[Linking location of all Online Towers.] A monotone mechanical voice called out. [Minimum amount of Online Towers detected. Comments- BEEP - Upgrading and updating main system…] The voice beeped out like a hiccup in the dark. [Admin confirmation required before continuing.] The voice reported into the dark.
[Admin 1, confirms.] Admin 1 speaks up.
[Admin 2, confirms.] Admin 2 joins in.
[Admin 3, confirms.] Admin 3 says a bit nervously.
[Admin confirmation accepted. Preparing updates along with upgrades. Hold please.] The monotone voice replies to the Admins.
[Are you sure this will work?] Admin 3 asks the other two.
[For the millionth time, yes.] Admin 1 sighs in response.
[What are you so worried about?] Admin 2 inquires.
[We only have a minimum amount of the Towers set, and the others just started to plant the rest.] Admin 3 worriedly replied. [Plus I just have this weird feeling-oof] Admin 3 started to prattle on before something grabbed him.
[Don’t worry little brother.] Admin 2 said to Admin 3. [We can easily connect the rest once our brothers and sisters finish their jobs, but for now we need to worry about ours.] Admin 2 reassured his little brother.
[If you two are finished, then get back over here and help me out, the system is about to finish.] Admin 1 called out.
[DING!] A loud chime rang out throughout the darkness. [System updated completed, please standby while we upgrade the existing machine to match the updates.] The monotone voice said in a more commanding tone.
[So, how are we going to start this new round?] Admin 2 asked his brothers.
[Are you going to be those dreadful Researchers again?] Admin 1 replied with disgust.
[Like your so-called “Defense Force” is any better?] Admin 2 shot back at them.
[Brothers, why does the system say there are two other beings here?] Admin 3 asked with a gasp.
[Who da-cough!] Admin 1 tries to act intimidating, yet something stops them.
[System upgrades completed. Please enter new commands.] The monotone voice called out.
{Creator override. New game mode, survival.} A rumbling in the dark whispers as a powerful entity lets itself be known to the others. All I saw was a shimmering puddle that was blacker than black. {Tower Lock engage.} A ding replied to the dark whisper.
[Who are you?] Admin 2 struggled against something.
{You try to use me, and you don’t even know me?} The darkness echoed in laughter. I swear the dark shifted enough I could make out some unusual shapes where the voices of the admins were coming from. {This just makes it more interesting.} I hear the dark whispers come from right behind myself.
[What about the other one?] Admin 3 asked while panting from exhaustion.
{This is my Pawn. He will play my game and entertain me.} I feel the deep darkness close around me, as if there is a villain with his hand on my shoulder with a sinister smile on his face.
[Is that a mortal human?] Admin 1 askes with some anger in their voice.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
[What is that pest doing here?] Admin 2’s rebuke sounds a bit familiar.
[What game are you talk-] Admin 3 is cut off as a force of pressure is spread throughout the darkness.
{Only I can bad mouth my Pawn.} The deep whisper responds with an unexpected reply. {Only I can torture before destory my Pawn.} The voice spoke in a normal tone that rattled my bones and shook my very soul. {Oops, almost broke it before the game started.} The pressure pulled back from the blacked out surroundings.
“What the hell is even happening…” I complain with a sigh.
{You sir, are my lucky chosen one.} The deep whisper sounds out in my ear, before a deeper blackness pokes my nose. {You are going to provide me with lots of entertainment.} I heard endless giggling echoing in the dark all around.
[System! Alpha override! Shut Do-] Admin 1 tried to shout out before something exploded in the darkness. [Ahhgrh!] Admin 1 cried out in pain before a sizzling sound was heard.
[Admin 1 has signed out] The monotone voice spoke out.
{You can either play along and live, or die pitifully.} The voice emphasized on the last bit.
[Play.] Admin 2 & 3 spoke at once.
[Admin 2 and Admin 3 have signed out] The monotone voice informed me.
{Now, it’s just us, Pawn.} I could feel the deep darkness focus its attention on me.
“So, what kind of game are we playing?” I reply at the inky blackness before my disbelieving eyes.
{You are a quick one, this might be entertaining.} The voice echoed as it circled around me. {You will be playing the game, the game of life and death.} The darkness itself smiled when it mentioned death.
“Sounds fun…” I struggle to smile back. “Will I have a team?” I ask while taking deep breaths.
{This is a solo mission, but you can catch some company along the way.} The whisper laughs in the dark.
“You mean those Pal creatures?” I perk up at the thought of owning a few of those mounts for ease of travel.
{We’ll see about that.} It laughs at something funny while I’m literally left in the dark.
“Are you a Pal too?” I ask it a weird question, but it's been a weird kind of week.
{I am more than what you call a ‘Pal’} The whisper runs a thread of thick sharp darkness along my neck. I stiffen as I feel the cold liquid razorblade caress my neck ever so gently. {Do not test me, Pawn.}
“Understood…” I say while shivering under their touch. “So, how do I play your game?” I try to get back on the overly powerful being’s good side.
{It’s simple really, you just have to survive.} The whisper in the dark pulls back.
“Is it really that simple?” I looked skeptically at the darkness.
{Hmm, you are right, Pawn, we need to make it more exciting!} The whisper said excitedly. {System, penalty for failure, new value for input.} The whisper called out.
[New failure penalty input, ready.] The monotone voice replied.
{Initiate Armageddon Program upon failure.} The whisper commanded the system.
[Input accepted, settings changed.] The system’s voice replied.
“I’m guessing that’s something bad?” I ask the darkness.
{Even a world ending disaster doesn’t scare you? Maybe we should add some more penalties, just for fun.} The darkness began to giggle endlessly.
“Bring it bitch.” I mumbled under my breath.
{You asked for it.} The darkness deepened somehow while rumbling.