CyberWorld II

***CyberWorld II*** (originally known as ***CyberWorld: Light***) is the second book in the *CyberWorld* series. The novel follows Michael Leong, Kim Yoon-ah and the other flayers navigating the real world in the aftermath of Resolution Day.

## Synopsis

In the aftermath of the Apostles' defeat in the doomed VRMMORPG game CyberWorld, Michael Leong has awoken to a world who moved on without him. Kakushin Games, the creators of CyberWorld, announce Trials of Audacity, an event designed to push players beyond their physical and mental limits, with the promise of a handsome cash prize.

In hopes of proving himself to the world, Michael joins the contest, but it turns out to be easier said than done…

## Plot

NOTE: This is a VERY condensed version of CyberWorld II. For the full story, click here.

### Real World

After defeating Enoch in combat, Michael Leong wakes up in a hospital after releasing all of CyberWorld’s former players (flayers for short), who have been in a coma for five years. Michael meets his old classmates at school who still dislike him as they believed he still studies obsessively. They also do not believe that Michael is Saviour, the person whom defeated Enoch in combat, despite Michael's attempts to convince them.

### Call to Action

Michael gets a text from a unknown contact telling him to meet in CyberWorld. When he logs in, he learns that it is none other than Suki Hachiyo, the co-founder of Kakushin Games, and Yoona, Michael's former fellow Resistance soldier. To thank Michael and Yoona for saving all the flayers, Suki invites Michael and Yoona on behalf of Aiko Tokoshima to take part in Trials of Audacity, a competition where players' skills and adaptability will be tested. She admits the event is a publicity stunt to win back their former fans, traumatized by the events of Resonance Day, and convinces Michael and Yoona to join.

After meeting at the airport, Michael and Yoona travel to the Torukami Technodome, a integrated resort owned by Kakushin where the competition will be held and meet with Yoona's friend, Levina. Unfortunately, they also run into Yoona's not-so-subtle admirer, Leonard Gonzalez, who gets defensive when he sees Michael, believing him to be Yoona's boyfriend. When Leonard leaves and with Michael and Leonard's rivalry is established, Yoona reveals Leonard is also a flayer who gained a crush on her after she saved him from death in CyberWorld.

After spending the day out, Michael and Yoona learn they will be sharing a room, to which Michael is surprised Yoona is okay with. As they're trying to sleep, Michael opens up to Yoona about his insecurities about how the people around him perceive him after leaving CyberWorld and returning to the real world. Yoona assures Michael by saying he *did* change for the better, but he has to show it to the world.

### Trials of Audacity

At the opening of Trials of Audacity, Michael reunites with Amadeus, his former mentor from CyberWorld, who will competing for another team, Team Red. Michael and Yoona learn that besides Levina, a boy named Galvin will be on their team, forming Team Navy. Janelle Wilson, the announcer for Trials of Audacity, introduces the competing teams including Team Orange, led by Leonard. After all the competitors are logged onto the simulation, the contest begins.

#### The Floating Forest (First Game)

The First Game is a three-dimensional platformer in the Floating Forest, where contestants have to leap between levitating islands to reach the finish line. Team Navy is is quickly overtaken by the other teams, and Galvanic leaves the rest of Team Navy behind. After taking out two of Team Black's members, Team Navy regroups and face off an electric serpent, which is seemingly indomitable. Realising it can’t be defeated, Team Navy retreats but comes in last. After the game, Leonard taunts Michael about Yoona, resulting in a fight, frustrating Yoona.

#### Field Day (Second Game)

The next day, the Second Game occurs, where contestants have to protect their Artifact from being taken by other teams using individual force fields. When two of Team Green’s members tries to flank Team Navy, Michael finds out that contestants are not limited to using orbs—they can form whatever they want. While Yoona stays behind to guard their Artifact, Michael, Levina and Galvin take over Team Green’s base and bring their Artifact back to theirs.

Michael encounters Amadeus and they engage a sword duel. He rushes back to base after realising it’s a distraction, but it’s too late, as the rest of Team Red eliminates Yoona and takes Team Navy’s Artifact, causing Michael to have a breakdown. Later that night, Michael confesses that he has a crush on Yoona and tries to kiss her, but she rejects his advances, explaining that she wants to stay focused on the contest.

#### Infected (Third Game)

At the Third Game where contestants have to find vaccines in the form of canisters and activate them at the top of the Tower of Refuge, Michael and Galvin fire at a group of Cannonfodders while Yoona and Levina hold off Chargers with their melee weapons. In the building, Galvin finds the hidden lift after a close shave with another Charger in the vent leading to it. When Shortcircuits disable the lift and Team Navy’s weapons, Yoona kills them with her axe, unaffected by their technopathic abilites.

Soon after she finds the vaccine, an even larger horde of Cannonfodders break into the building, forcing Team Navy to retreat. Michael uses the last of his kinergy magazines as a grenade, killing a sizable portion of the Horde but also diminishing the building’s integrity in the process. At the top, while Levina stops Leonard from activating Team Orange’s canister, Galvin manages to activate Team Navy’s without getting killed by the Charger Horde, securing Team Navy’s first first place.

#### Heat of Battle (Sixth Game)

The Final Game is revealed to be a ------- game. Before Heat of Battle starts, Michael tells Team Navy he will be at a disadvantage since the Final Game will focus on firearm usage, rendering melee weapons useless.

Before Monochrome and Nardicus can start fighting again, Aiko makes a surprise reappearance and enters the simulation, repairing Michael's kineblades with her admin abilities.

### Finale

After Trials of Audacity concludes, Michael and Yoona take a walk together in the park in the Torukami Technodome. Yoona is glad to be the one to win the contest, but says she feels bad that Michael sacrificed his win for her. Michael then says that he was never interested in the money

In progress