Everything around me is blank, an expanse of pure white. I had expected to return home, thinking that I had completed the game, but this place is unfamiliar. Doubt creeps in as I wonder, "Just where am I now?"
I turn around, drawn by the powerful voice behind me, and see a man seated in a swivel chair. He's engrossed in watching a multitude of events on various holographic screens suspended in the air – battles, deaths, romances, and tears. As I watch in shock, one of the screens displays my own face, captured in a moment of emotion as I cry while hugging Old Grammy and the children.
Perplexed and bewildered, I can't help but wonder, "Just who is this guy?"
"Who are you?" I inquire.
"Who do you think I am?" the man responds, his voice dripping with a sense of pride.
"I will guess some kind of a God or anything near that?" I reply.
He smiles and responds, "Well, your guess is half right. Yes, I am a God, but not just some kind of God - I am the God of everything."
"You know, from all the players around the world, you are the most interesting," he remarks while still engrossed in watching the videos. He focuses particularly on the video of my experience, all of my different experience.
"Why are you doing this?!" I demand, my anger and frustration becoming evident in my tone.
"Hmmm... Entertainment," he responds casually, as if it's a perfectly normal thing to say.
"You are crazy!!" this self-proclaimed God who finds entertainment in the suffering of others this guy is a b*tch. I tried attack him, but before I reach him I saw him snap his fingers, and suddenly, a powerful gust of wind surges toward me. I find myself sent flying backward, crashing hard to the ground.
The man continues to speak, "You think you're lucky for obtaining that game cassette, but you should know that about a billion people have obtained it. Many have cleared it by escaping, but many have also perished. Only a very select few have completed the puzzle. The game is deceptively simple – all you need to do is escape, and it's considered done."
"Out of those select few, you're the one who cleared it without relying on your own system or magic. You're the only one who obtained the feelings of pity, sadness, and care for the people of the game. It's supposed to end after clearing the game and will be reset and forever be gone"
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You can clear the game using magic? I did not know that, and even my system? Nobody told me, but never mind.
I sigh in frustration and assert, "All the feelings I am feeling are true. It's not just some kind of game; these are real, genuine emotions. So you don't have the right to tell me everything is just a part of a game."
"Yeah... yeah," he responds indifferently, as if he's bored. "You know, it's a waste to reset the game. I'm considering continuing the game."
"Aha! I have decided!" he exclaims loudly, filled with enthusiasm. "The game will be like a capture the flag game. This should be fun. I should also add more players to the game... hmmm... ahh, let's make this an open play game, a free-for-all game with millions of players easily logging in. A world event, yes, yes, let's make this."
It's evident he's deriving joy from creating chaos. "Now, let's add this, and this, and this," he continues, seemingly engrossed in bringing his ideas to life.
This man enthusiastically craft a chaotic and potentially dangerous game, the realization dawns upon me: he's not just eccentric, he's a true madman, a monster, a murderer, and a maniac. He is having fun on death of people.
"I will never be controlled by you again!!" In a firm and resolute voice I declared.
The man responds, "Well, it is your choice.....But you said this is not just a game, right? Then do it, save the remaining children. That noble family you despise will be part of the game. Do you think that family will stop after some escape? Hahaha, no! And since the world is now a reality, just think of the pain and suffering if you don't save those children. You are lucky I am giving you a chance to save them through this game. You can save them and obtain game points – a win-win scenario."
"The game will last for 30 days, and if you do not participate, that world will end forever," he warns. Slowly, the white world begins to fade, and everything vanishes. In a matter of seconds, I find myself back home in the Goblin city. However, the weight of all the emotions and experiences from what just happened hangs heavy on my heart.
Suddenly, a loud notification echoes in my mind, and I see the words in a holographic screen:
"Ding! The world will have its first world event, and it will be called "City of Slaves: The Grand Siege". This game will have a capture and defend theme. You can choose to either defend the city from unwanted attackers or help the attacker themselves. The game will reward the top contributors as follows:
1. Ownership of the world + 50,000 game points + one random epic item from the shop.
2. 25,000 game points + one random super rare item from the shop.
3. 10,000 game points + one random rare item from the shop."
After that, I obtain something—a black stone. It's called the "attacker's stone," specifically intended for me.... to be the attacker in the upcoming game. But no matter how the so-called God tries to control me, I've made up my mind—I will never be controlled again. I'll do what I want and what I need to do.