Virtual or Reality

In the morning, Kate woke up feeling disoriented after having a strange dream. She laid in bed for a moment, trying to shake off the haze of the dream that still clung to her. She could still feel the heat from the touch of the handsome man she had dreamt of. He was tall and lean, with a razor-sharp jawline, silver long hair, and ruby red eyes that seemed to pierce her soul. She could still feel his eyes on her, looking into the depth of her desire.

In her dream, the atmosphere was dark and silent, only the sound of their breathing could be heard. She felt his arms gently holding her as he leaned in to kiss her. As their lips met, she could feel the sharpness of his teeth, but it only added to the sensuality of the moment. She felt safe and relaxed in his arms, lost in the sensation of their touch.

Their movements were slow and deliberate, every sound they made seemed to echo in the darkness of the dream. She could hear the rustling of his clothes as he moved, and the soft sighs that escaped his lips as he explored her body. His silver hair brushed against her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

As they kissed, Kate could see the details of his appearance in the darkness of the dream. His white pale skin seemed to glow in the darkness, and his ruby red eyes were like pools of fire. He was dressed in a black leather jacket that hugged his lean frame, and black pants that clung to his long legs.

In the dream, their interaction was intimate and passionate. She could feel every caress and touch that he made, as if he was exploring her body for the first time. Their movements were slow and gentle, but filled with desire and hunger.

"Who are you?" Kate asked as they kissed, her voice filled with curiosity and desire.

"I am yours," he replied, his voice low and seductive.

"Are you a vampire?" she asked, still feeling the sharpness of his teeth against her skin.

He chuckled softly. "Does it matter what I am? All that matters is what we feel in this moment."

Kate nodded, lost in the sensation of the dream. She knew that it was just a dream, but it felt so real, and she never wanted it to end.

As she spaced-out on her bed Kate thought to herself, "Who was that beautiful man with silver long hair and ruby red eyes? It's like he was an anime or manga character. Maybe I just spend too much time alone. Or I should stop reading those R18 novel before going to sleep."

------

Pim and Pond were in their bakery, bustling with activity as they prepared for the day. The aroma of fresh bread and pastries wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of clattering utensils and bustling customers.

As Pim was rolling dough, she noticed that Pond looked a bit off. His eyes were droopy, and he seemed to be in a daze. Concerned, she approached him and asked, "Are you okay, Pond?"

Pond looked up from his work, startled by Pim's question. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, Pim," he replied, rubbing his eyes. "Just haven't been getting enough sleep, I guess."

Pim nodded sympathetically. "I know how that feels," she said, patting Pond on the shoulder. "Maybe you should take a break later and catch up on some rest."

After a long day at the bakery, they decided to have dinner at the night market. Pim and Pond strolled through the bustling night market in Bangkok, the air thick with the aroma of sizzling street food. They were drawn to a small stall selling Leng Saap, a spicy Thai soup made with pork bones, herbs, and chili. They sat down at the stall and eagerly ordered two bowls of the steaming soup, along with some freshly made roti bread.

As they enjoyed their meal, Pond remarked, "This is amazing! The pork bones give the broth such a rich and savory flavor, and the chili adds just the right amount of heat."

Pim nodded in agreement, savoring the complex flavors of the soup. "I heard that the stall owner uses a secret blend of herbs and spices in the soup. It's been a family recipe for generations."

After finishing their meal, they returned home and logged into the Xylo world. Pond was surprised to receive a message from Professor Luovizt, who rarely contacted him directly. The message read, "Archmage Sylphrena urgently requests your presence at the Mages Council. Please come as soon as possible."

Pond's heart raced as he read the message. He knew that the Archmage would not call him to the council without a good reason. He quickly gathered his party and made his way to the council chambers, wondering what news awaited him.

------

As Pond arrived at the Mages Council, Sylphrena invited him into her office. As Pond entered Archmage Sylphrena's office, he couldn't help but notice the room's luxurious and grand atmosphere. The room was dimly lit, and the walls were covered with ancient symbols and magical artifacts. Sylphrena sat behind her desk, dressed in an uncommon sexy short black dress that showed off her lovely white thighs, and Pond felt a sudden heat in his cheeks.

Sylphrena noticed his reaction and smiled coyly. "Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing to a chair in front of her desk.

Pond sat down and felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. He had always admired Sylphrena's beauty and power, but he had never been alone with her before.

Sylphrena broke the silence, asking about Pond's exhausted appearance. "I just keep having a weird dream and didn't get enough sleep," he replied, feeling embarrassed.

Sylphrena's heart raced at the thought that he had also had a strange dream. "Could you tell me what kind of dream that you had?" she asked, trying to suppress her curiosity.

"Ermmm... it's so embarrassing to say, my lady. Can we just talk about your urgent call?" Pond tried to change the subject, feeling flustered.

Sylphrena noticed his discomfort and decided to let it go, realizing that she had started to blush as she recalled the memory of the dream from the previous night.

After their awkward conversation, Archmage Sylphrena told Pond that she had found new information about the Supreme One and to investigate more about the Supreme One, they needed to reach the top of the Tower of Unity. Since the maximum number of party members was 10 per party, with 5 members from Pond's party and 5 members from the Mages Council, it seemed perfect for the journey to the top of the tower. Sylphrena said that with the power of the 5 rings and the powerful magic of the 5 members of the Mages Council, the task seemed like a piece of cake.

As Pond listened to Sylphrena's plan, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. "So, you're saying that with the power of the 5 rings and the powerful magic of the 5 members of the Mages Council, we can reach the top of the Tower of Unity without any trouble?" he asked, eager to know more.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying," Sylphrena replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "And I believe that you and your party members will be a great addition to our team."

Pond smiled, feeling proud of his team's abilities. "We won't disappoint you, Archmage," he said, his voice full of determination.

Before leaving Sylphrena's office, Pond couldn't help but compliment her on her dress. "You look great in that dress, my lady," he said, unable to resist the urge.

Sylphrena blushed and smiled, feeling a little flustered by the compliment. "Thank you, Pond. That's very kind of you to say," she replied, feeling a little giddy.

As Pond left the room, he couldn't help but feel a little more drawn to Sylphrena. He couldn't explain it, but there was something about her that made him feel more alive than he had ever felt before.

Meanwhile, Sylphrena couldn't help but feel a little more attracted to Pond than she had before. There was something about his confidence and his determination that made her heart skip a beat.

As they both went their separate ways, they couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them.

------

Pond returning to his party and sharing Archmage Sylphrena's plan to reach the top of the Tower of Unity. The group is excited about the opportunity to fight alongside legendary mages from the Mages Council.

Xiao Ming, the Cheerful Bard, expresses his excitement, "I can't wait to hear the music of those powerful mages! It will be inspiring and uplifting!" Anastasia, the Battlemage, nods in agreement, "Yes, their arcane magic will be a force to be reckoned with. I'm excited to see their powers in action."

Palm, the Time Manipulator, chimes in, "I am intrigued by their abilities to control time. I look forward to learning from them." Pim, the Human Beast, stays quiet, but Pond notices her looking pensive. "What's on your mind, Pim?" he asks.

Pim responds, "I'm just wondering if I'll be able to use my 'I Want That Skill' skill on any of the mages we'll meet. It would be incredible to copy their skills and use them for myself." Pond nods, "That's a good point, but remember, there are limitations to your skill. You can only copy skills from NPCs that are within 10 levels of you and that are usable by your job class."

Pim nods thoughtfully, "Yes, I know. But I'll keep my eyes open and see what opportunities arise." The party members then discuss their strategy and preparations for the journey to the top of the Tower of Unity.

Pond checks his equipment and skill list, making sure he has everything he needs for the journey. "I'm ready for anything," he declares, feeling confident in his skills as the Beast Savior. The rest of the party nods in agreement, eager to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

As they discuss their plan, Kate watches from afar, keeping a close eye on Pond's party. She knows they will be a formidable opponent and decides to gather more information about them before making her next move.