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

"How much do you really know about this place?" Miles' voice came out steadier than he expected.

He had barely caught his breath, and the effects of the [Ether Teapot] were but a pale shadow of comfort after his world came crashing down.

Kurt pulled his knife back, crossing his arms, his silver eye gleaming faintly in the dim glow of the glyphs behind Miles. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension.

"More than most." Kurt exhaled sharply through his nose.

"Bullshit." Miles narrowed his eyes. "You're hiding something."

"Maybe. But so are you, kid, and I'm not pushing you against a wall for it."

"You just pulled a knife at my throat." Miles clenched his jaw.

"Yeah, well, you have a point." Kurt scoffed. "But still… Do you really mean it? That we come from different worlds?"

Ch101. Pain as a teacher (25) - Not so bad