The second floor of Origin Internet Cafe.
Today's atmosphere was exceptionally heavy.
The internet cafe, which was usually filled with teasing banter like "clumsy ox" and "old swamp loach," was so quiet at this moment that only heavy breathing could be heard. In front of the centermost screen, Dean Yan Shaozhe of the Shrek Academy Outer Court was furrowing his brows tightly, and behind him stood Ma Xiaotao, who had just been brought to the internet cafe.
"Dean, is this what you said could completely cure me?" Ma Xiaotao looked at the somewhat oppressive game screen on the monitor, her voice weak yet carrying a hint of doubt. "Watching a bald middle-aged man raise a kid? I feel like this is probably worse than continuing to play Monster Hunter: World!"
"Don't rush, Xiaotao." Yan Shaozhe didn't even turn his head, his voice low. "Keep watching! This man's story... might give you some inspiration."
On the screen, the plot took a sharp turn.
That child Atreus, who had always followed behind his father and tried hard to prove himself even when scolded, suddenly fell ill. He coughed up blood in agony, his skin turning as pale as paper.
Kratos, this tough guy who dared to kill even gods, appeared so helpless at this moment. He held his son, whose high fever wouldn't break, and rushed to seek help from the mysterious witch, Freya.
"He's very sick... What do I need to do?" A hint of a tremor laced Kratos's voice.
The witch told him that he must go to Helheim, the realm of the dead, and retrieve the heart of the bridge-keeper in order to save the boy.
However, Helheim was a place of extreme cold.
"The cold there can freeze even fire. Your frost axe is useless there," the witch