"I'm close to a city after the snowy mountains, we should meet up there because you guys would come there anyway," Alex said as he rubbed his belly, he was also full.

"Okay... we'll meet up after the update is complete"

"I forgot to ask, Alex how did you manage to escape from the goblin?" Max asked.

"A player killed the goblin before it could kill me, that's how I survived...well she used me as bait to kill the goblin, that's the best way to describe it"

"How did she kill that giant thing?" Gabriel asked.

"She created a hole in the beast's head with one of her arrows" Alex smiled as he spoke.

"That means she must be a high-level player to be able to perform such a feat" Max rubbed his chin as he spoke.

"Alex why are you smiling weirdly...did you and this girl do something," Gabriel asked with a sly smile on his face.

He was able to read Alex like a book, Alex wasn't even aware he was smiling like a fool as he talked about Huntress.

"We didn't do anything, though she gave me some coins, that's all," Alex said still smiling.

"She just gave you coins for free, you know how hard it is to get coins, you have to hunt and collect items and then sell them for coins," Max said and all of them looked at him, "What's wrong?"

"We all know how hard it is to get coins, why are you explaining" Gabriel sneered.

"She's a high-level player with powerful weapons and skills, the coins may not be important to her," Alex said.

"You are right, so how much did she give you?" Gabriel asked.

Alex knew he couldn't tell them the exact amount or Gabriel would beg him for coins anytime he sees something he likes in the game.

"She gave me 500 blue coins," Alex said with a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Really...and you still want to sell the deer skin, isn't that cheating, you should give us the money for the deer skin" Gabriel pouted.

"Okay, stop pouting like a little girl, when we meet up I'm going to give the coins to both of you" Alex complained.

"So Alex, I've been meaning to ask but I got caught up with the game, aren't you working anymore?" Gabriel asked him.

"Ohh...I took a break, I'm visiting my parents very soon and I just bought Nova Online so that's that"

"You took a break from work to visit your parents and play a virtual reality game, you don't like the money right?"

"It's a little stressful, and to be honest I just worked there so I can save enough money to buy the game without using up my food allowance like you did Gabriel," Alex said.

"I didn't use my allowance, but when are you leaving?"

"Why are you asking, so you would find the next place to eat free food" Alex smirked.

"I don't know what you are talking about, I'm stuffed" Gabriel closed his eyes.

Alex and Gabriel were friends for a long time and they already knew their flaws, Alex knew Gabriel had used up his food allowance with the savings he had.

"I'm just asking when you are leaving, so I wouldn't visit when you are not around," Gabriel said with his eyes closest.

Max was just sitting at one corner of the room chuckling softly as Alex exposes Gabriel's deeds.

"Alex what about Annie?"

"What about her...I haven't called her in days" Alex said.

"Why... Aren't you calling her regular or are you flying solo?" Gabriel chuckled as he spoke.

"I'm not flying solo, and she's too much work, maybe I'll call her before I leave, I'm going by Wednesday morning"

"It's in three days, are you going to continue the game or you'll wait till you are back?" Max asked.

"Huh! we are just newbies in Nova Online stopping isn't any good, I'm going to keep playing till I become one of the top three players, and besides that's why I didn't disturb my mum for the money"

"Oh...so she wouldn't complain because you bought it on your own, I see what you are doing" Gabriel smiled.

"Where do your parents live?" Max asked.

"They live in Northfrost in Winterville" Alex replied.

"That's where my dad works, I wish I can go visit him there, I've never been to Northfrost," Max said.

"Yeah it's beautiful but it's too damn cold, if you don't wear a coat outside, you are going to freeze to death," Alex said in a frightening voice.

"Maybe I'll tell my dad that I want to visit him there"

"Isn't the update ready yet... Alex you check maybe they are already done?" Gabriel spoke.

Alex dragged his feet on the ground as he reached for his helmet, he wore the helmet and a message came up.

[Server Update in 25 minutes]

Alex's removed the helmet, "soon...in 25 minutes"

"Really... Alex is the WiFi good here?" Gabriel asked.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"I'm going to get my VR helmet," Gabriel said and stood up immediately.

"Me too," Max said and followed Gabriel.

'Look at them all hyped, I'm going to stay perfectly okay and pretend I'm not excited...Oh I can't wait to see the new update, maybe new weapons or beast, or even a major update'

The same dilemma was happening all around the world, the game hasn't been updated in a long time and rumors of a new update spread around like wildfire, then a new update came. People were waiting patiently staring at the message from their various VR helmets.

Max was the first to arrive at Alex's apartment before his apartment was just stairs away, after a while Gabriel also came back and the update would be ready in 11 minutes.

It felt like time was rooted as the three of them sat down waiting for the new update to be ready.