Chapter 571: Three Moves
After Max entered the chamber to the right, a strange pulling sensation gripped his consciousness. It was subtle at first—like the distant tug of a current beneath still water—but it grew stronger with each breath.
Max didn’t resist. He remembered Lord Harthorne’s instructions and let the sensation take over. Calmly, he sat cross-legged on the mat placed inside the chamber, closed his eyes, and allowed the pull to guide him.
Swish!
When he opened his eyes again, Max was stunned. He was no longer in the chamber. Instead, he found himself standing in the middle of the grand hall he had just walked through—a perfect replica of the one outside, yet different in ways he couldn’t explain.
The air was slightly denser, the lighting a little brighter, and everything felt heightened, more alive.
’When did I come here?’ Max blinked, glancing at his hands, then at the space around him. He was certain he never moved, yet here he was. It was disorienting, but not frightening.
Just then, a flicker of light appeared several paces away, and Garry materialized into view. He wore a similar look of confusion, scanning the hall as though trying to piece together how he got there. Their eyes met for a brief second, both silently confirming they were equally surprised.
High above, Lord Harthorne’s voice echoed across the hall. "Let me tell you about this arena," he began, his tone calm and composed. "This is a Virtual Battle Arena—one of the most advanced systems we have. It projects your consciousness directly into a mirror of the real world. That means you can go all out—no restraints, no limits. Even if you die here, your body will remain untouched in the real world."
Max’s brow twitched slightly. So that explained the dislocation he felt. He wasn’t physically here. It was his mind, his soul, battling in a fully immersive space.