They both were teleported to a cozy cinema. It was empty, no one else was there except the two of them, and then, the screen started to play.

They both heard a voice talking from the loudspeaker. “Welcome to the Preview of the coming patches!” Words appeared on the screen.

Stage one

Introduction of the system to the world. Status : Completed.

The screen started to show various people having blue screens before their very eyes, all in various stages of confusion. Dungeons and warp gates started appearing, and at that moment, Sam turned to Kevin.

“We haven’t seen that, right?”

“Nope.” Kevin answered, his eyes glued to the screen. The young man noticed most of the missions that the people in the screen had were mundane, like the ones he had seen on the forums. Yet, he noticed the screens looked slightly different.

There were some symbols and stats he didn’t see in his current screen. Was it something he needed to unlock?

The screen shifted, and new words appeared.

Stage Two - Minor Apocalypse - Status : One Month to implementation

A narrator started to explain.

“The next stage of the system is the introduction and appearance of the monsters in the world. Certain parts of the world will be transformed into a merger of both system-and-earth, where monsters can spawn and appear outside of their dungeons or designated quest chains.”

“Special terrain features will also be introduced, such as magical volcanoes, rain of meteors, magical tornadoes.”

The screen showed violent eruptions, monsters and dragons flying over cities. There were also people with weird powers flying all over the place, smashing the monsters with their fists, or magical swords.

It’s like something out of an action movie.

Sam cursed. “Oh fuck.”

“We will also introduce the Perk Point shop next month! Perk points can create areas safe from monsters and creatures, remove unfavorable terrain features, buy life-improvements, heal diseases and many, many others.”

They watched a person click on something on a blue screen, and suddenly the world around that person changed. Guns, turrets, barriers appeared that defended the place from monsters.

Stage Three - The Other World Gates - Status: Six Month to go

“In this stage, all we can say is, there will be other worlds! Monsters! Alien races! Funny fantasy creatures! Everything and the kitchen sink!”

In this part, the screen only showed shadows, nothing else.

There are additional stages, but for now, that’s what we can share! Thanks for watching this Preview! Please attempt more dungeons to unlock more previews!

The screen turned off, and a door behind them swung open loudly. A loudspeaker announced. “Alright, the screening is over. Exit’s at the back.”

Kevin paused and asked loudly. “Hey. Can I watch that again?”

Sam looked back at Kevin. “Dude, why?”

“Let me just pay a bit more attention to the preview.”

The loudspeaker paused, and then answered. “You may repeat the preview two times.”

Kevin nodded. “Thanks!”

Sam sat next to Kevin, and he started to doze off. It was already really late at night and he was getting tired. Kevin, on the other hand, poured through the details of the preview, trying to focus on all the little things that appeared on the screen.

He had some hunches, but he wouldn’t say it just yet.

Once over, they were back on market street, and both of them popped out right above the sewer cover.

“We probably should warn somebody about the future patches.” Kevin said.

“I agree, but...” Sam yawned. “Fuck I’m tired. I’m going to get a cab and go home.”

“You know what, I’ll do that too.” Kevin’s exhaustion returned, but it wasn’t exhaustion from the dungeon. It was the exhaustion before the dungeon. He’d make it a point to return tomorrow to continue his hunt for the Ancient Shield.

He briefly checked his phone, and made a note to speak about the future patches, perhaps on the forums. If the world is ending, other people should know.

***

Sunday came and Kevin woke up in his room. The cockroach was still on his leg, and Kevin had to admit, it looked really quite cute sleeping on his leg, hugging his leg like it was a bolster.

He shook his head at the sheer ridiculousness of finding a bomb cute.

Kevin reached for his phone. No texts, but got up anyway. His tummy growled. There’s some food from the convenience store.

In today’s news, scientists are still trying to understand the blue screens that appeared before everyone, but have been unable to measure or interact with them with conventional tools. They generally recommend caution, and comply with the requirements of the blue screen, if they are not too onerous.

“It’s only been two days since the blue suns came.” Kevin said as if he responded to the TV, while he slurped down the cup of tomyam flavoured instant noodles.

‘The first ones to feel the effect of failing their weekly missions will be in another few more days. Maybe then, shit will hit the fan. Or doesn’t, if the penalties of failure were negligible.’

Yet, after what he saw, he wasn’t going to take chances. The world was really going to shit in a month, so he immediately texted his boss on their messaging group. He should try to focus his best on these blue screens, and stack his perks for the next stage.

He felt a moment of annoyance when he clicked on the chat group for their workplace.

Kevin: Boss. Just wanted to let you know I intend to take the rest of the month off, I’ll use up all my balance paid leaves and the balance will be unpaid.

Boss: Noted.

Colleague 1: Kevin! Don’t leave us!

Kevin: Nothing like that. I just needed some time off.

After that, he texted Sam too, and told him his plan. Sam didn’t seem all that invested, but he did say he will make time at night to attempt the dungeons, if they find any.

“Now if there’s only a way to find these dungeons...”

Nothing. The blue screen didn’t want to reply. He cleaned up, and now was time to get back to Market Street and continue his quest to buy more time.