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

Miles stood frozen as The Archivist's words hung between them, her unreadable gaze locked onto him. The weight of her demand pressed against his chest like an unseen hand, clawing at his ribs.

He needed answers, and he had put knowledge on the line. The only problem was…

"You want knowledge," she said, tone measured, deliberate. "But knowledge has its price. And I don't think you have taken into consideration that I might know more than you can fathom, have you, [Harbinger]?"

Sarissa tensed beside him, her sharp eyes flicking between The Archivist and Miles, though she said nothing. Mara, however, scoffed, arms crossing over her chest.

"Whatever mess you have just put yourself into, Harbinger, count me out." she muttered.

The Archivist ignored her. Instead, she lifted a pale hand and pointed toward the door.

Ch86. Pain as a teacher (10) - A path to be walked alone