Chapter 115: Dreamburgh

Ey? upon hearing Hua Lis voice, Chu Cheng couldnt help but sound surprised. Well you got there quick.

Hua Lis voice took on that distinctly feminine quality as he effected a sweet reply. Of course! My affection for A-Jue is unquestioned!

Ugh, by the cut it out, will ya? Your integritys already rolling around in the dirt, Chu Cheng replied, his voice pained.

Cut the garbage, Hua Li said, his voice back to normal. If you got nothing better to do get your ass down here. Were not heading to the Castle just yet, A-Jues gotten himself messed up pretty bad. Not to mention in about a month the Pontiffs people will be making their way here to Skyfire.

Got it. Ill be there before then. A-Jue, get a bottle of brandy ready. Chu Chengs voice was veritably bursting with dramatic aplomb.

Chengcheng, come quicklyyy! That pretty voice cooed at Lan Jues wrist.

Ugh, erg I-Ive got stuff to do. Gotta go. The connection broke.

Lan Jue patted his forehead. This guy guess a dog cant help eating shit 1. Guess a punkll do as they do.

Hua Lis voice was full of indignation. And the nerve, saying I have no integrity! Like hes got room to talk. Imma beat his ass!

Well hell be here soon, Lan Jue said, patting his friend on the shoulder comfortingly.

Hua Li shot him a glance. Good. First Ill deal with you, then Ill show him whats up. Show him what his insides look like.

An uncanny smile flitted across Lan Jues face as he nodded. Alright!

There were only five simulators here, but each were top of the line models. After all, the Jewelry Store was among the best earners on the Avenue. In reality Lan Jue himself didnt even know his current net worth, not after giving up management of the store. He left that up to his ladies.

The two young men picked their respective simulators and climbed inside.

Qianlin, want me to send you home? Are you feeling better? Richard spoke politely to her as he walked by the young womans side. They walked slowly from the campus grounds.

Im fine, Qianlin tepidly replied.

Richard looked at her, surprised. But when I went to your house last night for dinner, you said you were too ill to come down and join us?

Zhou Qianlin stopped, turned, and fixed Richard with her pretty blue eyes. Richard, do you really not understand or are you pretending? I dont want to see you. We. Are. Over. Although its better to say we never began.

Richard looked like hed been struck with a hammer. But youre my fianc, he said bitterly.

Zhou Qianlin hesitated, but after a moment she had made her decision. Determination filled her as she stepped forward to Richards side.

Richards face lit up. Until he heard her speak.

That day the man who took me from the wedding he he had his way with me.

If Richard had been hit with a hammer before, this time it was a bomb. His whole body shook, but he felt locked in place.

Im sorry. I want nothing to do with you anymore. Zhou Qianlin backed away a few steps, before turning and walking away.

Tang Mi had been beside her the entire time. Though her voice had been quiet, shed still heard clearly every word she said.

Qianlin that cant be true, is it? You and Zeus really

She didnt utter a sound, only sped up her gait. Tang Mi got the point, and fell quiet as she raced to catch up.

After several long moments, watching the two girls leave, Richards hands curled in to white-knuckled fists. That day was still clear in his mind, like it had just happened. It was the most shameful day of his life, brought about by that golden-masked man. His lofty voice still rang in his ears. I am ZEUS!

Tang Mi didnt speak again until they were at the schools main gates. Qianlin, what you just told Richard. Was that just to get him to stop, or was it real?

Qianlin dropped her head, and when she spoke her voice was quiet. Little Mi, you know I feel very sorry for Richard actually. Before when I accepted his advances, I thought he was a playboy. Later when we actually met I found him to be a good man. Unfortunately he and I would never work out. Its better a sharp pain for a short time, than a dull pain for ever.

Tang Mi blinked her big eyes. But thats not my concern! What I want to know is if you and Zeus REALLY did it, whats he like?! Is he as good a lover as he is a mercenary? Introduce me to him. I know were sisters, but well keep the competition fair. 2

Zhou Qianlin spun around so quickly her hair fanned out. Her blue eyes were deadly.

Eh well, I Ill go on ahead. Tang Mi turned tail and fled.

Stop right there!

DreamNet. Dreamburgh.

The skies above were a rainbow of colors. Everything was like a fairyland, like a dream. The towering buildings glowed with a faint titanium white, spotlessly clear and without blemish. It was a world of peace and quiet, comfortable. Gentle gusts of wind brought clouds lazily floating in the rainbow sea overhead. A sweet fragrance danced in the eddies, but more than that was a cooling moisture that cleansed the mind and body.

Its been a long time since Ive been here. Every visit its like Im stuck somewhere between reality and a dream.

It was a tall, slender man whod spoken. Gold robes, golden hair, golden mask. A single word floated above him, nearly translucent: Zeus.

Yeah! It has been ages. It was more than three years ago you last visited the Sanctuary. If you waited much longer Im afraid theyd kick you out.

Zeus companion was like him, tall and thin. His robes were a deep blue, and was embroidered like ripples in water. His long blue hair splayed out behind him as though they had a life of their own. His mask was silver. The name above: Poseidon.

Dreamburgh was a special area of DreamNet. Nearly all of DreamNet had a corresponding area in the real world, and were normally as lively. Only a very small handful of people were qualified to enter this large, isolated part of the web.

Here, the peak services of DreamNet were available. Most of which were compatible with the real world outside. Here, they were auctions for s-ranked gems, masterful blueprints for top level mechas, things almost unimaginable outside. But here they could be found.

Indeed it was a very selective place, for only a very special few. The gods themselves.

God-ranked mecha pilots stood at the peak of the piloting world. This status carried over to DreamNet. To every pilot it was considered a great honor to enter here. The ability to be a part meant any further simulated battle for them was meaningless. Most important was the exchange between pilots of the same caliber.

Every pilot here was known only by their callsign. No one could know the identity behind the mask. This, too, was anything but insignificant. This, was the territory of the gods. Here is where one honed themselves, becoming qualified to stand at the top of the power pyramid.

There was a time when the Four Divine Monarchs were kings among kings here, known far and wide. At one point theyd had a one hundred day winning streak in five-man battles just the four of them. Even today, the record had not been bested.

Of course there were some discrepancies. Real-world god-ranked pilots and those of DreamNet werent always the same. Here, members were pilots alone no disciplines were employed. The worlds pilots were a combination of power gems, Talent and personal ability.

Still to this day it was the wish of all younger pilots to one day enter Dreamburg. To them, this was Valhalla.

It really had been ages since Lan Jues last visit. So long, in fact, that were he an average citizen hed no longer be permitted here. But Zeus was not average citizen. There wasnt a soul here that didnt know his reputation. Here in the sanctuary three separate ranking lists bore his name, and he was in the top sections of each.

The Sanctuary was a place for pilots of the highest grade to meet and compare notes. There was a list of all the participants. The contents of the list were widely known through DreamNet, passed by word of mouth.

To say there was one list though was inaccurate. There were in fact several; one for men, for women, arrangement by fighting capability, win ratios, and on and on. But among them there was one list that was the most telling and likewise was the one most people adhered to. That was the Comprehensive Power Analysis. It was the final word when it came to the abilities of the sanctuarys pilots. Especially speed of hand.

As was well known proper manipulation of a mecha suit was a combination of mental commands and physical kinetic motion. The higher your acknowledged rank, the more masterful your control. And so ones speed of hand was an important factor to know.

For most, when they spied the lists, they had the same reaction; inhuman!

There was also the God-Team rankings. A common mecha unit consisted of five members, but this was a difficult thing for pilots of their caliber. In fact the total number of effective teams was very small. Only a few hundred in the entirety of DreamNet. Being part of such a team meant you were among the best of the best.

Zeus name was on all of these.

God-Team rankings: The Four Monarchs. This is where they became known, and where they earned their nickname.

Hand speed rankings; Zeus was fourth. It was determined by the number of executed commands in a short period. Next to his name was written 87.

What this meant was that he could execute eighty seven commands in a second. It was a number he had to maintain for a full minute before it could be counted.

1. I just had to leave this as is in the translation, too funny. The meaning is clear, but for clarification its akin to the western phrase a tiger cant change its stripes you cant help who you are. But I know Im going to be using this one from now on.

2. Lol.