"Finishing Strike! Phoenix Blade!"

The hit comes before I have a second to dodge. The blade strikes right at my neck, the flames entering my bloodstream like webbing. Soon, I'm enveloped in fire, and my charred corpse is stretched on the ground. My enemy stands victorious and proceeds to the castle, and my eyes close as I hear a booming voice overhead:

"Rokar the Terrible has been defeated! Flawless victory!"

The chime of the warrior claiming his prize rings in my ears right before I turn to dust... and then, 10 minutes later, I'm right back where it all starts: Another player, covered in the latest event armor, aided by an animal companion with the most atrocious name I can think of, ready to gain the Eye of Darkness by slaying me. Every day, about 30 players ranging from level 10 to 100 come here and duke it out as that stupid soundtrack plays overhead. Sometimes I win, and they spend another month gathering gold and spells to fight again, but the losses leave me with aches for weeks, and there's a lot more losses than I care to admit. You'd think being the evil mascot for this game, I'd get some help; a few minions, some high-level spells, but nope! Anyone with at least a level 15 and some fire incantations can just come in and blow me to bits, with the only relief I get being when someone tries a cheat code and the 'Guardians' (It's really just overgrown rhinos in fancy armor) come to haul them away and knock the players down a couple levels.

It wasn't always like this. When the developers made the first model, I was supposed to be the king of the Shadow Realm. A nigh-unstoppable enemy with four might generals at my beck and call, but then the testing reviews came in saying I didn't fit the 'vibe' of the campaign, but I blame the forums. A deep dive on any given day and it's just evil queens with bosoms the size of my mace. Well, apparently my creators were into that, and Empress Li'Ella was born in my place. My developers really liked my design, though, so they tried for a few months finding me a new job: A shopkeeper, a side quest NPC, and my favorite, the bartender. Damn, you get some looks at really weird mods doing that gig. When did tentacle hair become trendy? Either way, the testers still didn't like me, so here I am... the dim-witted guard captain to one of Li'Ella's strongholds. A woman I've only met during monthly repair meetings (Who is a grade-A asshole, by the way), and I'm supposed to be her undying manservant. I'm such a joke, even the players have created memes and stickers about it: A miniature version of me called "Rokar the Re"- you know what, you get the point. The gig is bad, the pay is nonexistent, and there's no choice in the matter.

Everything goes on like usual until the next repair shutdown. Everyone knows the drill: Players get kicked off for a few hours for updates and everyone gets a nice break. I could go down to the pub, get a pitcher of ale, but the last time I did that, Li'Ella and the Horsemen spent the entire time singing about their greatest wins... and the best jokes they heard about me. Instead, I decide to just look around a bit. Sure, I've seen it all a million times, memorized every note of this ridiculous lyre and pan flute music playing everywhere, even ridden the dragons and unicorns in a couple races during the early days, but it's still nice to stretch my legs and get away from the tower. Now, it's just me and the surrounding forest, not a sound except... wind and footsteps. Icy wind and footsteps, at that. Sure, it's a medieval MMORPG, so you expect a few Ice Golems and mountain raiders, but they hate the forest. The only other thing in this game that sounds like that is the Snow Seeker Armor that was added two months ago, but it's impossible; no one can enter during shutdown. Curious, I decide to follow the sound, maybe find an unexpected addition before anyone else, but instead my eyes meet those of a man with a long beard, a monocle, and the very suit of armor I just mentioned, with a flashing "Level 28" sign above his head. Before I can interrogate him on how he's here, instinct takes over. I grab my mace from my back and charge at him, knowing full well he has more than enough levels to beat me, but instead of conjuring a spell against me, he just... pleads.

"C'mon man, give me a break! We both spent 200 bucks on this cheat. If we die during shutdown our account could be wiped. Let's just work together and search, okay?"

He... he thinks I'm a player?! Has this guy even seen the poster? Then again, I don't recognize his face from a fight, so maybe he's just forgetful, and possibly dense. Must be if he spent 200 dollars just to sneak around for upgrades. I think it over for a minute, and realize that no matter how I handle this, there's no trouble for me, so I drop my mace and shake the guy's hand.

"Sure. I'm... Randy. Who are you, and where are ya heading?"

"I'm E-Money209, and I want to try finding that rumored pit with the mummy staff."

Joke's on him; they removed that pit last summer. I decide to play along a bit though, just for kicks.

"Oh, yeah, I know that place. It's between the forest edge and the mountains. I'll show you."

"Woah, thanks! Nice Rokar mod by the way. He's one of my favorite characters, at least, his original version was."

It hits me like a train, the memory of my former glory. Even more shocking, someone remembers it. I stammer for an answer that doesn't give me away.

"Y-yeah, mine too. Shame what those testers said about him."

"Testers? The test reviews loved him, it was the producers who got horny and wanted a dom for a lead villain."

"W-what... No, no, I saw the reviews. They flamed Rokar."

"Yeah, that's what they told the staff for a while, but it came out a couple months ago that they changed him for no reason."

The fond memories are immediately replaced with rage. The men I saw as family, as visionaries, had done this to me for nothing. My throne was stolen from me for laughs and boys on the internet who want a cheap thrill. My ears start ringing and I don't even notice where I'm walking anymore until E-Money knocks me into some bushes.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"

E immediately shushes me and points to the tree above me, where a poisonous arrow flickers with 0s and 1s. E then turns his finger to the tree line, where a similarly glitchy warrior wields a crossbow.

"A reset shot cheat. I thought they patched it already, but one must have slipped through. You get hit with one of those, and all your armor, gold, achievements... poof."

I run cold. For E, it is only the loss of a few play hours, but if it hit me, it could be the end. A part of me would love to be free of having to fight another player with "6969" in his user, but my fury fuels me to survive, so I lead E-Money through the bushes away from the glitcher. Of course, my foot is the size of a log, so our retreat does not last for long. The glitcher spots us, so E and I begin running at full speed away from our attacker's arrows. I turn back for a split second, and see an arrow whizzing by E's arm, barely missing my head. E falls to the ground, blood and gold leaking from his arm. I stop and run back to him.

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"E! Are you okay? What's happening?"

"I-I'm getting re-re-reset, buddy. Like I said... a-all it takes is one... hit..."

E-Money's form dissipates in my arms, leaving behind only his helmet, and he's gone. Now, the assailant is standing over me in triumph, ready to strike. I left my mace a few yards behind, so I'm defenseless, but even if I had it, I wouldn't have been able to retaliate. I hear him load the crossbow, but a familiar hum begins. The glitcher turns around to face a bright ray of light, and soon he's cursing uncontrollably.

"Shit! Goddamn it, I thought they'd be deactivated! Motherfu-"

The glitcher disintegrates and is replaced by the form of two large Guardians holding warhammers. They look upon me with confusion.

"Rokar, what are you doing this far from the tower? And why are you holding a Snow Seeker helmet? Was there another player we need to take care of?"

"N-no, it was just me. I went out for a stroll and the guy jumped me."

"Hmph, and you were supposed to be the Shadow King. We'll take care of this, and you go back home."

I nod absently and stroll back home, E-Money's helmet still in my hands. It's strange; after so long being left without a fan or even basic respect, those few minutes of friendship meant everything. Then, two things hit me: One, the news of my betrayal, and the need to repay the pain I was caused somehow. Two, the helmet... the cheat is still inside of it. I wonder what it might do for me?"

The next day, I'm back to the daily grind, with E's helmet hanging on my hip. The first player, a level 40 with another Phoenix Blade, comes and prepares for a one shot aimed at my leg, but instead of an instant kill... he's gone. A pile of gold and armor is left in front of me, and E-Money's helmet glows an ominous aqua. I now know what the residual effects of both cheats offer me: Redemption. That day, as long as I hold the helmet just right when they strike, no one is able to defeat me. Days turn into a week, turn into a month of endless "Rokar Wins. All Hail the Shadow Realm!" chants as I march victoriously through the halls. Then, the next shutdown comes, along with a knock on my door. I walk over with a pep in my step that is instantly stolen as I look upon the two Guardians, who stare at me with rage.

"Just a random helmet, eh? You really thought we wouldn't notice your bumbling arse winning every fight? The complaints are astonishing! You're harder to beat than Li'Ella."

"You mean the witchcore whore who stole what was mine?! I deserve to be harder than Li'Ella; I'm the Shadow King!"

"Wrong. You were the Shadow King until the developers realized Amazonians were in style, and kicked your generic ass down here."

My mouth drops. This wasn't even a secret kept from the entirety of the game's inhabitants. Just me. The butt of the joke once again. The guardians stretch their hands toward the helmet.

"Give it to us. We're going to patch those cheats once and for all, and that's final."

I grip E's helmet close to my chest, anger coming off of me like a dark aura.

"You don't understand what this has done for me. I deserve this! I deserve all of this! I'll never go back."

The Guardians pull their hands back and nod. Behind them appears a crystalline serpent warrior with whips growing out of his wrists.

"And who is this? The precursor to a new pair of boots?"

"No, he's your replacement. Developers have gotten tired of trying to keep you around, so since you won't go willingly, consider this a hostile takeover. Hope you like TV, Rokar."

The white light envelopes me, and soon, I'm in a long black hall surrounded by screens showing me every inch of the game. Players fighting horsemen, Li'Ella, and each other. I look behind me and find large piles of bones. At first, I think it's only a scare tactic, until I look closer... every character removed from Beta and Alpha files, all turned into this from lack of use. It's horrifying, but I can't help but be confused: There's too many bones. Outside of a few enemy units and one horribly designed Jester NPC, there were no characters deleted. What are the other few dozen skeletons from? I traverse the hallway, finding nothing more than footage of Li'Ella's victories until I hit a crossroads. Three crossroads, in fact. I quickly peer a few feet down each one, and it's like nothing I've seen before: One hall shows a pixel game with strange beasts frolicking and running from little kids, another shows a well armored man with a large gun fighting insects, and the third shows a dinosaur in a cage, now being upgraded into some kind of exhibit. This wasn't just a place for old assets to die, it was a connection between the games my developers had created. I had no idea they had made anything else. They were a small indie team. How could they manage this? But no, they were clearly much bigger now. I walk down each hall and gaze for hours at the amazing things in each world, astounded by the endless surprises, then I turn back to E-Money's helmet. The second glitch that infected it had given me my unstoppable power, but I wonder... did the first of these still work?

I walk to the space-and-insect themed hallway and spot a large spider-like being on a throne, cackling over world domination while surrounded by his followers, and touch my hand to the computer. A crackle erupts from the screen, and my hand begins to slip through to the other world... but no, not yet. If I go now, the equivalent to the Guardians in this game would find me and kill me for good. I had to wait. But how could I fill my time? An answer immediately greets me as I turn to the screen just below the large spider and see a small minion scuttling in the halls. He's carrying loads of boxes, and I can just barely hear him muttering over his disdain for his duties. It's almost too perfect.

I reach into the screen and grab the creature, pulling him out to face me. His face is filled with shock and confusion as he whips around to understand his surroundings.

"Wha-what is this place?! What are you doing? B-Belial shall have your head for this."

"This Belial will do no such thing. Do you really think he cares about a single peon? He has thousands under his command; he considers all of you expendable. That's why he sends you against the big bad soldiers every day, right? Knowing you'll probably never return while he sits on his throne laughing at you."

The beast looks hurt, mostly because he thinks this is true. I should know; it's the entire reason I'm in the hellscape. He looks me in the eye, his entire body quaking in my hands.

"W-who are you?"

"You may call me Rokar... Rokar the Shadow King. Tell me, do you want power? Rise in the ranks and show your comrades you're stronger than they could ever imagine? To no longer be tied down by Belial's ridiculous tasks?"

His face starts to perk up a bit, his pincers flexing with intrigue.

"I'd love that, but it's impossible. No one can overcome the great Spider Lord."

"I can. I brought you here, right? I can give you power unimaginable, and you would be my top general. I could even find a way to give you a better, stronger form. Something worthy of a conqueror."

I wasn't sure I could deliver that last one, but if I could find one cheat code, I'm sure I could find another for that. Either way, he's practically pulsing with excitement.

"What is your name, little one?"

"Yoth'Kr, Sir. What would I need to do to get this power, oh Shadow King?"

"Tell me everything you know about your world. Once you're done, I'll show you around and we can get a few more friends. Sounds good?"

Yoth nods and I release him, his immediate instinct to bow to his new master. As he begins to tell me of the asteroids and space machines that fill his universe, I traverse the other halls, deciding upon my next selections. I'd have to move slowly, strategically, but it'd be worth it in the end. Once I'm done with these worlds, my creators' reputation will be in ruins. I will have shown them, and everyone else who doubted me, just how worthy of power I was, and they'll all be sorry... that is, if I even give them the chance to show me...