The AI spoke. "Your mission results: All objectives completed. Zero casualties. Mission time: 23 minutes. Combat efficiency rating: 89%. Would you like to play again?"
"I would play this all day," Maria said. "This is perfect. This is actually perfect."
AURORA CONVENTION CENTER - AUDIENCE REACTION
The audience had been silent during the entire combat sequence. Now they erupted.
Standing ovation. Whistling. Cheering. People were on their feet.
Marcus Webb was shouting into his camera. "Did you see that? That was full-sensory VR! They weren't just playing a game—they were living it! This is revolutionary! This is going to change everything!"
On stage, the gamers were waking up. Staff removed their headsets carefully.
They looked dazed. Disoriented. Like people waking from vivid dreams.
"Whoa," Tyler said, blinking. "I'm back. We're... we're back in the real world."
"How long were we in there?" Aisha asked.
Cassia checked the time. "Forty-seven minutes."
