The Last Day of Mythos

In 2031, the release of the Neurolink brought a new era of technology, enhancing cognitive function by enabling information downloads directly into the brain.

Four years later, in 2035, humanity celebrated yet another leap in innovation with the introduction of Quantum Computers, revolutionizing data processing speeds by making them millions of times faster than its predecessors.

What followed was a convergence of the Neurolink and Quantum Computing resulting in the release of the 'link' in 2038, boasting an array of new features and universal connectivity.

Recognizing its potential, a visionary company seized the opportunity to pioneer a groundbreaking gaming experience.

The minds behind Mythos leveraged dreams as a platform, through advanced AI and unparalleled processing power of quantum computers they were able to create a near-perfect recreation of reality. Thus, Mythos was born – the world's first Dream Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (DRMMORPG).

Officially launched in 2041, Mythos captivated audiences with its immersive gameplay, enabling players to embark on unique gaming adventures in a world where many mythologies were intertwined. Despite the emergence of subsequent titles, the game's legendary status and the trust fostered by its creators ensured its enduring popularity, boasting one of the largest playerbases to date.

As he walked, Archon reflected on the ingenious creators behind the game who first thought to use dreams rather than virtual reality. Their decisions shaped his current life, allowing him to pursue his passion.

The corridor he was in was embellished with a long mirror spanning its length and Archon used it to admire the visual design of his character, a creation he had painstakingly taken a whole day to craft and felt immense pride in. With long black hair and eyes as blue as the sea, his character's handsome facial features were unmissable.

Professional players were typically held to a standard of conduct befitting their status, given that their characters' names and appearances were integrated into the game's lore. So, while others could indulge in creating humorous character designs for entertainment, those in the professional sphere were expected to maintain a level of seriousness.

Archon's current equipment deviated from the usual as major events like the World Championship presented a chance for elite players to earn endorsement deals from in-game fashion designers for promoting cosmetic creations. Since most of his and other pro players' equipment fell within a rank that restricted customization, Archon and many others opted for a lower-ranked outfit, though he retained some high-level jewellery. Fortunately, wearing weaker equipment posed no issue as outside of matches, combat in the Arena was disabled during events.

As he reached the end of the corridor and entered the studio. However, before he could look around, the host, known as Macbard, hurried over to him.

"Good, you're finally here," Macbard exclaimed, his tone urgent. "We were just about to teleport you using the system. There's no time to waste, so please take a seat," he gestured towards the lavish chair atop the classically themed set. "We'll be starting in a few minutes."

"What?" Archon responded, taken aback. "I thought the interview was supposed to start after the season 14 patch notes. I'm not ready yet."

Macbard answered in a rush, "None of us are prepared. They postponed the patch notes until after our interview cause of the issue earlier." Leaning in, he added in a hushed tone "Between the two of us… Apparently, there's a problem with the new update. People's links started desyncing during the test launch."

"But don't they test it on a separate server?"

"Yeah, which is why everyone's puzzled. Even if that server was overloaded, it shouldn't affect us here."

Archon was familiar with the season 14 'Dreamscape' patch notes, though not in detail. Partly because a friend of his helped create them, but mostly because pro players are often informed ahead of the general public in return for insights and advice. Dreamscape aimed to revolutionize the game, Mythos had already blurred the lines between reality and virtuality, but the introduction of a new system aimed to erase those lines completely.

Referring to this as an update would be an understatement. Over the past decade, an array of quantum computers and cutting-edge AI had collaborated with a team of augmented humans to push the boundaries of dream reality. In essence, they were endeavouring to craft their own world—a realm so sophisticated and intricate that its very foundation would be indistinguishable from our own.

"Anyway, here's the plan," Macbard continued, his voice authoritative yet composed. "The postgame press conference is wrapping up. Since Eis and LeeYomso are both there, we'll split the interview into two parts. First, we'll have a one-on-one discussion to ease you in. I'll keep the questions simple since you're not fully prepared. Then, after a short break, they'll join us, and we'll proceed from there."

The original purpose of the interview was to generate hype for the upcoming pro league season.

Three world champions, each holding three titles marked a historic moment in the Mythos esports scene, the aim is to capitalize on the excitement by orchestrating a face-off.

Archon nodded in agreement and settled into his seat, awaiting the start of the interview. Before long, Macbard joined him, taking the seat opposite. Just as Archon allowed his thoughts to drift, he was abruptly pulled back to the present by an unexpected recitation from the host.

"Betty Botter had some butter," Macbard began, launching into a familiar tongue twister. Archon looked around in surprise, wondering if anyone else found the sudden monologue odd. However, it seemed he was the only one taken aback. He waited patiently for Macbard to finish before raising an eyebrow in question.

"You good?" he asked, unable to hide his bemusement.

Macbard chuckled. "Haha yeah, it's a tongue twister I use to warm up before an interview."

"It's the first time I'm hearing it, and we've done plenty of interviews together."

"Usually, I try to keep it inconspicuous, but we're out of time."

"Does it help?"

"Not if you do it once like I did. You'd still have to practice every day. I'm mostly saying it now because it's become a sort of ritual for me at this point."

In that moment, a member of Macbard's team waved at them to stop and began counting down using his fingers. The interview was about to begin.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to tonight's special interview segment. My name is John Bardsworth, also known as Macbard. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with one of the most influential figures in the esports world. Today, we're joined by none other than Archon, the esteemed veteran and strategic mastermind behind some of the most memorable moments in competitive gaming history. Archon, thank you for taking the time to be here with us."

"Thank you for having me, it's a pleasure to be here." His tone shifted, adopting a more professional demeanour.

Archon navigated each question with finesse, his seasoned expertise from years of interviews shining through. Their exchange flowed like a well-rehearsed dance, punctuated by occasional humour and shared insights, delicately balancing viewers interest without revealing too much about the upcoming season. As the first segment of the interview neared its end, Macbard, posed one last question.

"Archon, what legacy do you hope to leave behind in the world of esports?"

Though Archon could have given another basic response, instead he decided to pivot the tone for the final question before the break. Macbard was, above all, a journalist and the hunger for breaking stories often overruled his sense of propriety. Archon was thankful he managed to restrain himself this time and wanted to repay the favour.

"Obviously, I aim to leave behind a legacy as the Greatest of all Time. LeeYomso's recent three-peat may have raised some doubts, but it's only fuelled my hunger for success. We've already made moves that will secure our title in the upcoming season, and I'm fully committed to reclaiming my place at the top."

Macbard was taken aback by the forceful retort from Archon, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. He was eager to delve deeper, but a subtle signal from one of the producers halted him mid-sentence.

"Wow Archon, those are some bold words, let's hope you're ready to back them up. As much as I'd love to keep this fiery conversation going, we must leave it here. To those watching, join us after the break, where we'll have both LeeYomso, the captain of Glory, and Eis, the coach of Rampage, joining us."

As soon as he finished, the door to the studio swung open, revealing three figures. First came Eis and Adonis who almost tripped over each other, trying to be the first inside. The last to enter was LeeYomso.

"Out of my way David, you shouldn't even be here." Eis quipped.

"Oh please, it's only fair to let your superior go first… And don't call me by my name, we're not that close anymore." he teased attempting to edge past Eis.

Before engaging with them, Archon extended a greeting to LeeYomso. "Nice to meet you Lee. I'm Archon. It's shocking we haven't had the chance to meet before." he remarked, offering his hand.

LeeYomso accepted the handshake, accompanied by a respectful bow. "T-The pleasure is mine. Actually, we've met in the past, though it might not stand out in your memory."

Archon expressed his regret. "I'm sorry. I'll make sure to remember this time."

He noticed LeeYomso was unexpectedly timid, a stark contrast to his demeaner during matches and interviews.

"Have they been arguing for long?" Archon inquired.

"Since the beginning," LeeYomso confirmed. "I'm glad you're here. Maybe you can—"

"Guess I should join them." Archon interjected abruptly.

"Wait, what?" LeeYomso's confusion was evident.

With a quick step he made his way towards the bickering couple.

"Eis, can you save your nonsense for later?" Archon directed his words toward Eis, aiming to provoke him.

"Shut up, you don't own me." Eis retorted defensively.

"Clearly, otherwise you wouldn't act like an idiot." Archon shot back, his tone laced with sarcasm.

The dynamic between Archon and Eis had been fraught with rivalry and animosity since the early days of Mythos. The relationship between the three dated back to before the games release. Once friends, their relationship soured when Eis betrayed Archon's and Adonis' first team back in season 2. While Eis held some respect for Adonis, who retired early, his interactions with Archon were marked by simmering tension and battles for supremacy that strained their relationship beyond repair.

Macbard had hoped Archon would put an end to the commotion, but seeing no signs of that, he decided to step in himself. "Stop it, both of you," he interjected, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension.

Feeling he got the better in the exchange, Archon redirected his attention to Adonis, though he couldn't help but notice the veins bulging on Eis' forehead in frustration. It appeared he was willing to let it go for now.

"Why are you here?" Archon inquired curiously.

"I ran into Lee on his way back from the post-game interview, and he asked me to tag along," Adonis explained, casually placing his arm over LeeYomso's shoulder. "Turns out, he's quite the fan."

LeeYomso nervously chuckled before speaking up. "I've always admired you and Adonis. You're a big reason why I decided to pursue a pro career."

"Well, I guess I accidentally groomed some serious competition." He paused briefly before deciding to deliver one final jab. "About time, because some are so lacklustre, I was losing my motivation to play." Archon replied, shooting a pointed glance at Eis.

"Oh, you fu—"

Before Eis could finish his sentence, Macbard jumped in. "Archon, shup up, save it for the interview. The break is almost over. Go and take your seats."

As Eis walked past Archon he whispered cheerfully. "Finally, someone puts you back in your place, go and sit like a good doggie."

Despite his annoyance, Archon bit his tongue, realising he's at fault. There was no point in aggravating Macbard any further, as the host he could make the interview hell for Archon if he wanted.

Over the next few minutes, staff members briefed the trio on the interview format, encouraging lively discourse and providing insights into their strategic plans for the upcoming season. The producer even suggested staging a simulated altercation towards the end to ignite fan excitement around their rivalry. While combat was disabled in the area, the heated approach was designed to captivate viewers.

Just before the interview commenced, Macbard approached Archon with a request.

"I had a chat with the producer, and he's keen on you switching to your standard gear, since the others are wearing theirs from the final match. Oh, and place your weapons in the field of vision to add tension." Macbard explained, his tone laced with urgency.

"You do realize I'm wearing this cosmetic for promotional purposes, right?"

"Yeah, we're aware of that. Normally, we wouldn't ask you to change, but this is a special circumstance. We're anticipating a huge spike in viewership if we nail this. Plus, you've been wearing it for most of the event, so those who are supposed to buy it will do anyway."

Normally, Archon wouldn't have minded, especially since it seemed like the company behind Mythos was the one pushing for it, so there wouldn't be any repercussions. But this time, it wasn't just anyone's clothes he was wearing. It was his younger sister's design, and she was trying to break into the fashion world with this as her first attempt.

"Sorry, but no, I'm going to stick with this," Archon asserted firmly.

Macbard exhaled audibly in resignation. "Fine, but they're not going to be happy about this."

With that, Macbard returned to his seat, and as all preparations finished, a member of the staff began counting down with his finger again.

As the countdown proceeded, an unsettling sensation began to wash over Archon. It felt as though he was drifting away from his own body, disconnected and disoriented. Glancing around, he noticed similar discomfort among the others in the room. Before the countdown could reach its conclusion, a member of the staff collapsed to the floor. Despite the urge to assist, Archon found himself immobilized by a growing sense of nausea. As the cameras began to roll, Macbard and his team seemed to be slipping into a state of unconsciousness. Though still partially aware, Archon and the others found themselves trapped in a haze of darkness and confusion, a creeping numbness engulfing their bodies. Despite his efforts to log out, the attempt was thwarted by an inexplicable barrier. In a matter of moments, the world faded to black, enveloping them all in a shroud of uncertainty.