'Friend request…after friend request…after friend request..'
Klade held his phone as he walked down his apartment hallway, seeing his gaming profile was blowing up constantly. There were those who messaged him, either saying:
"Be a part of our guild?"
"1v1 bro."
"Duo for the arena?"
"You're cheating."
Klade put his phone down, smiling and stretching, "Aghhhh! This popularity would've been nice back in high school. I'm 18 and just graduated, this is long overdue."
In the real world, Klade was scrawny, with white wavy short hair, and dark blue eyes. He looked nothing like his player counterpart in Shadow Lance online.
"All those idiots avoided me because of just one time.."
He remembered in the hallway at school, in his first year, he was ganged up on by 4th years. Klade had to use the bathroom, but they wouldn't let him, and Klade pissed himself, and they recorded it and showed the entire school. Majority of the students didn't like the video as it was cruel, and the dumbass delinquents ate the video up with every smirk and giggle. But even though some students didn't like it, they avoided Klade because they were afraid of how others would see them, and in high school, image is everything.
Klade distracted himself at that moment, needing something to do.
'Clean up, Klade. Do something. Don't think about stupid shit. How can I not? Act like the Dragonhound blacksmith, your max level player. That arrogant overpowered bastard who fights alone. That's one thing we have in common. Loneliness.'
As the evening light began to fade, casting long shadows across the modest interior of Klade's apartment in Tokyo, Japan, he moved around his living space, attending to the mundane tasks of daily life that even the most legendary gamers couldn't escape. The hum of the television played in the background, where a special broadcast was airing, eagerly anticipated by millions worldwide.
On the screen, a well-dressed man in his late forties, identified as Takashi Nomura, the creator of the wildly popular VRMMORPG 'Shadow Lance Online', was speaking passionately about the game's upcoming expansion. The studio behind him was sleek and modern, illuminated by the soft glow of blue light that accentuated the digital models of new game creatures on display.
"As we stand on the cusp of introducing an era-defining expansion for Shadow Lance Online," Takashi began, his voice full of excitement, "we are thrilled to usher in a completely new world within our universe. This isn't just any DLC; this is an entirely new realm—larger, more vibrant, and more challenging than our original game. Aptly named 'The Apocalypse', it brings new gods, demigods, and hundreds of new bosses to test even our most skilled players."
Klade, dressed in a comfortable t-shirt and shorts, paused to listen as he stirred a pot of ramen on his stove. He nodded appreciately at the announcement, mentally noting the date when the DLC would go live.
"A DLC?!"
He dashed towards the TV with a smile on his face and his cheeks flustered.
Takashi continued, detailing the highlights, "We are introducing 20 revolutionary new classes that players can choose from. Don't worry, your current levels and classes won't reset in this new expansion, but you will be given that option."
Klade said, "I definitely won't do that. That'll be so dumb. Right, Asura?"
He turned to the right, not seeing his virtual pet and familiar.
'Oh. He's not real. I keep forgetting. They make the game so real and immersive, I think Asura is with me all the time.'
The camera panned to conceptual artwork and short clips showing these classes in action, each display met with an explosion of live comments streaming beside the broadcast window—excitement visible in the form of rapidly posted emojis and exclamatory remarks in dozens of languages.
Finishing his dinner, Klade left his dishes in the sink and moved to the bathroom. The sound of water filled the space as he showered quickly, thoughts drifting to strategies and potential character builds. After drying off and changing into fresh clothes, he returned to the living space, now tidying up with efficient movements, all while keeping one ear on the ongoing broadcast.
"It's essential to mention," Takashi's voice turned serious, "that with the launch of 'The Apocalypse', we will be decommissioning the servers for the base game. This decision wasn't made lightly, but we believe it will allow us to dedicate all our resources to creating a more immersive and interactive environment for our players."
As the sun fully set outside, Klade settled onto his gaming chair, reaching for the VR headset that rested next to his high-spec gaming rig. His apartment was now neat and tidy, the only light emanating from the flickering images on his television screen. Placing the headset over his eyes, he logged in, a familiar thrill coursuring through him as he awaited the new horizon of digital adventure.
He grinned in excitement, his game humming up to start.
'Hell yeah!'
Suddenly, the virtual world materialized around him. Hundreds of customized avatars appeared, standing under a blood-red moon in a vast, barren wasteland that stretched endlessly into the horizon. A chill wind howled through this desolate landscape, carrying whispers of the challenges and trials awaiting them.
A massive system screen window materialized in the air in front of every player, announcing in bold, ominous letters:
[Welcome to The Apocalypse]
The players exclaimed:
"This was unexpected, but I'm happy this is happening."
"I'm gonna miss the memories of the base game honestly."
"Welp there goes my social life."
"Mine too."
"Everything feels so real…"
Eager chatter filled the virtual air, players adjusting their gear and exchanging theories and strategies for conquering the unknown. Klade couldn't help but smile beneath his VR headset. Amidst this gathering of old companions and new rivals, he felt a familiar rush—the anticipation of the next great challenge, the next epic battle. And as 'The Apocalypse' awaited his conquest, he stood ready, his gaming instincts sharpened like the edge of a well-crafted blade.
Klade, standing under the blood moon, thought, I'm controlling my own body..like i'm moving on my own. The smell…it smells dusty, the wind, it's hitting me. It's amazing. This feeling…'
One player came up to Klade, saying, "I bet the lone wolf like you can't stand such tranquility!"
Klade replied with a grin, "Get ready to have your bosses killed by my hand."
"Damn you! Thief!"
Klade laughed as the player walked away.
SHIIIING!
"Agh! Fuck.."
Asura plopped on the ground, shaking to get dust off of him, and some of the pebbles hit Klade in the face.
Klade said, "About time you showed up."
"You missed me?"
"Duh, you're my familiar."
"I've known you for a long time, I'm your buddy. Not just PET or FAMILIAR. That's disrespectful."
"Okay okay I'm sorry."
"Mm. So this is it? The new stuff?"
"You know about this? This is so immersive."
'Awesome…'
Asura licked himself, "Everything was getting destroyed back there. Somehow, I don't even know. Everyone fled here. Then, some creatures and people and some of the deities started acting all crazy and wild. It's weird."
"Damn that sucks. Well you know I'm the best player here so I'll save the day."
"You mean WE will save the day."
"Yes WE. S-STOP TRYING TO ADD YOURSELF IN MY HERO STORY."
"WE'RE A TEAM, BRAT!"
"I KNOW THAT."
"AND YOU ENJOY MY PRESENCE!"
"AND?!"
Asura smirked, "What? You don't wanna say it loud enough? Don't want people thinking you're a softie?"
Klade looked left and right, seeing some groups of players looking over at them, saying:
"I wonder what Klade and his pet are arguing about."
"Probably talking of tactics of trying to kill all the bosses all at once."
"I heard them talk about that before back in the base game, and their plan actually worked."
"I heard them talk about the same thing before too. None of us can really level up with him around."
"He's a thief!"
Klade kneeled down at Asura, and patted his head, "Hey buddy."
"Yep?"
"Keep that tone down of yours, I'm a badass to these people, okay?"
"That's what we've always been going with."
"Klade and Asura. The best damn duo in this game."
Klade stuck his hand out, and Asura tapped his paw on Klades hand.
Klade then smirked, "Now then, which group should we target so we can take all of their bosses to keep them from leveling up?"
Asura nodded his head at everyone, "All of them. Easy game."
The players around them heard that, exclaiming, "Thieves! Bastards! I knew it!"
Under the blood-red sky of The Apocalypse, the barren wasteland buzzed with activity as hundreds of players adjusted to the new environment. The air was thick with virtual scents—burning embers and a faint hint of sulfur tickling their digital senses, enhancing the immersion. Sounds of voices, both excited and contentious, filled the ether, creating a cacophony of real-time conversation as avatars moved in clusters, some adding new comrades to their quest lists while others debated strategies loudly.
Among the swirling sea of players, a distinctive group of four was particularly noticeable due to their unique and elaborate outfits and the strategic formation they maintained even in this social setting. They were members of the esteemed guild known as the 'Eternal Guardians.'
The first, Zenith the Mage, wore deep violet robes that shimmered with an ethereal glow. Intricate silver runes were embroidered along the hem and cuffs, pulsating gently with each spell he idly cast into the air. His staff was a spectacular piece of virtual craftsmanship, made of darkwood with a crystal that held a storm cloud swirling inside it. He has long white and dark purple hair with elven ears and golden eyes.
Next to him, Locke, the swordsman, sported a suit of light armor that looked like overlapping leaves, dyed in shades of forest green and earthy browns, providing camouflague in the desolate landscape. His twin blades were strapped across his back, their hilts adorned with jade eagles. He had black spiky hair with an eyepatch on his left eye, dark brown eyes, and a long Viking-like beard.
Orsik, the tank, was an imposing figure; his massive frame was covered in heavy armor that resembled the dark, rugged rocks of volcanic mountains. The armor pieces clinked with the sound of chains as he moved, his presence almost as solid and immovable as the ground itself. He had a bald head, glowing white eyes, and glowing orange runes on his face.
Finally, the healer of the group, Seraphina, stood slightly apart, her attire a stark contrast to her comrades'. She wore robes of soft white and pale blue, giving the illusion of a gentle stream flowing. Around her neck hung a pendant glowing softly with a serene light, symbolizing her life-giving powers. She had long dark green hair made out of vines, and glowing brownish green eyes.
They congregated around a small digital projection of the map, discussing their plan.
"The detail in this DLC is insane," Seraphina remarked, her gaze sweeping across the bleak landscape. "Even the air feels different, colder, more... alive?"
"Yes, and these smells... sulfur and ash, very fitting for 'The Apocalypse'," Zenith added, waving his hand and distorting the air as if trying to swirl away the scent. "I'm never leaving."
Lock, tapping a blade thoughtfully, nodded. "I bet the new bosses are going to be brutal with all these environmental effects. We'll need to adjust our tactics, stay on our toes. Well definitely reach the top if we take advantage of this starting scenario."
Zenith added, "Yes, the starting scenario. When the base game dropped, there were hundreds of thousands of players at a starting area, and had to go through a scenario which was designed to test the games performance and warm up new players. I wonder what the scenario will be this time."
"That's why we should consider expanding our roster," Orsik suggested, his voice a deep rumble. The others looked at him with interest as he pointed towards a solitary figure standing not too far from them.
"Klade," he said, and the name carried a weight of recognition. "And his loyal companion Asura. Thousands of players had spent countless hours trying to make Asura their familiar pet, but they couldn't. Millions asked for help in the forums, no one could give them an answer. But Klade somehow got ahold of Asura. That proves those two are a force to be reckoned with. And they're max level, so that's a plus."
Klade stood with his wolf, Asura, at his side—both of them watching the digital horizon.
Seeing him alone, Seraphina said, "He's a loner, but he's got skills we can use. And having Asura could make a big difference."
Nodding in agreement, the group approached Klade. Locke stepped forward, his expression friendly yet assessing.
"Klade, right? I've seen what you can do. Ever thought about joining a guild? The Eternal Guardians could use someone with your... flair for dramatics—and effectiveness-."
Klade and Asura were walking away, Klade said to Asura, "Do you sense anything dangerous yet?"
Asura replied, "Intense heat coming from underground. Multiple life forces."
"Great! I've been itching to punch something."
Locke dashed in front of Klade, saying, "How dare you ignore us."
Klade tilted his head, "Why're you following me?"
Asura growled at Locke, standing in front of Klade.
Seraphina walked to them, saying to Locke, "That's his way of saying no. He must think we can't handle ourselves, so during this scenario at the end, he will join us. He'll see that we are useful."
"You're right. Let's go."
Zenith said, "Haha, he's definitely gonna regret it once he sees how we perform."
Orsik scoffed at Klade, walking towards him, "You think you're all that because you don't have a life outside of this game? Level 999? Go get married—!"
Asura grew exponentially larger in front of Orsik, making Orsik stagger back.
Orsik left, saying, "You're ruining the fun for everyone else, by the way!"
Asura said to Klade, "He's so jealous. Have we stolen a boss kill from him before? I lost count."
Klade was looking away, thinking, 'It's not like I wanted to spend so much time in this game. It was the only place I could run to. I had nowhere else to go.'
In that moment, Asura licked Klade in the face, his tongue shoving Klade to the side.
Klade said, "AGH! What was that for?!"
"You spaced out. Are you okay?"
Klade smirked, and rubbed Asura on the side as he shrunk.
Klade whispered, "I appreciate you, I do. But licking me like I'm a softie in front of my rivals makes me look—."
"SOFT! I KNOW!"
"But don't stop caring about me, will ya?"
Klade walked forward, and Asura nodded with a smile, "I won't! You've protected me over and over, and there were times you leveled me up before you leveled yourself up. Because you didn't want me to die."
"Yep. That's the reason."
As Klade and Asura stood observantly at the side, with more players joining the scenario, a deep rumble echoed across the barren landscape of The Apocalypse. The virtual ground cracked and heaved, and from the depths arose a horde of immense Minotaurs, their fur as black as the obsidian rocks around them, each wielding massive weapons forged from the bones and metals of their desolate world. The game system's voice boomed out around them, electrifying the atmosphere: "Welcome warriors to your entry battle! Test your mettle and experience the new and enhanced movement mechanics. Engage your foes and survive! This is the first scenario!"