Aria's palms felt clammy against the cool surface of her keyboard, a stark contrast to the raging storm of adrenaline that coursed through her veins.
Her eyes, bloodshot and wild, darted across the screen at an impressive speed, fingers flying over the keys as she fought against the ticking clock that loomed ominously in the corner of the display. The countdown timer had dipped below ten hours, and the pressure was mounting like a coiled spring ready to snap.
The air in her room buzzed with the electric anticipation of her viewers, a cacophony of comments and emojis flashing by as she steeled herself for the final confrontation. The Blood Empress' domain was unlike any other she had seen in this game.
It was a twisted landscape tinged with hues darker than night, where shadows danced and whispers of lost souls echoed ominously. Aria had braced herself for an arduous battle, but nothing could have prepared her for the sight that greeted her when she entered the Empress's lair.
Descending from the sky like a harbinger of doom was the Villaness herself, mounted on a dragon as red as blood, its scales glistening with a malevolent sheen. The creature's wings unfurled in a grand display, creating gusts of wind that ruffled the game character's hair and sent shivers racing down Aria's spine.
The Empress laughed, a chilling sound that reverberated through the air, striking terror into the hearts of those who dared to challenge her rule. A luminous glass pendant dangled from her neck, a sinister trophy containing the trapped soul of Divine Emperor Zephyrion's true love.
"What a fool," the Blood Empress sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "You actually think you can save that impotent fool's sweetheart? Ahahaha!"
Aria had heard this taunt countless times having died several times already. It echoed in her mind like a haunting nightmare that refused to end. With every defeat, she was cast back two difficulty levels, a cruel twist of fate in a game that thrived on punishing mistakes. There were six stages to conquer, and the seventh being the final battle with the Blood Empress.
With a determined breath, she gripped her mouse, the tension in her muscles coiling tightly as the last of the Blood Guardians fell to her Gale Edge, a weapon forged from the very essence of the wind. A fierce shout erupted from her lips, a primal scream of victory that echoed through her room. "Yes! Fuck yes! I am going to win this, suck it, chat! Woooo!"
She pulled her hair back, her heart racing as she relished the moment. The chat exploded with a flurry of comments, each one a testament to the chaotic energy of the livestream.
XOKitty: You have less than ten hours left, stop wasting time!" one user urged, while another quipped,
JonyDZ: I am just here for her explosions, when will that happen?
A playful jab from another commenter.
Randle022: Take a shot each time she swears. I might have alcohol poisoning by the end of the day.
The banter flowed like a river, some users expressing their doubts, while others rallied in support.
KadinalSin: You know WingGod has already passed level six, right?
WingGod was the livestreamer she had made a bet with. When Aria saw the comment about WingGod, she snapped, "I told you not to tell me what that idiot is doing, get them off my chat." Tomato emojis filled the screen in support of blocking the person.
She took a quick sip of her energy drink, the sweet, carbonated liquid surging through her system like a jolt of lightning as she scanned the comments.
BigNick88: Give up, you are cooked already lol.
WillowLynn: Storm, have you taken your meds today?
"Yeah, I took my meds, thanks for checking," she replied, a smirk playing on her lips. This medication was for her intermittent explosive disorder, which sometimes led to intense outbursts, so she had to take her medication.
Her grandmother, before she passed, used to remind her to take her medication, but now it was only her fans who reminded her.
"Okay... okay, I can do this," Aria muttered under her breath, cracking her knuckles with a fierce determination that echoed through the stillness of her room. She could almost feel the anticipation crackling in the air as she plunged into the sixth stage of the game which was the entrance to the Blood Empress's palace.
The atmosphere shifted instantly, a heavy shroud of darkness enveloping her character as the grandiose yet sinister architecture loomed before her on the screen. Inside, the palace was a labyrinth of traps and puzzles, each corner hiding a new danger that demanded her full attention.
The walls were adorned with grotesque murals depicting the Empress's conquests, the vibrant reds and deep blacks swirling together in a macabre dance that sent a shiver down her spine. Aria steeled herself, heart pounding as she navigated through the eerie halls, her senses heightened and alert, every click of the mouse sending her further into the treacherous depths of the palace.
But her focus shattered in an instant. She sat up, eyes wide with disbelief and fury as she gasped at the sight on her screen. Her game character lay sprawled in a pool of blood, a horrific tableau of contorted limbs and gaping wounds. "Ahhhh, what the fuck...! Who designed this freaking game?... FUCK!" she roared, frustration pouring from her like a torrent as she kicked her chair away, the sound of the rolling wheels against the floor echoing in her ears.
It was clear that the countdown of ten hours was taking its toll on her sanity. Heart racing, she forced herself to refocus, dragging her chair back into position and restarting at the fourth level. "Here we go again," she muttered, fingers poised over the keyboard, ready to dive back into the chaos.
As she fought her way through the challenges once more, her fingers began to move faster and faster, a blur of motion against the keys. Occasionally, she couldn't help but vocalize her thoughts, exclamations bursting forth in a stream of colourful curses and playful yelps.
"Damn, damn, damn!" she shouted, or "No, no, no—don't! Fuck!" Her expressions morphed with each setback, a whirlwind of emotions painting her face as the pressure mounted.