Chapter 4: A Glimpse of the Real World

Kenny awoke with his muscles screaming in protest, every fiber of his body sore from the brutal training in the Desert Outpost. The morning sunlight streamed through his bedroom window, painting golden patterns on his cluttered desk and holographic posters of past Evren League champions. He groaned, forcing himself out of bed and into the reality he had almost forgotten existed—the one outside of hologram battles and relentless training.

Thalos had granted him a rare day off, and though Kenny was tempted to dive back into the simulation, he knew he needed to reconnect with the world around him. If he was ever going to be a real contender, he had to understand more than just his own limits. The sport was evolving, society was changing, and he had been too focused on his small-town dreams to notice.

Kenny stepped out into the bustling streets of New Horizon Plaza, the nearest city that pulsed with energy and technology. Skyscrapers of glass and steel reached for the sky, their surfaces rippling with advertisements and holographic art displays. Drones zipped through the air, delivering packages or broadcasting news updates, and sidewalks were lined with street vendors selling everything from synthetic snacks to designer hologram accessories.

He found himself drifting toward a large public holo-screen mounted on the side of a building, where a crowd had gathered. The screen displayed highlights from a recent Evren League match, and the crowd oohed and aahed as two elite warriors clashed in a vibrant jungle arena. One of the warriors, a fierce competitor named Sable, manipulated the terrain effortlessly, summoning a swarm of digital insects to disorient her opponent.

Kenny felt his heart race. The precision, the creativity, the sheer brilliance of their strategies—it was leagues beyond anything he could do right now. Yet, he couldn’t tear his eyes away. The crowd’s energy was contagious, and he found himself lost in the thrill of the match until a familiar voice jarred him back to reality.

“Well, look who finally made it out of his cave.”

Kenny turned, and his stomach sank. Mason. His childhood rival stood there, hands casually in the pockets of his sleek urban jacket, a smirk plastered across his face. Mason had always been the golden boy, a semi-pro hologram warrior who loved nothing more than to rub Kenny’s nose in his own accomplishments.

“Taking a break from losing to simulations?” Mason taunted. His voice was smooth, confident, and the crowd’s chatter seemed to fade into background noise.

Kenny clenched his jaw. “I’m training harder than ever. Just you wait.”

Mason’s laugh cut through the noise like a knife. “Oh, I’m sure. But hard work only gets you so far, especially when you’re stuck in a backwater town. Out here, in the real world, you either have the connections or you don’t.”

Kenny’s fists tightened, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn’t afford to lose his temper. Mason thrived on seeing him frustrated.

“Speaking of connections,” Mason continued, leaning in, “I heard a rumor. Some new players are making waves in underground arenas. Not just any players—those with high-tech gear, maybe even prototype tech the big leagues haven’t seen yet. You might want to watch your back.”

Kenny tried not to let his curiosity show. “Why tell me this?”

Mason shrugged, the smirk never leaving his face. “Consider it a warning. Wouldn’t want you to be out of your depth… again.”

With that, Mason turned and melted back into the crowd, leaving Kenny simmering. He hated feeling small, like his dreams were always just out of reach, but Mason’s words left him with more than just anger—they left him with questions.

Determined to clear his head, Kenny wandered into one of New Horizon Plaza’s many tech markets. The air buzzed with conversation and the whir of machines, and holographic vendors displayed their latest gadgets. As he meandered through the crowded aisles, something caught his attention: a demonstration of cutting-edge hologram visors, projected onto a massive holo-screen.

“These aren’t your typical visors,” the vendor announced, an older woman with short, electric-blue hair and a knowing smile. “Our QuantumLink series offers unmatched neural response time and personalized AI support. Perfect for those looking to make a name in the hologram sport world.”

Kenny watched as a young customer tried on a visor, and the device adjusted automatically to his neural signals. The visor’s AI assistant materialized, offering strategic advice in real time. It was technology Kenny could only dream of affording. But it gave him an idea—an idea that made his heart thump with excitement and dread in equal measure.

“If only I had that tech,” he whispered to himself. But even as he said it, he knew Thalos would scoff at the idea. His mentor had drilled into him that technology was a tool, not a crutch. Still, Kenny couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

“Lost in thought?” a voice chimed in. He turned and found himself face-to-face with a girl around his age, her hair dyed a striking purple and her eyes sharp, like she could see right through him. She wore a leather jacket with a patch that read Code Reapers, a name he vaguely recognized as a group of tech rebels.

Kenny blinked, taken aback. “Just… admiring the tech.”

She grinned. “Yeah, it’s impressive, isn’t it? But out there in the arenas, fancy gear only gets you so far. You gotta have heart, too.”

“Heart?” Kenny echoed, surprised.

She nodded. “I’ve seen too many wannabe warriors get crushed because they thought shiny tech could make up for skill. But who knows? Maybe you’ve got both.” She winked and slipped away into the crowd, leaving Kenny with even more to think about.

As the sun began to set, Kenny found himself overlooking the sprawling cityscape from a quiet observation deck. Neon lights flickered to life, painting the skyline in shades of blue, pink, and gold. He thought about Mason’s warning, the high-tech visors, and the girl’s words about heart and skill.

The world outside his small town was bigger and more complicated than he’d imagined. The hologram sport world wasn’t just about winning matches—it was a battleground of ambition, technology, and hidden alliances. And somewhere, out there, Specter and the underground arenas were waiting.

Kenny’s smartwatch buzzed, and he glanced at the message: a reminder from Thalos. Rest while you can. Tomorrow, we push forward.

Kenny exhaled, feeling the weight of his dreams pressing down on him. The path ahead was daunting, but he knew one thing for sure: he wasn’t just fighting for glory anymore. He was fighting to find his place in a world that seemed determined to test him at every turn.

“Tomorrow,” he whispered to the city below. “I’ll be ready.”