"This story is a work of fiction."

"Similarities between characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real-life persons, living or dead, events or anything else is purely coincidental."

"Only those who have agreed to the above have the priviledge of partaking in this story."

"Ah. Wonderful."

"Technology is evolving at the speed of light. It is a power of infinite possibilities."

"Reality can often be quite disappointing, which is why people continue seeking to drown in the wonders of technology as a means to escape it."

"However, technology is hardly a way to escape reality, but a means to understand it. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Hmm... I see."

"Technology is best when it brings people together. But it is also a double-edged sword, as it can also be used to cause harm."

"However, technology is neither good, nor evil. It's all about how the individual chooses how to use it."

"What will it be? Will you use technology to improve your life, or will you allow it to dictate your fate? The game that is your journey will decide that."

"Best of luck... Player."

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Various groups of players were in an all-out raid against a group of powerful shadows in a dangerous dungeon.

Player 1: We can't let them beat us! Keep fighting!

Player 2: They're too strong! Damn it! I should've brought more healing items.

Player 3: ARGH!!! I can't take this anymore! I wanna go home!

Player 1: Then why don't you go back to your mommy? Oh wait! That's right, you can't! Your mom isn't gonna answer.

The player then screams in despair. This was no ordinary dungeon raid from any ordinary game. This was a battle for survival.

Players were being killed, other players could only watched in horror as their friends were vanishing into pixels and dying. It was like being in an actual war battlefield.

However, there was one party watching from the shadows. These players weren't just gonna let it pass. They were determined to clear this death game at all cost.

Fury: Does everyone know what to do?

FangLaw: Crush them all?

Fury: No, you fool! We're supposed to guide the surviving players to safety.

FangLaw: Tch. Whatever.

Momo: Is crushing shadows the only thing going through your head? FangLaw, you're such a child.

FangLaw: I don't need to hear that from someone who only thinks about dicks!

Momo: What was that!?

Aurora: Um... guys? I don't this is time for-

Tempest: Oof! Put some ice on that burn.

Momo: Excuse you!? Sure, I may have slept with a few guys, but-

Kunai: And how many are a "few" exactly?

Momo: Hmm... I don't really remember.

FangLaw: I think it was around 20 guys.

Momo: You think I'm some kind of whore!? It was only 7 guys and 2 girls! Well, 8 guys including Tempest!

FangLaw: See? You DO remember!

Aurora: Wait, you slept with Tempest?

Tempest: Well...

Momo: I mean, he's in college. Someone had to take his V-card.

FangLaw: And that someone had to be you?

Momo: His faces were a bit weird, but his package perfectly make up for it.

Aurora: What is that even supposed to mean?

Tempest: Can we please not talk about that?

Rogue: Man, sorry you had to lose your V-card to Momo of all people. You have my condolences.

Momo got super angry.

Momo: Excuse me!? Say that one more time, I dare you!

Fury: Players are dying, and this is what we're discussing?

Momo: Hey! I'm not the one who started it.

Fury: Enough with the damn sex talk! We need to get these players out of here ASAP.

Kunai: But we'll need someone to distract the shadows in the meantime. Anyone in the mood to play the decoy?

FangLaw: If I'm the decoy, will I get to fight the strong shadows?

ACE: No offense FangLaw, but your moves are still lacking finesse.

Everyone else stayed quiet when the leader of the group stepped in.

ACE: I'll do it.

Tempest: How did I knew you were gonna say that?

ACE: You guys get the other players out of here.

FangLaw: Why do you always hog the spotlight?

Aurora: We're counting on you, ACE-san.

Then a voice spoke up to them.

Momo: Then it's settled. Kunai, Rogue, Aurora and Tempest, go North. Poppy, FangLaw and Fury, go South. I will provide back-up for both sides.

Everyone: Right!

Momo: And ACE, do what you do best... Go ballistic.

ACE: It's showtime!

ACE jumps off the cliff, and his black and blue pistol materializes in his hand. The second his feet reach the floor, he starts shooting down enemy shadows one by one, creating a path for his teammates.

Fury: Now!

The rest of the team jumped in and guided the players out of the dungeon, some of them were hesitant, but were forced to comply.

Fury: This way!

Player 4: Are you crazy? I ain't running away!

Aurora: It's too dangerous, you need to escape.

Player 5: Get lost, bitch! I'm good at games.

Rogue: We ain't asking you!

Aurora: Quick! Use your Goho-M.

Player 6: I tried, but I can't!

Momo: These walls are preventing us from teleporting.

Kunai: Damn it! I hate when this happens!

Fury: And there are too many shadows.

Fang-Law: Then our only choice is to fight our way out of this one.

ACE: Hey assholes.

ACE uses a shadow bait to draw attention of a vast amount of shadows upon himself.

Aurora: A shadow bait!?

Fury: We told you to play decoy, not get yourself killed!

ACE: Never mind that! Take the players out of here, now!

Poppy: Understood! Everyone, we can't clear this dungeon as things are now, please come this way!

While the enemy's attention was focused on ACE. The team lead the players out while ACE jumps to the platforms above to avoid the shadows. Then he jumps back down and regroups with Tempest.

Tempest: As flashy as always, ACE. That was one crazy stunt you pulled.

Then Kunai speaks up.

Kunai: Flashy? Crazy? More like reckless. What were you thinking using shadow bait?

ACE: It worked, didn't it?

Kunai: Yeah, but you could've died!

ACE: At least I got style. Unlike a certain someone I know.

Kunai was getting angry internally.

Kunai: That someone wouldn't happen to be me... right?

ACE: Who knows.

Kunai: What kind of answer is that!?

Then Rogue speaks up.

Rogue: Kunai, you should really get less cranky and watch your back more...

Rogue shoots down a shadow that was about to attack Kunai.

Rogue: ...don't you think?

Kunai: Why, is my back too difficult for you to watch?

Rogue: You know it isn't!

Momo: Nice shot Rogue.

But as if out of nowhere, Kunai was hit by a powerful bullet, leaving a hole in her right thigh.

ACE/Tempest/Rogue: Kunai!!

Momo: Oh, no! Kunai's been shot! Someone heal her!

Aurora: On it!

Aurora uses her powers to heal Kunai.

Kunai: That was close. Thank you Aurora.

Aurora: Anytime!

Tempest: That attack, though. It didn't seemed like it was done by a shadow.

ACE: Wait a minute... That bullet just now.

They looked at a mysterious figure holding a gun from the distance.

ACE: He's here.

Rogue: Him!? What in the actual hell!?

The figure then left and made it past the gate.

Kunai: Why is he here? Or more like, what is he doing?

ACE Then starts running towards the gate.

Kunai: ACE, wait!

Then Fury spoke up with an angry tone.

Fury: ACE! What the hell do you think you're doing!?

ACE: I'm going after the boss. You guys finish guiding the players to safety and take care of the shadows here.

Fury: That wasn't part of the plan!

ACE: It is now. Momo, mind guiding me?

Momo: Fine! But you owe me for this!

Fury: ACE! We don't know what's up ahead. Argh! That idiot!

Rogue: Our Genius Gamer ladies and gentlemen.

Poppy: It will be okay.

Poppy: When our leader's set on something, he doesn't just back away from his decisions. You should know that by now.

Fury: But you have you admit, sometimes he's either too crazy or too stupid.

Fang-Law just laughed.

Fang-Law: That's why he's our leader.

Fury: ...-_-... How did we make it this far with him on command?

As ACE was approaching the gate, he was stopped in his tracks by a shadow that spawned in front of him.

Poppy: A shadow! And a powerful one at that.

Then more shadows ambushed ACE.

ACE: Very well, I'll take you all out.

Tempest shot down some of the smaller shadows, another one tried to attack, but Fang-Law stroke it down like a savage, then Poppy slashes the shadow with incredible speed. The only one left was Arioch.

Momo: Last one's all yours ACE.

ACE dodges a slash from Arioch with his Lightmotion. He then starts slashing the shadow was continuing to dodge its Ice skills. Then ACE gets ready to ends things.

ACE: Time to get serious. Persona!

Blue flames began surrounding him as a bipedal wolf creature came into being.

ACE attack the shadow with Nuclear skills. Fenrir then started biting into Arioch, devouring it and ripping it's guts. He feasted on it like a wild animal.

ACE: And that's that.

ACE opens the gate revealing a stairs and heads for the boss. The rest of his team were having trouble dealing with the shadows.

Fury: How's everyone doing.

Tempest: We finished guiding all the players to safety.

Kunai: But this shadows are damn persistent!

Poppy: We've finished on our end as well.

Fury: Then let's wrap up here as quickly as possible, so we can catch up to ACE.

Aurora: We beg of you ACE-san, please don't do anything foolish.

Tempest: He will, we totally know he will!

Kunai: All the more reason to hurry.

FangLaw: Haha! Get ready assholes! I will destroy every last one of you!

ACE continued making his way to the boss.

Momo: Turn left!

ACE: Okay!

Following Momo's guidance, he uses Lightmotion to reach a higher level, avoiding the shadows nearby. Then he takes cover to hide from a huge shadow.

Momo: Shouldn't we wait for the others to catch up?

ACE: We can't allow another player's life to be lost. We gotta end this.

When he enters an open room. He's surrounded by more shadows.

Momo: We can't take on this many. We need to save our SP for the boss.

ACE: Then I guess we'll have to get creative here.

But then, all the shadows were taken down by one shot of a sniper.

???: Fancy meeting you here... Partner.

ACE: Right back at you.

???: Are you enjoying the game so far?

ACE: I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. But sadly, all games must come to an end.

???: But isn't this what you always desired, a game of endless thrill?

ACE: Look, are you gonna move or must I really kick your ass?

???: After years of waiting, fate has finally brought us back together. What do you say we enjoy ourselves in a little... .

ACE: What a drag. It's about time we end this. Spoiler Alert: You're going down!

???: Heh. That's the best joke you've ever told so far.

They pull out their weapons and get ready to clash. Then time goes to a halt.

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*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

A 20-year old male with black and blue hair jumps out from bed as he heard the alarm.

Ikki: ....!

Ikki looks around to find himself in his bedroom. He looks at his calendar for a moment, today was the day he would leave for Yokohama.

Ikki: Man, what an agitating dream.

Ikki looks at his phone, it was 7:14 AM. Ikki decided to fall back asleep for another 30 minutes.

Thank you all so much for reading. I hope you'll give this story a try and support it. Feel free to comment and criticize so I can improve. See you next time!