiced combat tactics, mastered the control system, studied gadget usage—anything that could one day help him wield real power.
Gaming had always been his strength.
But this was the first time he'd invested so seriously in a game.
Each day, his skills grew sharper.
He found that the mechanics were even more complex than in past Batman games—yet once he got used to them, they were unbelievably fluid.
The mouse and keyboard weren't just tools. With enough mastery, they became an extension of him.
He could feel it.
He was becoming Batman.
---
A full day passed in the simulation.
Night arrived again.
Beatrix selected Batman from the hero menu.
The game loaded.
A black screen.
Then light.
Batman crouched on a rooftop beneath the moonlit sky, shadows trailing off his cape.
Beatrix immediately recognized it—
The same building where Klein Corporation was located.
But this time, it wasn't from a news article or a cutscene.
This time, he was standing across from it in the game.
He moved Batman to the edge of the rooftop, toggled the downward camera view.
From this angle, he could see the barricades and security guards below—just like the pictures from the article.
He could even imagine where the photo had been taken from during the day.
The game prompted him:
"Main mission completed. Free-roam mode unlocked. The map system is now available."
Beatrix pressed M on the keyboard.
The screen opened to reveal a full city map—a digital recreation of New York.
He dragged the mouse across the map and quickly found his own location.
Then, a crazy thought struck him.
Could he find himself in the game?
Although this world shared the name "New York," it wasn't quite the same as the New York he remembered from Earth.
Some districts looked familiar—his uncle's neighborhood, for example—but others were completely different.
And on Polar Star, there was no concept of countries.
People from all over the world lived together in strange, blended cities.
He marked a coordinate on the map.
When he returned to gameplay, a small glowing bat symbol appeared on screen—guiding his route.
Batman's grappling hook, weighing over 500 kg, launched him into the air.
His cape, normally fabric, transformed into rigid wings—gliding like a real glider.
With these tools, Batman soared over steel and concrete like it was a jungle gym.
Beatrix could feel the thrill through the screen.
When Batman passed by familiar places—his university, the roads he walked daily, the convenience store near his dorm—
It didn't feel like a game anymore.
It felt real.
He was careful to avoid the line of sight of surveillance cameras.
Batman's stealth suit made this easy. His dark armor melted into the night.
And with Detective Mode and advanced hacking tools, avoiding security was effortless.
As Batman drew closer to his marked location, Beatrix felt his heart pounding faster.
He didn't know if he was ready for what he was about to see.
Batman launched a final grappling hook, soared across the gap, and landed on the roof of a residential building.
Beatrix pressed X to activate Detective Mode.
The screen switched to first-person view through Batman's visor.
He scrolled the mouse wheel, zoomed in—
And locked onto a brightly lit window.
Through that window—
Beatrix saw himself.
That's my room.
He took a deep breath.
Then got up from his chair.
Walked over to the real window in his apartment.
And looked out across the way—
Where Batman stood under the moonlight, cloak billowing like a shadow come to life.