Sitting in a café, sipping on his Cookies and Cream milk tea, he sulked over his failure—ten years in college and still no degree. The weight of depression pressed down on him like a heavy fog as he stared blankly at the table, feeling the buzz of life around him without really being part of it. The clatter of cups, laughter from other patrons, and the smell of fresh pastries only served to heighten his sense of isolation.
He overheard an advertisement from the next table, a couple of gamers animatedly discussing a new game:
“BUILD! FARM! DESTROY! Download the new game Millennium. You could be one of the top RANKERS and change your life forever!”
Intrigued, his mind began to race. What if he played and streamed this game? It could be the break he needed—a chance to turn his life around. He started imagining the possibilities: streaming, ranking, becoming famous... and maybe, just maybe, fixing his broken life.
With a glimmer of hope, he stood up from his seat, feeling a flicker of possibility he hadn’t felt in years. Maybe this was it. Maybe this would work.
He called his brother, listening to the “ring… ring… ring…” until finally, a voice answered, “What now, retard?”
“Hey, man! You got any extra cash I can borrow? I promise I’ll pay you back.”
“Fuck you, bro! Deep sigh. Anyway, how are you doing? Mom’s been really worried about your choices.”
There was a long pause. He stared off into the distance, his thoughts drifting to his future. “Life’s good, man. Tell Mom I’m happy. Everything’s fine, and I’m still holding up financially. No need to send anything right now.”
“Tsk, you dumb fuck. You’ve gotta set a goal and stop being a bum.”
“Okay! Okay! Don’t sound like Mom,” he chuckled, a warmth breaking through the heaviness he’d been carrying. His brother's voice, despite its tough-love tone, made him feel lighter.
Reluctantly, his brother loaned him some cash. To him, it was going toward something good—or at least that’s what he convinced himself. In truth, it was going toward his dream, a life-changing goal.
Within a week, he had everything: a quad-core Intel i5/i7 CPU, an NVIDIA GTX 1660 GPU, 16GB of RAM, an SSD, OBS Studio, and an internet connection with the minimum upload speed for 720p streaming. He also got a quality microphone, a webcam, and a dual monitor setup.
He stocked his apartment with food and water for a year, added solar batteries and a generator in case the power went out, and downloaded apps for paying bills online. He was ready.
A devilish smirk stretched across his face as he looked over the equipment he’d bought with his brother’s loan. He let out a loud, almost manic laugh that echoed through the building, only to be met by angry shouts from his neighbors, telling him to shut up. Embarrassed, he quieted down, though his excitement still bubbled over.
He clicked the power button on his PC.
“Click… click… tap… tap…” Bright flashes illuminated his room as mythic music filled the air. Something stirred inside him as he clicked "START."
Welcome to the grim darkness of the far future, where there is only war.
In the 41st Millennium, across the endless expanse of the galaxy, empires clash, and entire worlds burn under the weight of eternal conflict. Mankind fights for survival, beset on all sides by treacherous xenomorphs, heretics, and the foul corruption of Chaos. The Imperium of Man, a vast, crumbling empire, survives only through the iron will of the Emperor and the fanatical devotion of his subjects.
You are about to enter a universe of brutal combat, where armies of Space Marines, cunning Orks, mysterious Eldar, and nightmarish Tyranids wage war on countless battlefields. Forge your strategies, lead your armies, and prepare for the merciless onslaught that awaits.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The game was a pixelated MMORPG, but it had a unique, addictive charm. In its year of release, Millennium attracted all types—streamers, aspiring rankers, and dreamers alike. Everyone saw it as their shot at fame, a chance to change their lives. He was no different.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” The rapid fire of assault rifles echoed through his headset. His monitor pinged with donations as viewers piled in. The chaos of a PvP arena filled the screen—shots exchanged, spells cast, chaos ensued—until, bit by bit, only one player remained. The bright end screen popped up, congratulating him on winning a special event in Millennium. He shouted at the stream:
"Kneel, for I have claimed ultimate victory in this arena of chaos! As the last warrior standing, I have shattered all who dared oppose me. Their strength was no match for my wrath. The battlefield is mine, soaked in the blood of those who thought themselves worthy, but none could rival my dominion. In this deathmatch, I am the predator, the reaper of souls, the undisputed champion. Let the world remember this day—I am victory incarnate!"
After the adrenaline of his victory, he paused, his expression turning serious. Staring into the camera, he spoke quietly, his voice carrying unexpected weight.
"To everyone watching right now—thank you. Seriously, thank you for being here with me in this moment. After 28 years of playing, I’m officially the last player logged into Millennium. It’s hard to believe, right? This game, this pixelated relic, has been my home, my battleground, and honestly, my life. And you—you all made it worth every second.
I started this journey just like many of you, grinding away, chasing impossible goals. But you showed up, stream after stream, pushing me to keep going. Your support—whether in chat, donations, or just silently watching—helped me reach this moment.
So, to everyone who tuned in, thank you. We’ve made history."
The chat flooded with messages:
PixelWarrior99: We’re gonna miss you, man! What a ride! 🎮💔
KnightOfPixels: THE LAST PLAYER STANDING! LET’S GOOO! 🔥🔥🔥
RetroGamerX: End of an era. Can’t believe Millennium is really done 😢
8BitKing: Respect, bro. You kept this game alive along with us.
NoobMaster9000: Been watching you for YEARS. Crazy to think it’s all coming to an end. 😭
PixelPunk: You are a LEGEND. The LAST one in Millennium... can’t even wrap my head around it!
BossSlayer77: The world may be empty, but your streams filled it with so much life!
LagLord_3000: From the grind to the final quest, we were all with you, man. Epic journey! ⚔️
DragonSoul99: Last warrior of Millennium... that’s some god-tier status right there. 🙌
ShadowBlade88: Thank YOU for keeping this game alive, dude. Truly the end of an era.
Pixel_Emperor: THIS IS HISTORY! We witnessed the last breath of Millennium!!!
8BitNinja: What a way to go out. You did make me proud, man. Thanks for all the memories. ✌️
GameOverLord: No words... just RESPECT. Thanks for everything, champ. 👑
Retro_Vibes: Watching you complete this journey was incredible. The last player in Millennium... wow.
With a bittersweet smile, he shut off his stream. His viewers had witnessed the end of an era—the servers were now offline.
He stood up and glanced around his room. His GameTube silver, gold, and diamond buttons gleamed on the shelf, alongside his world championship trophy from Esportz. A picture of his family, taken at his first tournament win, caught his eye. He had come so far.
Picking up his phone, he called his brother.
“Ring… ring… ring…” His brother answered, “What’s up? I saw your last stream.”
“Who told you about it?”
“Your niece, bro. So what now? What’s your plan, now that the game’s over?”
“I don’t know... maybe I’ll start something new.”
As he hung up, a strange feeling washed over him—a mix of excitement and dread. What did "something new" even mean? He looked around his sparsely decorated apartment, realizing how much he had poured into his gaming life, and how little was left outside of it.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed again. It was a notification from a gaming forum. “Millennium servers officially shut down—thank you for the memories.” He scrolled through the comments, reading heartfelt tributes and nostalgia-laden messages. He felt a pang of loss; this was it, the end of an era.
He dropped onto the couch, a sinking feeling in his stomach. The lights flickered slightly as a storm brewed outside, thunder rumbling ominously in the distance. He leaned back, closing his eyes, replaying his journey through Millennium in his mind—the victories, the losses, the community he had built.
But amidst the nostalgia, a creeping doubt settled in. What now? The thought gnawed at him, and the quiet of his apartment felt like a void. The flickering lights echoed the uncertainty hanging in the air. Just as the silence became overwhelming, a crack of thunder shook the room, and a blinding flash illuminated his surroundings.
In that instant, everything shifted. The world around him blurred, colors blending and distorting, a whirlpool of sensations engulfing him. He felt weightless, suspended between realities, as if he were being pulled into the very fabric of the game itself.
And then, darkness.