Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

82

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Hazel’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest. Without a second thought, she had Hazelight stride boldly forward, reaching out to Moondust, completely ignoring the fact that she was still decked out in the game’s top–tier wedding dress.

[Arrogant Wind: Hazelight, what are you doing?]

Before he could say more, Moondust made the white phoenix fly right over Hazelight, not even sparing her a glance. His hand finally came to a halt in front of someone nobody expected.

Stella raised an eyebrow at the hand reaching out to her. ‘Did he get the wrong person?‘ she wondered.

She nudged Starfall to the side with her keyboard, but the hand followed, still hovering right in front of her.

Moondust was showing everyone online, loud and clear, that he hadn’t made a mistake. After seven years away, he was back for Starfall, and only her. The world chat went dead silent in the sheer drama of it.

[Moondust: Starfall, get on.]

Even through the screen, everyone could feel the chill in those words.

Anyone still clinging to hope was left stunned. It was common knowledge that Moondust’s white phoenix never let anyone else ride with him.

“Stella!” Hazel screamed at her monitor, face flushed with humiliation. She could feel the laughter from the entire server. Stella had just stolen all her spotlight..

The glow from the screen lit up the mischievous smirk on Stella’s lips. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, the faint blue veins on the back of her hand visible.

‘So the server’s number one player, Moondust, is here to back me up? Now that’s interesting, Stella thought.

A question from the Lunar Guild suddenly popped up in the world chat. [Moondust, aren’t you here for Hazelight?]

Hazel didn’t say a word, but she was practically holding her breath, waiting for an answer. She just couldn’t believe Moondust would possibly pick Stella over someone as gorgeous as her.

[Moondust: Ridiculous.]

It was just one word, but it was more insulting than saying he didn’t even know her.

The one asking him replied: [So what if you’re a legend? Does that mean you get to put people down?]

Classic pretentious girl routine. She was acting all righteous, but Stella could tell that she just wanted Moondust to notice her.

The next second, Starfall, who hadn’t moved an inch, reached out and grabbed Moondust’s hand. In one slick motion, she was already sitting atop the one and only white phoenix in all of Nova Legends.

The phoenix screeched, its silvery glow wrapping around its entire body. As it soared back into the sky, scattering ethereal light particles over Destiny Isle. Moondust’s frosty elegance made Arrogant Wind’s expensive, gaudy decorations look cheap and pathetic.

The world chat blew up with old–timers who’d been here since day one.

[No way! Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I’d see this happen.]

[Who even is the Lunar Guild? Still trying to clout–chase the top dog, huh?]

Chapter 23

[Ever wonder why Moondust’s ID is 00001? Rumor has it that he’s one of the three founders of Nova Group.]

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The newbies freaked out. Maybe they didn’t know Moondust, but everyone knew Nova Group. That was basically its own

country.

[For real, is nobody gonna talk about how Moondust just came back after seven years just for Starfall and is totally embarrassing Arrogant Wind and Hazelight right now?]

[Seriously, after meeting a legend like Moondust, who’d ever bother with Arrogant Wind?]

While the world chat was going absolutely wild, the ones at the center of the drama had already landed gracefully on Destiny Isle, standing face–to–face with Arrogant Wind and Hazelight, both still decked out in their flashy wedding gear.

Meanwhile, up in the villa’s gaming room, Stella’s phone was getting spammed with calls. Every single one was from Hazel, who was clearly furious.

Stella didn’t even glance at her phone. She hung up with the kind of lazy indifference that was her trademark.

Suddenly, a blood–red system announcement blazed across the sky above Destiny Isle.

[System: A vow of vengeance. Starfall challenged Arrogant Wind to a forced duel. Will Arrogant Wind accept or decline?]

The world chat went silent again. Starfall, still in her plain white starter gear, actually had the nerve to challenge Arrogant Wind, the server’s number two. Almost everyone thought she had lost her mind.

In a forced duel, the loser faced brutal penalties: lost levels, random loss of top gear, and a red name for a whole week. The last one was basically open season for anyone on the server to come after the loser,

Starfall, with her trashed account, is going up against Arrogant Wind, the server’s number two? It was just asking for trouble in everyone’s eyes.

Stella typed in a cold, lazy manner. [Starfall: Arrogant Wind, you and Hazelight had the nerve to get someone to hack my account, but now you’re chickening out?]

[Arrogant Wind: Starfall, today’s my big day. I don’t want any bloodshed.]

Arrogant Wind was every bit as cocky as his name suggested, his words full of disdain for Starfall, like dueling a starter account was just beneath him.

[System: Warning! Moondust, the server’s number one, is about to trigger the annihilation mode. Everyone in the area will be forced into red name PvP mode. Get ready for chaos, Nova Legends players.]

Every top–ranked player on the server turned pale. They were just here for the hype, hoping to catch some wedding drama. They never expected to get dragged into this disaster.

[Hey, I’m new here. Can someone explain what annihilation mode is?]

[Uh, newbie here, too. Can someone fill me in?]

[Basically, everyone on the server gets thrown into red name PvP combat. Doesn’t matter your level or gear. The top player can trigger it once a year, and when they do, it’s pure carnage every single time.]

[I’m scared. Can I log out?]

[Sure, give it a shot.]

Yeah, no, that wasn’t happening.

[Moondust: Arrogant Wind, either you accept Starfall’s challenge, or I trigger the annihilation mode. Pick one.]

His words were icy and merciless, putting Arrogant Wind right on the spot with no way out.

Stella sat at her computer, eyes half–lidded as she lazily tapped her fingers on the desk. ‘Moondust is ruthless, she thought

[Arrogant Wind, if you’re a real man, quit stalling and take the challenge. Don’t get the rest of us caught up in your drama.]

[Arrogant Wind, stop acting like a coward and show yourself.]

Everyone had that instinct to side with the top dog, so nobody dared call out Moondust for wanting to activate the annihilation mode. All the hate got dumped on Arrogant Wind instead.

Live streams of Nova Legends were smashing viewership records across every gaming platform. Hashtags like [Nova Legends], [Starfall and Moondust], and [Number One Player] started trending.

[Arrogant Wind: You asked for this.]

[System: Arrogant Wind has accepted Starfall’s forced duel challenge.]