(In this chapter, Lea and Mio must explore and conquer missions in each of Eden 3000's five sectors under the rules of the "Game of Survival," accumulating Maintenance Points to unlock advanced avatar roles.)
Before setting foot in the new city, Lea and Mio activated their Scout+ roles within the simulation. Their first assignment began at the spiraling glass bridge arching over the forest canopy. The system's heartbeat pulsed twice in their HUDs as their boots touched the transparent floor: +1 MP (Crossed Glass Bridge). Neon cyan ions danced in the air, their reflections wavering underfoot. There was no time to savor the moment when the glass suddenly trembled, as if struck by an unseen blow.
"Get back to the edge, now!" Mio hissed, dragging Lea toward the guardrail. Cracks snaked across the floor as dark plasma surged upward in violent arcs, blasting chunks of crystal aside.
CRACK! The sound of shattering glass reverberated like waves crashing on stone. Sharp shards sprayed across the bridge. A forceful draft snatched at Lea's cloak.
"Emergency menu—deploy shield!" Mio commanded. Lea's fingers darted to her wrist HUD and activated a cobalt-blue energy shield, which flared to life and absorbed the plasma blast in a burst of sparks. +1 MP (Emergency Shield Deployed). The bridge stilled. Alarms blared: an evacuation warning echoed in both their ears.
Warning: Plasma Surge Imminent. Evacuate via City Center Route.
Without hesitation, Mio selected the evacuation command on his HUD:
Evacuate → City Center
The bridge reconfigured itself into a reinforced path, but the forward route remained sealed by the plasma barrier. Forced to retreat, they raced into a hidden underbrush tunnel Mio had discovered earlier.
Sector 2: The Concealed Underground Tunnel
They slipped into an air duct buried beneath the forest bridge. Steam hissed from maintenance pipes, and tangled cables dangled from the dark ceiling. Lea switched on Night Vision, revealing the outline of an expansive service corridor.
"Move slowly," Mio whispered. "Watch for footstep sensors on the walls."
They crawled through the narrow shaft until they emerged inside a vast repair bay, where a hulking Repair Unit drone stood idle. Its cooling fans breathed out misty vapors. Lea seized spare wiring and sensor modules from the robot's chassis. +1 MP (Scavenged Circuit)—her total reached 7/10.
Mio pointed to the drone's heavy legs: "We go under here to the abandoned factory door."
They slipped beneath the frame and pushed through a rusted corridor, emerging in the warehouse district—a shortcut into the City Center.
Sector 3: City Center
They burst into the neon-lit streets, where simulated rain fell in acid-tinged droplets. Holographic billboards flickered, casting orange and blue hues across the slick pavement.
+1 MP (Entered City Center) — ALERT: Plasma Residue Detected flashed in their HUDs.
Crowds of diverse avatars streamed past them, urgency in every step. Hover cars soared overhead, their engines humming frenetic tunes.
"See that golden spire?" Mio whispered, pointing east. The Signal Beacon tower gleamed atop a glass monolith, its pulsating light reaching across the skyline.
Lea sprinted through the throng, weaving between terrified avatars. Heart pounding, she reached the Beacon's platform.
Sector 4: Activating the Signal Beacon
A translucent control panel hovered in midair. Lea tapped the glowing "Activate" icon. In an instant, a surge of energy rippled through the beacon's network. +2 MP (Activated Signal Beacon)—her total hit 10/10.
"Congratulations — Advanced Role Selection Terminal Activated," boomed the AI in vibrant red text.
Sector 5: Choosing an Advanced Role
Neon filaments traced patterns on surrounding walls in time with pulsing electronic bass. A holographic menu unfolded before them, offering three elite classes:
Scout+ — Speed +20%, Stealth +10%, Night Vision +15%
Cyber Warrior — Attack +15%, Defense Shield +15%, EMP Burst
Data Analyst — Accelerated Bug Analysis, Direct Core Log Access
Lea paused, neon rain and distant sirens swirling around her. In her mind, she acknowledged the weight of this choice:
"The challenge has only just begun. Each path will define my destiny in Eden 3000."
As the announcement faded, the door to her new role snapped open. Under the kaleidoscope of neon lights, Lea, Explorer #347, stepped forward—ready to conquer the five zones and discover whether Eden was salvation… or an inescapable trap.