Chapter 2: Glitches in Reality
506 Words
A sharp, electric pulse shot through Aria’s body as her vision flickered between darkness and an endless digital void. A moment ago, she had been in her apartment, the hum of her gaming rig a familiar comfort. Now, she was weightless, suspended in an ocean of shifting code.
Then—impact.
Aria hit solid ground, gasping as neon-blue circuitry spread beneath her palms. The world around her stabilized, forming what looked like an enormous coliseum. Towering structures of glowing steel arched overhead, their surfaces shifting with streaming data.
A sudden thud to her left made her spin around. A young man—tall, lean, with sharp, calculating eyes—pushed himself up from the ground. He groaned, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ugh… Where the hell am I?" Kai muttered, taking in the bizarre surroundings.
Before Aria could respond, three more figures materialized nearby in flashes of light. Nova landed in a crouch, eyes immediately darting around with suspicion. Zane rolled to his feet with a practiced ease, already scanning for an escape route. Luna, the last to arrive, shivered as she took a hesitant step forward, her gaze filled with confusion.
A crackling voice echoed from above.
"Welcome, contenders. You have been selected for The Arcane Arena. Prove your worth. Survive."
A deep tremor rumbled beneath them. The ground split apart, revealing a chasm that glowed with molten energy. From the shadows, figures began to emerge—gladiator-like warriors clad in shimmering digital armor, their eyes devoid of life.
"Okay," Zane said, cracking his knuckles. "This is either the best VR update ever… or we’re in serious trouble."
Nova cursed under her breath. "This isn’t normal. Something's wrong with the game."
Aria stepped forward, her mind racing. "If this is part of The Arcane Arena, we need to play by its rules. That means fighting."
The first enemy lunged.
Before Aria could react, her instincts took over. She sidestepped effortlessly, her body moving faster than ever before. As if guided by some unseen force, she twisted midair and kicked out, sending the armored opponent skidding back.
Her heart pounded. That shouldn't have been possible.
Kai, too, found himself moving with unnatural precision, dodging an incoming strike with lightning-fast reflexes. His eyes widened as he countered with a powerful blow, his fist colliding against metal like a wrecking ball.
Zane delivered a brutal spinning kick, his body moving as if it weighed nothing. Nova, still in shock, barely had time to react before an enemy struck at her. She flinched, raising her arms—and suddenly, a translucent energy barrier flickered into existence, blocking the attack.
Luna stumbled back, breath quickening. A warrior closed in on her, its blade gleaming. She threw up her hands in panic—
—and a burst of glowing, golden light erupted from her fingertips, sending the enemy flying.
The five stared at each other, panting, the realization dawning upon them.
This wasn’t just a game anymore.
Something inside them had changed.
And whatever was happening… had only just begun.
- Writer
