Shinda Kokoro

By

Yuuto Onodera

To AvatarPyro, Wundah, Andrew and Lawa. May your adventures live on throughout the vast flow of time.

Big Thanks to my Dungeon Design Team:

Sam (Wundah) Chumpitazi

Kyo Ly

Streetdweller Eddy

Ricky Artmanni

Young Ghoul

Steven R

Andrew

DD

TooManyFaces

Prologue:

The three of us eating full course meals around the table, the food is delicious, and although it may be our last meal, we laugh and cheer. We buy Health Pills and Cure-All Pills, Hot and Cold Pills, all of the necessities for battle. No matter how much planning, how hyped we are, nothing could prepare us for the dreaded Elder Dragon, the fucking Fuzzy.

As we leave the gates of the city it dawns on me, this is not where the story begins. No, it starts years ago, such a long time ago.

"Yo Andrew wake up! Hurry!" The figure moved around his room, typing different phrases into his monitor, sending them out at lightning speed, "Wundah head over! Hurry!"

The screen turns blue, "Accept call. Split screen." Two tired faces appear on the screen.

"Do you know what fucking time it is?" Below the face in white letters it reads Andrew.

"Yoooo! Dude what's goin on?" Wundah wipes his eyes.

"I found it! I found it!" Below the figures moving shadow his name reads AvatarPyro in white. He pushes a bunch of buttons and swipes left, a map pops up on the screen.

Andrew sighs, "This could be anything, how do we know it's even real?"

"True." Wundah yawns.

"I had to bid so much for this! It's in the antique shop by the pier. Let's just look and if it isn't there then oh well. You guys down to go?" AvatarPyro scratches his head.

After some pondering Andrew lets out a sigh, "Okay fine."

"And you Wundah?" AvatarPyro looks over to the other side of the screen.

"Down, let's do this." Wundah gives a thumbs up.

"When is it open?" Andrew can be seen walking around his room.

AvatarPyro looks at his screen, "It opened two minutes ago, let's meet at the pier in ten."

"Ugh fine! See you in ten." Andrew exits the chat.

"Cool man see you soon!" Wundah logs off.

AvatarPyro is already packed, so he heads out the door and walks to the pier, the air is crisp and he's full of excitement.

After time waiting he sees Wundah in the distance, "Yooo!"

"What's up dude?" They bump fists.

"Where's Andrew?" Wundah chuckles.

"I'm here, I'm here." Andrew is yawning.

"Nice, well let's go in guys." AvatarPyro holds the old cobweb-filled door open.

"Why hello young travelers, my how early it is. Come on in, come on in." They are greeted by the warm smile of an elderly man.

Andrew nudges AvatarPyro, "Excuse me sir, I found this map online and it says this place has this game." He shows the old man his phone, "The open world one."

A slight smirk on the old man's face, "This place has many games, long forgotten ones, horrible ones that make nightmares come true, and yes, it has the one you seek." The old man makes his way to a small bookshelf and pulls a red book. The secret passage is opened, and a massive room is revealed. He presses his finger to his lips, "Shh, must be quiet or you'll wake the other players. They must concentrate." He motions towards the many game pods where people could be seen wearing headgear.

"Woah." Wundah taps AvatarPyro's arm and points to a game called Generation S., a young boy is running through a hallway of slaughtered soldiers, blood and body parts cover the floor as something grotesque chases after him.

"Damn." AvatarPyro walks on. He looks back and clenches his fist, "Good luck man." He whispers.

They see the screen. The theme song is playing softly, "I must warn you before you dive in, There is no exiting the game. No Pausing. No do overs. Once you die, you die in real life. Your character gets erased and you will not exist in this world or that one. Time will not matter as your body will be in a deep, coma-like state. If you would like to back out, now would be the chance to." The old man smiles.

"I'm all in." AvatarPyro says with no hesitation.

"Cool, let's do this." Wundah smirks.

"Fuck yeah, I'm in." Andrew sighs.

"Congratulations Adventurers, please get inside and put on the helmet when you're ready." The old man activates the machine.

"Thank you sir, what is your name?" AvatarPyro puts on the helmet.

"My name is J-" His name couldn't be heard. AvatarPyro gets sucked through a stream of bright lights.