anwhile….
In a clean, spacious room bathed in the soft glow of natural light filtering through sheer curtains.
Aileen, her blonde hair tied back in a cute bun, her yellow-rimd glasses perched on her nose, was deep in a yoga pose.
She held a perfect dhanurasana, her spine curved gracefully, her gaze fixed on a distant point. Sweat beaded on her brow as she stretched, every muscle engaging in the intricate dance of the practice. Her movents were fluid, disciplined, reflecting a sharp mind and an even sharper focus.
Suddenly, a soft beep chid from a sleek, minimalist box-like CPU machine on her work desk. It was an insistent, digital tone that cut through the ditative quiet.
Aileen sighed, unfolding herself from the pose with a groan that was more annoyance than effort. She stood, walking with deliberate steps towards the desk.
"This better be good," she murmured, her voice a low purr, clearly displeased at the interruption to her flow.
She pushed a button on the machine's pristine surface. Instantly, the air around her desk erupted.
FWOOM!
A wave of multiple holographic screens popped up, shimring into existence like digital waterfalls. Lines of code scrolled endlessly, complex tracking graphs pulsed with real-ti data, and dense informational packets filled the air… all pertaining to the EverRealm ga.
She had unrestricted access to the ga's deepest data and code, not just because she was its primary architect, but also its sole sustainer.
At the corner of this digital tableau, one particular screen blinked rapidly, its alert icon pulsing crimson. Aileen's brow furrowed, a slight wrinkle marring her otherwise smooth forehead.
She extended a hand, and with a subtle gesture, the blinking screen detached from the others, floating closer, growing larger and sharper into view.
She read the info, her eyes scanning the lines of data. And then, slowly, a wide, excited grin spread across her face. "Oh crap! He's finally online. I didn't think he was gonna log in anyti soon." she muttered. Her eyes were fixed, utterly transfixed, on a single, bolded na:
Orion.
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned an holographic keyboard. Her fingers flew across the projected keys, typing in a series of commands.
Imdiately, the screens shifted, consolidating into a single, large display. It showed a new arena, a treacherous mountain pass wreathed in mist, and two avatars.
One was a female warrior, clad in gleaming green armor, a formidable spear clutched in her hand. The other was a boy, lean and athletic, wearing a sleeveless shirt with black arm bindings, his raven black hair short and a bit spiky.
Aileen pulled up a high-backed ergonomic chair and settled into it, her excitent palpable. "Alright, let's see what tricks you're gonna pull this ti around." she smirked, her gaze fixed solely on the boy.
When the match finally began. Both fighters charged, closing the distance over the craggy terrain. The spear-wielding woman let out a battle cry, preparing to thrust. But then, sothing unexpected happened.
The boy simply vanished. Not faded out, not teleported with a flash of light, but disappeared, leaving no trace behind.
The girl in green armor skidded to a halt, her spear lowered, her virtual eyes wide with shock. She paused, utterly bewildered. Even Aileen was stunned. She certainly hadn't expected that.
Then, as suddenly as he'd vanished, the boy reappeared. He materialized directly in front of the girl, who had montarily let down her guard in her confusion. And with swift, almost impossible agility, he drove his fist into her gut.
BOOM!
The impact was sickeningly visceral. Her green armor shattered, disintegrating into polygonal shards that flew into the air, and the bare hit landed with bone-jarring force, knocking the air out of her lungs.
The sheer power of the blow created visible shockwaves that rippled through the virtual air. The girl's eyes widened in disbelief and pain as she collapsed, her avatar dissolving into a cloud of particles, leaving the boy standing alone as the winner.
Aileen's own eyes widened, her jaw slack. "What the fuck just happened?!" she muttered, her voice barely a whisper, her gaze fixed on 'ORION as the Winner' banner that flashed across the screen.
"I couldn't even trace his attack this ti," she said, dumbfounded, leaning closer to the screen. "It's as if he's gotten stronger."
Then she shook her head, her gaze sharpening, a glint of determination entering her eyes. "No, you're not getting away that easily, Orion," she declared, her eyes darting to the sleek, rarely used ga pod positioned in the far corner of her large, tech-filled room.
She clenched her fist. The urge to jump in, to face him herself, was almost overwhelming.
But then, a thought popped into her mind, stopping her just as she was about to rise. "No, if I fight him at my current strength, I might lose. And by losing, I won't get the data I need. I need him to show his full power, to go all out. It's the only way I can be sure."
She contemplated for a mont longer, pacing a small circle in front of her desk. Then another idea sparked.
She quickly grabbed her holographic tablet from a charging dock and dialed a number on it.
After a few rings, a teenage girl's voice with a playful British accent answered. "Hey, sparky. What's up?"
Aileen's face lit up with a satisfied glint. "Ava. Hi. Um, what are you up to?" she asked.
The girl, Ava, exhaled dramatically on the other end. "Oh, nothing much. Just about to hop in my pod. Maybe play a few rounds before dinner." she replied casually.
Aileen's smirk widened. "Oh, that's perfect. I actually need your help with sothing related to my ga."
Ava chuckled, a playful lilt in her voice. "Sure thing, love. How may I serve?"
Aileen leaned back, a predatory gleam in her eyes as she stared at the fading image of Orion's victorious avatar. "I need you to fight soone for ."
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