The digital mall stretched wide and endless, its glass-paneled architecture reflecting the shifting neon skyline of Another Life VR. The avatar density was high, crowds moving in a smooth symphony of fashion, tech, and commerce, all under the hum of ambient advertisements pulsing from floating holographic billboards.

  Dani barely noticed any of it.

  Her thoughts were elsewhere—a tangled web of questions, circling back to the same unresolved mysteries.

  Mackiaveli. Steve’s absence. The friend request from Zeus that she accepted a few days ago. It didn’t make sense.

  Her fingers twitched over her HUD as she mentally rewound every interaction with Mackiaveli. Had he known Zeus before all this? Had he been part of the deal all along?

  And if that was true… where the hell was Steve? A notification pinged softly, snapping her back into reality.

  Hexa: “Yo, stop overthinking. We’ll get you something fire to wear. Amyki’s got everything.”

  Dani exhaled, adjusting her pace to match Hexa’s as they walked past a towering storefront of luxury skins and hair mods.

  Dani: “Yeah, yeah. I know. I just…”

  She hesitated, fingers hovering over her keyboard.

  Hexa: “You’re stressing about something else. What is it?”

  Dani: “It’s just…”

  Will Steve even be at the party?

  Was it a coincidence that he wasn’t at Skatz today… but Mackiaveli was logged in?

  Or…

  Dani froze mid-step, the thought crashing into her brain like a critical system error.

  Was Steve even real?

  Before she could finish the thought, Hexa typed again.

  Hexa: “Relax. Amyki will have everything you need. And I got your back if it gets too pricey.”

  Dani forced a smile, even though Hexa couldn’t see it.

  Dani: “Thanks.”

  As they approached Amyki Taka’s high-end fashion boutique, Hexa started giving her a low-key tour, casually typing out bits of Another Life history in their private chat.

  Hexa: “So, see that old gadget shop next door? That’s Stells’ place. OG coder.”

  Dani glanced at the storefront, its signage faded but still functional, advertising low-lag HUDs, utility scripts, and anti-griefer tools.

  Hexa: “Alissa Stells was the first person to teach me LUA scripting. She was around when Another Life VR was nothing but an empty desert with a handful of shops. Before Skatz, before the big economy, before the corporations showed up.”

  Dani: “Wait—she still sells stuff?”

  Hexa: “Yeah, but she doesn’t log in anymore. Everything’s automated now. Her old gadgets are still on ALVR Marketplace. Back when it was just a private site called ‘Metaverse Marketplace.’”

  Dani: “I’ve heard of that. Didn’t it get trademarked?”

  Hexa: “Yep. Some social media company bought the rights to the word ‘Metaverse’ and forced the old owner to rebrand. He got a settlement, though. Then Auracron Prime bought him out. Dude’s rich now.”

  Dani nodded absently, still distracted by her own spiraling thoughts.

  If Steve was missing, and Mackiaveli was logged in… does that mean…?

  Just as she opened her mouth to confide in Hexa, the world chat betrayed her.

  Dani: “I’m just confused, and I’m trying to figure out what happened to Steve. He wasn’t there today, and he’s my teammate.”

  A half-second delay.

  Then.

  Vessa: “There’s that name again. Who is this Steve?”

  Hexa invited Vessa into the private chat, and almost immediately, Vessa’s tone shifted.

  Vessa: “So. This Steve guy. I did some digging.”

  Dani blinked.

  Dani: “What?”

  Vessa: “I have some items from when this place was a barren wasteland. Stuff nobody thinks about anymore. You ever heard of the old camping stations?”

  Hexa groaned.

  Hexa: “Oh my god, don’t remind me. The traffic bump scam?”

  Vessa: “Exactly.”

  Dani typed faster, trying to keep up.

  Dani: “Okay, explain it again for the new kids.”

  Vessa: “Back in the early days, when there were hardly any developed private SIMs, landowners paid people to ‘camp’ on their property. It artificially boosted their traffic ratings so their stores would show up higher in search results.”

  Dani: “That’s… shady. I remember Hexa talking about them before.”

  Hexa: “Yeah. Welcome to Another Life capitalism.”

  Vessa: “Anyway, at these camping spots, people would leave freebies in prim boxes. Most of it was garbage, but sometimes, you’d find gold.” Dani’s fingers hovered over her keyboard, heart pounding.

  Dani: “And?”

  Vessa paused before dropping the bombshell.

  Vessa: “One of the best HUDs I ever got was from a camping station. It let me walk on air by rezzing prims under my feet. It had land detection and teleportation—it was way ahead of its time.”

  Dani’s stomach tightened.

  Dani: “And you’re telling me this why?”

  Vessa delivered the final hit.

  Vessa: “Because the person who made it? His name was Steve McCall.”

  Silence. Her vision blurred as she reread the words.

  Steve McCall.

  The same Steve McCall she teamed up with for the contest. The same Steve who suddenly vanished, while Mackiaveli pulled strings behind the scenes.

  Hexa: “That… doesn’t make sense.”

  Dani: “Are you sure it’s the same Steve?”

  Vessa: “Oh, it gets better. I checked the script credits. Guess who else worked on the HUD?”

  Dani didn’t want to know.

  Dani: “Who?”

  Vessa typed it out slowly.

  Vessa: “Mackiaveli.”

  Dani’s hands clenched into fists.

  No.

  No way.

  This is just a coincidence. Right?

  RIGHT?!

  She took a shaky breath, her entire body thrumming with tension.

  If Vessa was right…

  If Steve McCall was an original player…

  And if Mackiaveli had been coding with him since the beginning…

  Then what the hell was going on?

  Dani: “I need answers.”

  Vessa: “I also think he’s an original player.”

  Dani stared at the screen, her pulse hammering against her ribs.

  Dani: “Wait—what do you mean?”

  Vessa: “I mean, I think he was here since Alpha.”

  A strange weight settled in Dani’s chest as she reread the message.

  Alpha. The earliest phase of Another Life VR. Before Skatz. Before the economy. Before anything.

  Hexa: “That’s… a huge claim. How do you know?”

  Vessa: “His last name.”

  Dani frowned.

  Dani: “His last name?”

  Vessa: “None of us had a choice when we made our avatars. The system assigned us last names from a preset list. McCall? That wasn’t on the list.”

  Dani’s stomach dropped. She had never thought about it before. In Another Life, last names were forced on players—a relic from when the game was smaller, when identities had to be unique to avoid cluttering the system.

  But Steve McCall’s name… It was real. Not one of the auto-generated last names like Shaw or Knight or Bitters.

  Vessa: “Which means… McCall was either in the system before the naming rules existed, or he had developer-level permissions to override them.”

  Dani stiffened.

  No. No. That doesn’t mean anything… does it?

  It’s just a name…

  Hexa: “Holy shit.”

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  Dani typed quickly, trying to keep up.

  Dani: “You’re telling me Steve McCall was playing before the rest of us?”

  Vessa: “Not just that. I think he was part of the game’s foundation.”

  Dani felt like she’d been thrown into free fall.

  If Steve had been here since Alpha, what did that mean for Mackiaveli?

  Were they both part of the early build?

  Did they know who made the game?

  And if so…

  Why had Steve never mentioned it?

  Vessa: “So. Who is this guy?”

  Before Dani could formulate a coherent response, a flash of blue light erupted nearby. Two avatars materialized dressed in black tuxedos with bow ties. It was Shiro and Byte. They teleported right next to Hexa’s location, startling them all.

  Hexa: "I swear to god, Byte, I should remove that privilege from you."

  She immediately typed in world chat, letting out a frustrated sigh.

  Byte: "Told you—tracking you is useful."

  Vessa: “You two clean up well.”

  Shiro: “Thank you!”

  Dani barely registered their banter, still reeling from Vessa’s revelation.

  Steve was an original player.

  Mackiaveli was there with him.

  I’ve been partnered with a ghost from Another Life’s past this whole time…

  Byte typed again, unfazed.

  Byte: "You weren’t answering your messages, and we have to go."

  Dani blinked.

  Dani: "Go where?"

  Shiro: "The event, duh."

  Dani’s gut twisted.

  Shiro: "Did you get something to wear, Dani?"

  She hesitated before slowly nodding.

  Dani: "Yeah… I think so."

  The truth was, she had barely looked at the clothes since Hexa started leading her through the boutique. She had zero idea if what she bought even looked good. Hell, she barely cared.

  Right now, all I want are answers.

  She thought, but Shiro and Byte weren’t finished.

  Shiro: "Well, the event starts in one hour. And our invitations say if we’re late, we don’t get in."

  Dani felt a jolt of panic shoot through her chest.

  Hexa: "Wait. They actually enforce that?"

  Vessa: "Yeah, I always wondered if they ever held people out of these events."

  Dani swallowed hard.

  This wasn’t just a big party. It was a test. A test of who was worth being there—and who wasn’t. Vessa’s next message snapped Dani back into focus.

  Vessa: "I need to change myself. See you ladies later."

  She turned to the guys and added one last parting shot.

  Vessa: "Gentlemen."

  Then, in a blink, Vessa was gone.

  Dani exhaled shakily, staring at the empty space where Vessa had stood just moments ago. Her hands twitched over her HUD, nerves crackling like static beneath her skin.

  I have to know the truth.

  She switched into one of the random outfits Hexa had recommended, barely glancing at it. The fabric shimmered, a sleek and elegant fit, but she couldn’t focus on appearances right now. Her mind was too overloaded.

  Even as the group left Amyki’s shop, her avatar’s movements telegraphed her emotions—small hesitations, a slight stiffness in her stance, an unconscious slowness to her stride.

  Focus, Dani. You’re about to walk into something huge.

  But nothing prepared her for what lay just ahead. They arrived at a teleportation platform, standing alone in the middle of four towering Roman columns, their marble surfaces glowing faintly against the night sky. Dani stared. The columns looked pristine, untouched by time, standing as lone sentinels over the digital world.

  She had seen these before—here and there, scattered across various mainland islands—but she had never thought much about them. Hexa turned to her.

  Hexa (Private Chat): “These columns? They’re on almost every major island. Some private landowners have them too, but they’re only active during events like this.”

  Dani glanced between them.

  Dani (Private Chat): “So, what? They’re just teleporters?”

  Hexa (Private Chat): “Not just any teleporters.”

  She gestured upward—but there was nothing to see. No floating island. No visible structures. Just the vast, endless sky stretching above them.

  Hexa (Private Chat): “That’s where Zeus lives. Way up there. Beyond where we can fly. Beyond where we can rezz. It’s completely inaccessible unless you’re him—or you take one of these teleporters.”

  Dani’s gaze lifted into the digital expanse above them. Somewhere, hidden beyond their reach, Zeus’ domain hovered. A place where only he could see all. Her stomach twisted.

  Byte (Private Chat): “You’re freaking her out, Hex.”

  Hexa (Private Chat): “I’m just saying. The guy has a god complex, but it’s not totally undeserved. This entire floating palace? It’s his. And it’s coded so well, no one has ever been able to break in. People have tried.”

  Dani’s pulse thumped hard. A floating island, hidden above the world. A man who saw everything from the clouds. And now… She was going up there.

  Hexa smirked.

  Hexa (Private Chat): “Anyway. You ready?”

  Dani took a breath. She wasn’t. Not at all. But she stepped onto the platform anyway. The moment her foot touched the glowing surface, the world melted into shimmering light. And then—They were gone.

  The venue was breathtaking. The grand marble steps stretched toward an impossibly tall structure, glowing with an ethereal golden hue. Floating lanterns flickered like digital fireflies, casting soft light over the assembled guests.

  Statues of ancient gods lined the entrance, their surfaces shifting between stone and glowing circuitry, blending mythology with cybernetics in a mesmerizing display. A notification popped up on Dani’s HUD:

  System Message: Welcome to Mount Olympus. Formal attire is required beyond this point.

  Dani glanced down at herself. Hexa had made her buy an elegant midnight-blue dress, form-fitting yet sleek, its fabric subtly shifting like moving water under moonlight. Her heels clicked lightly against the polished marble beneath her as she took a slow breath.

  Hexa (Private Chat): “You look like a damn legend. Stop fidgeting.”

  Dani smirked.

  Dani (Private Chat): “Easy for you to say. You look like a cyberpunk goddess.”

  Hexa’s avatar was decked in a sleek black suit with neon-blue accents, her asymmetrical undercut dyed electric violet tonight. Byte and Shiro, standing beside them, had chosen semi-formal gear—Byte wore a futuristic jacket with metallic threading, while Shiro’s outfit had a subtle military aesthetic, layered with combat-inspired textures.

  The crowd was thick, avatars of all kinds dressed in extravagant digital couture, shimmering gowns, mechanical suits, and even full cybernetic armor sets. The music pulsed around them, a deep thrumming beat mixing electronic hums with what sounded like orchestral strings. Dani caught snippets of conversation in world chat scrolling past her peripheral vision.

  Orion Star: “Holy shit, this place is insane.”

  Neko Fangs: “How the hell did Mack get us an invite here?”

  Silicon Muse: “I hear Zeus picked the guest list, and all contestants were invited.”

  Byte (Private Chat): “We should probably move in before someone realizes we don’t belong here.”

  Dani shot him a glare.

  Dani (Private Chat): “We do belong here.”

  Byte (Private Chat): “You say that, but do you see Zeus anywhere? Mackiaveli? Steve?”

  That hit harder than it should have. No. She hadn’t seen them yet. A booming system announcement cut through the world chat.

  Skatz: “All contest participants, please make your way to the front stage. Presentation is beginning in five minutes.”

  The group exchanged glances before weaving through the sea of high-ranking players toward the massive stage looming at the front of the Olympian Hall. The crowd parted just enough to reveal Skatz standing on a raised platform, wearing a custom-tailored exo-suit, shimmering with dark metallic plating and glowing orange energy lines.

  Dani and her group took their places near the front as other contestants lined up beside them. Then, Skatz raised his hands. The crowd fell silent.

  Skatz scanned the crowd, his avatar’s eyes reflecting the soft glow of Olympus’ golden light.

  Skatz (World Chat): “Welcome, everyone, to the Party on Mount Olympus. If you’re here tonight, congratulations—because you’re among the most skilled, ambitious, and creative minds in Another Life.”

  A wave of applause rippled through the room.

  Skatz (World Chat): “But let’s be real. You’re not just here for a party. You’re here because this competition? It’s different. You know it. I know it. The industry knows it.”

  A murmur spread through the contestants. Dani felt a chill.

  Skatz (World Chat): “This isn’t just a contest. This is a statement. The way we build, the way we fight, the way we create in Another Life VR—this is shaping the future of the metaverse. And some very powerful people are watching.”

  Dani caught Hexa’s gaze. This was bigger than they thought.

  Skatz (World Chat): “So tonight? We celebrate. But in three weeks? We fight. And only the best will rise to the top.”

  The applause roared through the chat.

  Then—The lights dimmed. A sudden hush fell over the Olympian Hall. A golden portal of energy crackled to life at the center of the stage. Dani’s breath hitched as Zeus stepped forward.

  His avatar was striking, wrapped in opulent white robes, embroidered with glowing golden circuitry, resembling ancient Greek attire mixed with futuristic enhancements. A half-mask covered one side of his face, shimmering as if shifting between time itself. His presence commanded the entire hall. Then, his voice echoed through the space.

  Zeus: “Welcome, my honored guests.”

  The chat froze.

  Every single player stood motionless, caught in a moment of digital suspension, as if the entire simulation itself held its breath.

  And then—His voice cut through the silence. It was smooth. Rich. Magnetic. The kind of voice that didn't just speak—it commanded. Dani's heart pounded.

  She had expected Zeus to be an enigma—a figure of myth, a legend within the game’s elite. But what she hadn’t expected was for his voice to hit like a spell-cast directly to her core. This wasn't just some pre-recorded AI-generated tone. This was real.

  Was he using a voice module.

  Zeus let the silence linger, letting his presence sink into them, before he continued, amusement lacing his tone.

  Zeus: “Yes, for those of you wondering—I can speak. And no, you can’t. At least, not yet.”

  A ripple of subdued reactions shifted through the crowd.

  Zeus: “You see, Olympus operates on a private voice broadcast system. While the rest of you are still bound to text, I…”

  He smirked, rolling his shoulders, his gold-threaded robe glinting under the shifting neon sky.

  Zeus: “…I have the privilege of being heard.”

  Dani swallowed hard.

  He’s literally streaming his voice on a private land channel.

  A voice chat system that only he can use?

  Zeus chuckled, sensing the tension in the room.

  Zeus: “Oh, come on. Don’t look so shocked.”

  His tone was effortless, slipping between casual arrogance and undeniable charisma. It wasn’t just the sound of his voice—it was the power behind it. The compulsion. Something about the way his presence settled over the room made every single player lean in.

  Men wanted to be him.

  Women wanted to have him.

  Everyone in his presence wanted to be around him.

  The energy in the hall shifted. Zeus wasn't just another high-profile player. He was a force of nature. And just as Dani started to process what this meant—The music changed.

  The slow, ancient melody unfurled, laced with deep percussion, like the heartbeat of a forgotten world. Then—He began to sing.

  His voice slid into the music like silk, weaving between soulful harmonies and hip-hop-infused lyricism, each word laced with commanding energy.

  ?? “Long ago, when gods walked free,

  A mortal heart called out to me.

  Daughter of fire, bound by chains,

  Her soul a tempest wrapped in flames.” ??

  Dani’s chest tightened. Was he…Was he singing to her?

  ?? “She walked alone, a world untamed,

  Chasing ghosts, whispering names.

  Did she know the fate she’d weave?

  Or was she blind to her own belief?” ??

  Her fingers twitched over her HUD.

  Byte (Private Chat): “Uh. Is it just me, or is he looking directly at you?”

  She couldn't breathe. The lyrics flowed seamlessly, dancing between melodic verses and spoken-word rap, painting a story of destiny, fire, and longing. Then—

  ?? “But now she stands at Olympus’ gate,

  A storm upon her shoulders great.

  Will she rise? Or will she fall?

  Step forth, child, and heed the call.” ??

  The last note hung in the air, vibrating through the hall like an incantation. And then—He extended a hand.

  Zeus: “Come forward, Dani.”

  Dani’s entire body locked up. The air in the Olympian Hall felt thick, pulsing with something more than code.

  No. No, no, no, NO—

  Her name had never sounded like that before. Every single player turned toward her. Byte, Hexa, and Shiro didn’t move. No one did. She swallowed hard, hands shaking as her avatar took a step forward.

  The silence stretched, thick with expectation. All eyes were on her. Dani’s heart pounded so hard she thought her avatar might glitch from the sheer force of it. Zeus’ gold-threaded robe shimmered under the ethereal lighting of Olympus, his hand still outstretched, waiting.

  Her breath hitched.

  If I go up there… If I take his hand…

  This all becomes real.

  Her fingers twitched over her HUD, her thoughts spiraling.

  And I don’t know if I’m ready for that.

  Byte, Hexa, and Shiro still hadn’t moved—they were frozen, caught between awe and sheer disbelief. The chat remained eerily still, an entire world holding its breath, watching to see what she would do. Zeus’ golden eyes burned into her, unreadable, waiting.

  Dani exhaled shakily. And then—Her avatar took another step forward. Then another. And another.

  The music faded, replaced only by the sound of her own pulse roaring in her ears. Her vision tunneled, locking on the man standing at the center of it all.

  What the hell am I walking into?

  As she reached him, the air around her shifted, charged with something that felt bigger than a game, bigger than the moment itself. Zeus’ hand was still there, steady, unwavering. Dani hesitated—just for a fraction of a second.

  And then, with a deep breath, she took it. The world around them blurred. And in that instant—She knew. She had just crossed a line she could never uncross.

  This is part of a series of stories that have lived solely in my head for many years, and I’ve finally started writing them as serialized fiction books. If you think the story sucks, feel free to tell me—it’s all part of the process. That said, I’m also looking for constructive criticism, so any suggestions are welcome and will be considered as I work to improve the series.