Chapter Four - The Challenge

Harry paced his living room floor with restless steps, his bare feet brushing silently against the soft carpet as he struggled to quell the panic surging through his body. His new, ridiculous DD breasts pressed heavily against the fabric of his stretched Fortnite t-shirt, shifting with each movement in an alien fashion.

The cryptic email he received an hour ago promising to reverse his real-life changes haunted his thoughts. The streamer didn’t know who to trust or how all of this was possible, but he knew he needed to do something before it took over his entire life.

Desperate to find a sympathetic voice and someone who can help him navigate through the chaos threatening to transform his very existence, Harry reached for his phone on the nearby coffee table and scrolled down to his girlfriend, Georgia. He called her number with trembling fingers, willing her to pick up, but the woman had let the call run through to voicemail. He tried again but ended up with the same result. He eventually gave up on the fifth attempt; was she ignoring him?

Undeterred, the college student sent his girlfriend a text, pleading for her to call back immediately. He was fully aware that his message contrasted with the brash, self-confident persona he portrayed in public. He slumped on the couch and wondered why his blond cheerleader girlfriend was suddenly so distant. Had she viewed his latest streams? Was she ashamed of him?

Anger welled inside the frustrated man as he stared at his silent phone, watching the tick on his message turn blue, only to receive no reply. She was intentionally ignoring him, and he was left to figure this out by himself. He couldn’t confide in anyone else, not when his freshly altered body would invite the same mocking stares he had endured on campus the last time, and that was before he grew mammoth breasts.

He shook his head. He didn’t want to find himself back inside that game, but sitting around here waiting for a miracle wasn’t going to solve anything. The email he received mentioned a series of tasks he needed to complete before he could meet the sender face-to-face in-game. Harry’s stomach dropped at the thought of completing humiliating missions for a perverted psychopath who wanted to humiliate him, but it was the only lead he had.

With a heavy heart and a mind filled with fear of what further degradation awaited him, Harry rose from the couch and trotted upstairs to his steaming room, where the neural device rested like a boxing glove ready to deliver the knockout blow. He sighed and paused momentarily, his fingers hovering over the smooth metal, entirely aware that returning to LifeSynced meant occupying Hayley’s fully feminine form again and broadcasting that to the world. However, the alternative, remaining in this altered body with no hope of reversal, was a reality he couldn’t bring himself to accept. He needed to show the world that he was still Harry Walker, and he’d do whatever it took to regain his agency.

The streamer lifted the neural device and secured it around his neck, his skin prickling with an unsettling sensation as the familiar connection to the game stirred memories of his past experiences. He braced himself for the plunge into his virtual nightmare as he picked up the controller and started the game. The world around him began to dissolve, his streaming room fading into enveloping darkness as he steeled his nerves, and everything faded to black.

❖

Harry stirred on the creaky motel bed, his consciousness returning as the inky blackness of the LifeSynced login page faded, once again finding himself inside the immersive game. He sat up and was instantly reminded of the large, enhanced breasts bouncing on his chest, barely covered by the flimsy, semi-transparent night dress he was forced to wear in bed.

His gaze shifted to the bedside table, where a neatly folded letter rested beside four gold tokens. They hadn’t been there when he logged out, so they must have been delivered by the sender of the email. Harry glanced around the room, but nothing else looked out of place. He tentatively grasped the folded paper and unfurled it, biting his plump lower lip as he read the instructions.

The letter directed the transformed gamer to complete four tasks at specific locations at Lowtown businesses before meeting the mysterious sender at The Gilded Fork at sunset. Each task was outlined with only a name, an address, and an appointment time, leaving the details maddeningly vague. He scanned the list. He was required to visit Lowtown Locks at noon, Glitz Parlor at two, Vixen’s Boutique at four, and Sonic Enhancements at six. He groaned in a sweet, high-pitched moan of frustration. While the letter didn’t explain what the task entailed, the names of the businesses were not comforting in his current state.

A final note assured him that all arrangements had been prearranged, requiring Harry to present the prepaid gold tokens for payment. He stared at the shiny, heavy coins. Prepaid tokens? That was new. He picked one up and scanned it. The coin had the words ‘Only for use at Lowtown Locks’ scrawled across it. Harry clutched the coin tightly in frustration. He had been gifted an indeterminate amount of in-game cash that could help him out, but he was unable to use it however he desired.

Fury surged through the reddish-brown-haired avatar as he reread the list of businesses, each name conjuring images of transformations that could further erode his sense of self. This had to be some malicious prank, perhaps concocted by a ‘fan’ who got off on seeing him brought down a peg. Harry screwed the paper up in a ball and threw it against the rustic, worn wall. He didn’t know who to trust, and his gut told him to run as far away from those instructions as he could. However, what else could he do? Work as a submissive barmaid until he made enough money to stand on his own two feet? No thanks.

Harry rose from the bed and opened his in-game inventory. His starting gear was still grayed out after owning a premium item he never even asked for. With a heavy sigh, he selected the only option he could, the red bustier and black denim skirt ensemble that had become his staple outfit when he wasn’t working or sleeping. The bustier cinched his already slim waist tightly, accentuating his enhanced breasts even further as the garment propped them up and practically put his cleavage on full display. The denim miniskirt clung to his thighs, offering barely any coverage and leaving most of his legs exposed, with the 4-inch stiletto pumps providing him a platform to perch his pretty body on. A flicker of unwanted confidence surged through him, Hayley’s exhibitionist trait asserting itself despite Harry’s efforts to suppress it. He glanced in the mirror and glared at the attractive, busty woman staring back at him. He shook his head; he would never get used to that image.

The feminized man placed the gold tokens in his inventory, and added the four locations and appointments as ‘manually-added tasks’ before stepping out of the motel room. He wandered through the quiet corridor until he reached the cracked sidewalk of Lowtown’s streets.

Determined to move forward and fight out of his predicament, Harry clutched the first gold coin and set a waypoint to ‘Lowtown Locks’. It turned out the business was only two blocks away from Dustin’s Motel & Bar, and he set off in that direction, his heels clacking against the pavement with each sexy stride. A group of homeless NPCs huddled around a barrel fire stole glances his way, making the transformed gamer extremely uncomfortable. He kept his head down and continued moving, hoping none of them would stop to talk to him. Fortunately, they only stared, and he was able to totter on his way unhindered.

Harry also kept his gaze away from the GlitchCast fan comment feed, which had been blowing up with anticipation over what the tasks would entail and whether this would help Harry return to his former avatar. They commented with excitement as Harry approached the hair salon with his first appointment fast approaching.

❖

The chime of the salon door jingled as Harry pushed it open and stepped inside. The feminized man noted the bright pastel interior of the business with its pink and lavender walls that stood in jarring contrast to the gritty Lowtown streets he had traversed moments before.

He walked toward the reception desk, feeling his heart pound with apprehension, and informed the NPC receptionist that he had a scheduled appointment. Harry observed the woman’s dismissive demeanor as she barely glanced up from her magazine; shouldn’t NPCs instantly react to a player character when interacting with them?

The receptionist’s indifference irritated Harry profoundly, prompting him to shift uncomfortably on his 4-inch heels and clear his throat. However, the woman merely muttered a vague response before calling out for someone named Lily and informing her that her appointment had arrived.

A vibrant, cheerful redhead stylist emerged from a curtained doorway at the back of the salon, radiating an infectious enthusiasm that caught Harry by surprise. She approached the feminized man with her hand outstretched and introduced herself as Lily with a warm, welcoming smile.

“I’ve been looking forward to this appointment all day.” Lily smiled as she released my hand. “Wow, you look gorgeous, but that hair could use a real touch-up.” She clasped her hands together, barely containing her excitement.

Harry forced a tight smile, struggling to match Lily’s energy as he confirmed his appointment, retrieving the prepaid gold coin from his inventory. “I’m here for the noon slot, but I guess you already know that. Can you tell me who booked the appointment?” He held out the coin, hoping to uncover any details that may explain who the mysterious sender was.

Lily accepted the coin with a delighted nod, her fingers brushing his as she examined it briefly before slipping it into her own inventory. “Ohh, I’m so sorry. I’m afraid I don’t have a name for the booking.” She said regrettably. “It came through the system this morning, and I was just told to expect someone special.” She tilted her head with a playful shrug. “Whoever booked it must really like you,” she giggled.

Harry suppressed a sigh, realizing Lily’s cheerful ignorance offered no insight into the sender’s identity, and he reluctantly followed her across the salon’s tiled floor to a cushioned chair positioned before a wide, spotless mirror. Jack settled into the seat with a wary glance at his reflection.

The enhanced breasts he was tricked into took up his entire view, enhanced and decorated by the pretty red bustier. His innocent, pouty face was framed by mid-length hair, its reddish-brown color clinging to remnants of his former self. His absent gaze into his avatar’s appearance was so intense that he almost didn’t notice the redhead stylist step up beside him, a big cheesy grin on her face.

“Alright, Hayley, let’s make you absolutely stunning,” Lily announced with uncontainable enthusiasm, her fingers poised as if she was preparing for a grand performance, clearly thrilled by the prospect of transforming her client’s appearance into something extraordinary.

Harry parted his plump lips to respond, intending to press Lily further about the booking’s origins. However, his words faltered the moment Lily clicked her fingers, unleashing a sudden tingling in the transformed man’s scalp. His blue eyes widened as he witnessed his hair shift on its own, twist and transform as though it was a sentient being. His strands began lengthening and lightening in color, cascading past his neck and down his back. The color settled into a bright, shiny, luxurious platinum blonde shade and brushed along Harry’s lower back. Once the length and color had settled, the blonde hair transformed into wavy, perfectly presented curls, not a single strand looking out of place.

Harry sat with his mouth gaping open, too gobsmacked to react. Lily giggled and took his reaction in a positive tone. “Almost finished,” she chirped before clicking her fingers again. He felt a dull tingle along his hair again as light pink strands mixed in with the blond, creating a pink highlight effect. Harry couldn’t think of a more feminine hairstyle than the one his character now wore.

A blaze of fury erupted within Harry as he registered the full extent of the transformation, compelling him to leap from the chair and demand Lily reverse the change that had turned him into even more of a vapid doll. However, Hayley’s submissive trait clamped down his furious impulses, as the trait ensured his character would do whatever she could to avoid confrontation, forcing him to remain seated. At the same time, his anger silently seethed beneath the surface.

“Wow!” Lily clapped her hands together. “You look perfect. I knew the color would suit you.” Harry’s face couldn’t match Lily’s excitement as he stared at the blonde woman sitting before him. Had he walked directly into a trap? “I hope you know how to thank your mystery friend; this hairstyle doesn’t come cheap.” Lily winked and giggled at the streamer.

Harry swallowed the rage that burned within him, realizing that Hayley’s submissive traits wouldn’t allow him to challenge Lily’s actions, and he managed to muster a begrudging response despite the turmoil raging in his core. “Thank you for your work, Lily,” he said. “It’s certainly… umm… different.”

Lily beamed with delight, interpreting Harry’s strained words as genuine appreciation, and she stepped back to admire her creation one last time. “You’re gonna turn heads wherever you go. You’re one lucky girl, Hayley.”

With a heavy heart, the transformed streamer rose from the salon chair, feeling the platinum blonde waves with their delicate pink highlights sway along his midback. He flashed a fake smile at the stylist once more before trudging off in his 4-inch heels towards the exit and bracing himself for the inevitable onslaught of GlitchCast comments as they began to fill his vision with taunts and cheers about his ‘bubblegum blonde doll’ appearance.

As he stepped back out onto the public sidewalk of Lowtown, he set his course for Glitz Parlor. He had started the damn mission now; he may as well finish it. If there was a chance he could return to ‘Harry’, he wasn’t going to let a little humiliation get in the way, or a lot.

❖

Harry tottered through the sprawling streets of Lowtown, realizing for the first time how expansive this rundown starting area was. He had been traveling along the dusty sidewalk towards the waypoint up ahead for over an hour already, ignoring cruise remarks from passing NPCs as he strolled by them with his new look. Unfortunately, their comments ignited an unwanted flush of arousal deep within him, a reaction spurred on by Hayley’s sexually confident trait, and the ordeal made the entire journey both hot and uncomfortable for the streamer.

As he finally reached Glitz Parlor, Harry paused to survey the pink sparkling sign looming above the storefront. Its flamboyant glow cast an ominous promise of further humiliation. He willed himself to push through the entrance and step inside the bustling, lively salon.

Heavily made-up NPC women darted between stations with practiced ease, applying vibrant colors to the faces of player characters who lounged in cushioned chairs. Harry wondered who in their right mind would actually play an MMO game just to visit a dumb beauty parlor.

He approached the reception counter with short, measured steps and announced his arrival for the two o’clock appointment, hoping to move through this task as swiftly as possible despite the dread pooling in his cinched stomach. A woman with a striking gothic appearance overheard him. She approached, her dark eyeliner and spiked choker setting her apart from the more cheerful NPCs around her.

“I’m Roxy,” she introduced herself. “And I’m guessing you’re the Barbie doll I was booked for.” Roxy rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms; her tone was laced with disdain that caught the feminized streamer off guard.

Harry shuddered. A new flush of humiliation ran through him as the gothic woman stared at him judgmentally. “Umm, yea, I guess so,” he replied timidly. “Can I ask what the appointment requested exactly?”

Roxy nonchalantly ignored his comment with a bored flick of the wrist, gesturing for him to follow her across the salon’s polished floor to a chair positioned before a tall, ornate mirror, almost mirroring his last appointment. The goth halted beside the chair and extended her hand expectantly, her expression conveying impatience as she waited for Harry’s payment.

The new blonde retrieved the prepaid gold coin from his inventory, feeling its familiar weight press against his palm. He examined it to ensure he held the correct coin before handing it over. Roxy flipped it over, staring closely at the gold surface before pocketing it and slipping it into her inventory.

Roxy positioned herself behind the chair, her dark eyes narrowing as she surveyed Harry’s reflection, where platinum blonde waves with soft pink highlights now framed his face. She raised her hand and clicked her fingers with deliberate slowness, much like the previous stylist had, and Harry felt the cells on his face come alive. He stared at his reflection as thick dark eyeliner began materializing around his eyes, as if by magic, defining their shape with a bold, dramatic flare that enhanced his gaze.

The goth clicked her fingers a second time, prompting long, feathery eyelashes to replace his own. Their heavy flutter transformed every blink into an exaggerated feminine performance. Another click, and a shimmering pink eyeshadow swept across his eyelid, contrasting with the dark eyeliner and creating a seductive effect.

Roxy paused briefly as if she were appraising her work before clicking her fingers once more, and Harry watched his cheeks contour with a skillfully applied pink blush. With one more click, the gamer felt a tingle brush along his lips as a bold pink lipliner traced the outside of his lips, giving him a fuller, exaggerated cupid bow shape, before his lips were colored in with a glossy bubblegum pink coat. His lips were so bright that Harry wondered if they could glow in the dark.

The gothic beautician assessed Harry’s transformed face with a critical glaze. She nodded despite her stoic expression before she raised her hand for one final click, unleashing a new sensation across the blonde’s fingertips that drew his attention away from the mirror. He stared in horror to find his short, unpainted nails had been replaced by long, glossy, candy-pink acrylic nails, their glossy surface embedded with a silver jewel at the cuticles. The ostentatious addition completed a look that screamed exaggerated femininity in a way that intensified his sense of entrapment.

Bitter resignation washed over Harry as he confronted his exaggerated makeover in the mirror, his transformed face and shiny, jeweled nails matching his ditsy, blonde hair. He forced himself to meet Roxy’s gaze, determined to bark his opposition to her work, but Hayley’s submissive trait held his words at the tip of his tongue. He sighed, before reluctantly offering thanks. “Thank you, Roxy, for the… thorough work.”

Roxy snorted, her lip curling with an undisguised contempt for the bottle blonde as she waved him off the chair. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Get lost, Barbie. I’ve got better things to do than chat with some vapid doll.”

Harry rose from the chair and headed towards the exit. He could taste the raspberry gloss on his lips and see the tarantula legs that posed as eyelashes in his peripheral vision. He felt like a clown, and his GlitchCast fans were eating it up. His stream had doubled in viewers since he started, and it was quickly becoming one of Harry’s most-watched streaming performances. He didn’t care about any of that, though. He was halfway through the challenge and knew further embarrassments likely lay ahead of him. Still, it was worth it if he was going to receive concrete answers before he logged back out.

❖

Harry reached Vixen’s Boutique just as Lowtown’s afternoon bustle began to quiet, noting the storefront’s plain exterior, its simple brick front marked only by a modest sign bearing the shop’s name. He apprehensively pushed the glass door and stepped forward, catching a glance at his new impractical nails as the door flew open.

The boutique’s interior was far more upmarket and vibrant, with crystal sconces lining the glossy white walls and a majestic gold chandelier dominating the center of the room. Turntable racks dotted around the shop floor displayed a range of garments, from classy and sophisticated to outright trashy.

“You must be Hayley,” a woman said in a posh dialect as she approached the feminized gamer. The woman was statuesque, with silky, long black hair tied in a tall ponytail. Her body was clad in a long, gold, sequined dress, exuding a refined elegance that made Harry feel small.

The gamer swallowed hard and nodded to confirm his identity, managing a faint response to her greeting. “Uhmm, yes, I’m Hayley,” the name felt like ash in his mouth. “I’m here for the four o’clock appointment.’

Vixen’s smile broadened with a touch of delight, her hands sweeping over him as she clapped her hands together. “Marvelous! I’ve curated a selection of outfits that will make you the star of every occasion. May I have your payment, darling?”

Harry stared at the tall woman blankly momentarily before her request registered in his mind. He jolted to action, accessing his inventory and retrieving the prepaid gold coin with the boutique’s name scrawled across it. He silently handed the woman the item.

Vixen tucked the coin into a fold of her dress with a graceful nod, her eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation as she guided Harry through the boutique’s maze of racks toward a private fitting cubicle veiled by a deep burgundy curtain. The NCP shop owner parted the fabric to reveal a narrow nook where a full-length mirror hung from the wall, with little space to hang any actual clothes.

“Let’s make you dazzle,” Vixen declared with a flourish, pushing Harry into the cubicle, pulling the curtain closed, and clicking her fingers. The gamer’s red bustier and miniskirt instantly vanished, replaced by a shimmering teal cocktail dress that hugged his feminine curves with a sleek, flowing silhouette.

Vixen cupped her chin and appraised the new outfit as Harry stood in bemusement and awe; what kind of MMO was this? “I love the elegance, but we’re aiming for something more captivating,” the woman said before clicking her fingers again.

Suddenly, the dress shifted into a daring black latex romper, its tight fit pressed firmly against his large breasts, shifting them up and pushing them out. Vixen tilted her head, noticing Harry’s look of unease. “Hmm, it’s bold, daring, the type of daringness we’re looking for. However, we need more color.” She chirped before once more clicking her fingers.

Harry’s attire transformed into a strapless pink spandex minidress that stretched tightly across his chest and ass, leaving a small window that exposed both his midriff and lower back, with spandex straps up the side. Harry felt the pink g-string wedgie him, something the other outfits lacked, and a pair of 5-inch pink stiletto pumps replaced his black footwear. It was undoubtedly the most uncomfortable and outrageously girly outfit he had worn so far. “This is divine,” Vixen declared. “Let’s put this in the maybe column and move on.” She said abruptly and snapped her fingers.

The mini dress gave way to a glittery gold halter top with a matching micro skirt. The g-string had disappeared, and the skirt was so short that it practically exposed the entirety of Harry’s plump ass. “Whoops, maybe this one went a little too far,” the boutique owner said before moving on to the next outfit.

With a snap, the slutty outfit made way for a sheer purple bodysuit with intricate cutouts to show off his ass and cleavage. Despite its transparent nature, the material became more opaque over his breasts and pussy. The outfit was highly provocative and impractical for anything outside of the bedroom. “I think your date would love this, but perhaps a little too much.” Vixen smiled.

“I think we have a winner.” The statuesque woman snapped her fingers once more, and the purple bodysuit vanished and was replaced by the third outfit, a pink spandex minidress, complete with the string g-string and 5” pink heels.

Vixen softly bit her lower lip. “Yes, this is perfect for the occasion,” she declared. “Let’s liven it up with a couple of accessories.” Harry gasped when the woman snapped her fingers again, and a slim pink choker adorned with tiny silver jewels wrapped around her neck. As he focused on the accessory wrapped around his throat, he winced at the sensation of his ears being pierced, with large, plastic pink hoop earrings decorating his lobes. “Now that is a gorgeous sight.” The posh woman clapped her hands together.

Harry couldn’t take his eyes off his new appearance. It wasn’t just the new revealing dress he adorned; it was the whole package. He was a picture of pink and blonde, the very image of femininity. His GlitchCast comment section was blowing up, but the streamer didn’t dare read any of it. “Vixen,” he finally allowed himself to speak. “You mentioned my ‘date.’ Who set up this appointment?”

Vixen raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?” She smiled broadly. “Ohh, I love blind dates.” She said as she pushed the pink-clad gamer out of the fitting room booth. “You are a very lucky girl,” she said without offering any insight. “Be sure to come back and tell me how it went.” The posh woman led Harry to the exit and opened the door for him.

The blonde stream paused. He wanted more answers but knew he wouldn’t get them here. With one long sigh, he nodded and walked out of the boutique. Harry’s bright, slutty image was a sharp contrast to the dark, dirty streets in the game’s starting area. He had one more task to complete before he could get to the bottom of this mystery. The college student set a waypoint before tottering away from the clothing boutique.

❖

Harry followed his waypoint through the dark, street-lit, narrow streets of Lowtown. The game-generated sun had dropped not long ago, and less-than-desirable figures began patrolling the streets, including a couple of streetwalkers who looked more refined than Harry did right now.

He eventually reached the Sonic Enhancements station, pausing before a standalone metallic console tucked away inside a quiet alleyway. He examined its smooth panels and glowing payment slot, eerily reminiscent of the NewU Change Machine that had given him his ‘upgraded’ bust.

He solemnly accessed his inventory and retrieved the last prepaid gold coin, its surface etched with the station’s name. He hesitated momentarily before slipping it into the inviting slot.

The console emitted a low hum as the coin vanished, its panels pulsing with a faint blue light. Without warning, a window opened from the front of the machine, and a mechanical arm extended from it, moving with unnerving precision and stopping short of the new blonde’s neck before wrapping itself around Harry’s throat.

Harry clutched the metal arm, but its steel exterior held firm. Harry’s heavily made-up eyes widened as he felt a sudden prick when a syringe pierced the skin of his throat, just above his new pink choker, and injected a substance that sent a cold jolt down his body.

A holographic screen materialized before him, displaying the words “Analyzing Request” in stark white letters. Moments later, the message updated to “Request Accepted and Acknowledged.” What request was the machine referring to? Harry wildly attempted to pull himself free from the device.

His efforts faltered as a peculiar sensation gripped his throat, a tightening that felt like his vocal cords were being reshaped by some invisible force, sending a shiver of dread down his spine. As the tightening ceased, the screen flickered a new message in bold text that read “Vocal Alteration Completed, Bimbo Translator Switched On.”

The mechanical arm released its grip around the gamer’s throat as Harry stood frozen in bemusement. ‘Bimbo translator’? What the hell did that mean? He witnessed the holographic screen fade to black, and the coin acceptor glow again, resetting itself to its default setting. Harry lifted a well-manicured hand and caressed his throat, wincing as his thumb ran over the spot where the syringe had penetrated his skin.

“Harry - Hayley - Let us hear that sexy voice!” A GlitchCast comment flashed across his vision; the fan’s eager demand reminded him of the humiliation that had been broadcast to thousands of viewers.

Harry shook his head and clenched his jaw, refusing to appease the fan. He wasn’t some show pony. He had completed his tasks, and there was one thing left to do. Looking down at his heaving cleavage barely contained by the strapless spandex pink dress, his pink-highlighted blonde hair draped in perfect waves down his back, not a single strand out of place. Whoever sent him that email wanted him to look this way, and now Harry needed to find out why. With a deep sigh, he set his final waypoint to The Gilded Fork and started tottering in the distance. It was time to get some answers.

❖

Harry stood outside the plush, upscale restaurant, The Gilded Fork, and tugged on his spandex dress with unease. He felt out of place but was moments away from putting together the first major piece of this perverted puzzle. With a deep sigh, he headed towards the entrance, his heels clacking loudly with each step.

The gamer stepped inside the restaurant and approached the male host, wearing a crisp black vest, white shirt, and freshly ironed black pants. The host looked Harry up and down, his gaze sweeping over the blonde’s slutty form judgmentally; he certainly wasn’t the type of woman that frequented this establishment.

The host appeared to know precisely who Harry was as he picked up a menu. “This way, ma’am,” he said before turning on the spot and leading the scantily clad, transformed man towards the back of the restaurant. Harry’s cheeks flushed as various couples stared at him with dismay and scowls as he passed them by.

The well-dressed host stopped at a secluded table in a dimly lit corner, gesturing toward a man who rose with a confident grin. His slicked-back hair framed a clean-shaven face with a sharp jaw. His tailored suit and tie exuded a polished authority that made Harry’s stomach twist.

The unknown man’s eyes widened with awe and amazement as he took in Harry’s bimbo appearance, the pink hoop earrings swaying with each teetering step.

The man’s leering grin tested Harry’s patience, and he finally opened his mouth to demand answers. However, his voice escaped in a quiet, breathy valley-girl lilt that shocked him to his core. “Like, who the heck are you, baby?”

The blonde gamer slapped a manicured hand over his mouth, mortified by the dumb, flirtatious tone that escaped his lips. The man chuckled in a way that struck a chilling familiarity that Harry couldn’t quite place. The unknown man gestured to the chair across from him, his voice calm and inviting. “Take a seat, Hayley, and I’ll explain everything.”

Harry reluctantly settled into the chair as the man’s eyes never left his image. The bimbofied streamer couldn’t shake the familiar auror around the man, which creeped him out even more.

The man leaned forward and whispered. “Don’t worry about your ‘fans’. The Fork is a blackspot. No one can monitor our conversation in here.” He smiled as if that information was designed to reassure the transformed college student. He slid a leather-bound menu across the table. “Would you like to order a drink? Money is no object.”

Harry shook his blonde-haired head. He wasn’t interested in drinking. He was only interested in one thing. “No, seriously. Like, who are you, cutie?” His airy, flirtatious voice grated at his soul. It was one thing to transform his body, but it felt as though everything he said was now processed through a translator before it escaped his lips.

The man paused, his smile tightening as he leaned back. He nodded, and a notification suddenly flickered in Harry’s vision, requesting permission to share handles and real names with his tablemate. This was the moment Harry had been waiting for, and he eagerly selected ‘Accept’.

The name above the man’s head revealed itself as Lord Mitch Wandsworth, but it was the avatar’s real name below it that froze Harry in place: Michael King. Harry’s blood surged with rage, the revelation igniting a fire that even Hayley’s Submissive trait couldn’t contain, recognizing the rival he’d tormented for years. He slammed his feminine hand on the table in anger. “You better, like, fix this right now, or you’re so gonna regret it, mister!” He hissed, cringing at the valley-girl lilt that twisted his threat into something absurdly playful. He may have been able to overcome the submissive trait, but he couldn’t bypass the bimbo translator.

Michael raised a hand, attempting to keep his face straight after hearing Harry’s bimbo-tinged rant. He spoke with a calm demeanor that only infuriated Harry even further. “Look, Hayley,” he said, choosing not to refer to Harry by his actual name. “You’re in no position to make threats.” He furrowed a brow. “But believe it or not, I’m not here to gloat… Well, maybe I am here a little bit to gloat…”

“Like, you son of a…” Harry started, but Michael lifted his hand again to cut the blonde bimbo off.

“Seriously, I’m actually here to help you.” Harry didn’t expect those words to escape his bullied nemesis’s lips, and he didn’t believe a word the four-eyed bastard said. Michael leaned forward, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial murmur. “I’ve spent the last three months in this game, and all I know for sure is that LifeSynced is one massive money-making scam.”

Harry narrowed his heavily made-up eyes, his big, glossy lips parting. Michael had always been into conspiracy theories, so it came as no surprise to the new blonde. “Seriously? Like, don’t waste my time.”

Michael’s expression hardened, and his tone shifted despite carrying the same calm expression as before. “Listen, Hayley. Look at me. I am one of the wealthiest men in LifeSynced after just three months of gameplay. I recognized the scam early and took advantage of it. Do you have any idea how much that makeover of yours cost me?” He grinned at his last comment.

Harry narrowed his pretty blue eyes. He wanted to punch Michael in the face, both in-game and in real life, but he couldn’t deny how strange it was that his rival could rise so fast in just a few months. “Okay, so, like, what’s that gotta do with me?”

“Well, it doesn’t, but it can help,” Michael replied cryptically. “I’ve done some digging, and the code to your setup has been modified. Someone rigged your device to adjust your DNA so your real body eventually matches your in-game body. You must have really pissed someone off.”

The feminized gamer clenched his fingers tightly, gasping sharply as he forgot about the new impractical bimbo nails he now sported. “You stupid bast…” He cooed.

“It wasn’t me, I swear!” Michael raised his hands in the air. “I had no part in it, scouts honor.” His promise didn’t carry much weight with Harry, especially after everything he had gone through today. “However, with my resources, we can figure out who is behind it and how to reverse the changes. I want to help you.”

Harry’s instincts screamed to dismiss Michael’s words as another cruel trick. They told him to get the hell out of there, but Hayley’s Naive trait stirred inside him, softening his skepticism with a flicker of trust that made him pause. What if he was telling the truth? “Like, why would you help me, after, y’know, everything?” he asked in his bimbo dialect. “And, like, why did you make me look and talk like this and stuff?”

Michael leaned back, his grin softening into something more earnest, though a glint of amusement lingered in his eyes. “Fair question, Hayley, and I’ll admit, seeing you like this is a bit of poetic justice after everything you put me through.” He paused, letting his words hang, before continuing with a more serious tone. “But I didn’t rig your device, and I didn’t turn your character into ‘Hayley’.” He paused momentarily. “Your makeover, however, will help me in the next phase of my plan.”

The blonde’s eyes widened as he processed his nemesis’s words, his heart pounding with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. “Like, what’s your plan, then? Spill it, mister,” he demanded, the flirtatious lilt undermining his attempt at an authoritative demand.

Michael’s smile returned, calculating and assured, as he leaned forward once more, speaking in a whisper. “I need access to exclusive in-game events, the kind only couples can attend. I need to dig deeper into who’s moving the puzzle pieces around,” he explained, his eyes locking onto Harry’s. “That’s where you come in. I need you to pose as my in-game wife.”

Harry almost choked at the suggestion. Surely that dork wasn’t actually serious. Pose as Michael’s girlfriend? There was no situation on earth dire enough for the gamer to accept that proposition, Harry thought. “Like, there’s totally no way I will pose as your wife. Mrs. Michael King? Like, no chance!”

Michael chuckled. “Well, technically, you would be the wife of Lord Mitch Wandsworth, but the semantics don’t matter. Trust me, this is the best opportunity we got.”

Harry pushed back his chair, the 5-inch stilettos scraping the floor as he prepared to storm out, his fury blazing past any character restraints. However, Michael reached across the table and gently wrapped his hand around the blonde’s wrist. “I’m serious, Hayley. I want to help you, but if you walk away from my offer, you’re on your own,” he said with urgency, his eyes boring into Harry’s with intensity. “Those events are the key to finding out what is going on, and I need a wife to get in. You need to trust me on this.”

The word ‘trust’ hung heavily on Harry’s mind. His instincts instantly clashed with Hayley’s Naive trait, which whispered that Michael may be right, and this may be his only path to reversing the changes. The blonde’s shoulders slumped, and he sank back into the chair, his pink spandex minidress clinging to his curves as a reluctant nod escaped him, signaling his agreement to the unthinkable role.

Michael’s smile widened with a hint of triumph, and he reached into his suit pocket and dropped to one knee. The suited man pulled out a ring box, opening it before the blonde bimbo to reveal a flashy diamond engagement ring. He took Harry’s feminine hand with a steady and deliberate touch and slipped the ring onto the bimbo’s ring finger as if he were sealing a pact.

Before Harry could comprehend the agreement he had just made, a sudden wave of dizziness surged through him; his vision blurred, and his hearing distorted. “Like, I don’t feel so good,” he said in his soft feminine voice before collapsing into Michael’s arms, his rival’s grip firm as darkness enveloped the blonde bimbo. What had just happened?

End of Chapter Four