The stream went live the moment Kaiden allowed it.
There was no countdown, no warning banner, no carefully timed announcement pushed hours in advance.
Perhaps it was laziness, perhaps it was cockiness - or they just knew there was no need for such a thing any more.
One second, the battlefield was silent to the wider world; the next, it was everywhere, his perspective snapping into place as the Awakened Media Platform latched on with greedy efficiency.
Kaiden exhaled slowly and rolled his shoulders once. The glow of his interface hovered at the edge of his vision, numbers already ticking upward faster than most creators ever saw on their best days.
He smiled.
"Well," he said calmly, voice carrying easily over the chaos of the battlefield behind him, "looks like you found me again."
The chat detonated.
Messages flooded in so fast they blurred into streaks of color and icons, but three names appeared exactly as they always did, right at the top.
- Princeless Princess: YOU’RE BACK!!!
- Kaiden’s Wife: Where have you been, Kai?!
- Lady Leia: We were so worried... 😭
Kaiden chuckled, feeling genuine warmth creeping into his tone. "Took a little break from the action."
He glanced at the viewer count, then back at the familiar names pulsing with activity. They were always first. Always waiting. No matter how long he disappeared, no matter how chaotic things became.
- Kaiden’s Wife: I understand the need for a break, but... The competition has been raging on.
- Lady Leia: Runewoven is slipping down in the rankings fast...
- Princeless Princess: Have you stopped gunning for first place, Kai? We’d understand, it’s unreasonable with those New Dawn S-tier people...
"The competition’s been raging, and the standings are concerning, yeah, but sometimes you must take a step back to take a much bigger leap forward."
The concern in their messages didn’t fade. If anything, it sharpened.
- Princeless Princess: You vanished for DAYS!
- Kaiden’s Wife: But it felt like WEEKS!!
- Lady Leia: Next time, warn us at least...
He shook his head lightly, amused and perhaps even a bit touched. "Maybe that one’s on me."
And then, as the stream stabilized and the girls behind him shifted into position, an idea sparked.
Without changing expression, Kaiden issued three invitations through his interface. These were private and direct.
At the same time, he felt the seamless transition as Aria and Luna took over the public feed, their perspectives sliding into place through [Harem Vision].
The audience barely noticed the handoff, swept up in the sudden change of angle as moonlight and stormlight flooded the screen.
Kaiden stepped back from the stream.
And smiled wider.
...
Sarah was in the middle of pacing her apartment when it happened.
Her Awakened Media Platform flickered, once, twice, then she froze.
{Kaiden Grey is calling you.}
She stopped so hard she nearly tripped over her own feet.
"Hah?!"
Her heart slammed against her ribs like it was trying to escape. "No no no no no..." She grabbed the side of the bed, staring at the glowing prompt hovering inside her mind. "THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!"
She slapped accept so fast she nearly blacked out.
...
Emily had been curled up on her couch, hugging a pillow like it was a lifeline, eyes glued to the stream as Aria’s crescent blades tore through monsters.
The notification appeared.
{Kaiden Grey is calling you.}
She screamed.
Not internally. Out loud.
Her pillow went airborne. "OH MY GOD! Have I died?! When did I enter heaven?!"
She accepted the call with shaking hands, already crying.
...
Leia was calmer.
At least, for half a second.
She stared at the message floating serenely before her eyes, reread it once, twice...
{Kaiden Grey is calling you.}
Her brain promptly shut down.
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