Chapter 1

Prologue: A Glitch in the Rhythm

In the year 2124, dance has transcended art and become power. In a world driven by rhythm-based AI systems, dancers are no longer just performers — they are programmers of kinetic energy. At the prestigious St. Louis Academy, dance is used to activate systems, open vaults, and even stabilize floating cities.

Reyansh Singhania — Rey — is one of the academy’s elite dancers, haunted by echoes of a partner long gone. Kriya Ghai, once his equal in both movement and emotion, vanished after a tragic accident during a competition five years ago. He hasn't danced with heart since.

One rainy evening, while practicing alone in Studio X, Rey executes a forgotten combination from a routine he once performed with Kriya. As his feet glide across the sensor-sensitive floor, the mirrors around him glitch. Lights flicker. A deep humming rises from the floorboards. And then, the entire studio locks down.

A holographic interface flickers to life. On it blinks a phrase:

"Parallax Protocol: Reactivated."

Before Rey can process what just happened, a sharp pulse knocks him unconscious.

He awakens minutes later to find a single message etched into the floor beneath him:

"Find the Rhythm Core before it finds you."

Outside the studio, the city hums quietly. But something beneath it has already begun to stir.

________________________________________