PLAYER SYSTEM C18 VR GLASSES

The two brothers talked long into the night, the earlier awkwardness over Jack’s unusual request fading into laughter and warmth. Now relaxed, they poured each other wine, the gentle clink of their glasses echoing softly in the quiet dining room.

Ian, his cheeks flushed from the alcohol, gave Jack a teasing smile. “Honestly, with that body of yours, you shouldn’t be struggling for a girlfriend. You’re practically walking eye candy.”

Jack let out a sheepish chuckle, waving a hand. “Let’s not get into that. I know I’ve got the looks, but I’m just not up for all the expenses—dates, hotels, fancy dinners. I’m broke, man.”

Ian laughed, nodding. “Fair point. Guess that’s a solid financial strategy.”

Jack grinned, raising his glass. “In this economy, even having a crush feels like a luxury. No wonder so many dream of awakening powers—solve all your problems at once: money, status, romance, you name it.”

Ian paused mid-sip, his gaze softening as he looked at Jack. “Don’t worry. I’ve got a feeling you’ll awaken soon. Maybe even something stronger than mine. Just trust yourself, Jack.”

Jack blinked, then smiled, warmth flickering in his chest. “Thanks... that means a lot.”

Though they'd drifted apart the past couple of months, the distance was melting fast—bridged by wine, honest talk, and old brotherly bonds.

Time passed unnoticed until Jack glanced at the wall clock. “Whoa. It’s already 11:34. We should get some sleep.”

Ian nodded, visibly groggy. “Yeah... good idea.”

As Jack looked at him, he noticed Ian's eyelids drooping. 'He’s really drunk...' Then Jack blinked. 'Wait… shouldn’t I be feeling it too?'

He glanced down at his hand, flexing it slowly. ‘Maybe it’s my Endurance stat. I feel completely fine.’

A soft thud made him look up—Ian’s head had slumped against the table, snoring gently.

Jack sighed. “Man, you really knocked yourself out.” He walked over and, with zero effort, hoisted Ian onto his shoulder. ‘Yep. Definitely the stats. I could probably carry three people like this.’

He walked toward Ian’s old bedroom. The scanner blinked, then flashed green as he held Ian in front of it. The door hissed open.

Jack stepped inside and gently laid his brother on the bed. Once Ian was settled, Jack pulled the blanket over him and quietly slipped out.

The door slid shut behind him with a soft click.

By the time he returned to his room, the night was already deep. Before heading to bed, Jack sat at his sleek desktop and placed an order: the latest model of the BEYOND VR Glasses. He browsed through Anyder, found a limited-time discount, and made the purchase using Ian’s credit card.

He paused, turning the card over in his hand. It shimmered faintly under the lights.

"A golden card... and not just metaphorically," Jack muttered, narrowing his eyes. "This thing’s made of real gold."

Upon closer inspection, he noticed the embossed insignia of an exclusive tier. “Must have a credit limit in the millions. Just holding this probably costs a fortune in annual fees…”

After a moment of awe, he slipped it back into his wallet. “I’ll return this tomorrow,” he promised, before finally sinking into his bed. Even though his body didn’t feel tired, a good night’s sleep would still boost his performance for the day ahead.

---

Morning arrived with soft sunlight streaming through the tall glass panels of the penthouse. Birds fluttered across the rooftop garden, landing on the real trees that only the ultra-wealthy could afford to grow at these heights. A few splashed near the rooftop pool, their chirps blending with the sound of wind brushing against the glass.

Jack’s eyes slowly opened. He lay there for a moment before stretching with a relaxed sigh. Rising, he strolled over to the window and pushed the curtains aside. Golden sunlight poured in, casting warm glows across his face and tousled blonde hair.

“It’s a beautiful day today,” he said softly. Then he smiled wider. “No… it’s even more beautiful than usual.”

Awakening his PLAYER ability had left him in an unusually good mood—one that tinted the world in brighter colors and made everything feel more possible.

He glanced at the floating wall clock. “7:00 AM,” he read aloud. “Still got time for breakfast before work.”

Jack left his room and headed for the dining room, rubbing his eyes. “Looks like Ian’s still asleep,” he muttered to himself. “Guess I’ve got time to make breakfast.”

He strolled into the kitchen, opened the smart refrigerator, and began pulling out ingredients—eggs, chicken, broth, garlic, onions, and soy sauce.

He got to work, cracking eggs into a pan, stirring up some golden fried rice, and letting the broth simmer while the chicken cooked. The smell of garlic and toasted soy filled the air. He even squeezed fresh oranges into juice and poured it into a glass pitcher.

‘Funny… I feel more precise in the kitchen now,’ he thought. ‘Maybe my increased Dexterity stat is affecting my real-world coordination too.’

He moved effortlessly through the kitchen, not even breaking a sweat from the heat of the stove.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Without turning around, Jack said, “Morning. You’re up.”

Ian’s voice followed behind him. “You’re cooking? What happened to just letting the Smart Table do all the work? That’s your usual routine.”

Jack chuckled as he flipped the fried rice. “I could’ve, but… everything it makes is too perfect. Too calculated. Every dish tastes exactly the same. Kinda sterile.”

He paused for a moment before adding, “I prefer something that feels a little more real. Even mistakes can make food taste better.”

He plated the dishes and set them on the table. Ian sat down and took a bite. His brows lifted. “Huh. Not bad. The chicken’s a little burnt in one spot, but somehow it works. Adds flavor.”

Jack grinned. “Told you. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about the care behind it. Something made by hand feels like it has soul.”

Ian smirked and raised his glass of juice. “Wise words coming from you.” He teased, “Keep this up, and you might awaken a cooking ability. Chef Jack—has a nice ring to it.”

Jack laughed, “Don’t jinx it. I’m not switching careers just yet.”

They ate together in a warm silence, the kind of quiet that only happens when things feel right again between brothers.

Then the doorbell rang.

“I got it,” Jack said, standing and heading toward the front.

He opened the door to see a sleek delivery robot from Anyder waiting at the threshold, holding a familiar black box.

“Oh, my order.” Jack accepted the package from the delivery drone. As per routine, he opened the box in front of it, letting the internal camera scan the contents.

Beep.

“Delivery confirmed,” the robot’s mechanical voice chimed before turning around and rolling off without another word.

Jack stared down at the sleek black box in his hands — the BEYOND VR Glasses. He couldn’t help but smile as he took it back to the dining room, where Ian was still finishing his breakfast.

“This is it,” Jack said, placing the box on the table. “The VR Glasses. I’m counting on you to tweak the settings—disconnect it from any networks and make it completely offline. As for appearance... that can come later.”

Ian raised an eyebrow but nodded. “Should be easy. The offline conversion will only take a few minutes, not counting the cosmetics.”

Jack checked his smartwatch. “Then you're saying you can finish before I head to work?”

Ian gave him a half-smile. “If you're that eager...”

Jack grinned. “What do you think? I want to try it out at work today!”

Ian let out a small laugh and stood up. “Alright, alright. I’ll take care of it in my room. My gear’s all set up there.” He grabbed the box and added over his shoulder, “Making it look cool might take a while, though.”

“Forget the looks. Just get it offline,” Jack called after him. “The styling can wait.”

Ian smirked. “Sheesh. You really can’t wait to have your... ‘private companion’ at work, huh?”

Jack rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “Yeah, yeah.”

In his room, Ian booted up his equipment, connected the VR Glasses, and lines of code quickly scrolled across his hologram display. Jack leaned by the door, watching him work — impressed, as always, at how fast Ian’s fingers danced over the keyboard.

Barely three minutes passed.

“All done,” Ian announced, holding out the modified glasses.

Jack took them with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. “Nice. Oh, and here—your credit card.” He handed it back with a grateful nod.

Ian took it and gave a small wave, but before he could say anything else—

“Well, I’m off to work!” Jack shouted, already heading for the door.

The front door hissed open, and Jack stepped into the private elevator. As it zoomed downward, he slipped on the glasses. They looked simple — sleek, ordinary, but comfortably light.

“Status,” he muttered.

A soft chime sounded, and then—just as he hoped—his PLAYER system interface shimmered to life in front of his eyes. His smile widened. “Good.”