CHAPTER 308: CHAPTER 308; GAMING 1...

They stepped into the home theater, the massive screen flickering to life as Tang Fei retrieved the four wireless controllers neatly stored in a sleek console rack beside the reclining seats. Twilight and Qin Xinyu followed, their own controllers in hand, avatars ready for action.

The dim room glowed with anticipation as the four of them leaned forward slightly in their seats, hearts quickening, fingers hovering over the buttons, ready to dive in.

(Sane Sky Realm)

(Level 1: Cloud Citadel)

The screens lit up, casting a soft glow across the dim room. One by one, their avatars shimmered into existence inside the game world, a vast sky painted in streaks of rose and gold, with clouds so solid they formed floating platforms.

In the distance loomed the Cloud Citadel, a towering fortress of glassy crystal and white stone suspended in the heavens.

Tang Fei (grinning as her character’s wings unfurled) her avatar voice echoed: "Alright, warriors of the realm, this is our first quest. We storm the citadel, defeat the Wind Sentinels, and reclaim the Crystal Feather. Who’s with me?"

Zhihao (snorts, choosing a massive hammer as his weapon): "With you? I will be the one saving you when you fall off a cloud. Watch out and learn, Momma."

Twilight (hovering her avatar slightly above the others, cloak fluttering): "Focus. If the Citadel Guardians wake up too soon, we will be swarmed. The strategy is simple... Zhihao smashes, Tang Fei leads, Qin Xinyu heals, and I assassinate from the shadows."

Qin Xinyu (laughing, selected a glowing staff): "Why am I always the healer? Fine. But don’t expect me to save you if you show off too much."

They launched forward, avatars sprinting across a chain of floating platforms. The wind howled, pushing them back as lightning cracked in the skies.

Suddenly...

From the citadel gates, two massive armored Wind Sentinels descended, wings of stormclouds flaring, halberds sparking with electricity.

Tang Fei: "Brace yourselves! Don’t let them push you off!"

Zhihao (charging recklessly):

"Watch this... Storm Breaker Smash!"

(He slammed his hammer into the ground, sending shockwaves across the cloud, knocking one sentinel back a step.)

"Hah! This is too easy!"

Twilight (appearing from behind the sentinel like a streak of smoke): "Overconfidence will kill you."

(She plunged twin daggers into the sentinel’s exposed back joint. The metal groaned, sparks flying.)

Qin Xinyu (chanting quickly, green light surrounding the group): "Wind shield, hold strong!"

(A glowing barrier shimmered, reducing the force of the storm pushing against them.)

Tang Fei (slashing with her dual blades, voice firm but playful):

"Good teamwork. Zhihao, aim for the legs! Twilight, keep circling. I will hold their attention."

The battle escalated, lightning bolts rained down from above, platforms crumbled beneath them, and the second sentinel swung a halberd straight toward Tang Fei’s avatar.

Zhihao (yelling): "Mom, behind you!"

(He leapt forward, blocking with his hammer, the impact sending his avatar skidding back dangerously close to the edge.)

"Whoa... that was close."

Tang Fei (smiling at the screen):

"Not bad, hero. I will let you protect me, for now."

Twilight (deadpan): "You two flirt with death too much."

(She vaulted upward, slashing across the sentinel’s throat. The massive guardian staggered, roaring as its form dissolved into starlight.)

One down. The second sentinel flared its wings and roared, unleashing a whirlwind that sent all four avatars flying apart.

Qin Xinyu (voice quick, urgent): "Everyone holds tight... I will anchor us!"

(She struck her staff into the cloud platform, summoning chains of light that tethered each of them together, preventing them from being blown away.)

"There. You are welcome."

Tang Fei (soaring back with her blades ready): "Perfect timing! Now, let’s finish this together."

They closed in. Zhihao crushed its legs, Twilight struck at its core, Tang Fei slashed across its chest in a blazing combo, and Qin Xinyu’s healing aura kept their avatars glowing bright.

The final blow came when Tang Fei leapt high, her wings unfurled wide.

Tang Fei: "Skyfall Strike!"

(Her avatar spun downward in a spiral of silver light, blades piercing the sentinel’s chest. It shattered into a thousand shards of glassy feathers, dissolving into the wind.)

System Message: Level 1 Cleared. Crystal Feather Acquired. Path to Level 2: The Storm Bridges unlocked.

The Cloud Citadel faded, and the team stood victorious as glowing feathers rained down around their avatars.

Zhihao (grinning): "Not bad... but in the next level, I’m the one who gets the finishing blow."

Tang Fei (smirking): "Keep dreaming. The sky belongs to me."

Twilight (already checking her inventory): "Dream later. The Storm Bridges await. And the enemies there will not fall so easily."

Qin Xinyu (stretching with a laugh): "Well, at least I survived babysitting you three. Let’s keep going before you get us all killed."

Level 2: Storm Bridges

The screen flares to life as the players’ avatars spawn at the edge of a broken sky-realm. Endless storm clouds churn below, lightning flashing and thunder echoing through the dark heavens.

Ahead, a network of narrow, swaying bridges made of glowing energy stretches across the void, linking floating storm-islands together. Wind lashes violently, threatening to throw them off with every step.

---

[Game Narrator Voice-over]:

"Welcome to Level 2: The Storm Bridges. Cross the bridges without falling. Beware of the Sky Serpents, they strike from the lightning. Only by reaching the final island and defeating the Guardian Harpy will you clear this stage."

Tang Fei (Avatar: Dawnblade, dual-wield swords, glowing white armor): eyes narrowing as the first bridge sways dangerously, "This path looks like it’s alive... We’ll need to balance carefully. Stay close, and don’t let the wind trick you."

Zhihao (Avatar: Ironfang, massive halberd, draconic armor): grinning recklessly, steps onto the bridge

"Balance? Hah. I will smash anything that tries to knock me off."

The bridge trembles violently as a bolt of lightning crashes nearby. From the storm clouds, a massive Sky Serpent bursts forth, its body crackling with electricity, fangs bared.

Qin Xinyu (Avatar: Silver Sage, staff glowing with runes): "Serpent incoming!"