*****
A shadow emerged.
His hand instinctively hovered over his wristband, where his sword was compactly stored in a high-tech mechanism.
He knew this place wasn't real—just a Full-Dive Virtual Reality simulation—but everything felt eerily real.
Then it happened.
A faint disturbance in the air.
A barely audible shift in the wind.
Something—no, someone—was moving toward him. Fast.
Before he could process the movement, his body reacted on instinct.
Woosh—!
With a flick of his wrist, his sword materialized instantly, the blade gleaming in the dappled sunlight that managed to slip through the treetops.
Swish—!
His sword cut through the air, aiming straight for the approaching shadow.
A figure froze in place just inches away from his blade.
"Wait...!!"
A frantic voice echoed through the jungle, cutting through the silence like a dagger.
Lyrium's eyes flickered with recognition.