The match started. ShadowBladeX99 fired a volley of ice shurikens. In the normal game, you had to parry, dodge, or die. But Kai’s character, Kitsune, didn’t move. The shurikens passed through her like she was a ghost.

The game had been waiting for someone exactly like her to download it.

Kai dropped her phone on her bed. It landed screen-up. Kitsune turned her head, looked directly through the camera, and smiled a smile Kai had never programmed.

Her real phone vibrated. Then heated up. The battery icon flickered—100%, then 0%, then 100% again. The camera lens on her phone popped open by itself. Through the front camera, she saw her own reflection… except her reflection blinked a second after she did.

But Kai was tired of losing. She clicked .