Xavier finished the last calibration, let the headset sink him into the full-dive layer, and the world snapped out from under him. The shift was smooth—too smooth. No jolt, no dizziness. His vision blurred for a breath and then cleared into a completely different reality.
He materialized in Starfall Arena's main lobby.
The place floated like a massive open platform suspended over the endless sky. Dozens of airships drifted far below, their engines leaving bright trails that curled upward like glowing ribbons. The floor was a polished metal surface reflecting neon from giant holographic billboards stacked around the edges—ads for weapon skins, clan banners, seasonal rankings, battle passes, half-stupid voice packs, everything screaming for attention.
Above all of it hovered the biggest display in the entire lobby:
A twenty-meter billboard with his face on it.
"SPECIAL EVENT: XAVIER'S Descent— 00:29:52 REMAINING."
