Cen Yuehuai blinked with unabashed curiosity, her eyes alight with the spark of intrigue. "You've mentioned it before—what exactly is the Unbound City?"
Sino Uss offered a brisk explanation, his words painting a vivid sketch of a realm accessible only to those with high-grade mental fortitude, a place where identities were cloaked in shadow, and every soul moved veiled in secrecy. At this, Cen's excitement flared like a comet's tail, her eagerness palpable.
"How do we get in?" she asked, leaning forward, her voice thrumming with anticipation.
"Leave your entry permit to me," Sino declared, his confidence as unyielding as tempered steel. "I'll have it sorted by tonight. As for you, Your Highness," he turned to Baisha, "your old permit might've lapsed. Shall I arrange a new one for you as well?"
Sino's ease suggested he was no stranger to the Unbound City's labyrinthine ways—a figure who navigated its currents with the assurance of a seasoned mariner.
"No preparations needed," he continued. "The Unbound City operates much like any virtual realm. All you require is a holographic simulation pod."
The Starnet brimmed with virtual domains—cities woven from data, rootless yet thriving, like flora blooming in a digital sea. Among them, the Unbound City stood as a towering arboreal giant, its energies pulsing with a potency that defied mortal comprehension.
"Are there simulation pods in our dorms?" Cen asked, tilting her head toward Baisha, her brow creased with doubt.
"Not likely," Baisha replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "They're not standard issue. The academy doesn't provide them."
Cen's face fell, her expression crumpling into a pitiful pout. Before she could voice her dismay, Baisha cut in, decisive as a blade's stroke. "No matter. I'll cover the cost of the pods."
In an instant, Cen flung her arms around Baisha's, her gratitude as warm as a hearth's glow.
"Still," Baisha said, arching a brow, "are you truly set on staying at odds with your family? Your sister seems to care for you deeply. I doubt she'd cut your allowance entirely."
"You don't understand them," Cen said, her lips tightening, a bitter edge creeping into her voice. "To them, dragging me back home is for my own good. They'll stop at nothing to make it happen."
Cen knew her family's love ran deep, yet it was a love unyielding, blinkered by their convictions. To enforce their vision of her future, the Cen clan would stand as her adversaries, their resolve unbreakable. Subtle sabotage was the least of their arsenal; expecting support was a fool's hope. Even now, Cen suspected her parents and sister were counting the days until Tianquan expelled her, their faith in her faltering.
Baisha fell silent, then rested a hand on Cen's shoulder, her touch steady as an anchor. "Don't worry. With me here, you'll never go hungry."
Cen's face bloomed into a radiant smile. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Sino, ever the opportunist, chimed in. "I devised this brilliant plan for you, Yuehuai, and not a word of thanks for me?"
Cen stuck out her tongue, her grin impish. "Thanks~ But don't think I'm fooled. You're only helping me to curry favor with Her Highness. You're after her mechsmithing skills!"
"And what's shameful about coveting a master mechsmith's craft?" Sino scoffed, his smirk unrepentant. "Better than some who live off others' generosity."
Cen's jaw dropped, her indignation flaring. "You—!" Furious yet unable to retort, she fumed in silence.
The trio parted ways, Baisha and Cen returning to their Luoyan District dormitory. Without hesitation, Baisha activated her holodevice and ordered two state-of-the-art holographic pods. Such devices were a staple among affluent students, their demand evergreen. With the academic term just begun, manufacturers dangled discounts and same-day delivery, and within hours, the pods arrived.
Following the manual's instructions, Baisha installed the pods in their study, her movements deft and assured.
Imperial citizens, their mental energies potent and volatile, required a dose of "Dreamveil Elixir" before entering virtual realms—a potion said to soothe the mind for seamless connection. Cen cracked open a vial with practiced ease, downing the pink liquid in one swift gulp before clambering into her pod.
"Your Highness, let's add each other as friends first, then head to the Unbound City together," she called out.
Baisha nodded, snapping open her own vial and drinking deeply. The elixir was sweet with a bitter undertone, leaving a faint herbal fragrance in her throat. She settled into her pod and logged on.
Having transitioned from the Federation to the Empire, her old Starnet account was defunct. Baisha created a new one, her fingers pausing over the name field before dancing across the interface to input five words: I'm Done Being Human.
Her new account blinked into existence, its friend list a barren expanse. She sighed softly, a wistful breath in the digital void. But moments later, a silver panel flared with a notification: Moonlit Barking Glow requested to add her as a friend.
Recalling that she and Cen shared a local signal, Baisha accepted. The space beside her rippled, and Cen materialized, her avatar a vibrant echo of her spirit.
"Let's go, Your Highness," Cen said, her voice brimming with anticipation.
Together, they logged into the Unbound City.
The familiar ritual of crafting an avatar followed. Baisha tweaked her data with practiced ease, rendering her appearance unrecognizable even to her own kin, then stepped into the city's embrace. At the entrance, she was greeted by a bold vision: Cen, her hair dyed bubblegum pink and styled in twin tails, her nose and ears adorned with gleaming studs—a defiant, avant-garde rebel.
"Yo, Your Highness!" Cen waved, her grin infectious. "What do you think of my look? Pretty trendy, right?"
Baisha eyed the constellation of piercings, pausing for a beat. "Very trendy."
In the interstellar age, individuality reigned supreme, and fashion veered into realms of surreal splendor. Cen's ensemble was tame by comparison—had she donned a bull's skull as a helm, Baisha wouldn't have batted an eye.
"Where's Sino?" Cen asked, only to catch herself, her voice dropping. In a place like this, real names were a liability, and Sino hadn't shared his alias.
Seconds later, a towering figure loomed behind them—a man, nearly two meters tall, his black combat suit exuding wealth, his golden hair cascading like a lion's mane, his eyes glinting with metallic froideur. He appeared twenty-five, his presence commanding. Yet upon spotting Baisha and Cen, his icy hauteur melted. He strode forward, clearing his throat. "I'm here, Your Highness."
Baisha and Cen glanced at his ID: Lordly Defiance.
A beat of silence passed.
"Quite the bold name," Baisha remarked dryly.
"Why'd you make yourself so tall?" Cen craned her neck, scowling. "You're blocking my view."
Baisha and Cen had kept their avatars' heights modest, both standing at 1.7 meters, a full head shorter than Sino's imposing frame and appearing younger by comparison.
"It's a free canvas," Sino said, smirking. "Want to sculpt yourself into a three-meter giant? No one's stopping you."
Cen's eyes narrowed, her face a mask of disdain. "Not everyone's as ostentatious as you, Lordly Defiance. That name's tacky as hell."
"And Moonlit Barking Glow is any better?" Sino shot back. "What are you, a dog?"
"I'd be a dog just to bite you first!" Cen snapped.
Their bickering escalated, drawing curious glances from passersby at the city's gate. Baisha inhaled deeply, then seized the backs of their heads, pressing them down with a firm hand. "Enough squabbling," she said, her voice calm but unyielding. "I'm not here to be a spectacle."
Sino and Cen fell silent, chastened. Baisha released them, her tone turning didactic. "You're classmates, not enemies. No need to clash over trifles. Sino, curb your sarcasm. Yuehuai, he's helping you—don't repay kindness with barbs. Am I clear? We're here to cooperate."
Both nodded, duly admonished.
"Good. Let's move," Baisha said, waving a hand. She turned to Sino. "You mentioned the simulated mech duels. I've heard of them, but where's the registration?"
Sino's grin was radiant. "Follow me."
He led them to a towering red edifice, its translucent walls etched with shadowed lines, a symphony of light and geometry that screamed futuristic grandeur. The first floor housed a reception, the second a sprawling leisure lounge. The registration desk awaited on the third. Along the way, several figures greeted Sino as "Lord," their tones deferential. Sino, maintaining his aloof persona behind tinted shades, acknowledged them with curt nods.
Each "Lord" struck Cen like a blow to the chest, her virtual form somehow suffocating despite its intangibility. Baisha, meanwhile, scanned the building's decor and its denizens, her mind sifting for clues. In a virtual world, appearances were deceits—any unassuming stranger could be a titan or a novice.
Sino guided Cen to a white registration counter, where she enrolled for the duels, categorized from I-1 to V-5. As a first-timer, Cen qualified for the novice tier, with a chance to ascend to level two if she distinguished herself.
"Please register your mech and weapon," said the attendant, a soft-featured woman in a black-and-white uniform, her voice honeyed yet mechanical. Her blurred edges and vacant gaze marked her as an AI. "If you lack a personal mech or weapon, the arena provides standard models."
Cen's custom mech, Frostquench, couldn't be digitized for the Unbound City, and its designer would likely balk at data leaks.
"Just practice," Sino advised. "A standard mech will do. But choose your weapon wisely—it'll shape your training."
Cen nodded, submitting her form. An official escorted her away, and she glanced back, her voice tinged with nerves. "What, you're abandoning me already?"
"Why would we join a novice match? To bully rookies?" Sino flashed a toothy grin. "Survive the newbie gauntlet first."
Cen departed, her steps hesitant.
"Come, Your Highness," Sino said. "We'll watch from a viewing box."
He led Baisha back to the second floor, securing a private suite. As they settled onto plush sofas, the walls parted, revealing a flood of light and sound. In an instant, they were no longer in a lounge but perched in an arena's stands, the roar of a virtual crowd enveloping them.
Sino reclined, the chair adjusting to his frame. A small robot whirred over, offering a basket of snacks and drinks. "Anything for you, Your Highness? My treat."
Baisha's lips twitched. "No, thank you." With Cen about to face her trial, munching snacks felt unbecoming.
Sino shrugged, buying the entire basket and spreading it across the table. "Too caloric, no nutrition—my father called this junk. Never bought me a single pack growing up. Here, I indulge. Real-world versions pale in comparison." He tossed a popcorn kernel into his mouth.
"When's Yuehuai's match?" Baisha asked.
"Soon," Sino said. "Novice matches run concurrently across multiple fields. This stream's hers."
Moments later, Cen appeared, piloting a sleek silver-gray light mech, her movements cautious as she stepped onto the arena. Her opponent, also wielding a standard light mech, faced her under the mechanical referee's command. A piercing whistle signaled the start, and the enemy charged, lightsword blazing.
Cen yelped, drawing her gun and firing as she fled. Her aim was uncanny, stray shots somehow finding their mark, but her standard laser lacked the punch to breach armor, locking her in a war of attrition. She dodged each slash, evaded each charge, her mech's wings unfurling as she danced through the air, untouchable. When her foe switched to ranged fire, Cen's excitement surged. She wove through the sky, a sparrow eluding a hawk.
Seizing a moment as her opponent reloaded, Cen dove, her gun morphing into an orange dagger. She plunged it into the enemy mech's joint, carving precise gashes as her foe flailed, unable to track her. The metal screamed under her blade, a chorus of anguished whines. For fifteen minutes, Cen whittled her opponent down, their spirit breaking as they logged off post-match, likely shattered.
Two more bouts followed the same pattern: Cen's blistering speed thwarted attacks, her dagger grinding foes into submission. Her efficiency grew, felling opponents in ten minutes by the third match.
In the suite, Baisha absently opened a popcorn bag, her movements mechanical. The virtual realm's endless snacking was a curious perk—no fullness, just flavor.
Sino, however, was apoplectic. "Why didn't she use her lightsword? Why?"
"She forgot," Baisha said, her tone leisurely. "She's lost in her speed, oblivious to weapon switches."
Sino clutched his forehead.
"Building a warrior's instincts requires more than combat," Baisha observed, her eyes on Cen's airborne ballet. "Form and technique matter. But her awareness is sharpening. She's progressing swiftly."
"It's still a mess," Sino muttered, rising.
"Where are you going?" Baisha asked. "Planning to coach her yourself?"
Sino's V-5 rank would skew their matches to level three if he teamed with Cen, too steep for her first day.
"Let's not overwhelm her," Baisha said, brushing popcorn crumbs from her hands. "I'll join you. Two novices should keep the matches low-tier."
In the arena, Cen caught her breath after another victory, only to see two notifications: I'm Done Being Human and Lordly Defiance requested to join her team.
"What?" she muttered, accepting both.
Sino appeared in a golden mech, brandishing a blade with a wave. Baisha, in a standard light mech like Cen's, held a plain lance, her voice calm. "Let's trio."
"Sweet!" Cen's excitement dimmed as a thought struck. "Wait, trios don't have novice matches, do they?"
"No," Sino said. "But with us here, what's the worry? Learn from us."
Cen's titanium dagger, he noted, was too weak. "Your melee skills need work. Consult an instructor later. For now, play ranged support in our trio."
The Unbound City's training aimed for rapid gains—any experience was valuable.
"Watch us," Sino added. "Study our moves. Absorb what you can."
Cen nodded, taking his words to heart.
"What weapon do you want?" Baisha asked.
Cen pondered. "A transforming crossbow."
"Done." Baisha opened a design interface, her eyes reflecting its azure glow. "These mechs and weapons are data. I'm a mechsmith with a knack for arms. Whatever I craft, you can wield."
Six minutes later, Baisha showed Cen a crossbow prototype. Cen's eyes widened in awe. Within half an hour, the weapon was complete—a jade-white crossbow that split into twin crescent axes, their blades shimmering with prismatic light.
"These axes are nimble and versatile," Baisha said. "Attack from any angle. If you want tweaks, I'll adjust later."
"I love it!" Cen exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
Sino, unsurprised, noted, "Custom weapons need arena approval."
Baisha submitted the design, naming it Rainbow Deluge. Once approved, the crossbow appeared in Cen's inventory.
"All set," Baisha said. "Let's register. We've time for two matches before logging off."
They queued, and soon the system paired them, ushering them to the arena.
Cen, as captain, confirmed their entry. A white gate thundered open, the world shifting as wind howled around them.
Arena Map: Snowpeak Summit.
Red Team: Moonlit Barking Glow (I), I'm Done Being Human (I), Lordly Defiance (V).
Blue Team: Drizzle on Hills (II), Serenity Over Temper (II), What's for Dinner (II).
Match begins in 30 seconds!
Cen blinked, snowflakes swirling before her. "Not bad. Sino's level five, but we're matched with level twos. Should be manageable, right?"
Sino grinned. "Level doesn't matter. We'll crush them."
"Your Highness?" Cen noticed Baisha's stillness. "Why the daze?"
Baisha stirred, her voice low. "The enemy IDs… they're familiar."
Familiar was an understatement.
She could almost name the trio facing them.