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The silence of space pressed heavily against the ship's walls, the hum of the engines barely audible. Saitama sat in the empty control room, the Imposter Slayer resting beside him, glowing faintly in the dim light. Magmate lay curled at his feet, its molten form calming after the fierce battle with the Mastermind.
The ship's systems had reset, and the control panel now showed nothing but stars outside—an endless sea of blackness. Saitama should've felt at peace. He had won. He had survived the impossible. Yet, the victory felt hollow, as if something—someone—was still watching.
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[Congratulations, host. You have eliminated all known impostors.]
[Reward Claimed: Imposter Slayer Ultimate Form.]
[Final Notice: System Shutdown Imminent.]
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The words flashed across his vision, but something about them didn't sit right. He wasn't convinced the game was truly over. Saitama's fingers drummed on the control panel as he thought back to the final warning: Trust no one.
For a brief moment, the ship's lights flickered. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but enough to catch his attention. His eyes narrowed.
"System," Saitama called out. "Explain the warning. 'Trust no one.' I've defeated the Mastermind. What's left?"
There was a pause before the system responded, its tone colder than usual.
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[Warning was issued based on remaining anomalies within the game. The Mastermind was one threat, but not the final one.]
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Saitama's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, 'not the final one'?"
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[Data corruption detected. Glitch persists.]
[New Entity Detected.]
[Final Challenge Awaiting.]
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Before Saitama could react, the screens in the control room went dark, then flickered to life, displaying a new figure. Its form was entirely shrouded, different from the impostors, something far more sinister. Unlike the others, it wasn't part of the glitch. It was something… beyond it.
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[New Objective: Eliminate the Final Entity.]
[Warning: Power levels unknown. This entity is not bound by game rules.]
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Saitama rose to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for the Imposter Slayer. He could feel it—the air was different now, heavier. Whatever this new entity was, it had always been there, lurking beneath the surface. The system hadn't created it. It had merely allowed it to enter.
"This isn't over, is it?" he muttered, eyes scanning the control room. Magmate stirred beside him, sensing the tension in the air.
As if answering his thoughts, the lights dimmed, and the shadows in the room began to twist and warp. From the darkness, a figure slowly emerged, cloaked in a mist that seemed to distort reality itself.
"You thought you won," a voice whispered, deep and resonant, reverberating through the room. "But you were merely playing the first level."
Saitama's grip tightened on the Imposter Slayer. His gaze locked on the figure before him. This wasn't like the others. It was something beyond a glitch—something that had been watching him all along.
"You're the real enemy, aren't you?" Saitama asked, his voice calm but laced with determination.
The figure laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down his spine. "I've been here since the beginning. The Mastermind was just a puppet—a distraction."
Saitama's mind raced. He had fought tooth and nail to survive, defeated every impostor, and even the Mastermind. But now, standing before this final entity, he realized the truth: the game never truly ended.
"I don't care who you are," Saitama said, stepping forward, his resolve unshakable. "If you're the last one standing, then I'll take you down too."
The entity tilted its head, amused. "Bold words, crewmate. But this isn't a game you can win. Not anymore."
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[Final Mission: Escape the Game.]
[Warning: Failure results in permanent entrapment within the system.]
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Saitama's eyes widened. Escape? The rules had changed. This wasn't about eliminating the impostor anymore. It was about surviving—escaping from a prison he didn't even realize he was in.
The entity dissolved into mist, vanishing into the shadows. The control panel flickered once more, showing distorted lines of code, symbols, and data—evidence of the corruption seeping into the very fabric of the game. Saitama looked out into the endless void of space beyond the ship's windows.
He knew what he had to do.
Turning to Magmate, Saitama gave the molten beast a nod. "Let's get out of here."
With the Imposter Slayer in hand and his newfound determination burning within him, Saitama set his sights on the ship's escape pod. The final battle wasn't about defeating an enemy—it was about breaking free from the game that had trapped him.
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As the doors of the escape pod sealed shut, Saitama felt the ship rumble. The system's last message echoed in his mind:
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[Good luck, crewmate.]
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The stars outside the pod blurred as it launched into the void. Somewhere out there, the entity was watching. Waiting. But Saitama was ready.
The game wasn't over.
It had only just begun.
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Sure, here's a revised version of your author's note:
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Author's Note:
Feel free to comment if you'd like to see the next part!
I'm feeling a bit stuck at the moment, so your support will help me keep going.
I don't want to continue the story if no one is reading it, so it's up to you!
I will continue Story after 10 Comments
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