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

As Mara led Diego deeper into its winding alleys, the ever-present hum of bartering voices and flickering neon signs gave the underground city an almost surreal atmosphere. Diego stayed close to her, his brown eyes darting to the many stalls packed with strange artifacts, weapons, and trinkets, some pulsing with ominous energy.

"First thing's first," Mara said, nudging his shoulder. "You need real food before we do anything else. You look like you're surviving on whatever scraps Miles lets you get away with."

"He means well." Diego gave a half-hearted chuckle. "And the [NRPs] are nutritious, you know?" He pouted.

"Yeah, well, 'meaning well' doesn't mean jack if you pass out mid-fight. Come on." She offered Diego her hand. "I'll show you the real taste of the Black Market, and then you'll have some actual good stories to tell Miles when he comes back."

Ch89. Pain as a teacher (13) - Claws and blades