Chapter 1: A Gamer's Frustration

 Xi'an Liu slumped in his gaming chair, his eyes fixed on the screen as his character, "Liu_Xi'an_88," fell to the ground for the umpteenth time. The words "Game Over" taunted him in bold, red letters. His frustration was palpable, the tension in his shoulders and clenched fists a testament to his Frustration had become his constant companion, like a shadow lurking in the corners of his mind.

As he stood up to grab a snack, his gaze wandered to the shelves lined with gaming memorabilia and collectibles. His eyes lingered on the Enternal Arena poster, the one with the tagline "Eternal Glory Awaits" now mocking him. He recalled the thrill of discovering his love for gaming in college, the sense of community and accomplishment that came with conquering virtual worlds. But now, that passion had become a double-edged sword, fueling his obsession with ranking higher in Enternal Arena.

"Why can't I beat this guy?" Xi'an muttered to himself, his mind racing with strategies and tactics. He had tried everything - different weapons, different skills, different tactics - but nothing seemed to work. Eternal Arena, the game he had been playing nonstop for weeks, was driving him crazy.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was his mom. "Hey, sweetie, your dad and I are coming over to visit. We'll bring dinner."

Xi'an groaned, not wanting to be interrupted from his gaming session. "Mom, can't it wait? I'm in the middle of something."

"What's more important than spending time with your family?" his mom asked, her voice firm but gentle.

Xi'an sighed, knowing he couldn't avoid her. "Fine, mom. Come on over."

As he waited for his parents to arrive, Xi'an tried to focus on the game again. But his mind kept wandering, thinking about how much he didn't want to have this conversation with his parents. They just didn't understand his passion for gaming.

And to make matters worse, the new game he had ordered, "Demon Apocalypse," was still on its way. He had been waiting for weeks, and he was starting to get anxious. He had heard great things about the game, and he was expecting it to be a major improvement over the first one.

As he waited for his parents to arrive, Xi'an couldn't help but think about the new game. He had high expectations for it, and he was hoping it would be the key to finally beating his nemesis, the pesky mage.

But for now, he was stuck in this frustrating cycle of defeat and disappointment. And to make matters worse, his parents were about to arrive, and he knew they would only add to his frustration.

Xi'an's parents walked in, carrying a big bowl of his favorite pasta and a concerned expression. "Hey, sweetie, how are you doing?" his mom asked, giving him a hug.

"I'm fine, mom," Xi'an replied, trying to sound convincing.

His dad set the pasta down on the table. "We brought your favorite dinner. Thought we could catch up and talk about what's going on in your life."

Xi'an sighed, knowing this was going to be a long night. "Dad, mom, I'm really busy with this game right now. Can we talk later?"

His mom frowned. "Xi'an, you've been playing that game for weeks. When are you going to take a break and focus on your real life?"

Xi'an felt a surge of frustration. "My real life is this game, mom. It's what I love, and it's what I'm good at."

His dad put a hand on his shoulder. "We understand that you're passionate about gaming, son. But there's more to life than just a game. You need to think about your future, your career, your relationships..."

Xi'an shook his head, feeling like they just didn't get it. "You don't understand, dad. This game is my future. It's what I want to do with my life."

Just then, the doorbell rang. Xi'an's heart skipped a beat as he jumped up from his chair. "That must be the delivery guy with my new game!"

He rushed to the door, his parents following close behind. Xi'an tore open the package, his eyes widening as he saw the box art for "Demon Apocalypse

His parents exchanged a worried glance, but Xi'an didn't care. He was too busy tearing open the box and inserting the disc into his console.

As the game booted up, Xi'an felt a sense of excitement wash over him. This was it – all he needed was to refresh himself with this then return to eternal Arena and becoming the champion he knew he was meant to be.

His mind began to wander, replaying the conversations with his parents, the ones where they urged him to find a "real job" and settle down. But Xi'an's heart wasn't in it. His true desire was to become a professional gamer, to join the ranks of the elite and compete on the world stage. And now, with Demon Apocalypse on the horizon, he saw a new opportunity to prove himself.

As he munched on a slice of pizza, his thoughts shifted to the upcoming game. He had devoured every article, every YouTube video, and every podcast discussing D.A.'s revolutionary mechanics and graphics. The promise of real-money rewards for successful missions had him salivating, his mind racing with the possibilities.

With a deep breath, he settled into his "Gaming Throne," a behemoth of a chair adorned with LED lights and ergonomic cushions. He donned his gaming headset, the one with the built-in microphone and 3D audio. The screen flickered to life as he launched D.A., the logo emblazoned on the screen like a badge of honor.