Chapter 13

Keagan arrived at the meet-up point. From a distant vantage point, NeoVista revealed itself as a sprawling cityscape illuminated by a neon tapestry of lights. The metropolis buzzed with life, its streets alive with the ebb and flow of a tech-driven society. Towering skyscrapers pierced the night sky, their facades adorned with dazzling displays that bathed the surroundings in a vibrant glow. Their lights seemingly blinded Keagan as he traversed the rooftops, taking in the city with a bird’s eye view

As pedestrians navigated the bustling streets, their augmented reality glasses flickered with information and overlays, guiding them through the labyrinthine cityscape. The denizens of NeoVista, a tapestry of humanity, showcased an array of cybernetic enhancements, their bodies transformed by the merging of man and machine. Neural implants glowed softly beneath the skin, a testament to the seamless integration of technology into everyday life.

The architecture of NeoVista told a story of contrasts. Majestic skyscrapers stood tall, their sleek and modern exteriors juxtaposed against the rusted and decaying remnants of the past. The city's evolution seemed rooted in the tension between a high-tech future and the remnants of a forgotten era, creating a unique cyberpunk aesthetic.

Down at street level, vibrant marketplaces thrived, their stalls adorned with an array of futuristic gadgets, digital art installations, and holographic projections. The aroma of street food intermingled with the constant hum of conversation and the distant thump of music emanating from hidden underground venues. This place seemed like a ripe garden fro crime to fester- Keagan thought to himself as he went on, periodically glancing back at his map not to get lost in the maze of towers.

At the heart of the city, the TechnoTower reigned supreme. Its glass façade reflected the myriad lights of NeoVista, while within, a network of bustling corridors housed the brightest minds and cutting-edge technologies. At the tower's pinnacle, the holographic globe bathed the surroundings in a mesmerizing cascade of data, a visual representation of the city's constant connection to the digital realm. The building was poking out of the rest of the city, it was not easy to miss, that was where he was to meet up with Blitz.

Keagan found himself descending to the bustling street walks, his gaze scanning the towering buildings around him. Disappointed by the absence of any suitable structures to aid his ascent to the Techno Tower, he resigned himself to traversing the city on foot. Immersed in a sea of people hurrying to their respective destinations, he blended in effortlessly, his hero suit appearing inconspicuous amidst the dazzling attire and extravagant accessories of those passing by.

Hoping for a glimmer of recognition during his lengthy trek, Keagan couldn't help but feel a tint of disappointment as the crowds remained oblivious to his celebrity status within the hero world. Despite his brief stint as a trending topic, it seemed that his presence held no interest for the denizens of NeoVista. Undeterred, he pressed on, his determination leading him towards the towering structure that dominated his map display—a pulsating red blinking light guiding his way.

As Keagan weaved through the throng of pedestrians, the city's energy enveloped him. The cacophony of conversations blended with the symphony of car horns, while the scent of street food mingled with the artificial fragrance emanating from nearby shops. 

With each step, the Techno Tower loomed closer, its presence growing more imposing. The cityscape seemed to warp and distort around its majestic form.

"System, where can I find this Blitz guy?" Keagan inquired.

"I can help you locate him by sending him a message about your arrival. Would you like me to do that?" the system offered.

"Yes, please. This place is so crowded, and most people here are wearing high-tech gadgets. It's hard to distinguish between heroes and non-heroes based solely on their attire," Keagan explained. In this cyberpunk society, where everyone was interconnected with technology, talking to the system seemed like a normal interaction. If anyone saw him speaking to himself, they would assume he was using his own personal technology to communicate with someone else.

Keagan entered the TechnoTower building, seeking a place to rest. He discovered an isolated bench near the entrance, unoccupied and inviting. Choosing to settle there, he absorbed the vibrant atmosphere of the city. The tower's immense structure stretched endlessly into the sky as he gazed upward, while the corridor lined with stores seemed to extend infinitely when he glanced to the side. This overwhelming experience differed greatly from his visits to regular malls back in his own reality.

A passing vendor caught Keagan's attention, offering refreshing cold beverages and soft drinks to passersby. Keagan waved him down, parched and in need of a drink. The vendor handed him a beverage, leaving Keagan wondering about the payment process. Without any physical cash on hand and unfamiliar with this world's customs, he pondered how he could make the purchase.

Suddenly, the system within Keagan's suit sprang to life, providing a straightforward explanation. "Your suit is equipped with a chip on your wrist that grants access to your account. Simply place it next to the scanner on the vendor's hand, and your purchase will be authorized."

Following the instructions, Keagan placed his wrist near the scanner, triggering a soft notification sound in his ear. Glancing at his display, he witnessed the receipt and the deducted amount of money materialize in holographic form. He marveled at the remaining balance in his account until a tap on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey there, buddy. You don't actually want to drink that, do you? Are you trying to insult me?" a voice behind him exclaimed. An intrusive hand swiftly grabbed the chilled beverage can from Keagan's possession and returned it to the vendor. Finally, the man stepped forward, revealing himself and retrieving another can from the vendor's mobile kiosk. The can boasted neon green colors and eye-catching graphics. As the man handed the can to Keagan, he scrutinized its design and recognized the striking resemblance between the person depicted on the can and the individual who had rudely disrupted his purchase. It took a moment for Keagan to connect the dots, but eventually, he recalled the description of the hero he was meant to meet—the poster boy for an energy drink company, the man standing in front of him was Blitz.

……………………………………………………………………………….

"Hey, gramps, why isn't the rookie joining us today?" Max asked, throwing another punch at the punching bag before him.

Whiplash did his best to evade the question, opting to turn the page of his newspaper. In a world where technology had permeated every aspect of life, it was unusual to see someone still relying on a printed newspaper for updates and news. I suppose Whiplash was just an old dog who refused to learn new tricks.

"Yeah, man, why are we the ones busting our asses while he gets the day off?" Leo chimed in.

"Shut up, you idiots! Focus on why you're here," Dante interrupted, his speech interrupted by his labored breathing as he worked out on the treadmill.

Whiplash cast a lazy glance at the curious brothers and decided to respond, "If you must know, he's off elsewhere attending to his own tasks."

"Why? Isn't he supposed to be part of this squad?"

"I'm sorry, did you want to go with him?" Whiplash sarcastically replied, causing Max to drop his line of questioning and return to pummeling his punching bag.

"I'm just saying, maybe the kid isn't meant to be here. I mean, you guys saw what he did to that Infamous ranked villain. He toyed with the guy effortlessly. You saw it, Emberlyn. You were there from the beginning of the fight. Speaking of which, you haven't said anything about it," Max persisted. Emberlyn was on the other side of the gym, performing incredibly elastic yoga poses and stretches. She ignored the question and continued her training.

"What happened? Don't you want to share?" Max pressed on.

"Hey, leave her alone. If she doesn't want to talk about it, she doesn't have to," Lily jumped to Emberlyn's defense.

"I'm not trying to force an answer out of her. I just want her to be honest. I mean, I won't hide anything. I received five skill points from that task—five!" Max exclaimed, emphasizing the significance of the skill points. "Never in my life have I received five skill points from a fight, and I didn't even do anything. All I did was tie him up when he was already beaten and half-conscious," Max added.

"Yeah, man, I also got five skill points for doing absolutely nothing. For most of us, it would take nearly two months of daily tasks just to accumulate that many skill points. Sparkles, how many skill points did you get?" Leo asked, supporting his brother in the conversation.

Lily reluctantly responded, "I got five as well."

"And what about you, Shadowstriker?" Max directed the question to Dante. He simply ignored them and continued running on his treadmill.

"Okay, I'm just going to assume you also got five. And I'm assuming you got five points as well, Emberlyn, right?" Max asked. The silence was thick as Emberlyn did her best to avoid the question. "It doesn't matter," she finally answered.

Max noticed how Emberlyn evaded the line of questioning, and a concerned expression appeared on his face.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter? We all shared what we got. What's the problem?" Max pressed Emberlyn further.

"Come to think of it, she was there from the beginning of the fight. She did more than us, so she should have been rewarded better," Leo supported his brother once again. The gym fell silent, waiting for Emberlyn's response. The weight of the situation overwhelmed her, and she finally broke, "Fine! I got 10 skill points!"

"10? Are you serious? 10 skill points?" Max exclaimed. "And you never bothered to tell any of us."

"It's not like you guys told us either! Now get back to your training and leave me alone," Emberlyn retorted.

"If you only got 10 skill points for getting beat up, that's just unfair. We probably did more than you in that fight anyway," Max argued.

"What did you just say to me?" Emberlyn snapped, breaking her pose and rising to her feet. Max abandoned his punching bag and turned to face her. A brawl seemed imminent, and everyone sensed it from a mile away.

"Enough! One more outburst, and I will reject the daily task rewards for all of you! Now get back to your training before I get up from this chair!" Whiplash barked, still not raising a single glance from his newspaper as he addressed both parties. They exchanged spiteful looks before reluctantly resuming their training. The altercation left a bitter taste in the air, and the rest of them resumed their training, choosing to keep their mouths shut and avoid speaking to one another.