Chapter 59

BEYOND THE ILLUSION’S EDGE

Oceanwide Plaza Tower 1, Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

Emperor, Gen called out frantically in her mind. Emperor!

“I’m here,” the dragon said both in her head and aloud. Then she saw him float up from the side of the building, fluttering his wings only a little to rise. The dragon looked so peculiar hovering on the edge of the open building, but the sight of him also filled Gen with relief. His golden eyes glinted with sincerity. “I was going to catch you if you fell.”

She nearly choked from relief, sputtering out a breath. “Oh, thank you. I was so worried that our connection had been severed.”

“It is when you’re stuck in the virtual reality,” he explained, maintaining his hovering as he stared at her from the side of the tenth story. “I can’t break you out of it. So, you’re going to have to remember where you are and wake yourself up.”

Gen gulped, nodding. “It was harder than I thought. The whole thing felt so real…” She sighed. “I get that’s the point, but I wasn’t prepared for that. It sent my body into fight-or-flight mode instead of even considering waking from the whole thing.”

“But in the end, you were able to relax and remember the truth,” he encouraged. “Just do that again. And you need to get to the hub. I’ve done a quick scan and think it’s on the twentieth floor, but it’s buried in the middle of a ceiling area and I can’t get to it.”

“Well, that’s helpful then,” she replied. “I’ll just race up there now. If I stick to the stairwell then I should avoid any more virtual reality intrusions on the other floors.”

“Okay, and I’ll keep an eye on you from the side of the building,” Emperor stated. “But remember that I can’t help you inside the skyscraper. The floors are simply too narrow for me to get in there.”

“Thanks,” Gen said, turning and making her way for the stairs. “I have Bellumferrum and I’m not falling for that virtual reality again. It will take more than some pirates to scare me off the edge.”

“Pirates?” he questioned, curiously. “That’s what you saw? But pirates don’t scare you. Didn’t Alicia think that the VR magitech could sense what scares a person most and serve that up to them?”

“Yes, that’s what she said. And no, pirates don’t scare me, but being shot at does and also drowning. It’s definitely on the list, but not at the top,” she replied, pausing at the foot of the steps. “As long as my greatest fear doesn’t come up, then I should be able to beat the virtual reality and tear it down immediately. Then I’ll find the hub and destroy it.”

“Good,” Emperor said with a confident expression. “You’re almost there. And I’m here for all of it.”