— Well, champion, shall we rest? Sato's voice was soft, almost a whisper. He no longer had the usual confidence of a leader who controls everything. It was the voice of someone who was tired, just like her, but also someone who knew that victory was not just a result, but something much more valuable.
Scarlet grinned at him. Her virtual face, although it could not display her entire inner smile, nevertheless expressed a slight fatigue hidden under the surface.
"Rest?" Since when is this on your schedule? Her tone was playful, almost amused, but Sato remained silent. His figure remained motionless, there was something in his gaze. He wasn't just standing there, he was thinking about something important.
He took off his mask. With this gesture, he showed her not just his face, but also his vulnerability, like never before. His gaze became sincere, and his voice, when he spoke, was filled with unexpected gentleness.
"Seriously, you deserve a break." We deserve everything. But you... You weren't just good in this match. You were exceptional. We wouldn't have won without you.
Her heart skipped a beat when those words reached her. All the tension she had been holding in melted away, and she felt warmth spreading in her chest. It wasn't just a confession, it was something much more.
Sato's words were still ringing in her head, but now there was a slight, barely noticeable irony in their sound, as if they had returned to normal after those tense minutes. Scarlet felt her heart calm down. Everything seemed to be back in place, but it was enough. She was herself again.
—Thank you, Sato,— she repeated, her voice softening. Scarlet looked at her weapon, dimming in the light of the screen. The character couldn't have been more alive, but she knew it was just an image that hid her own feelings. Experiences that were real. "You were incredible too." As always.
The silence became something deeper and clearer. The battle music was no longer playing in her ears, and the messages on the screen, as in previous moments, became the background. Congratulations, statistics, advertising—it all seemed unimportant now. Why would they do that if they just won, if they just went through this hell fighting to the last?
At this moment, when time seemed to have stopped, a familiar voice rang out.
— Hey, aren't you stuck in a romantic scene there? — the allied tank laughed, not hesitating to joke even through the microphone filters.
"Leave them to Kujime, these two deserve a rest," the magician's voice sounded, and despite his usual detachment, a new relaxation appeared in it.
Sato smiled when he heard them. A smile that did not glide over his appearance, but permeated his inner feeling of lightness.
—Okay, okay. Scarlet, assemble a group. We have another task.
She raised an eyebrow, but there was a hint of playfulness in her voice. Maybe it was a trace of tension that finally gave way to relaxation.
— Celebrate, of course. The best in Versailles shouldn't be sitting around, right? Sato said these words with such ease that even her tired body felt a rush of light joy.
Scarlet laughed, and it was like a breath of fresh air. After all those hard minutes of battle, adrenaline, and concentration, that laugh was a release, a reminder that there would always be another moment of joy ahead to take the weight off your shoulders.
A gift came to the inventory - a trophy, a cup that shone against the background of their avatars, seemed to be a real symbol of their work. She knew that Sato was taking it all seriously, perhaps even too seriously. For him, Wirsal was more than just a game. It was a battlefield capable of giving meaning that was lacking in real life.
— Do you think we can stay at the top? "What is it?" she asked, adjusting her gear. Her voice sounded calm, but there was concern in her gaze.
"Not just to hold on,— Sato replied confidently, turning to her. His avatar, with light reflections of golden light, looked almost like the ideal hero. — We will make sure that we will not be forgotten.
"It almost sounds like a threat," Scarlet smiled, adjusting her armor.
"Not a threat,— he paused, his voice softening, "a promise."
Their allies, slowly retreating, distributed short congratulations and laughed, discussing their next steps. But Sato and Scarlet were delayed.
— We did it again, for the 7th time, right? She said softly, her gaze lingering on the goblet.
— 8 times, honey, you don't think that's all, do you? Sato corrected, his voice unusually warm.
"What do you mean?" Scarlet frowned, her avatar turning slightly, reflecting her wariness.
"All these cups are great, but," he replied simply, clutching the dagger in his hands, as if he still had to defend himself in the safe zone. — I want a seasonal title for us, for both of us.
Scarlet felt her cheeks start to burn, which was noticed by the observant Sato.
— Do you realize how difficult this is? This is everyone's cherished dream, it is unlikely that we will make it far there," she tried to wave it off, but her voice trembled treacherously, "But I will try my best.
Sato smiled, his true identity peeking through the mask of an impeccable leader for a second.
"If that's what you think, then we're perfect for each other." You work for victory, and I make it a reality.
At this point, virtual reality really stopped being just a game.
Wirsal, developed in 2056, was not just a virtual reality — it was a living, breathing world that combined artistic beauty and mathematical precision. Here, each player became a part of something more than just battles or quests. It was a game for those who were looking for a challenge, eager to prove that their skills surpass any systems, algorithms or rules.
The system of freedom of choice has become the main principle of the game. No one could hide behind money or exploit the weaknesses of mechanics. There were no shortcuts here. If you want to become strong, train. If you want to win, think. If you want to be a legend, take a chance.
Each element was imbued with the deep philosophy of the creator. The brilliant scientist, developer, and billionaire Satoru Marucho, who was behind the birth of this miracle, once said:
"The game should be a challenge, not an entertainment. If you're not ready to challenge yourself, you're not worthy of her beauty."
The whole of Versailles was built under this philosophy. There was no easy way to win here. Every decision a player made, from choosing a build to interacting with others, influenced their path. Mistakes were punished immediately, but they also provided valuable lessons.
The world of the game lived its own life. Day turned to night, the seasons flowed smoothly into one another, and the players felt as if they really were in another dimension. Even the NPCs seemed alive: their reactions to the actions of the players changed, they could be disappointed, angry or delighted, turning each quest into a unique story.
Balance and fairness.
It was these two words that defined the heart of the game. There was no imba in Beersheba. Even the strongest player could be defeated by someone who was better able to adapt and think a few steps ahead. Each ability had its own weaknesses, and each style of play could be challenged by another. It was more than a battle of characters — it was a battle of wits.
But what was most impressive was how Satoru Marucho managed to introduce something into the game that gamers described in one word: the soul. Every detail, from the soft flutter of grass in the wind to the grandiose sound of a sword striking armor, spoke of the creator putting not only knowledge but also his heart into his creation. Marucho, being a man who always looked to the future, sought to create not just a game, but a new world accessible to everyone. His visionary approach to developing Wirsal was not only about aesthetics and gameplay balance, but also about creating an environment where everyone could feel like a full-fledged participant in virtual reality.
He was also well aware that the real world was not always fair. People with disabilities, whom society often leaves on the sidelines, could finally find equality in its game. Therefore, Marucho took care of the implementation of a unique adaptation system that allowed the blind, deaf, and even people with limited mobility to immerse themselves in the virtual world just like any other player.
A sophisticated sound system was developed for the blind, which transformed the visual elements of the game into auditory signals. Spatial sounds and voice prompts created a complete picture of the world around them. These players could "see" the world through sound—the forest whispered in their ears, rivers rang in their minds, and the footsteps of an approaching opponent echoed alarmingly.
Deaf players, on the other hand, relied on an extensive system of vibrations and tactile feedback. Their avatars perceived the world through the smallest fluctuations — from the rustle of grass underfoot to explosions in battles. Every pulse was transmitted through their devices, allowing them to literally feel the game with their skin.
But the most revolutionary solution was for those who, for various reasons, were confined to wheelchairs or lost the ability to move. Marucho personally insisted that such players could experience the full range of motion sensations through their avatars. Even those who had never walked could run, jump, and even fly in Beersheba, enjoying the freedom that reality could not offer them.
These technologies have made Virsal not just a game, but a portal to a new life. For many people with disabilities, this has become a chance to feel like equals, able to participate in battles, build castles, and make friends.
However, Marucho went even further. A separate initiative was created in the game, where each player could voluntarily help the adaptation of newcomers with disabilities. This has become not just a technical solution, but a powerful social movement within the game.
Players who had previously been skeptical about such initiatives quickly realized their importance. Many of those who first tried to help such people adapt said that it was no less a discovery for them than the world of Wirsal itself.
"You have no idea what it's like to see a person walking as their avatar for the first time. They're smiling, and it's a real miracle," one of the volunteers recalled.
Marucho wanted Virsal to be more than just a game. And he did it. His idea inspired millions and proved that the virtual world can be more just than the real one.
Virsal became a place where dreams became reality, and reality, with all its problems, disappeared for a while. A world where everyone could find their own purpose. A world where the game was becoming something much bigger. The realization of unrealized desires gave her endless authority in the eyes of the players.
But no matter how perfect the game was, deep down everyone understood that nothing lasts forever. Even Wirsal, created with love and skill, depended on servers, on the human will to maintain this virtual paradise. For the players, it was a world where dreams came true, but they couldn't completely ignore the shadow of reality either.
"Virsal lives as long as people believe in him," she thought, clenching her hand into a fist.
For the player, it wasn't just a world. It was a shelter. A virtual armor that was worn not only on your character, but also on yourself. The player could be anyone: a brave warrior, a shrewd strategist, or just part of a team that understood the player. Back in the game, no one judged for the mistakes of the past, for weaknesses, for doubts. The ability to be yourself, as you always wanted to be, was perhaps one of the main reasons for the popularity of the game.
But the question wouldn't let her go. What if this world disappears?
She remembered Sato's words after their victory.:
— This is just the beginning.
Perhaps he saw the future differently. Perhaps, for him, the game was nothing more than a challenge, a step on the way to some other peak. But for Scarlet, Wirsal has become something more.
These thoughts didn't make her any weaker. They only strengthened the resolve. If this world were to disappear one day, she would remain the one who fought to the last. She will leave a mark — not only in ratings or statistics, but also in the hearts of those who were nearby.
In the meantime, Wirsal continued to live. Monsters roamed the dense forests, merchants exchanged goods in busy markets, and guilds made plans to conquer new territories. Somewhere among them, the laughter of the allies and the clink of weapons could be heard. The world was not standing still. And even if he disappears, the memory of him will remain.
Wirsal was eternal. As long as there was at least one player who believed in him.