The alley had fallen silent again, but this time the silence felt heavier, like something had shifted permanently. The destruction around them made it clear—this wasn't just another fight, it was something bigger, something planned. Aarav stood still, replaying every moment in his mind, especially the connection he felt with Nox. It wasn't just power… it was something deeper. Meera stood beside him, her golden aura slowly fading as Lyra hovered calmly near her, while Rayan looked completely confused, running his hand through his hair. "So… let me understand this," he said, "we just got attacked, tested, almost destroyed, and now we're just standing here?" Zippu didn't answer immediately. His glow was dim. "They didn't come to destroy you," he finally said. "They came to decide something."
Aarav looked at him sharply. "Decide what?" Zippu paused for a moment before answering. "Who is worth becoming a threat." The words hit differently. Meera frowned slightly. "So this is some kind of selection?" Zippu nodded slowly. "Yes. When the balance between worlds starts breaking… the Dream World chooses." Aarav clenched his fist. "And the Shadow King?" Zippu's expression darkened. "He doesn't follow balance," he said quietly. "…he creates it."
Before anyone could process that, a strange sound cut through the silence—a sharp glitch, like reality itself flickered for a second. Rayan froze. "Okay… that was NOT normal." The air around them distorted slightly, like a broken signal. Then it happened again, stronger this time. Aarav looked around carefully. "Do you feel that?" Meera nodded. "Something's unstable." Zippu suddenly turned, his expression serious. "This isn't coming from outside…" he said slowly. Then he looked directly at Rayan. "…it's coming from you."
Rayan blinked. "Wait… WHAT?" Before he could react, the distortion centered around him. The space near him started flickering, glitching like a broken screen. Small sparks of unstable energy appeared and disappeared around his body. "Okay I don't like this," he said nervously, stepping back, but the more he moved, the stronger it got. Aarav stepped forward quickly. "Rayan, stay still!" "I AM TRYING!" Rayan shouted. "Why is reality lagging around me?!" Zippu observed closely. "Something is trying to connect," he said.
Suddenly everything froze for a second. Complete silence. Then a faint voice echoed from within the distortion. "…found you…" Rayan's eyes widened. "Nope. I quit. I officially quit." Behind him, the space cracked open like glass, revealing a strange glowing dimension beneath. It wasn't dark like Nox or calm like Lyra—it was unstable, constantly shifting, like broken energy. And then something jumped out.
A small glowing creature appeared, floating in the air, its form flickering like a glitch, never fully stable. It zipped around quickly before stopping right in front of Rayan. "…You're loud," it said. Rayan stared at it. "…You're a bug." The creature instantly snapped, "I am NOT a bug!" Aarav blinked. "It talks." Zippu, however, looked shocked. "That's not normal…" Meera asked, "What is it?" Zippu replied slowly, "That's not just a Dream Beast… that's a rare one."
The creature floated closer to Rayan, observing him carefully. "Unstable energy… chaotic mind… zero patience…" it muttered. "Perfect match." Rayan frowned. "Excuse me?" The creature stopped right in front of him. "I choose you." Silence. Aarav and Meera exchanged looks. Zippu smiled slightly. Rayan pointed at himself. "Wait… ME?"
Before he could react, the creature suddenly rushed forward and merged into him in a flash of light. "AAAA—WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" Rayan shouted as energy burst around him, then suddenly stopped. Silence returned. Rayan stood there, completely normal. He looked at his hands. "…Did I just get hacked?" Zippu laughed softly. "No," he said. "You just got chosen."
Aarav smiled slightly. "Welcome to the team." Meera crossed her arms. "Try not to break reality." Rayan looked up and sighed. "…No promises."
Far away, beyond their world, in the depths of endless darkness, a pair of cold glowing eyes slowly opened. Watching. Waiting. Because now… all three of them had been chosen. And the real game… had just begun.
To Be Continued.....
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