Blood Online: Evolving Endlessly-Chapter 206: Meeting In Reality

{Ding!}

Akhil’s eyes shot open to a familiar ceiling.

White paint. Crown molding imported from Italy. A custom chandelier his father had commissioned that probably cost more than most people’s cars hanging in the center of the room.

His ceiling.

His room in the Patel estate.

Reality

His muscles felt like someone had put them through a meat grinder, then reassembled them slightly wrong. Every small movement—turning his head, flexing his fingers, even breathing—sent waves of complaint through a body that had been unconscious for three weeks while his mind fought in a death game.

But beneath the soreness, beneath the exhaustion, beneath everything—

Relief.

Pure, overwhelming relief that made his chest tight in ways that had nothing to do with phantom wounds from blades that shouldn’t exist anymore.

’It’s over,’ Akhil thought, letting out a breath he felt like he’d been holding since the moment the game trapped them. ’We actually ended it. The game is done. The Monarch is dead. Everyone who survived got out.’

He let that knowledge settle, really settle, for the first time since waking up in the hospital three weeks ago.

It was over.

They’d won.

And somehow, impossibly, he was still alive to see it.

---

THREE WEEKS LATER

"So you’re telling me," Nyla said, her voice carrying that particular tone of sisterly mischief that made Akhil instantly suspicious, "that you’ve fought Titans, absorbed divine blood, literally became a world-ending threat, and led twenty people through impossible scenarios—"

"Seven survived," Akhil corrected quietly.

"—but you’ve never met a girl you actually like in person before?"

They were being driven toward the restaurant in one of the family’s cars—a Mercedes that Akhil had barely noticed because he’d grown up surrounded by this kind of luxury. The driver kept his eyes forward, professional enough to pretend he couldn’t hear the conversation happening in the back seat.

Akhil was beginning to regret every life choice that had led to this moment. His sister had been relentless since he’d mentioned—casually, he thought, without any particular emphasis—that he was planning to meet Aria in person.

Just to catch up. Just to talk about the game. Just two survivors comparing notes.

Nyla had latched onto that information like a bloodhound on a scent and refused to let go.

"It’s not like that," Akhil insisted for the seventh time. "We’re just meeting up. Talking. All of us who survived are trying to stay in touch. It’s normal."

"Uh-huh." Nyla’s smile was absolutely diabolical. "And you spent forty-five minutes picking out that shirt because you ’just want to look presentable for a casual meetup,’ right?"

Akhil felt heat creep up his neck. "I always take time choosing clothes."

"You wore the same hoodie for a week straight during the beta test. Don’t lie to me."

"That was different. I was focused on—"

"On avoiding basic hygiene, yeah, I remember. Father threatened to throw the hoodie away." Nyla’s grin widened. "But now you’re meeting a girl you led through a death game, who fought beside you, who you definitely have feelings for based on how red you’re turning right now."

"I’m not—" Akhil started to protest, then caught sight of his reflection in the car window and realized his face had indeed gone pink. "Shut up."

"Make me, oh fearless leader." Nyla shifted in her seat, clearly enjoying this. "Come on, admit it. You like her. You’ve been thinking about her constantly since we got out."

"I think about everyone who survived," Akhil said carefully. "We went through something intense together. It’s natural to—"

"Not the same and you know it. You don’t blush when Ryan texts you. Or when James sends those ridiculous memes in the group chat."

Akhil felt his face get hotter. "James’s memes are actually funny."

"Deflection. Classic." Nyla leaned back, looking far too satisfied with herself. "You know what’s interesting? Aria’s the only one you haven’t video called yet. Everyone else—Ryan, James, Marcus, Elena—you’ve talked to them all. But Aria? Just text messages. Almost like you’re nervous about seeing her face."

"The game avatars were different from reality," Akhil pointed out. "We were all different species. It’s weird adjusting to what people actually look like."

"Mmhmm. And that’s why you asked me three times if the restaurant was nice enough? Because you’re ’adjusting’?"

Akhil groaned. "Why are you like this?"

"Because Father raised me to be observant and ruthless in negotiations, and watching you squirm is the most entertainment I’ve had since we got out of that death game." Nyla’s expression softened slightly. "Also because you deserve to be happy. And Aria seems nice. From what I saw in the game, she’s smart, capable, and she clearly cares about you."

"We barely knew each other in there."

"You led her through impossible scenarios. She trusted your tactics. That’s not nothing." Nyla pulled out her phone. "Besides, the group chat says she’s been just as nervous about this meetup."

Akhil’s attention snapped to her immediately. "Wait, what? There’s a group chat I’m not in?"

"Oh, there are several. This one’s just the girls who survived. Well, Elena and Aria. We’ve been comparing notes." Nyla’s smile turned evil. "And Aria may have mentioned being excited about meeting you in person."

"You’re lying."

"Am I?" Nyla’s finger hovered over her phone. "I could show you the screenshots—"

"Don’t you dare."

"—or you could just admit you like her and save us both time." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The car pulled up to the restaurant before Akhil had to answer. It was a small place, locally owned despite being in an upscale neighborhood—the kind that served incredible food and didn’t care if you showed up in a hoodie or a three-piece suit. They’d picked it specifically because it was quiet. Low-key. The kind of place where survivors of a death game could meet without attracting the wrong kind of attention.

Nyla was out of the car before the driver could open her door, moving with the casual grace of someone who’d grown up wealthy and never thought twice about it.

Akhil followed, his legs still not entirely trusting the concept of extended standing after three weeks in a VR coma.

"After you, Romeo," Nyla said, holding the restaurant door open with exaggerated courtesy.

"I hate you so much right now."

"No you don’t. You love me. I’m your favorite sister."

"You’re my *only* sister."

"Which makes me the favorite by default. Now go sit down and try not to embarrass yourself when she arrives."

They found a booth near the back, and Akhil slid into the seat with the particular relief of someone whose body was still remembering how to function normally. The restaurant was nice—exposed brick, warm lighting, the kind of atmosphere that made conversation easy.

Nyla sat across from him, pulled out her phone, and immediately started typing with the focus of someone on a mission.

"What are you doing?" Akhil asked suspiciously.

"Texting James. We’re meeting up after this."

"James? Shadow manipulation guy?"

"Yeah. He’s actually really funny when he’s not, you know, fighting for his life." Nyla didn’t look up from her phone, but Akhil could see the faint color on her cheeks. "We’ve been talking since we got out. He’s from the city too. Works in tech. We have a lot in common."

Akhil felt a grin spreading across his face. "Oh really? Just talking? Not, say, going on dates?"

"It’s not—" Nyla started, then stopped and glared at him. "Don’t you dare use my own words against me."

"Wouldn’t dream of it. So when’s the wedding?"

"I will throw ice water on you. Don’t think I won’t just because we’re in public."

"You don’t have ice powers anymore. Game’s over, remember?"

"I’ll improvise. The ice machine is right there."

Akhil raised both hands in surrender, laughing. "Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You and James are just friends. Absolutely platonic. Nothing romantic whatsoever."

"That’s—" Nyla started, then caught the look on his face and sighed. "Fine. Maybe a little romantic. He’s... nice. Smart. Good in a crisis. And he actually gets what we went through without me having to explain everything."

The words hung in the air for a moment, carrying weight that the teasing had temporarily pushed aside.

"That’s good," Akhil said genuinely. "You deserve someone who understands."

"So do you," Nyla pointed out. "Which is why you should actually talk to Aria when she gets here instead of just staring at her like a creep."

"I don’t—"

"You will. I’ve seen your taste in women. You’re going to take one look at her and forget how words work."

Akhil started to protest, then stopped as movement near the entrance caught his attention.

Aria had just walked in.

And looking at her Akhil was completely lost in a daze.