Chapter 04: In His World

---

As I slowly regained consciousness, I felt the odd sensation of coldness beneath me, yet there was a strange comfort in the cool surface that contrasted with the chaos swirling in my mind. The air around me hummed softly, like an energy vibrating through the very space itself. My mind felt foggy, as if I had just awoken from a dream, but the surreal surroundings told me this was anything but a dream.

I opened my eyes, and my breath caught in my throat. The sight before me was unlike anything I had ever seen—there was no familiar ceiling or the soft comfort of my bed. Instead, I found myself surrounded by a bizarre blend of stars and glitches—like I had been transported into a galaxy that had been warped by technology, a place where space itself had been twisted and bent into something that could only exist in a dream or a computer program.

The stars shimmered and pulsed around me, swirling in patterns that seemed both chaotic and deliberate. It was as if I was floating in a vast ocean of light and code, disconnected from everything I knew. The whole world around me felt unstable—like something was shifting, not quite real but undeniably present.

"Welcome to DeepSpace, sweetie."

The voice broke through the surreal scene, smooth and deep, sending a tremor down my spine. I whipped around, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched for the source. My eyes landed on him almost instantly—Sylus.

He stood before me in all his grandeur, a figure of power and mystery. His gray hair shimmered like moonlight, cascading in soft waves around his sharp features. His red eyes glowed with an intensity that sent chills down my spine, their unnatural brilliance making the surrounding stars seem pale in comparison.

He was dressed in black armor, intricately designed with glowing gold lines that seemed to pulse with energy, almost alive in the way they moved across his suit. Every detail of his appearance was perfect—like something out of a dream, and yet he felt all too real. The contrast between the fantastical surroundings and his commanding presence made it difficult to breathe.

I blinked, struggling to process the reality of the situation. "You're… Sylus?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn't reconcile the Sylus standing in front of me with the character I had admired on my screen just hours before. He was lifelike in a way that felt beyond human, more like a force of nature than a person.

"Indeed," he replied smoothly, his voice carrying a slight edge of amusement. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, one that made my heart race with a mix of fear and fascination. His gaze never left me as he stepped closer, his movements precise and commanding, every step calculated, as if he were accustomed to making others wait on him. "You summoned me, didn't you? Or perhaps… I summoned you?"

The words echoed in my mind, reverberating against the strange silence that surrounded us. My heart pounded faster, and my mind raced as the absurdity of the situation began to hit me all at once. "How… how is this possible?" I breathed, struggling to understand the impossible reality that had unfolded around me. "I was just playing a game!"

Sylus chuckled softly, a deep, intoxicating laugh that only deepened the confusion and intrigue swirling within me. "The game is merely a gateway," he said, his tone unwavering and calm. "You've been chosen for something far greater, sweetie." He paused for a moment, his eyes never leaving mine, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "But first…"

Before I could respond, the digital stars around me began to shift. The once chaotic patterns of light that filled the air seemed to slow and reorganize, coalescing into something more tangible. The stars twisted and morphed, forming a bridge that led to a glowing city suspended in the void.

The sight before me took my breath away. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. A futuristic metropolis, glowing with an ethereal light, stretched across the endless expanse. Towering spires of crystal and metal jutted out from the ground, their surfaces gleaming in the soft, golden light that bathed the entire city. Hovering ships drifted lazily between the buildings, casting faint shadows across the shimmering streets. Pathways made of glowing energy stretched between the towers, like lines of electricity connecting the very foundation of this city to the stars themselves.

I stared at the city in awe, unable to comprehend how something so fantastical could exist. Sylus' voice broke through my reverie, soft and laced with amusement.

"I need to know," he said, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. "Do you trust me enough to step into my world? It's not without danger, but I promise to protect you."

My chest tightened. His outstretched hand was steady, but his piercing gaze held an unspoken challenge. I hesitated, torn between curiosity and fear.

"I… I don't even know if this is real," I admitted, my voice shaky, though there was something inside me urging me to trust him.

"Does it matter?" he asked, stepping even closer, his hand brushing against mine. The touch was gentle but charged with an undeniable intensity. "Real or not, this moment is ours."

I looked at him, uncertainty mingling with an inexplicable pull. There was something in his eyes—something that made me feel both vulnerable and safe at the same time. I reached out slowly, placing my hand in his, and in that instant, I felt the connection between us deepen, as if I was about to cross a threshold I couldn't turn back from.

With a smile that sent a shiver down my spine, Sylus led me toward the glowing city. The world around us seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of wonder and dread intertwined. As we walked, I realized that the path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was stepping into something that could give me the purpose and the strength I had been longing for.

And with Sylus at my side, I wasn't sure where this journey would take me—but I knew, deep down, that I wasn't going to face it alone.