MrBoness

-- WSA 2025 Entry --
READ THE SYNOPSIS BEFORE JUMPING INTO THE STORY

“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

The moment their feet crossed the threshold, the world changed.

Not just the air, which grew heavier and thicker with age, or the silence, which stretched out so wide it felt like a second sky pressing in from all directions, no.

"What do you mean?" Sarissa raised an eyebrow.

Dee and Mara had the same question written in their faces.

"Try opening your stat windows." Miles retorted, not even trying to open his own.

One second, then two, three, nothing.

Diego waved his hand in front of his face, trying to pull up his menu like always, but nothing came.

"It's gone. Even my inventory seems… Locked."

"Same." Sarissa muttered. "Even the basics aren't working. Why?"

Before Dee could finish speaking, or anyone could say anything in return, Miles said.

Ch157. [World Quest] (17) - Bond/Eyes