Chapter 12: Back to Reality

Riku blinked as the blinding light of the explosion faded, and the clearing around him began to dissolve. The sounds of battle faded away, replaced by the hum of everyday life. He felt a sudden jolt, as if he were being pulled back through a tunnel of light.

"Riku! Riku!" a familiar voice called out, breaking through the haze. Riku opened his eyes to find himself back in his room, the familiar walls surrounding him. His heart raced as he tried to process what had just happened.

"Goku?" he murmured, looking around for the familiar figure. But there was no sign of the Saiyan warrior. Instead, he saw his friend, Kaito, standing at the door, concern etched on his face.

"Riku! Are you okay? You were out for a while!" Kaito exclaimed, rushing to his side. "You were talking in your sleep about some kind of battle."

Riku sat up, still feeling the adrenaline from the fight. "I… I was just dreaming," he said, trying to shake off the remnants of the intense experience. "But it felt so real!"

Kaito raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? What happened?"

Riku took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "I was fighting alongside Goku against the Red Ribbon Army. There was a giant robot and everything! It was like I was in a video game or something."

Kaito chuckled, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. "Sounds like quite the adventure. You've been playing those games a lot lately, huh?"

"Yeah, but this was different," Riku replied, his mind racing. "I felt powerful. I had abilities, like I could absorb techniques and manipulate energy. It was incredible!"

"Maybe you just need to take a break from gaming," Kaito suggested, trying to lighten the mood. "You know how immersive those things can be."

Riku nodded, but deep down, he felt a lingering connection to the experience. "Maybe… but it felt like more than just a dream. It felt like I was really there."

Kaito shrugged, but his expression softened. "Well, whatever it was, I'm glad you're back. You had me worried for a second."

Riku smiled, grateful for his friend's concern. "Thanks, Kaito. I appreciate it."

As he got up from his bed, Riku couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed within him. The experience had felt so real, and the skills he had unlocked in the dream lingered in his mind. He wondered if there was a way to harness that energy in the real world.