Ken: Hmmm. You made it.

Max: Like I'd fail to.

Max was on his skateboard and had a helmet on.

Ken: Come in. Come in.

Max took his shoes off, got off his board, and took off his helmet before entering the house.

Max: Nice place!

Ken: Thank you.

It was quite different from Max's place. He could say that much, but for the most part, they were the same.

Ken: My mom and dad won't be here for a few hours. That means that we have the whole place to ourselves.

Max: Great!

He smiled.

Ken: Which means....

Max: Hmph!

The air in the room suddenly grew thick with tension as the pair glared at each other.

In every culture and every generation, there is a pastime. And for these teenage boys, it was video games.

Max: I brought snacks.

Ken: The controllers in my room.

And so the two teenagers left the room like gallant gentlemen preparing for battle.

It was a common thing of sorts. After all, Warring Dimensia 2 was a famous and overtly played game.

The idea of the game in and of itself was simple.

Several dimensions with several kinds of warrior dimensions, each with their own philosophies, beliefs, ways of life and weaponry came into the fray, all looking for blood to see which dimension was truly the strongest in terms of combat.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

To do this, a player may pick any dimension's warrior, playing just as one character, and then, in a one dimension vs. one dimension, or free for all war, containing over one thousand players at a time, a great war would ensue.

In these battles, one death meant a true death. No respawns. Only valour and glory in battle, as you support your dimension by killing a load of other enemies or supporting your teammates.

Truly, a battle from which only one side may obtain true victory. One that embraced cammeraderie, honour, and, of course, ruthless bloodshed.

And oh boy, did teenage boys love it.

Teenagers, such as Max Hunter and Kenneth Stone, who sat down and, opening a bag of chips, started the game up while munching on a few of them.

Max: (mouthful) So, does Luke play this game, too?

Ken: Hmm.. no. He wouldn't have time to play this game anyway.

Max: Oh..... well....

Max put his hand up for a high five with a big smile.

Max: ... guess that makes us gaming buddies, huh?

Ken was surprised by his odd reaction. He never expected him to be so friendly, seeing as they didn't know each other that well.

Ken: Heh.... sure. (thinking: Still full of surprises, I see.)

He high fived him back before selecting one dimension vs. one dimension.

Max: Alright. Time to get serious.

Ken: Hmph.

They moved on to the race selection screen.

Ken: As per our agreement, I'll be picking the Attritious race....

Every race from every dimension had a different set of weapons. Although, true to form in any war, one could steal another races weapons during a playthrough and use it in battle, albeit not at the very start of said battle. Friendly fire was always off, just to make it more realistic.

Ken: ... seeing as they're the race with gatling guns.

Max: Fine by me. I'll be picking the Dextrous race. They're the ones with the grapple gun.

Ken: Hmph...

A war between those whose philosophy was to win through enduring hardship and patiently destroying the foe and those who would try to win by believing in human ingenuity and dexterity.

Truly a battle of not just controllers but also... one's very own meaning of life.

Max: Ok... then.....

The game began to load its starting screen. Both players at the ready.

And then the screen fully loaded, Max on his own turf and Ken on his own turf. Both sides in their own camp with other players of their own side.

In Ken's world, there were several buildings and skyscrapers. In Max's world, there were several oddy shaped buildings, which, while looking sophisticated, were, if one could put it, almost jungle like.

Suddenly, a massive interdimensional portal opened in the distance in both worlds, opening to the other"s dimension.

And with that, the game sounded its starting phrase. One which Max and Ken shouted in unison with it.

Max and Ken: It's on!