Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord
Chapter 104: EverRealm

Chapter 104: EverRealm

Downstairs...

As they entered the main hall, Penelope stood up from the sofa, visibly relieved at the sight of her daughter.

"Cassie," she breathed. "I... about earlier, I’m really sorry. Jayden doesn’t have to be your bodyguard if that’s what you want."

Cassandra held up a hand. "It’s not settled yet," she said plainly. "Jayden and I are going to have a spar. He wants to be my bodyguard, right? So why don’t i see for myself if he’s up for the task."

Penelope blinked, stunned. "A spar...?"

"At the arcade." Cassandra finished.

Penelope blinked again. Jayden echoed her confusion in silence, tilting his head.

"The... arcade?" he mouthed. "How do we spar at the arcade?"

Cassandra smirked. "You’ll see." she said. And without wasting time, grabbed Jayden and bid goodbye to Penelope.

Jayden found himself being dragged out of the mansion by the wrist. Cassandra was walking briskly through the glowing streets of Emerald City, her ponytail bouncing behind her. People turned now and then, admiring her beauty. But she didn’t care—and neither did Jayden. He jogged to keep up.

"So... you like games?" he asked, amused.

"Games are my battlefield," she grinned. "And today, I’m taking you to my turf."

Jayden chuckled. He was tempted to boast about being a pro gamer as well, but he refrained and kept to himself.

They strolled side by side beneath neon lights and the humming lull of cars. They talked about their favorite games, random memories, and the ridiculous things Cassandra had done to beat her high scores. Jayden laughed more than he expected. And every time she smiled, he found it a little harder to remember why he ever thought of her as stubborn.

They turned into a less crowded street, where the buildings grew tighter, closer together, and more modern. And then she stopped.

Towering before them was a glass structure humming with violet light. The building had no visible sign, only a digital panel that read:

NEXA VR | Pod Access: Open.

Jayden furrowed his brows. "Pod?" he thought. But as Cassandra pushed the glass doors open, his confusion only deepened.

The place was quiet.. eerily quiet. Not the kind of energy-splattered chaos he expected from an arcade. There were no consoles, no joystick cabinets, no flashing prize counters or dance pads.

Just rows and rows.. of sleek, metallic pods.

They looked like polished coffins—high-tech sarcophagi arranged in perfect symmetry, each one large enough to fit an adult. And inside, visible through the transparent lids, were people lying still as corpses. Their bodies relaxed. Eyes closed. And seemingly asleep.

Jayden froze. His heartbeat quickened as his brain made the connection.

They weren’t asleep.

They were inside a game.

Cassandra turned around with a mischievous grin, watching the realization sweep across his face.

"This isn’t an arcade," he muttered, stepping further inside. His voice was low, reverent. "This is a pod den..."

"Bingo," Cassandra beamed. She spun on her heel, walking between the rows like a guide leading a museum tour. "Gamepods, Jayden. Top-tier neural simulation chambers. They don’t just let you see the game... they pull your consciousness into it."

Jayden glanced around, still stunned. He had only read about these. Back when he was younger, he’d dreamt about it.. but then came the accident, the rehab, the years of therapy and isolation. And by the time he was legally old enough, he’d already missed the trend.

He had never been inside one.

Not once.

"Most people just use VR headsets," he said softly, almost to himself. "Gamepods were always too expensive."

"Exactly," Cassandra replied. "That’s why pod dens like this exist. You pay by the hour, jump in, and have fun while it lasts."

Jayden stared at the nearest pod, watching the faint flicker of color across the user’s eyelids.

"Is it... safe?" he asked.

Cassandra chuckled. "Of course. Mostly. You don’t actually die in there. Unless your pride counts."

Jayden raised an eyebrow, and she gave him a wink.

"So," he started, gesturing vaguely to the rows of pods. "We’re sparring in this? Inside a game?"

"Not just any game," Cassandra said, eyes gleaming. She leaned in slightly, voice dropping with dramatic flair. "We’re playing EverRealm."

Jayden blinked. "EverRealm?"

She grinned like a kid about to unwrap fireworks. "The most played PvP game in the world. Eighty percent of pod users log in just for it. It’s like mortal kombat but you are the character. With real abilities. Real motion. Real-time pain simulations. But no actual damage."

Jayden stared, awestruck. It made sense now. People weren’t here to just play. They were here to train. To test their skills without risking their lives. To spar with the deadliest fighters in the world without spilling a single drop of blood.

"Even elite soldiers use it," she said casually, already walking toward the attendant. "Some schools even hold virtual tournaments on it. It’s perfect for spars."

Jayden followed, heart pounding in excitement. "Okay," he said, trying to play it cool. "What’s the catch?"

Cassandra smirked as she turned, her hands on her hips.

"If you lose... you’re still my bodyguard."

Jayden scoffed. "What happened to the wager?"

Cassandra leaned closer, whispering like a devil in silk. "The wager was just bait, Jayden. Of course I want you to be my bodyguard. I just wanted to give my mum a little headache." she winked.

Jayden chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re unbelievable."

She shrugged. "Win or lose... you’re stuck with me now."

Then she turned back to face the attendant, said a few words and showed him a golden card. The man face lit up immediately and directed them to two separate pods by the corner. These pods were more advanced-looking and comfy.

As they walked toward the pods, a cool breeze of artificial air whispered down from the ceiling vents. Ambient music hummed softly in the background. Jayden’s fingers brushed against the smooth metal surface as the pod’s lid lifted open, light flooding from within.

He looked at Cassandra, who was already slipping into hers like it was second nature.

"Ready?" she asked, her face framed by the soft blue glow.

Jayden smirked and laid back into the pod. "Ready."

The lid closed over him with a hiss. And he began to feel sleepy, his consciousness drifting away by the second. And then, darkness took him.

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