Chapter 19: Stepping Into the Unknown

  Jin woke up to the soft chime of his phone arm, its gentle sound cutting through the quiet of his small apartment. The room was dimly lit by the early morning light filtering through the window. He stretched and ran a hand through his messy hair, still groggy from the long hours he spent inside the VR world the night before.

  He’d been thinking about the future a lot tely. The Cheat Module gave him an edge, but it wasn’t everything. He had realized, over the course of his training, that raw power wasn’t the only thing that mattered. Strategy, intelligence, and resourcefulness—these were just as crucial.

  Jin yawned, heading for the kitchen to make some coffee. The real world always felt so slow and ordinary compared to the vibrant, fast-paced world of Echelon. But the truth was, the real world was where he needed to stay grounded. He had to bance his time in the VR, or else he risked losing touch with everything else.

  As the coffee brewed, Jin’s mind wandered back to his training. The Null Knives were serving him well, but he was beginning to realize he needed to step up his game. The deeper zones he was pnning to explore demanded more than what he had at his disposal. He needed better equipment, more powerful skills, and above all—he needed to get stronger.

  After finishing his cup of coffee, Jin grabbed his phone and checked for any updates. His messages were still silent. He had no real connections in the outside world—nothing to ground him. It was a lonely existence, but one that was necessary for his journey. The further he went, the more he felt the weight of isotion. But that was the reality of being an outlier, someone who had chosen a different path.

  The time in the real world felt limited. There was so much to learn in Echelon, and the stakes were rising. The deeper zones were becoming more dangerous. Jin knew that his current level of strength wouldn’t be enough to survive in them.

  The next step was training. But not just any kind of training—he needed specialized training. He had learned enough from his time in the VR world to understand that certain skills could only be mastered through repetition and focus. The Cheat Module offered some shortcuts, but those alone wouldn’t guarantee his survival.

  Jin looked at the clock and made a decision. Today, he would focus on refining his combat skills. He wasn’t just going to be a passive observer. He would push his limits, just as he had in Echelon.

  He grabbed his VR headset and set it down on the table. As he slid it over his head and activated the system, the familiar, digital world began to materialize around him. The vibrant colors of Echelon’s ndscapes flickered into existence, the smell of the virtual wind tingling his senses.

  In front of him stood the same barren training grounds that had become his familiar stomping grounds over the past few days. But today, he wasn’t just going to train on his own. He had an idea.

  Jin’s Cheat Module had offered him an ability to connect with NPCs—non-pyable characters—inside the VR world. It was a feature he’d barely explored, but he had read enough to know that some NPCs could serve as mentors or trainers. He wasn’t going to waste time anymore. He was going to find someone who could push him beyond his current limits.

  With a focused mind, Jin activated the search function within the Cheat Module. A holographic map appeared, marking locations of NPC trainers that specialized in combat techniques. Jin chose a spot on the map and teleported.

  When he arrived, the area was different. It wasn’t the desote, lifeless training grounds he was used to. This new pce was alive with movement. The terrain was rugged, with rocky outcroppings and small training dummies set up in various positions. There were a few other avatars training here, all practicing different skills.

  A tall, armored figure stood in the center of the field, watching over the others. Jin recognized the figure as a mentor NPC from the training guide. He was an elite combat master, known for his unparalleled swordsmanship.

  Jin approached cautiously, his fingers tightening around the virtual hilt of his Null Knives. He wasn’t sure if the NPC would acknowledge him, but he had to try.

  The mentor turned, his stern face breaking into a small smile. “You seek to sharpen your skills?”

  Jin nodded. “Yes. I need to get stronger. I want to be prepared for the deeper zones in Echelon.”

  The mentor’s eyes glinted with understanding. “Strength comes not only from the bde, but from the mind. The real challenge lies in adapting to your opponent’s moves before they even make them. Are you prepared to learn the art of anticipation?”

  Jin’s heart raced. This was exactly what he needed.

  “I’m ready,” he said, his voice steady despite the nerves bubbling inside.

  The mentor’s smile grew. “Very well. We begin now.”

  The next few hours were a blur of training. Jin moved through various exercises, each one testing his focus and reaction time. The mentor’s teachings pushed him to his limits, forcing him to anticipate the movements of the NPC opponents before they could strike. It wasn’t just about reacting—it was about knowing your opponent’s next move before it happened. Jin’s mind was buzzing with new concepts, techniques, and strategies. The intensity of the training left him drenched in virtual sweat, but he was grateful for it. Each lesson, each mistake, was making him stronger.

  By the time the sun began to set in the real world, Jin had gained a new sense of confidence. His combat skills were sharper, his instincts quicker. He knew he wasn’t fully prepared for the depths of Echelon just yet, but he was closer.

  As he deactivated the VR system and removed the headset, the real world came flooding back. The room felt oddly quiet after the rush of his training session. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the journey ahead. There was still much to do, but for the first time in a long while, Jin felt like he was on the right path.

  He wasn’t alone anymore. Not in the virtual world. Not in the real world. The next step of his journey awaited, and he was ready for whatever challenges it would bring.