Sadam_Khatri

Synopsis:

If a game starts controlling you, can you survive?

Aryan Verma, a pro eSports gamer, is the undisputed champion of the world's best VR MMORPG game, "Overlord’s Arena." But one day, he receives a mysterious VR headset from an unknown company. Out of curiosity, he wears it, and the game begins… literally!

But there's a twist:

 Game Over = Real Death!

 Quests must be completed, or the System will eliminate him!

 NPCs aren’t just codes; they think like real humans!

Real-world Impact – Every action in the game affects reality!

Player One: Last Chance

Chapter 4: Into the Unknown

The sensation of falling was overwhelming. Aryan's body twisted through a vortex of shimmering blue code, his teammates plummeting beside him. The air crackled with raw energy, and a sense of weightlessness consumed him.

With a heavy thud, Aryan landed on solid ground, groaning as he rolled onto his back. His HUD flickered, adjusting to the new environment. He sat up, scanning his surroundings.

They were in a vast, neon-lit city unlike anything he had seen before. Towering skyscrapers pulsed with electric energy, their surfaces displaying scrolling code and flashing symbols. Hovering vehicles zipped across the sky, and the streets were bustling with humanoid figures—some flesh and blood, others entirely mechanical.

Nyx pushed herself up, shaking her head. "Where the hell are we?"

[WELCOME TO NEON PRIME: THE CITY OF CODE]

Kaine let out a low whistle. "Damn, this place looks like a cyberpunk dream."

Shira was already typing on her wrist console. "This isn't just a game level—it's a fully functioning digital metropolis. And…" She paused, eyes narrowing. "The system clock here is different from ours."

Aryan frowned. "What do you mean?"

Shira turned to him, worry flashing across her face. "We're not just in a game anymore. This city operates on its own time."

Before Aryan could process that information, a deep, mechanical voice boomed through the streets.

"OUTSIDERS DETECTED. SYSTEM INTERVENTION ENGAGED."

From the sky, a swarm of drones descended, their weapons charging with lethal energy.

Kaine grabbed his gun. "Looks like we're about to get the VIP welcome treatment."

Nyx grinned, unsheathing her blades. "Let's show them what real players can do."

Aryan's grip tightened around his sword. Whatever this city was, it held answers—but first, they had to survive its guardians.

The Battle Begins

The drones swooped down, their mechanical wings slicing through the air. Laser fire rained down on them, forcing the team to scatter. Aryan ducked behind a glowing neon barrier, barely avoiding a plasma shot that singed his shoulder.

"Damn it! These things are fast," he muttered.

Kaine rolled into cover beside him, reloading his rifle. "Yeah, but they're not invincible. Aim for the power cores."

Nyx was already on the move, flipping onto a hovering platform and slicing through a drone with her twin daggers. Sparks flew as the machine crashed to the ground, exploding on impact.

Shira's console beeped. "I'm hacking the city's firewall to disable them—just buy me some time!"

Aryan leaped onto a nearby ledge, using the height to his advantage. He activated Phantom Strike, his sword glowing as he sliced through two drones in one swift motion.

The drones shrieked, their systems failing as they spiraled out of control. But more kept coming.

Kaine grunted as he took a hit to the shoulder. "Shira, any day now would be great!"

"I'm almost in—just a few more seconds!" she shouted.

One drone locked onto Aryan, charging its energy cannon. Before it could fire, a sudden shockwave erupted through the battlefield, sending it crashing into a building.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a tall woman in a sleek, cybernetic suit, her eyes glowing with a soft blue light.

"You're not from here," she said, stepping forward.

Aryan raised his sword defensively. "And who the hell are you?"

The woman smirked. "Your only hope of survival."

Behind her, the remaining drones shut down, collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Shira let out a sigh of relief. "I was about to disable them, but I think she beat me to it."

The woman extended her hand. "Welcome to Neon Prime. I think we need to talk."

Aryan hesitated, then took her hand. Whatever this city was hiding, it was clear they weren't leaving anytime soon.