Chapter 20 - Synchronicity
The stars shimmered overhead, casting soft blue and violet hues across the botanical garden. The astral trails of Astra Lumina twisted through the air, flowing like glowing rivers suspended in the sky. The gentle hum of celestial music played in the distance, blending with the quiet whispers of wind through the trees. It was beautiful. Perfect, even.
But something was wrong. Steve McCall—Mackiavelli—stood frozen in place, his breath caught in his throat. His pulse pounded in his ears, drowning out the distant laughter and murmurs of other visitors. Sarah had been right there. Right beside him.
One second, she had been laughing, her hand resting lightly on his arm, her eyes sparkling with warmth under the cosmic glow of Astra Lumina. The next? Gone. His fingers twitched, reaching out toward empty space. A hollow pit of dread formed in his stomach.
"Sarah?"
Silence. Then—in the distance—
"No, no, no."
His head snapped in the direction of the sound.
"No, no, no, no!"
Panic laced the voice—her voice—but it sounded distorted, like an echo from another realm. The hairs on his arms stood on end.
"Sarah!" he shouted, spinning in place, searching, desperate.
Nothing. The world around him trembled. And then—It shattered.
The peaceful night collapsed inward, the glowing stars exploding into particles of code, the soft grass beneath him glitching into pixels. The warmth of Astra Lumina vanished. The cold reality of Another Life VR took its place.
The roar of the coliseum was deafening. Steve blinked. No longer was he standing in the tranquil glow of Astra Lumina, wrapped in the serenity of a perfect night. Now, he stood on a battlefield.
His boots pressed into cracked stone, the air thick with heat and the scent of burning embers. Above him, the sky had shifted into dark swirling clouds, lightning flickering across the vast expanse.
And across from him—Sarah. Or rather, Dani Shaw.
Her golden eyes burned with fury, her stance predatory, her breathing ragged. Flames coiled around her arms, licking at her fingers like serpents hungry for destruction.
Steve swallowed.
"This isn’t real."
But the moment their eyes locked, his heart sank. Because this felt real. And then—she spoke.
Sarah (World Chat): I hate you.
The words cut through him like a blade.
Steve (World Chat): Sarah—
Sarah (World Chat): No! You don’t get to talk. You don’t get to explain. You don’t get to do anything except burn!
She thrust her hands forward. Flames erupted, roaring toward him like a tidal wave of molten fury. Steve barely had time to react. His instincts kicked in.
His cloak billowed as he leaped backward, rolling across the stone just as the fire engulfed the space where he stood. The heat licked at him, singeing the edges of his coat, but he managed to evade the full brunt of the attack.
Steve (World Chat): Sarah, I don’t want to fight you!
Sarah (World Chat): Then I’ll make it easy for you.
She launched herself forward, her flames turning into twin whips of blazing light, twisting through the air as she slashed at him. Steve pulled his cloak up and around, dodging one strike and barely deflecting the second. He felt the burn through the fabric, his HUD flashing damage notifications.
She wasn’t holding back. Not even a little. The fight raged on. Sarah was relentless. Every move Steve made, she countered. Every time he tried to gain distance, she closed the gap, her fire surrounding him, forcing him into constant defense.
And the worst part? She was winning. The once-proud Mackiavelli, strategist and legend of Another Life VR, was losing. His health dipped dangerously low, his stamina bar flashing red. Sarah wasn’t just fighting to win. She was fighting to destroy him.
And then—she executed her favorite move. A swirling vortex of fire erupted beneath him, the heat so intense that the very air warped around it. Steve’s body froze in place, trapped in the center of the storm. She stood over him, triumphant. Her smile was cold.
Sarah (World Chat): I finally defeated you.
Flames consumed him. But then—From the heart of the inferno, a figure emerged. Sarah’s eyes widened in shock. Steve walked forward, the gold glow of his cloak shimmering, untouched by the raging fire. The heat rippled around him, but it never reached his skin.
His footsteps were slow, deliberate. And then he said—
Steve (World Chat): Enough, Sarah.
Sarah staggered back, her flames flickering.
Sarah (World Chat): No! Not until you derez! Not until you’re dead!
Her voice was a snarl, filled with pure, unfiltered rage. Steve sighed, sadness flickering in his gaze.
Steve (World Chat): Sarah, don’t do this.
She hesitated. But only for a second. She rushed him, her body igniting with power, her staff raised high, ready to strike the final blow. And she did. Her weapon connected— And then she began to derez. Her eyes widened in horror.
Sarah (World Chat): What…?
Steve sighed again.
Steve (World Chat): I tried to tell you…
She stumbled back, looking down at herself. Her form was glitching, flickering, her data unraveling before her eyes.
Steve (World Chat): The cooldown for my invincibility cloak was still active.
Her voice cracked with emotion.
Sarah (World Chat): No… no, no, NO!
Steve lowered his head as her body faded into pixels. Her last words were spoken like a curse—
Sarah (World Chat): I hate you… and I never want to talk to you again.
And then she was gone. Steve clenched his fists, standing alone on the battlefield, the fire now nothing but embers. His heart felt heavier than ever before. And then—He woke up. Steve shot upright, his chest heaving, sweat dripping down his brow. His hands shook as he ran them through his hair, his breath uneven.
A dream.
But it hadn’t felt like a dream. It had felt like… Like a warning. He glanced at his phone.
5:23 AM.
Sarah’s name flashed on his contact list, but he didn’t press it. He couldn’t. Because she wouldn’t answer. Because, in a way, he knew that this wasn’t just a dream. Sarah already hated him. And if she ever found out the last secret he was keeping from her? She might just hate him forever.
Steve closed his eyes, trying to silence the war raging in his chest. Because deep down—He already knew this fight wasn’t over. And when the time came? He would have to face her again. But next time?
She wouldn’t be holding back. And neither would he. So instead he got up and went to his bathroom turning on the water and stopping up the sink then once the sink filled up halfway he dunked his head fae first in the water.
It was 2:40 pm when Sarah finally logged in to Another Life in a rush, heart pounding, her body already damp with sweat from training. As soon as the world loaded, she saw the massive coliseum stretching before her, avatars cheering in the stands, the platforms glowing under the arena lights.
She booked it toward the contestant section, scanning the group for familiar faces. Before she could even ask—
Hexa (Private Chat): "Oh look, Sleeping Beauty finally woke up."
Byte (Private Chat): "Bro, I thought she DIED."
Shiro (Private Chat): "Dani, do you have ANY idea what time it is?"
Sarah scowled, still trying to catch her breath.
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Dani (Private Chat): "Why didn’t anyone message me!?"
Hexa (Private Chat): "Because you were in GODDAMN TRAINING MODE and we figured you needed the rest."
Sarah stared, processing.
Dani (Private Chat): "Wait. So I’m not disqualified?"
Vessa (Private Chat): "You won yesterday. That means your bracket wasn’t scheduled yet. You didn’t miss your match."
Sarah exhaled sharply.
Dani (Private Chat): "I wanted to catch the other fights."
Hexa (Private Chat): "You’re in luck. We’re just getting to the good part."
She sighed in relief, shaking off the lingering panic. She hadn’t screwed up—not yet.
Her HUD displayed the updated brackets, and her eyes locked onto the next fight. The announcer’s booming voice filled the stadium, but there was an unexpected static interference before his words came through clearly.
ANNOUNCER (Voice Chat):
"Next on Platform Two—AERIS VOSS, THE CODEBENDER, VERSUS RAVEN CROSS!"
Aeris stepped onto the elevated stone platform, her tome hovering at her side, her staff glowing with arcane energy. Across from her, Raven Cross loomed—a tall, shadow-cloaked figure wrapped in tattered black robes. His eyes gleamed, and wisps of dark energy coiled around him like living shadows.
But just as the announcer was about to introduce the next fight, the arena lights flickered. A few HUD elements glitched for a second before returning to normal.
Hexa (Private Chat): "Uh… what was that? Did the servers just hiccup?"
Byte (Private Chat): "Bruh, if they’re about to make us sit through another ‘unexpected maintenance’ delay, I’m gonna riot."
Shiro (Private Chat): "Maybe someone tried to hack the arena grid?"
Vessa (Private Chat): "Doubtful. More likely a syncing issue with the combat platforms. They run on separate instances to prevent lag. If one of them desyncs, the match gets delayed."
Dani glanced at the two platforms. Aeris and Raven were ready, but on Platform One, Sickblade Dawson and Neko Fangs were still standing idle, waiting.
Dani (Private Chat): "Looks like we’re waiting on Platform One to sync up before they can start. Might be a delay."
Byte (Private Chat): "I mean… I’m okay with a front-row seat to Aeris Voss melting some goth kid before we get to the furry showdown."
Hexa (Private Chat): "Damn, Byte. You’re relentless."
The bell rang. DING!
The moment the battle officially began, Raven vanished into the shadows.
BOOM!
A blast of dark energy erupted from the void, slamming into Aeris’ shield. She barely held her ground as cracks spread across the protective field.
Vessa (Private Chat): "He’s fast. If she doesn’t predict his patterns, she’s done."
Aeris didn’t wait. Her fingers flashed across her HUD, activating defensive code while simultaneously casting firewalls of energy to force Raven out of stealth. Her strategy worked. A flicker—Raven reappeared.
Aeris: "Lock Target. Execute Mana Disrupt."
A flash of light—Raven froze, his movement halted for just a breath—but that was all Aeris needed.
Aeris: "Subroutine Freezing Shockwave - Release."
A storm of ice erupted from her tome, engulfing Raven in a prison of frozen shards. The crowd went WILD.
Byte (Private Chat): "HOLY SHIT, SHE GOT HIM."
Hexa (Private Chat): "That’s my girl."
But just before Aeris could finish him off, the announcer cut in.
Sarah leaned forward, eyes flicking between the two platforms, but her focus was locked on Aeris Voss. How would she beat her? Aeris was a Codebender, a legend in Another Life VR. But was she a Weaver too? Could she code as fast as she fought?
Sarah inhaled sharply, fingers tightening against her knee. If Aeris was a Weaver, then the fight would be even harder. Code Weaving wasn’t just about scripting attacks—it was about instinct, about blending magic, combat, and code into one fluid motion.
Dani clenched her fists. If she’s already at this level, what chance do I have?
Could she Code Weave in a way that would match this? Aeris didn’t just execute—she adapted. She didn’t hesitate. Dani’s thoughts spun in circles. What if I can’t think fast enough? What if my fire is too slow? What if my Code Weaving isn’t enough?
Her jaw tightened. What if I fail?
"Arrrgh!" Dani let out a frustrated noise, gripping her forehead.
Her friends turned to her, their private chat going silent for a moment.
Hexa (Private Chat): "Damn, girl, you good?"
Byte (Private Chat): "What the hell was that?"
Shiro (Private Chat): "She’s in her head. That’s never a good sign."
Dani exhaled through her nose, forcing herself to calm down.
Dani (Private Chat): "Sorry. Just… thinking."
Vessa (Private Chat): "You mean overthinking?"
Shiro (Private Chat): "She’s in her head. That’s never a good sign."
Dani frowned, her eyes still locked on Aeris, analyzing every movement. If she wanted to win, she had to do more than watch. She had to study. She had to break down Aeris' movements, her timing, her code sequences, everything.
The announcer’s voice boomed again.
ANNOUNCER (Voice Chat):
"Next on Platform Two—AERIS VOSS, THE CODEBENDER, VERSUS RAVEN CROSS!"
Aeris moved quickly across the elevated stone platform, her tome hovering at her side, her staff glowing with arcane energy. Raven Cross loomed—a tall, shadow-cloaked figure, wrapped in tattered black robes. His eyes gleamed, and wisps of dark energy coiled around him like living shadows.
Just as the announcer was about to introduce the next fight, the arena lights flickered. A few HUD elements glitched for a second before returning to normal.
Hexa (Private Chat): "Uh… what was that? Did the servers just hiccup?"
Byte (Private Chat): "Bruh, if they’re about to make us sit through another ‘unexpected maintenance’ delay, I’m gonna riot."
Shiro (Private Chat): "Maybe someone tried to hack the arena grid?"
Vessa (Private Chat): "Doubtful. More likely a syncing issue with the combat platforms. They run on separate instances to prevent lag. If one of them desyncs, the match gets delayed."
Sarah glanced at the two platforms. Aeris and Raven were ready, but on Platform One, Sickblade Dawson and Neko Fangs were still standing idle, waiting.
Dani (Private Chat): "Looks like we’re waiting on Platform One to sync up before they can start. Might be a delay."
Byte (Private Chat): "I mean… I’m okay with a front-row seat to Aeris Voss melting some goth kid before we get to the furry showdown."
Hexa (Private Chat): "Damn, Byte. You’re relentless."
The bell rang. DING!
The moment the battle officially began, Raven vanished into the shadows.
BOOM!
A blast of dark energy erupted from the void, slamming into Aeris’ shield. She barely held her ground as cracks spread across the protective field.
Vessa (Private Chat): "He’s fast. If she doesn’t predict his patterns, she’s done."
Aeris didn’t wait. Her fingers flashed across her HUD, activating defensive code while simultaneously casting firewalls of energy to force Raven out of stealth. Her strategy worked.
A flicker—Raven reappeared.
Aeris: (World Chat): "Lock Target. Execute Mana Disrupt."
A flash of light—Raven froze, his movement halted for just a breath—but that was all Aeris needed.
Aeris: (World Chat): "Subroutine Freezing Shockwave - Release."
A storm of ice erupted from her tome, engulfing Raven in a prison of frozen shards. The crowd went WILD.
Byte (Private Chat): "HOLY SHIT, SHE GOT HIM."
Hexa (Private Chat): "Let’s Go!"
But before Aeris could finish him off, the announcer cut in.
ANNOUNCER (Voice Chat):
"And it seems our technical difficulties have been resolved! Finally, the wait is over—on Platform One, we have the deadly assassin of precision—SICKBLADE DAWSON!"
Byte (Private Chat): "Yo, Sickblade is starting!"
Hexa (Private Chat): "Oh damn, finally!."
Sickblade cracked his knuckles, his bladed gauntlets pulsing with sickly green venom. Across from him, Neko Fangs crouched low, claws digging into the stone platform. His wolf-like figure bristled, sharp fangs bared.
The announcer grinned.
ANNOUNCER (Voice Chat):
"And on the other side—we have the beast, the savage, the nightmare from the wilds—NEKO FANGS! IT SEEMS WE HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE WOLF!"
Dani (Private Chat): "That announcer is way too into this."
Byte (Private Chat): "Bro is living his best life."
Shiro (Private Chat): "Wait… did Aeris just shift her stance?"
Sarah noticed it too. The moment the announcer’s words hit Aeris’ ears, something clicked in her brain. A wolf. A hunter. A beast that moves in the shadows but fights when cornered. Aeris gritted her teeth.
If Raven was a shadow predator, then she would become the wildfire that burned through the dark. Her fingers flew across her HUD, rewriting her combat script in real-time. The icy barrier around Raven shattered, but instead of following up with another ice attack— She ignited the air around him.
Aeris: (World Chat): "Firestorm - Area Expansion."
FLAMES ERUPTED.
The arena roared as a vortex of blazing inferno encircled Raven Cross, nullifying his shadow escape.
Raven (World Chat): "Tch. Clever."
Byte (Private Chat): "OH, SHE CHANGED UP HER STRATEGY ON THE FLY."
Vessa (Private Chat): "She’s learning. Adapting."
On Platform One, Sickblade and Neko were now circling each other, waiting for the first move.
Neko Fangs (World Chat): "You rely on poison. Weak."
Sickblade (World Chat): "I rely on what works."
With a blur of motion, Neko lunged forward, claws swiping in rapid slashes. Sickblade barely dodged, twisting his body mid-air to flip over Neko’s attack.
Hexa (Private Chat): "Damn, he’s fast!"
Sarah watched intently, but her mind was racing. Could she defeat Aeris with Code Weaving? Would it be fast enough? Or was she just chasing a dream she wasn’t ready for?
This is part of a series of stories that have lived solely in my head for many years, and I’ve finally started writing them as serialized fiction books. If you think the story sucks, feel free to tell me—it’s all part of the process. That said, I’m also looking for constructive criticism, so any suggestions are welcome and will be considered as I work to improve the series.
