Life can be so difficult in this time. Everyone making they're mark on the world. A race to see who can do better. It is all the same.
~No One's Pov~
Tapping away on keyboards across the world, people delve into the most popular MMORPG game of the century, Core Crisis Online, a futuristic first/third person open world sci-fi PC game, a game known to millions and played by millions more, yet there is huge update for this night, one nobody will forget. Tonight, a massive tournament is held in-game, thousands of players competing for the biggest prize of all, one where the very fate of the game's future, is within arm's reach. The game has been released for a few years now, and updates were constant to ensure it will never go out of style, so the developers are constantly at work, but they made big money for they're hard work. However, the leading developer had revealed a open position within CCO's development team, a position so many tonight are aiming to take, and the only way to get it, is by winning this tournament.
Jonathon Reeves, a 23 year college drop out, delivery boy of a low-end fast food job as well as a known pervert in his community, sped down the road on his bike, making way for his apartment and his gaming computer. He had a late night of work so he wasn't able to get at the tournament when it first started, however while at work, he took the opportunity to sign up into it in time before the tournament registrations were closed. He had before midnight to get on and win, he was rushing home as he only had a little over a hour left to defeat so many other players before time is up, he absolutely hopes he can win and get that developer position so he can quit his sucky delivery job finally.
Arriving at the apartment complex, the guy hauled his bike with haste up to the second floor where his apartment is, grabbing his keys from his pocket, he unlocked his door and rushed into the small apartment. Putting his bike aside then locking the door, he made way for his computer desk on the other side of his room. There he turns on his premium gaming unit before turning on his desktop computer monitor, activating the system before booting up CCO which fills his screen with a epic decal art for the loading screen.
~Jonathon's Pov~
"Come on... Come on... Finally!" I yelled out a bit but not too loud to wake my neighbors. Quickly clicking on my main character, a level 118 close combat cyber rogue, I used this guy since the beginning and every time I was able to get on, I would grind away attempting to increase my level and acquire better equipment. The male I loaded in is a cybernetically enhance version of me, from hair, skin, and eye color to body figure, decal, and even style, I made him as close to my looks as possible, making me feel im in the game.
As a rogue class, I use a pair of Photon Dragon Blades, a rare drop from one of the toughest world bosses in the game, a giant three head robotic dragon. It had taken me about 2 months and I killed the damn thing 13 times until I finally got them, a dual weapon I hunted for upon learning about them online, and when I did I felt I had done a great achievement. The fights against it weren't too bad, though difficult, I leveled up a few times and I did get some awesome looking armor with high stats and a epic quality cyber implant that improves my speed quite a bit, so im definitely not complaining. If one would describe what I look like, I be a purple cyber samurai with two long curved blades extending behind me. Man im awesome.
As soon as I loaded in, a box appeared asking if I wish to teleport to the tournament, immediately I clicked confirm and my screen was filled with a bright blue light until I see I am at the tournament. Looking at what is going on so far, I see its currently a elimination round that ends at 11pm. Seeing I only had a few minutes left, I quickly got to work, skillfully running about and killing lower level players one after one, stacking up my points as much as I could. Just before the timer hits zero, I killed yet another player who had attempted to snipe me down but failed thanks to my great speed.
The game pops up a empty leaderboard that begins to get filled one by one as everyone's scores was scanned. Only two hundred out of twenty thousand players were gonna move on to the next round of the tournament. Watching and waiting for my user name to pop up, I was a bit worried, until there it was [#167: KillerStorm751] seeing that made me recline in my chair, taking a deep breath of relief. Being on a late starter, only a fraction of the registered players were left, probably six hundred or so players, thank god I had such a high [Speed] stat otherwise I may have not have made it.
Then a timer popped up counting down from five minutes, I figured that would be long enough to heat up some pizza I got brought home work yesterday. Getting up and going to the fridge, I pull out the small box before opening it revealing a couple slices of a stuffed crust three cheese pizza within. Grabbing a plate from my cabinet then putting the slices on it, I put them into the microwave for a minutes and a half then stood aside to wait for it to finishing reheating the leftover food. I was still relieved that I made it in time to fight in the tournament, if I had missed it, I would have never forgiven myself, getting the developet job would save me really, and put my skills to work.
As soon as the microwave goes off, I grab my pizza from within and move back to my computer desk. Watching the screen as I eat the delicious three cheese, I read through the comments that move across the screen. Many were about me how I must have cheated or cussing me out for killing them, it was amusing, but thats what grinding many hours can do, make you experienced and better. A couple comments told me to go get burned alive, which I find the funniest as it was clear they were raging hard.
The timer ends and the two hundred of us left were teleported into a room together, a objective told us to get into a squad of four which many were already doing. Moving among the people, to my luck I find a group of seven and I joined them before anyone else could. The players were decently equipped, I just knew I will be facing them in the end so I had checked they're levels and the equipment info, a couple I knew I will have a challenge against but the other one I believe I'll be able to take down.
Once everyone was grouped up and ready, everyone was teleported into a nuclear detonated big city map, it was clear we are to be in a massive battle royale within the radioactive ruins. Thankfully I have a radiation neutralising implant I received with a achievement I got when speed diving into a waste disposal site, I was hunting a specific rare spawn target so I can get the ability to dual wield, sure wasn't easy, when I did get it I couldn't use it for another seven levels. Couldn't tell ya how bad my Geiger counter was, it basically screamed at me.
As the battle began, I sped off to scout out the area while the others can prepare for the radiation through some consumables. Taking the highest ground which was a collapsed building corner which shaped like a pyramid now, I scan the area seeing what mutants, NPCs, and or teams are in the vicinity. I watch as a enemy squad where attempting to kill off a pack of mutant hounds but were instead killed off themselves. "Idiots." I thought to myself before returning to my squad mates to figure out a plan.
The biggest of the group, a buff male with a large minigun on his back, had a plan to head to the most radioactive part of the city, bigger mutants to kill for experience and the area circle is most likely to shrink to that area. Which I agree and have no problems with, but they are the ones that will suffer in the end... Alright I agree lets do it. I most likely stabbed them in the back, literally, when they are at they're weakest in that literal hotspot area, I just gotta be careful of enemy squads when I do. After finishing up the planning,we were off to the radiation zone.
It took us a good few minutes to get to our destination, killing a couple squads and a few mutants on the way, you can tell it was originally a baseball stadium where the nuke hit, a yellow fog of radiation lingering, the field is a massive crater while the stands were surprisingly still standing. Two of my squadmates took on some high ground to set up they're range guns while the big guy hides away in a locker room. I myself walked about the place, looking for any good loot to take but most of the crap was melted from the intense heat the nuclear detonation gave off. Instead I just scouted the surrounding area for any mutants I can kill, interestingly I found a nest of mutant air breathing fish, they were weird looking and funny to watch squirm around, then I killed them just for the heck of it.
It took a few minutes for the ring to surround them like expected, checking I see there are just four enemy squads left. I hear sniper shots from above, my squadmates were decided to try shooting down incoming enemies while they attempt to escape the black haze that is outside the ring. I see the minigun guy came out ready to gun down anyone coming toward the stadium entrance. And then, it became hell.
Grenade explosions, bullet and energy casing cover the ground, blood splattered about as a firefight between four squads plays out, including mine. Using my speed to take down enemies, I take cover each time, dodging the likely fatal shots my way. "Come on Arc, I cant keep soloing them!" I called out to the buff mini gunner whose gun decided to malfunction, thats what ya get for using a gun several levels ahead of yours. Our range shooters attempt to keep the enemies in they're cover so they dont come after me or the mini gunner.
Finally the guy fixes his gun and starts mowing down the enemy squads, just one was left and they are pinned down by our squadmates thankfully. I sped out from cover fast and dodge a barrage of enemy gunfire that fly behind me, they were about to start hitting until I lucky got into more cover. "Yo Leak, got any of those photon grenades left!?" I ask to one of the two range gunners just above me, as a answer, she drops a harness that contained just two left, she doesn't know that she just sealed her fate. "This will work. Cover me!" I called out before dashing from cover while throwing one of the grenades at the enemy, making them scatter while being shot at.
With quick succession, I ran up and began cutting down the enemy squad with speed and precision. I toy with the last one just a little bit as he showed complete fear at the sight of me. I gave him a quick and honorable death by decapitating him, his body bursting into pixel shards like how glass would be. We are the last squad, but it is not over yet and I knew what will happen, just before the game could announce the death match between the four of them, I throw the last photon grenade which lands between the two sharpshooters. It lands just as the game changes on them, they realize it too late, the grenade blowing the two up.
Now it is just me and the mini gunner who stared where the two were before giving me a death glare and started spinning his mini gun to shoot me down. He was about ready to mow me down as I simply walked toward him but to his demise, it malfunctions just as I predicted, during our fight together, I counted the time between malfunctions for him and now is that time. "Should've used a gun your level bro." I say before decapitating him with a Dash Strike skill, winning the fight and the tournament which proceeds to announce the results, listing me as the champion of the tournament.
Which a celebratory hoot and fists in the air, I moved away from my computer, damn glad to have won the tournament and the epic prize. As the results finished and the tournament event closing, I get a email from the leading developer himself, looking at it, he is congratulating me on the good fight and giving me instructions to meet him at the company building to introduce his new job tomorrow. Pumping my fists into the air more, I was excited, more like I was thrilled, gonna work with the guys on developing further updates for my all time favorite game, as well get to quick my dead end job. I doubt I will be able to sleep tonight. Or so I thought.
~???'s Pov~
"Use a gun my level you say, well hot shot, lets see how hot you can be." I say as I lit a Molotov before throwing it into Jonathon's apartment window. Unknown to Jonathon, the guy he killed knew who he is exactly and knew where he lived, being the fact I am his co-worker at the fast food place. Was suppose to be my win, my ticket to get out of that stupid job, but no, Jonathon had to be the one who gets all the achievements. "Not this time. Burn in hell asshole."
~No One's Pov~
Smoke filled the night as Jonathon's apartment burned brightly to ashes. Revenge is a cold dish, but is as clear as a burning fire.
[Soul Transfer Complete]