Jaeden regains consciousness in an endless white void, disoriented and feeling a strange sense of physical realism unlike anything he’s ever experienced in XR. His hands look like his avatar’s, but the weight and sensation of his body feel far too real. He sees Xander lying nearby, lifeless, and immediately rushes to perform CPR. After a few chest compressions, Xander sputters back to life, confused and a bit dazed.

As they get their bearings, the brothers realize that they’re in the same “white room” from the mysterious rig—but everything is far more vivid and lifelike. Both of them look like enhanced versions of their avatars, with perfect skin and sharper details. Even stranger, Xander is able to move his legs and feel his body as if he’s truly there, a sensation he’s never had in real life.

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Experimenting, Xander tests out his movements, feeling gravity, his pulse, and even his breath, marveling at the realism. Jaeden, though still unsettled, agrees that this experience is unlike any game or XR simulation they’ve ever encountered. They look around, but see only infinite whiteness stretching endlessly in all directions.

At a loss, they wonder what to do next, both excited and apprehensive about this surreal, hyper-realistic environment.