Cameras flashed their lenses about, and men and women dressed formally held microphones giving them away as reporters. Many persons were seated in the gathering to listen to what the world council had to say.
Presidents from countries all over the world had united to form a world council to address the current issue that had swept the world off its feet, placing every human being at a standstill.
The spacious conference hall was full to the brim that some people had to stand at the entrance just so they could witness the world council give an assurance speech on how they would deal with the situation at hand.
The leader of the world council who was the president of Russia was displayed on the large projector hung high within the reach of the view of everyone present.
"Right now, the world is at a point where none of us knows what next to expect. As regards the era the world has now found itself in, technological advancements have led to many world developments not just in the social aspect of life but also in the industry of entertainment. Kids, and adults, have various ways in which they can be entertained. A general entertainment that runs through these stages of human life is what we popularly refer to as games. These games played are competitive digital entertainment-based activities that keep the mind out of idleness and boredom. Years have passed since this game technology surfaced on the earth. We all have witnessed games grow from outdated designs to realistic features that intrigue and thrill the human mind. It's funny how the world has now ended up in confusion due to this same technology of entertainment. As usual, a game popped up on the internet with an exciting trailer and all the advertisements which gingered up a lot of people. This game made huge sales in the market, surprising I must say. Its sales happened to be one of the biggest so far in the last few weeks. But then, we all thought it was a game. It turned out that what we had deemed as entertainment was nothing but doom. Hundreds of thousands of lives if not millions of lives of the world population have been recorded to have fallen into a coma under the influence of the VRMMORPG, Harbingers Of Death. Magic? Witchcraft? Tricks? Scam? What should be the befitting word for this situation we find ourselves in? How much I wonder what is going on with the lives that have their minds trapped in the game! At this moment, we the world leaders are just as confused as any other human being but we as the ones you have decided to place your hope and trust in, will surely proffer a solution to this. Thank you."
The President of the world council disappeared from the screen as soon as he had ended his speech.
The vice president of the council, also the President of China stepped before the screen.
"There is certainly not much to say as the president of the world council has said it all. I want to assure every person that we are doing our best to handle the issue at hand. Luckily, a few persons have woken up from the unconsciousness that the game had trapped them in. Though time has not been made to interview these persons as they are still in a state of recovery. Sooner or later, the public will once again be addressed through the statement given by the recovered victims. Once thank you all for your patience and support. You are free to ask your questions."
A female reporter was quick to ask a question.
"Sir, has anything been found out about the creators of the game? At least even a link to where their company could be located?"
The vice president cleared his throat.
"Well, tracking devices and whatsoever that can be used to trace the origin of the game have supposedly failed us due to some reasons unknown to any of us. We will still try our best to continue working on tracking the criminals who have toyed with the consciousness of innocent lives."
"If possibly these game creators are finally caught by the law, what action would probably be taken against them?" Another reporter asked.
"Being the first of its kind in the world, we have sought that such inhumane act will not go unpunished and must be given a penalty of life imprisonment. No human in their right senses would ever do such thing as trapping people in a game."
*. *. *.
Lord Hendrix's speed was something Max could not comprehend but he was prepared to counter the man's attack.
From the corner of his eye at that moment, he could see Chase take a deep breath.
"No!" Max shouted but it was too late. Though he was quick to activate the fire boundary around himself along with Cheryl and Roy.
"F*ck off."
A wave of energy blasted through the bridge and a strong current of air swept it whole. Lord Hendrix had not expected any attack of such from the green-haired boy. He was blown away by the attack as the bridge started falling.
The fire boundary Max had kept him and the others in protection didn't help matters. He resulted to opening a portal where he and the other two were sucked in while Chase was held in store by his gem.
The impact from Chase's voice landed him in the depths of the river underneath the bridge. Not that he was a good swimmer but his Essence weapon could make things up for him.
The golden symbols on his cane that had transformed into a weapon disintegrated into the waters surrounding him.
*. *. *.
Luckily for them all, they had safely landed on the nearest land away from the bridge that had broken down into the waters that were earlier underneath it.
"What is that guy? His madness for Max's sword isn't a joke at all," Cheryl said.
It wasn't even up to a minute that the rich lord had fallen into the waters then he had risen out with his feet on a fountain of water embedded with golden symbols just like the ones they had witnessed on his cane.
"I'm going to have to say it for the last time, boy. Hand the sword over. This fight is pointless and you know that as much as I do," Lord Hendrix said. The deepness in his harsh tone resounded over the place.
"So you're even aware this fight is pointless and yet you still fight a little kid like me because you believe I'm far weaker than you so you can forcefully take what is mine," Max replied, much to the annoyance of the lord.
"You seem to like doing things the hard way. Who am I to challenge your taste anyways? I'll gladly do as you please."
He charged his double-bladed stick forward and the symboled waters moved in their direction. In the blink of an eye, Max was in front of him with the aid of his already-activated fire aura. Having the Beast slayer also engulfed in flames, he attempted to strike Lord Hendrix but a boundary of water rose around him.
"Fire sealing," Max said almost in a whisper with a smirk on his face.
The supposed defense Lord Hendrix had used to protect himself from Max was surprisingly broken through by a burst of flames. The fire-sealing skill could easily break through any form of defense.
Immediately after the effect of the flame skill affected him, Max followed it up with a heavy strike from the flame-coursing sword.
"Since you refused to back down, we will fight for as long as you want," Max said.
*. *. *.
The last thing he could remember before everything he remembered turned pitch black was someone repeatedly stabbing his face with dual daggers. His second death was gruesome and his both lives were exhausted in a flash within three game rounds. He was a weak player and his fighting skills were laughable.
He fell into a world of darkness where the cold swarmed through his body. His soul and body had felt limb for a few seconds before he could suddenly feel the warmth return to him. That sensation of life had returned, and the moisture in his nose as a result of his breath picked up from where it had stopped. His limbs and fingers slowly moved, his eyes twitched and he could feel the tightening grip around his head loosen.
He lifted his hand to his face. Still, as it had been before he fell unconscious in the real world, the VR goggles stood ever unperturbed over his eyes. He pulled off the goggles from his eyes. The bright lights from his surroundings hit his eyes, causing him to blink severally so his vision could properly adjust to the state in which they found themselves.
And then he heard voices that had hints of excitement in them.
"You're awake! You're awake!"
A slender woman with waist-length blonde hair ran over to his bedside. Tears were dropping from her already-soaked face.
"Ramsey!" She cried as she gently placed her head on his chest.
"Daniela?" The man seemed confused as he placed his hand on his wife's head. "What happened? Why are you crying?"
"I should be asking what happened to you. You've been trapped in the game for almost a week now," Daniela continued shedding tears of mixed emotions.
"Trapped in the game? What game?" Ramsey looked at his wife as if she was speaking a strange language of some sort.
Daniela froze. She slowly lifted herself off her husband's chest and looked him in the eye.
"What do you mean what game?"
"I don't remember how I got here. Did something happen to me?" Ramsey looked at his wife inquisitively.