I Can Only Cultivate In A Game

More strands of white had appeared in his hair.

They weren't streaks—they were woven in, soft silver sliding through his natural black like the whisper of frost. It looked unintentional and deliberate at the same time. Not bad… but not normal.

He leaned in.

"It's either edgy anime protagonist or stressed-out corporate intern," he muttered. "Let's hope they like edgy."

There wasn't time to dye it. Not without messing with the natural luster that stylists probably wanted untouched.

He sighed, fixed his collar, and grabbed his passcard.

Before leaving, he peeked into the kitchen again. "Hey, Mom. Heading out now. Shoot's today."

She looked up from her book and smiled warmly. "You'll do fine. Just be yourself."

Victor chuckled as he closed the door behind him. "That's what I'm afraid of."

---

He took the mana-powered train as the skyline of Neo-Sector Delta blurred past the windows while glowing signs and floating ads reflected off the glass.

The train arrived at Cyan Square, and Victor stepped off, following the map on his wristband until he stood before the tall, crystalline structure of Vantablade Studios. It looked like a tower made of obsidian and light.

Inside, everything smelled faintly of cinnamon.

He was greeted by a receptionist dressed in a flowing azure outfit that sparkled like water. She smiled while scanning the card that was sent to him.

"Mr. Victor? Welcome. The team is waiting for you upstairs."

The elevator ride was smooth and dead silent. The only sound was the beat of his own heart.

As the doors slid open on the top floor, Victor stepped out and found himself staring into a professional, high-energy setup. Holographic panels floated with clothing designs. Stylists bustled around racks of glowing garments. Drones flew overhead, adjusting lights and camera angles.

One of the lead coordinators—a tall woman in a crimson blazer with silver eyes—approached.

"You're taller than I expected," she said while studying him. "Hair's natural?"

Victor hesitated, then nodded. "Recently... developed."

She smirked. "Keep it. The contrast works."

Soon enough, he was ushered into wardrobe. The clothes were... next-level. A high-collared matte black coat with glowing white lines. A half-cybernetic formal set with a shifting chestplate that adjusted with body movement. One outfit felt like a cape-wrapped tactician, the other like a street-level awakened prince.

As he tried each on, they took photos from multiple angles, checking lighting and how well the fabrics moved.

"Just walk forward, turn, and stand with confidence," one of the crew said.

Victor had never worn clothes like this before.

He was currently dressed in one of Vantablade Studios' latest outfits—black asymmetrical tunic layered over a silver-threaded longcoat with mana-reactive lining—he looked like someone who just stepped off the cover of a high-end awakened fashion magazine.

His naturally black hair which streaked heavily with glacial white, flowed down his neck like smoke.

At 5'11", with a sharper jawline and an aura of calm intensity, Victor barely recognized himself in the mirror.

And neither did the lead stylist.

Alyss Raen, the main coordinator in charge of today's shoot, circled him slowly like a hawk eyeing prey.

"Mm. You've got the presence," she voiced while chewing on the edge of her stylus. "Stoic, edgy, mysterious. Kind of like a young sovereign prince from a fallen dynasty. The hair streaks? Perfect. Makeup team, enhance the silver around his eyes."

Victor raised a brow. "Prince, huh? You sure it's not 'that tired barista who's seen too much'?"

Alyss chuckled. "Trust me, that face photographs well. Quiet strength sells."

He was gently guided to the center of the platform. The lights shifted. Holo-cameras aligned and flickered green. Alyss clapped her hands.

"Let's begin. Poses: regal, reserved, but intense. You're someone important."

Victor smiled lightly and nodded while slipping into the role. He stood still as frames clicked, shifting only his posture slightly between each shot—chin higher, shoulders squared, gaze sharpened.

The soft sounds of the camera drones and the focus from the team made the environment almost tranquil.

Until—

SLAM.

The door flew open hard enough to rattle the frame, and the mood shattered like glass.

"Are you kidding me?!"

All heads turned.

In stomped a woman dressed in an emerald-green jacket laced with flame-gold trim, matching high-rise boots, and a saber hanging at her side like a badge of honor.

Her golden-brown skin glistened with faint embers of mana and her wild red curls were pulled back into a high ponytail that bounced with every furious step.

Everyone in the room froze.

Because this was Captain Zara Feng—an Awakened Mana Defense Officer, a Tier-3 ranked enforcer in Neo Sector Delta, and a city-wide celebrity.

She had over two million followers across all platforms, starred in recruitment campaigns, and had appeared in four public barrier enlargement operations broadcast live.

She even happened to be one of the awarded MDC in the most recent fight against the unknown Drakenar tribe that nearly took over the city.

And right now, she looked murderous.

"I've been waiting outside for twenty-two minutes, and you're all in here taking photos of a freaking NPC-looking nobody?!"

Victor paused.

Well. That escalated.

Color drained from Alyss's face as she froze. "Captain Feng! I—I believe there's been a scheduling mix-up—"

"No, no, don't play that card. I was booked for 3PM today. You said exclusive slot. I didn't walk in here with security clearance and a flaming sword for you to ignore me."

Victor instinctively took a step back as stylists scattered. Cameras shut down. One poor intern tripped over a light cable. Zara's aura was hot. Literally. The air wavered around her like she was wrapped in a living heatwave.

She spotted Victor still standing on the shoot platform.

"And who is that supposed to be?"

Alyss hesitated. "This is Victor. He's an up-and-coming sponsored influencer with—"

"With what?" Zara snapped. "A hundred followers and a lollipop endorsement? You think this is the future of fashion?"

Victor's brow twitched. He'd been called many things before, but "lollipop endorsement" was a first.

Still, he said nothing.

But the tension didn't fade. In fact, it thickened like stormclouds as the staff scrambled to accommodate Zara.