CHAPTER 120: A SIP TO A NEW DESTINATION

The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans filled the cozy corner cafe, a small haven tucked away in the bustling heart of downtown Seattle.

Sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm golden patches on the wooden tables and mismatched chairs.

Patrons typed away on laptops or chatted in low tones, the hum of an espresso machine providing a rhythmic backdrop.

At the counter, a woman in her mid-twenties waited for her order, her casual outfit—a loose dark gray sweater over short pants and stockings and scuffed sneakers—blending seamlessly with the laid-back crowd.

An artist hat sat snugly on her head, partially concealing her medium-length white hair, which was tied into a neat braided low twintail that swayed gently with her movements.

She tapped her fingers idly on the counter, her expression distant, as if her mind were already elsewhere.

"Large black coffee, no sugar," the barista called out, sliding the steaming cup toward her.

She nodded thanks, grabbed the cup, and turned to find a table near the window. As she settled in, sipping the bitter brew, a voice cut through the ambient noise.

"Karen? Earth to Karen—are you even listening to what I said?"

The white-haired woman—Karen—blinked, her gray eyes refocusing on the person across from her.

She’d tuned out again, lost in the steam rising from her coffee.

The speaker was a vibrant young woman with curly brown hair tied in a messy ponytail, wearing a graphic tee emblazoned with a pixelated video game character and oversized glasses that magnified her expressive green eyes.

Karen set her cup down with a soft clink, her face betraying no embarrassment. "Honestly? I tuned out halfway through. My brain automatically filtered it as a heavy exposition. Mind repeating it again, Maya?"

Maya pouted, crossing her arms over her chest in exaggerated frustration, her chair creaking as she leaned back. "Ugh, you’re always like this, Karen! Spacing out during my epic monologues. Fine, since we’re good friends and all, I’ll repeat it. But only because we’re besties and I don’t mind being the victim of your selective hearing."

Karen took another sip, her expression unchanging—calm, almost detached, like she was observing the world through a filter. "Appreciate it."

Maya leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, eyes lighting up with excitement. "Okay, so there’s this massive buzz online lately—something you’d normally ignore because you’re too busy adulting or whatever. There is this VR company that is developing a human sized pod that can straight-up send your mind into a full virtual world!

"I’m talking complete immersion: sense of touch, taste, sight, smell, everything. Realistic intricacies, like feeling the wind on your skin or tasting food that isn’t even real. Like, it’s not just some headset gimmick; it’s next-level, brain-hacking stuff! Forums are exploding, Reddit threads are endless, and even conspiracy videos are everywhere with it being the start of the matrix or whatever."

Karen rolled her eyes, setting her coffee down with a slight thud. "Sounds familiar. Same thing every year—some company hyping up a ’magical and revolutionary’ gadget, only for it to vanish into vaporware a year or two later. Remember that neural link thing from a few years back? Or the haptic suits that promised full-body feedback?"

"Hey, they are a real thing now!"

"But does it get at least a quarter of the buzz and hype as when it is revealed? Or is it widespreadly utilized as claimed to ’change your lifestyle’ and all those slogans?"

Maya’s pout transformed into a smug grin, like she’d been waiting for exactly that response. She pulled out her phone, waving it triumphantly. "Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong this time, Miss Skeptic! They’re not just talking and promising stuff right now—they’re actually searching for applicants to test the product. And get this: I have a friend who works in their marketing department. She snagged three applicant codes for the offline testing event. Exclusive access, no strings attached beyond signing some NDAs!"

Karen arched an eyebrow, her braided twintails shifting as she tilted her head. "So what? You’re gonna drag me into some beta test lottery?"

Maya’s grin widened, her glasses slipping slightly down her nose as she pushed them back up. "Exactly! I want you to be the third person. Me, my friend Jess, and you. Come on, it’ll be fun! A break from the real world."

Karen shook her head firmly, her beanie slipping back a fraction. "Hard pass. Not interested in being a guinea pig for some tech bro’s fever dream."

Maya’s face fell, but she wasn’t one to give up easily. She leaned in closer, her voice turning pleading. "Karen, think about it! Your job as HR Manager at that nightmare of a Cash Processing Center must be killing you. All those toxic hardwork, endless paperwork, and that boss who’s basically a walking lawsuit. You look exhausted half the time. This testing event is in five days—offline, no work interference. It’s like a mini-vacation in a virtual paradise. Refreshment for the soul!"

Karen stared at her coffee for a moment, her fingers tracing the rim of the cup.

Then, in her usual casual, expressionless tone, she dropped the bomb.

"Actually, I’m getting replaced in a month."

Maya’s eyes widened, her pout vanishing into genuine shock and anger. She slammed her palm on the table, rattling their cups. "What?! How dare they! You’ve been there for three years, busting your ass to keep that sinking ship afloat. After all the overtime, the drama you mediated—unbelievable! Who do they think they are?"

Karen shrugged, her voice steady as ever, like she was discussing the weather. "The company’s on a self-destruct path anyway. Mismanagement from the top, scandals brewing. Getting kicked out isn’t the end of the world—I’m even getting compensation since it’s not voluntary on my end. Big bonus, honestly."

Maya blinked, still fuming on her behalf but starting to calm down. "Okay, fine, silver lining. But have you found a new job in the meantime? You can’t just wing it with bills piling up."

Karen nodded, taking a slow sip. "Already have. Got accepted at a renowned tech company called Genesoft."

Maya froze, her mouth hanging open for a second before she processed it. "Wait... repeat that? Genesoft?"

"Genesoft," Karen repeated half-heartedly, her tone flat as if reciting a grocery list.

Maya’s excitement exploded like a firework. She nearly knocked over her latte as she grabbed Karen’s arm. "Oh my god, Karen! Genesoft is the VR company I was just talking about! The one with the pods! How—why—you’re perfect for this!"

Karen pried Maya’s hand off gently, her expression unchanging. "I knew. And it’s called the Genesis Pod, by the way. Not just ’pod.’"

Maya’s eyes bulged, and she shook Karen by the shoulders, rocking her back and forth in her seat like a ragdoll. "Why didn’t you say anything sooner?! Here I am rambling, and you’re already in! This is fate!"

Karen endured the shaking with emotionless patience, her coffee sloshing dangerously close to the edge. "You didn’t name the company, so I didn’t bother. Simple as that."

Maya released her, still buzzing with energy. "Okay, fair. But when do you start? Spill!"

"Right after I get kicked from the current gig. Seamless transition if you ask me."

Maya leaned back, fanning herself dramatically. "You’re killing me with the nonchalance. This is huge! Genesis Pod whatchmacalit—imagine the perks of being the test applicants! Full immersion world experience! All that tech magic at the palm of your, mind?"

Karen’s gaze drifted past Maya, settling on something—or someone—across the cafe.

A cosplayer stood out amid the casual crowd, her outfit a striking fantasy ensemble: a flowing yellow cloak with a hood pulled low, edged in intricate golden embroidery that caught the light.

A vibrant red scarf wrapped around her neck, trailing down her back like a banner. Strapped to her back was what looked like a real sword, its hilt gleaming with faux jewels—or were they faux?

The cosplayer sipped a drink quietly, her face partially obscured, but her presence was magnetic, like she’d stepped out of a high-fantasy novel into this mundane spot.

Maya followed Karen’s stare, her excitement shifting to curiosity. "Whoa, that cosplay is cool. Yellow cloak, red scarf, sword—looks like some epic adventurer from a game. Striking, right?"

Karen nodded slowly, her eyes lingering. "Quite striking. The details are impressive—almost looks like she is coming from an actual fantasy world."

Before they could dive deeper into speculation, the cafe’s peaceful hum shattered.

The door burst open with a violent bang, and five armed men stormed in, black masks pulled low, guns drawn and sweeping the room.

Screams erupted as patrons froze or dove under tables.

"Everyone down! Hands where we can see ’em! This is a robbery!"

Karen’s heart skipped a beat, her slight panic rising as she noticed the security camera’s red recording light was dim—hacked, no doubt. She raised her hands slowly, glancing at Maya, who was trembling, her face pale with terror. "Stay calm," Karen whispered, though her own pulse raced.

To think that this cafe was the one that got robbed out of many stores in this district.

At least rob a bank or something.

The lead robber barked orders at the barista, demanding the register’s contents, while his accomplices covered the crowd. "Wallets, phones—on the tables! No heroes! Remember, you’ll get shot and riddled with holes if you’re thinking that you can do anything to prevent this!"

Maya’s breath came in shallow gasps, her hands shaking in the air. "Karen... what do we do?"

Before Karen could respond, movement caught her eye.

The cosplayer in the yellow cloak stood up casually, as if the chaos were a minor inconvenience. She set her drink down and walked toward the robbers, her sword still sheathed on her back.

Maya whispered frantically, "What is she doing? That’s stupid—she’s gonna get herself killed!"

The lead robber spun, gun aimed at the cosplayer’s chest. "Sit your ass down, freak! This ain’t Comic-Con!"

The cosplayer tilted her head, her voice emotionless and eerily calm. "Are you causing issues here?"

The robber laughed mockingly, "Looks like you will set a nice example for everyone then."

The robber then fired without hesitation.

The shot rang out, but in a blur of inhumane speed, the cosplayer drew her sword—faster than the eye could track—and deflected the bullet.

It ricocheted off the blade, embedding in the glass window with a crack.

Karen’s jaw dropped. "What the...?"

Panic surged through the robbers.

The leader went full auto, unloading a barrage of bullets.

The cosplayer moved like a shadow, her sword a whirlwind of precision, deflecting every round with sparks and pings.

She advanced step by step, the blade flashing as she slashed through the group.

Blood sprayed across the cafe floor as the robbers fell one by one, their screams cut short.

The room descended into chaos—patrons fleeing, tables overturning.

In the frenzy, Maya glanced at Karen and gasped. "Karen! Oh god—no!"

Karen looked down, her sweater soaked in blood.

A stray bullet had grazed her chest—no, pierced it.

Pain bloomed late, sharp and overwhelming. She slumped against the booth, her vision blurring. "Maya... stay calm. I... called 911 already. And... so is the medical help.. The ambulance is coming..."

"When the heck did you even manage to do that!" Maya pressed her hands to the wound, tears streaming. "Hold on! You’re bleeding too much—Karen, stay with me!"

Karen’s breathing grew shallow, the world fading to a distant roar.

Maya’s voice echoed faintly, pleading, but it slipped away.

Darkness closed in, her consciousness drifting like a leaf on a current.

Then, abruptly, she woke—as if from a deep, disorienting dream.

No pain, no blood. She sat up on what felt like a cold lab table, her casual sweater, jeans, sneakers, hat, and braided twintails intact.

The cafe was gone, instead, she was in a sterile, rather high-tech yet seemingly fantastical chamber with glowing panels and magical utilities.

Three figures stared at her in confusion: a woman with a halo, another with draconic horns and wings, and a third with black feather wings and a violet halo.

They exchanged puzzled glances, as if she were the anomaly in their world.