MrBoness

-- WSA 2025 Entry --

“Five… Four… Three… Two… One…”
As the countdown towards the new year went on to the last second, Miles looked up to the sky, just as everybody else did.

In the middle of the crowded street, Miles for once felt like he belonged. Being a teenage gamer, living with his parents, and trying to build a life as a streamer, he did not feel like leaving his room every day.

But there, in the middle of that crowded street, with everyone around him paying attention to the sky, the countdown on the digital billboard, and mostly anything else but him., Miles felt like a ghost.

A welcomed ghost, but a ghost, after all.

With a smile on his unseen face, he looked up as the countdown reached one, and everybody sang in unison.
‘HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

But Miles’ eyes widened as he watched in utter horror, and curiosity, even, hovering above him, a holographic screen with a few lines of text written in it.

All around him, although he did not pay much attention to it, a few other people seemed to experience the same situation.

[Updating home-world 39515’s version]

[Version 20.25 update brings a lot of fun and games with the new and improved survival mode]

[Do you want to convert your previous avatar to home-world 39515’s latest version?]

[Yes] [No]

“Survival… Mode?” Miles’ lips quivered.

Before he could think of anything else, though, the people around him began to scream…

Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game

<p>The ruined city was silent, save for the distant echo of dripping water and the occasional crackling ember left in the wake of her battle. Whatever lurked in the shadows, was probably too afraid to go out in the pouring rain. Or, maybe it was too afraid of the recipient of the fierce battle that unfolded just a while ago in the outskirts.</p>

<p>Sarissa stood motionless in front of the portal, her arms crossed tightly, eyes locked on the shimmering tear in reality. The strange, crackling energy that framed it pulsed rhythmically, like the slow, steady beating of a heart. She had tried stepping through a few times after the violent rejection, but something in it kept pushing her back as if she was nothing but a rag doll, hurling her back against the crumbling ruins.</p>

Ch49. RE - World Quest (7) - This time it's different