“Wake up, Riu! It’s 7 a.m.!”

Bang. Bang. Bang!

“Riu! Wake up!”

Taro’s loud, persistent banging startled me awake. I wasn’t a fan of being ripped from REM sleep, even if it were Friday, and my last chance to practice before the V-Games.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I said quietly, not realizing Taro may be unable to hear me.

“Riu!!” he hollered, banging on the front door again.

I sat up, swept my hair to the side, picked up my pajama bottoms from the floor next to my bed, and stood up. I was still in a haze, my bedroom reflecting my disorganized mind.

I found my matching blue shirt hanging on my desk chair. I thought about tidying my room, but it soon left my mind as my eyes homed in on the ancient-looking sword on my desk.

I felt compelled to hold it, but I refrained from doing so. Instead, I covered it with my shirt and pulled a new one out of my closet. Red always looked better on me anyway.

After unlocking the front door, Taro barged in, bumping me with his shoulder.

“Finally!” he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “You’re late! You know how long I’ve been waiting out there?”

I rubbed my eyes, still unaware of the time. “I don’t know… 10 minutes?” I uttered.

“… Yes, actually….” Taro said to his dismay. “But, 10 minutes is a long time, you know… and, you told me to be here 5 minutes earlier today so you could show me something...”

Taro placed his hands on his hips as if he were saying, “Well, where is it?”

I looked him up and down, noticing he was already in his V-Suit. Head to toe in red and black, the lining down the side of his body flashed a bright orange signaling that the haptic suit was already turned on. He also carried his gnarled, extendable quarterstaff at his side. His V-Glasses rested on his bald head, threatening to slip off at any given moment.

I racked my brain trying to remember. The past few days consisted of us training together, yes, but I don’t recall mentioning that I had something to show him.

Could he be talking about the sword? Is that what I wanted to show him?

“I don’t remember,” I said, turning my back to him and marching up the stairs. “Hang, on. Let me change into my V-Suit.”

I heard Taro cuss under his breath as I ascended the stairs and into my bedroom. It wasn’t my fault I couldn’t remember. I guess staying up most of the night swinging my new sword and asking Allera to search for any information regarding the red glow and humming noise wreaked havoc on my memory.

Still, I couldn’t put it past Taro. He was always the type to say that “to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is to be forgotten.”

Not something I ever subscribed to. Though, I’m not sure it accounts for claiming I wanted to show him something. Maybe I really did say that...

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I definitely needed more sleep.

Slipping on my suit and grabbing the bag I packed the night before, I tried to leave my room, except, something convinced me to stay a little longer.

My hand gravitated toward my desk as if it were controlled by a puppeteer, manipulating my hand first and then my whole body.

Before I knew it, I was standing over my desk with the sword in my hand. It pulsated like a strong heartbeat and shone bright, illuminating my face a devilish red.

A thought surfaced: What if I were to bring it with me today? I do need the practice if I’m going to use it on the King in the real game. Taro and I were going to simulate the final battle anyway… What if I just took the sheath and attached it to my belt?

“Riu!! Come on!” Taro yelled with his last ounce of patience.

“Okay, okay. I’m here… let’s go.” I called out, rushing down the stairs with my bag in tow and out the front door.

“Geez. Only took you 30 minutes. What were you doing up there?” Taro asked, following me out the door and down the paved pathway towards an open field.

I said nothing.

When we arrived at the VROP, which was basically half an acre of gated land designated for gamers to play their VR games without getting hurt, two bushy-haired bright-eyed kids pretended to swing swords at each other in front of the guard.

Their laughter intensified as we approached the opening.

“Mornin’” the guard said. “Last day, huh? Excited about tomorrow?”

Taro chuckled. “Yeah, last day. We’re pretty nervous, not gunna lie.”

“Well,” the guard said. “Me and Hotaru will be rootin’ for ya!”

“Thanks, Michi,” we both said, placing our V-Glasses over our eyes and sending him our reservation.

When that was over and we walked through the gate, a one-way barrier appeared automatically along the perimeter and formed a dome-like shape around us.

“Play game?” a feminine voice inquired, followed by a small oval robot that appeared from nowhere resembling a bowling ball.

“Not today,” Taro answered, looking directly at it, essentially showing it our reservation again.

“Good morning, Nakamura Taro and Ito Riu. One hour has been allotted to your time. Thank you for choosing to play at VROP.”

The robot eventually pixilated out of sight, the vast green land appearing before us once again. I searched for my VR gaming system in my bag while Taro put our glasses away in his.

“Don’t worry,” Taro uttered, signaling me to stop searching. “I’ve got mine.” He threw the small, diamond gaming system to the floor and it floated a few inches above it.

‘The king's castle, right?” Taro asked, warming up his shoulders. “Just in case one of the challenges at the V-Games is him, yeah?”

“Go for it,” I said, clutching my sword.

“Hey!” Taro called out, to my surprise. “Your sword. The handle… why is it shaped like that? Where’s your wooden one? Don’t tell me you asked your mom for money again to buy a new sword?”

“N-No,” I stammered, “It was a gift!”

“Hmph. Your mom must have come into some money then because it looks fancy. Let me see it?” Taro asked, his eyes searching for a glimpse.

“Let’s just get on with it,” I spat back. “Time’s running out.”

“Fine. Run game. Kings Castle, 15th floor. Hallway.”

The gaming system span in place. I saw Taro give me the side-eye before a yellow light blinded me and then projected a long, narrow hallway around us. Depictions of multiple, cross-bred races were etched into the golden walls leading up to the grand double doors that towered over us.

“Alright,” Taro whispered, extending his staff and jumping up and down in preparation. “Remember, his head needs to be cut off only when he’s below half health. That’s the only way he’ll die. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“I wouldn’t get ahead of myself if you didn’t take forever to cast Call Lightning.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Taro muttered. “Come here let me cast Iron Skin.”

He waved his staff and we were engulfed in a sparkling, green light that disappeared after a second or two.

Okay, ready?” I asked, gripping my sword and eyeing the golden doors.

“Wait! Shion!” Taro closed his eyes and summoned a wood nymph who was covered head to toe in bright, green leaves and dark, thorny vines that hugged its thighs and revealed its womanly shape.

I paid no attention to it, my eyes were glued to the door.

Taro signaled the game to begin, and as the room opened up to us, a young, slender man draped in a beautiful purple and gold sokutai as long and delicate as his white hair stared down at us from his monstrous, eight-headed snake throne.

All I could think about was using my new sword. The note said to use it on the King only, and that’s what I was going to do.