**Prologue: The Final Frame**
*They say life is the ultimate game. But what if the game… was more real than life itself?*
In the dim glow of a neon-lit room, fingertips dance across a keyboard like a pianist performing their magnum opus. The hum of fans, the soft clicks of mechanical keys—this is where I find truth. Not in lectures, not in crowded streets, not in the empty small talk that echoes through everyday life. But here, in the arena of pixels and reflexes.
My name is Kaede Tachibana. Age: 17. Occupation: High school student by day, gaming god by night—or so the leaderboards say. Titles? Countless. FPS, MOBA, rhythm, strategy—you name it, I've conquered it. To outsiders, it's just "wasting time." But to me? Gaming is an art form. A symphony of strategy, instinct, and style.
And yet, for all the levels I've cleared, one truth remains: the deeper you go, the harder the game gets.
It all began with a glitch—a simple patch update to *ChronoEdge Online*. But instead of patch notes, I got a message:
> **"Congratulations, Player Kaede. You've unlocked the True Mode."**
Now, when I play, it's not just my avatar that takes damage. My body aches. My heart races. Pain is real. Victory… even more so.
This isn't just a game anymore.
It's a test.
A war.
A masterpiece in motion.
And I'm about to master it—frame by frame.