All party members have been eliminated! The conquest of Maximus's Dungeon has been recorded as a failure. You will be teleported outside the dungeon in 5, 4, 3...
"..."
I stare at the monitor while my hands hover over the keyboard. My body begins shaking, speeding up as the timer ticks down.
2, 1, ding!
"F***!!"
Both myself and my blood scream. I jump out of my chair, toss my hands in the air, and slam them on the desk. Both the monitor and mouse jump in the air and fall back on the desk with a thud.
I quickly fling my hands on the monitor and firmly grasp it. Spit begins flying across the screen like morning dew.
"Are you f***ing serious!? What in the hell was that!? Who allowed these ****ing children here!? F****!"
I slam the monitor back down. I rip off my headphones and fling them down on the ground. I quickly turn around and send my right foot flying at my chair.
Fling!
"F***!"
Spitting more saliva, I lift my foot as it surges. Throwing more curses out of my mouth, I shuffle back to my desk and toss my hands onto the keyboard. My fingers fly across the keys, leaving only hefty clicks in their path.
Click, click... Wham... Click, click...
My ears twitch as I hear a loud thud behind me; however, I quickly forget about it as all of the sounds of clicks bombard my ears.
Click...
WTF man!? What skills did you select cuz they're utter trash! Why do you have so many healing skills!? You're a f****ing tank! Garbage; that's what you are! Go back to the tutorial, as you don't know shit!"
Click...
OMFG, you must be the worst healer in the game! Why do you only have a single healing skill and many combat skills!? If you want to f****ing tank, then be a f***ing tank! You should be focusing on your [Intelligence], but I guess you have none in the real world, either! GET OFF THIS GAME, YOU F****ING IDIOT, UNTIL YOU GAIN SOME!!"
Click...
Welcome, newbie. Adventurous thanks you for spending your money to get this far, BUT YOU'RE F****** HORRIBLE!! Come on! Do you expect that buying all those equipment and skills will make you competent or something?! You don't know **** about this game! A child without money could develop a better character than you within an hour! I guess that makes you a baby. So quit wasting everyone's time and return to sucking your mother's...
Click!
"..."
Finally, after many messages, my blood cools. I drop onto the ground and fall on my back. As I close my eyes, I let out a loose sigh.
"Ugh... What a last day this is... What were those admins thinking?"
Today marks the last day for the once-number-one MMORPG, Adventurous. As soon as it came out four years ago, it quickly took hold of my life. Unlike other games, Adventurous uses a unique system that allows players to customize almost anything they want. This includes skills enabling players to mix classes or jobs, bringing many unusual party combinations or characters.
The idea didn't sound bad at first. Even at the start, players would create characters of their desires; however, it was quickly found that this was a horrible idea. Players ditched this idea within months of release and started making specialized characters. It became evident to everyone why other games gave skills based on class... Why need healing skills when you're a fighter? Or why need magic if you're a swordsman?
Nowadays, the remaining players have been split in half, with the majority reverting to creating weird combinations. I'm unsure if they have given up and started making them for shits and giggles or if the news players are actual idiots.
I let out another sigh as I slowly open my eyes.
"No doubt it's the recent update's fault."
The admins have added a new feature to the game to celebrate the last month of the game. They raised the many caps of the game and opened a shop where you could spend real money to buy any skill you wanted or increase your skills. Of course, they regulated the shop by increasing everything per item you purchased. Nevertheless, people could still create overpowered characters; however, out of those who used the shop, no one even attempted to make one. Instead, almost everyone used the shop to test random skills or make semi-powerful characters.
Although I complain about this system, I genuinely wish I could use it. These mixed characters are not flawed if you eliminate all the caps, like how many skills you can buy using your points. The shop does this, but it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to get it to the perfect character. Even with what they did increase without the shop, creating specialized characters is still better...
"Welp, I guess I'll try again."
I climb onto my knees and jump back into the game. After a few moments of waiting, I find a new party, and we head into the dungeon. While waiting on the loading screen, I silently pray in hopes that they are good.
Thump... Thump, thump... Thump, thump!
Suddenly, the monitor begins to wobble along with the rumbling floor. As my skin turns red, I look over my shoulder and shout at the door.
"Shut the **** up!! I'm trying to concentrate over here, you *******!!"
Thankfully, both the monitor and floor returned to normal. I huffed as I turned back to the game.
"Geez, took long enough..."
Bang, bang, bang!
"Okuma Sho, unlock this door this instant!"
I roll my eyes as I concentrate on the game, turning the game's volume up.
Bang, bang, bang!! Wham!!!
Suddenly, light bombards my room, blinding me for a moment. When my vision returns, I see a death message on the screen. I scream at the top of my lounges.
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"WHAT THE **** ARE YOU DOING HERE?! YOU **** ME OVER YOU UGLY ************!!!"
I quickly stand up and toss spit across the room at a thin woman. Her face is as red as a tomato but turns redder from the saliva dripping off her face. I growl as I stand over her.
"You *********!!! Get the hell out of this room before..."
Slap!
Before finishing my sentence, my right cheek gets hit. I lose balance and fall to the ground. I look back up at her while holding my cheek.
"You..."
"Shut it, you trash of a son!!! I have had it with you!"
She walks up to me and grabs my neck.
"!?"
Surprisingly, she lifts me off the ground and throws me out of the room into the hallway. When did she get this strong?!
"H-hey! What are you..."
She then kicks me, sending me further down the hall.
"No more chances! You are kicked out of my house, and I don't want to see you ever again!"
Holding my aching body, I bark at her.
"Y-you can't do this to me! I'm your son, aren't I?! This isn't legal!"
"Hmm? You don't know shit about how this world works. Even if you are my son, I had the right to kick you out two years ago when you turned eighteen. I had hoped you would get your act together, but all you have done is spat in my face and stayed locked up in your room. Look at yourself! It looks like you were a prisoner!"
Huh? I look down at myself. My noodle arms still lay over my thin stomach. My rib cage looks like it is trying to escape. I look over my back to see my hair which looks as long as I am. When was the last time I got a haircut? Wait, that smell...
I quickly cover my nose as I smell something foul; however, I immediately remove my hands as I breathe them in. It's from me?!
"You get it? Now, leave before you stink up more of my house!"
I stay still as thoughts rush around my head. My body shakes in fear. I attempt to reach over to her. She grabs my hand, but instead of helping me, she yanks me into the living room, slams the front door open, and chucks me out of the house.
"Leave! You have thirty seconds to get off my property before I call the police!"
"..."
I lay frozen on the flat grass. All thoughts have left my brain. All I can hear is my heartbeat which echoes throughout my entire body. I close my eyes, hoping this is all a dream; however...
"20... 19... 18..."
Every ounce of body hair stands up. I open my eyes and scramble to get up. I fail my limbs in all directions until I finally get up.
"10... 9... 8..."
My time is almost up; I attempt to run away; however, not even a few feet, and I fall.
"5..."
I toss myself back up and again attempt to run, tears streaming down my face. My mother's words echos in the distance as I wobble down a gravel path.
"Never come back, you damn NEET!"
...
"Ha... Ha... Ha..."
After running down the road for a few minutes, I collapse onto a patch of grass. I plant my hands on the ground. Sharp pains echos throughout my stomach with every breath. Both sweat and tears beam down my face, forming a puddle. A few words managed to escape my lips.
"W-why is... t-this happening... t-to me... AHHHH!!"
I scream while slamming my right fist onto the ground.
"I-it's her fault... Yeah, that's right! I'll make her beg for me to return. Haha! I'll get a loan and buy a gun, then... Yeah... Everything will be solved with that... Haha-Hahaa! Cough, Cough!"
Recovering from my laughter and aching body, I roll over and smile at the sky.
"!?"
As soon as I lock on the air, all color drains from my face.
Vrooom! Vroom!!!
"Wha..."
My entire plan and the rest of my thoughts fade away into nothingness. Pain no longer aches from my stomach, nor could I feel any more sweat or tears falling off. Only a few words escape from my lips.
"A-a... plane?!"
I watch a plane fall from the sky, aiming right for me. I scream for my body to move, but it doesn't listen. I start balling again. No, I don't want to die! Someone, anyone, please!
I silently scream louder and louder as the plane gets closer. Then, the plane suddenly slows down, and all color drains from the atmosphere. Finally, my vision fades to blackness. Memories then start bombarding me... I relive my past life, looking at every action I committed. I watched my early childhood, school, the bullying, and the day when I lost interest in everything but games... I go through them all!
Then, everything goes back to black... I blink a few times, trying to process what happened. W-what an idiot I am...
An exhale escapes my lips as I let out a loose smile. A lone tear slithers down my face.
"Haha, I am a failure of a human being. Mother, forgive me..."
Kaboom!
----------------------------------------
"Ugh..."
A moan slips out of my mouth as my consciousness returns. I slowly open my eyes. Everything around me is an empty void.
"Where am I?"
I attempt to look down at my body, but it's not there. I can't feel anything, either. I let out a defeated sigh.
"Haha... I guess this is the afterlife? At least I can remember what happened..."
All that I have left are my thoughts and memories. After the flashback, I can now recall memories I have once forgotten. I simulate closing my eyes. I dive into my memories, slowly exploring each one and its nooks and crannies.
They all boil down to me having shitty luck. I started getting bullied during middle school, and it continued to get worst to the point where I would come home with my entire body covered in cuts and bruises. I couldn't make friends, nor did I do well in any subject, mainly due to the bullying. Unfortunately, high school wasn't any better. I even dropped out in the middle of my first year of Senior High school.
I softly sigh.
"To think my luck was so bad that I would get killed by a fallen plane..."
Not only was my luck shit, but I did some horrible stuff to my parents. After dropping out, I locked myself in my room and started playing games. My father had already passed years prior, so I only had my mother. She attempted various things to get me out of my room- even had a theorist come, but I ignored them all. She was pretty accepting and gave me all these years to get myself back together; however, I spit that back in her face. I wish I didn't waste that opportunity... Maybe I could have lived a good life if I had listened to her.
"I am a failure of a human being..."
"Indeed. What a failure you were."
"?!"
My body jerks upwards. I frantically searched around the void, but I couldn't find anyone. Did I imagine that?
"Incorrect. I am speaking directly to your mind."
"Huh?!"
I jump again but then immediately calm down.
"W-who are you?"
"I am known as the Judge. Welcome, Okuma Sho, to the Realm of the Between. My entire purpose is to judge where a soul goes by watching their entire life."
"Ah... So that flashback..."
"Correct. That flash of memories coming to you was from me watching them. Now... I have had enough time. I have determined your fate."
"..."
I gulp with sweat dripping down my face.
My fate... What does that mean? Perhaps there is another journey for people instead of sitting in an empty void for eternity. With everything I've done, without a doubt, I will be s...
"Okuma Sho! You have been living a life of isolation, fear, aggression, and misery. Instead of finding help or attempting to solve your problems, you collapse in fear. You lived a life as an animal without care for your body or those around you."
I look down and nod. You're entirely right, that's why...
"That life is unfit for a human being. I have seen your sins. Due to their lack of severity, I have decided..."
I close my eyes.
"To give you a second chance."
My eyes burst open.
"!?"
"You will use this second chance to atone for your sins and live a good life, where you must contribute to society without more sins. When you return, I will return to watch your new life. If you fail, you will have a much worst fate... Do you understand?"
Tears roll down my cheeks. I smile.
"Yes, I do! I promise that I will relearn what it means to be human."
"Excellent. You will be born in a different world and as a baby. I will also take away all your memories, except those containing your failures and this meeting. Note that your new life will not be easy. You will be faced with many challenges and will be tested. However, by completing them, you will become a more well-rounded person. Now, go and repent!"
My consciousness begins fading into the void. Before it completely erases, I etch a promise into my soul.
I promise... I will live a good life of adventure and contribute to society!
...
"Congratulations! It's a boy!"