Dungeon 75th Floor
Arena: Serifall
The arena, Serifall, was a breathtaking structure—a circular coliseum. Rows of seats stretched high into the air, encircling the battleground below. Spectators filled the stands, their excitement evident in their cheers and chatter. From the lowest tier to the highest, every seat offered a clear view of the central ring where the action would take place.
A lone figure, the announcer, stepped forward, his voice booming across the arena.
"Welcome, players!" he began, his tone charged with excitement. "Today, we are here in Arena Serifall to witness a PvP battle between two of the strongest players in EGO: Explore Game Online!"
The energy in the crowd was electric as the announcer continued, his voice resonating across the expansive arena.
"As you all know, we hold PvP battles to determine the strongest players in the game. And today, we are going to witness a fight between two of the strongest and most highly known players in EGO!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, their anticipation palpable.
The arena itself was a marvel of design, crafted to host battles of the highest caliber. It wasn't just a simple battleground—it was a sophisticated, four-sided ring built for combat on an entirely different level. The floor glowed faintly, covered in intricate patterns that could shift and adapt to the needs of the fight. Barriers shimmered faintly at the edges of the ring, ensuring the safety of the spectators while adding a dynamic edge to the combat. The entire structure radiated a sense of advanced technology and fantasy combined, a perfect setting for epic clashes.
The announcer, standing in the middle of the ring, gestured to his left with a theatrical flourish. His voice rang out loud and clear, amplified by the arena's acoustics.
"On my left! Let's give it up for Sherry Luster!"
The crowd roared in approval, their cheers filling the vast coliseum.
"Known for her Axion Class: Requiper! Not only is she renowned for her intelligence and beauty, but she is also the best Requiper in EGO! The second strongest female player in the game and the undisputed Master of Requips! Name any Requip gear in the game—she probably has it. Even the legendary Mystique-level requips: Alpha, Omega, and perhaps even higher! She is the strongest Requiper this game has ever seen!"
The crowd's excitement hit a fever pitch as Sherry stepped forward, the spotlight casting her in a radiant glow.
"Let's give it up for Sherry Luster!" the announcer bellowed.
Sherry raised her head, her piercing gaze locked onto her opponent. Her voice carried confidence and resolve as she declared,
"This time, I'll prove that I'm the strongest in the game—not just the second strongest female player or the fifth strongest overall." She took a step closer to the ring's center, her tone sharp as steel. "I'll prove my strength by finally defeating the number one rank—Knox."
Her eyes bore into Knox, unwavering and intense, her determination palpable even to the audience.
The announcer turned to his right, raising his arm theatrically as the crowd hushed, eager for the next introduction.
"And on my right! Let's give it up for Knox—the strongest player in EGO!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the audience, punctuated by a few cheers. Knox, standing calm and collected, exuded an air of mystery that made him both admired and feared.
"Axion Class: Unknown," the announcer continued, a note of intrigue in his voice.
"No one knows which Axion Class he belongs to. But we do know this—he can use all the Axion Class abilities. Nobody knows how he does it. But according to him, he got it during a special event."
The announcer paused, his tone dropping into a playful skepticism. "But who knows if he's actually telling the truth?"
Knox tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He muttered just loud enough to be heard, "Seriously, dude?"
The announcer ignored the comment and pressed on with a booming voice.
"Rank: Nought! Known for his incredible achievements and unbeaten streak, Knox, the strongest player in EGO, will be facing off against Sherry Luster, the most powerful Requiper in the game! We're all excited for this fight!"
The energy in the arena reached a fever pitch as the announcer gestured to the audience.
"Now, sit down, cheer on, and place your bets on who will win this incredible match!"
The crowd erupted into chants, their voices uniting in a single name:
"Sherry! Sherry! Sherry!"
Knox raised an eyebrow, glancing at Sherry with mock exasperation. "Seriously, Sherry? Maybe giving up would be the best thing for you."
Sherry turned to him, her expression steady and confident. "I know why they're cheering for me. They think I can't win, and they're trying to make me feel better, hence the cheers."
Her voice softened momentarily before sharpening again. "But no matter. I know the reason I challenged you today, and I know that this time I won't be losing."
Knox chuckled, shaking his head. "Sure Sherry. Whatever you say."
The announcer raised his hand, signaling for quiet. "And now, without further ado, let the fight—"
"Wait!" Sherry interrupted, raising her hand as she stepped forward. Her voice echoed through the arena, immediately drawing the crowd's attention. "There's someone I want to see this fight. But… that person hasn't arrived yet. Can we wait just a moment?"
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
"Is she stalling?" one voice speculated.
"Maybe she's scared to fight Knox," another chimed in.
"Does she think this will help her chances?" someone scoffed.
The murmur grew louder, a blend of skepticism and confusion rippling through the spectators.
Knox rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. "Seriously? Now you're making up excuses? What's next? Are the excuses the reason why you think you can beat me this time, or what?"
Sherry turned toward him, her eyes narrowing. "Just shut up, Knox. Shut up and wait for that person to get here. He should be here any second now."
Knox shrugged, crossing his arms. "Fine. But don't think this changes anything."
---
Elsewhere
In a dimly lit room filled with advanced gaming equipment, the air hummed with the quiet whir of machinery. One particular VRMMO set stood out—a sleek pod illuminated with faint blue light. Inside lay a boy, motionless, his face serene as if lost in a dream.
Beside him, a girl stood with her arms crossed, shaking her head. "Seriously? All this for her?" she muttered, her tone dripping with disbelief. She leaned closer, observing the boy's peaceful expression. "Look at him. Just lying there so innocently…"
Her gaze shifted to a piece of paper lying on a nearby table. She picked it up, scanning it quickly. "Okay, I get the gist of it."
With a sigh, she moved to another pod, opening its sleek door. Stepping inside, she adjusted the VRMMO set over her head. The moment the device activated, she was enveloped in a digital glow, her consciousness transported into the cyberspace realm.
There, she appeared in a vast, futuristic void filled with pulsating data streams. A glowing tablet materialized in front of her, floating serenely in the infinite expanse.
---
Back at the Arena
The announcer glanced at his watch, then addressed to Sherry. "Ahem, we've been waiting for a minute now. Why isn't that person here yet Sherry?"
Sherry folded her arms, her expression resolute. "Just give him a little more time. He'll arrive. He's… kind of clumsy." Her voice softened for a moment before her determined gaze returned. "I want him to witness this fight."
Knox snorted, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "Seriously? You want some guy to watch as you lose spectacularly? Incredible."
Sherry's face darkened, her voice sharp with warning. "Shut up, Knox. If you really want this battle to begin, I'll pummel you to the ground right now. This second."
The tension between the two crackled, the crowd murmuring in anticipation.
Cyberspace
She approached the glowing tablet floating in front of her. The interface on the tablet adjusted as she neared, displaying a menu with sleek, futuristic designs.
On the screen, the words "Create Character" glowed brightly. Without hesitation, she tapped on it, and the interface expanded into multiple options.
Species/Race:
Images materialized beside the options, each animated to represent its unique traits: Use Your Imagination.
Human: Image.
Elf: Image.
Beastman: Image.
Demon: Image.
The girl scanned the options briefly before tapping on "Human."
The menu shifted to the next selection.
Gender:
Two checkboxes appeared on the screen:
Male
Female
She selected "Male" without hesitation, watching as a male figure appeared on the screen in a neutral pose.
The screen transitioned again.
Axion Class:
A list of classes materialized, accompanied by brief descriptions and animations of the class in action: Use Your Imagination.
Artemist: User of Metra.
Assassin: Image.
Healer: Image.
Artisan: (Craftsman) Image.
Berserker: Image.
Warrior: (Swordsman, Spearman etc) Image.
Archer: Image.
Summoner/Tamer: Image.
Contractor: (Makes contracts at only Alters) Image.
Requipper: Image.
She paused for a moment, her finger hovering over the options. After a second of thought, she tapped on "Artemist."
The figure on the screen morphed into the representation of an Artemist—hands glowing with energy as it performed a sequence of powerful strikes and conjured a luminous shield.
Input Name:
A glowing keyboard materialized below the text field. She blinked and muttered, "Name?"
"Ichio?" she read aloud. "I guess I'll use this then. It's what was written on the paper, anyway."
She typed "Ichio" into the field and confirmed it.
Finally, the screen displayed a glowing button:
"Create Character"
The girl took a deep breath, then tapped the button. The screen glowed brighter, enveloping her in a radiant light as the cyberspace responded to her choice.
----
Arena: Serifall
The crowd grew restless, their murmurs growing louder with impatience. The announcer cleared his throat, addressing Sherry directly.
"Sherry," he began, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone, "you know, everyone's waiting, and they're starting to get impatient—"
Before he could finish, a loud voice cut through the arena.
"Hey Sherry, I'm here!"
Sherry's head snapped toward the source, her eyes scanning the audience. She spotted him—a young man waving enthusiastically from the stands. Her lips curled into a smile, but then she shook her head in exasperation.
"Seriously?" she muttered under her breath. "You almost made people think I was stalling for time or something."
Her gaze flicked upward, catching the name tag floating above his character. The name read Ichio, plain as day. Her lips twitched, a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Of course," she murmured, her tone softening despite herself. "He used his actual name. That's so like him."
Her voice softened slightly, a hint of fondness slipping through.
Sherry (quietly): "Ichio…"
Knox, still standing casually at his side of the ring, caught the exchange. A mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Whoa, is that your boyfriend?" he asked, loud enough for the crowd to hear. The spectators erupted into chuckles.
Knox pressed on, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Seriously? So you were waiting for your boy to show up just to watch you lose terribly? That's so romantic!"
Sherry whipped her head around to glare at him, her eyes practically blazing.
"Now you're really going to pay," she snapped, her voice sharp. "Get ready for the fight!"
She hesitated for just a second, glancing back toward the stands where Ichio sat. Her cheeks were faintly flushed, but she held her composure.
"And he's not my boyfriend," she declared firmly, her voice steady. "He's just a friend. Never say that again—you'll make him uncomfortable."
Knox raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin widening. "Alright, alright," he said, chuckling. "No need to get so defensive. I'll just let the boyfriend watch you lose, then."
Sherry clenched her fists, her aura flaring with energy. Her determination was written all over her face.
The announcer, sensing the rising tension, stepped in quickly.
"Alright," he said, his voice booming through the arena, "now that everyone is here and ready…"
He began backing toward the edge of the ring, a dramatic pause adding weight to his next words.
"Let the battle begin!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, their anticipation at its peak. Sherry and Knox stood at opposite sides of the ring, their gazes locked as the energy in the arena reached a fever pitch.
CHAPTER END.
I'LL publish the system in the game later