Warning: New World

The sleeping quarters were pitch dark, a suffocating blackness broken only by the faint sounds of breathing and occasional shuffles as restless bodies adjusted in their bunks. The room was packed to capacity, rows of bunk beds stacked high, each one occupied by someone seeking the uneasy rest that only exhaustion could bring. That uneasy calm shattered when the room lit up in a furious red glow. Sirens blared without warning, the piercing wail slicing through the stillness like a blade.

Panic erupted immediately. The players shot out of their beds in a frenzy, the chaos palpable as dozens scrambled for footing. Sheets were yanked aside, elbows bumped, and feet hit the cold floor with frantic urgency. Yet amidst this frenzied sea of panic, one figure moved with eerie calm. Sirius sat up, his movements deliberate and unhurried, as though the sirens were no more than an annoying alarm clock.

Sirius rubbed the back of his head, standing casually as the others rushed past him. "The hell is happening?" he muttered, his tone more annoyed than concerned.

From across the room, Zayd shoved through the throng of bodies, his face pale and his eyes wild. He stopped in front of Sirius, grabbing his arm. "What's happening?!" he demanded, his voice laced with genuine terror.

Sirius shrugged, unbothered. "I do not know."

The blaring sirens were replaced by a booming, robotic voice from unseen speakers: "ATTENTION ALL PLAYERS, REPORT TO THE MAIN LOBBY!!!"

The room erupted again, most players dashing out of the sleeping quarters, their footfalls echoing like thunder. Zayd looked back at Sirius, his panic evident. "Why are you so calm?!" he asked, exasperated.

Sirius gave a small sigh, brushing past him. "I don't know, man. Let's just get to the main lobby." Without waiting for a reply, he walked out with the same measured pace, leaving Zayd to scramble after him.

The main lobby was a cacophony of noise, filled with shouts and frantic whispers. Players crowded together, their voices overlapping as they speculated about what was going on. The air was thick with anxiety, the collective fear of the unknown practically radiating off the crowd.

"QUIET!!!" the speakers boomed, silencing the room instantly. Every head turned toward the televisions mounted on the walls as they flickered to life.

The screens revealed an unusual sight: a robotic, furry cat. Its appearance was striking and bizarre. The robot's body was split horizontally into two distinct halves. The left side was sleek black, with crescent-shaped white eyes and a closed smile that seemed unsettlingly serene. The right side, in stark contrast, was pristine white, its red, playful eyes darting with an almost mischievous energy. Behind the creature, a striped black-and-white tail swayed lazily, as though it didn't have a care in the world.

The robotic cat leaned closer to the screen, its voice full of manic glee. "Bwahaha, fools! This is our first time meeting! I'm not the host, but you can think of me as the mascot! You can call me Tsukuri, and for the people that can't pronounce that, call me Problem Startin."

Zayd tilted his head and muttered under his breath, "Problem Startin' is a stupid name..." A few others around him whispered similar sentiments, their hushed voices carrying through the room.

Tsukuri's ears twitched as it snapped back, its tone suddenly accusatory. "I HEARD THAT! PROBLEM STARTIN IS AN AMAZING NAME!!!"

The crowd froze in terror, their murmurs ceasing instantly. Tsukuri cackled, its voice dripping with mockery. "Bwahaha, just kidding! I can't hear anything going on in that room!"

Zayd let out a breath of relief, muttering, "Thank God..."

Tsukuri's tail swayed behind it as it continued, its tone shifting to something more instructive. "Let me explain the rules of this fun game. Behind that door," it gestured with a clawed paw, "is Scene 1, Act 1! Which isn't what you think it is. You might think it's a level, but it's actually the main stage. In that room, everything takes place! Every player will have a bounty, starting at one hundred dollars. You can increase that bounty by doing a plethora of things, like helping other players or residents within the stage. But the two big breadwinners are..." it paused for dramatic effect, "...beating bosses or killing other players."

The room erupted in uproar, voices rising as players shouted over one another in disbelief and anger.

Sirius crossed his arms, his voice dry. "So we're in a death game."

Zayd glanced at him, desperation in his voice. "Hey, it's not necessary to kill!"

Tsukuri's mechanical laugh cut through the noise. "On the stage, there will be resources and treasures that can also increase your bounty. Bosses can be found within buildings or certain areas of the stage. And if you find me and manage to beat me, I'll give you a big ol' boost to your bounty! Every day, a new scene starts, and that replenishes the resources and treasures. After one week passes, a new act begins, introducing new bosses! After... sometime passes, every player will be rewarded with their bounty!"

Sirius squinted at the screen. "After sometime passes?"

Tsukuri's grin grew wider. "That's it for the rules! You can figure out the rest for yourselves. Bwahaha! Let the Dynamite Game... START!"

The TVs blinked off, and for a moment, the room was still. Then, a deafening explosion shattered the silence. The massive vault door at the far end of the lobby blew open, metal shards scattering across the room. The players flinched, shielding themselves as more explosions followed, sending plumes of smoke and debris into the air.

"RUN!" someone screamed, and the players surged forward, rushing into the thick smoke. Sirius and Zayd were caught in the current, their movements slow and deliberate compared to the panicked crowd.

As they emerged on the other side of the vault, the chaos behind them faded, replaced by a breathtaking sight. It was like stepping into another world. The sky stretched out endlessly, a bright and brilliant blue. A warm sun hung high above, casting its golden light over the vibrant green grass of an open field. The landscape seemed untouched, pristine, and impossibly vast. For a moment, the crowd stood in awe, their fear momentarily forgotten as they stared at the surreal, endless expanse before them.

The air hung still for a brief moment as Sirius furrowed his brows, his voice cutting through the silence.

"Okay, what?"

Before an answer could surface, the sky darkened, and a thunderous crash shook the ground. A giant robot, towering and monstrous, descended from above. Its rope-like arms lashed out with terrifying precision, snatching a dozen people from the ground. Without hesitation, the machine caged them on its broad, metallic back, locking them in before bolting away with heavy, earth-shaking steps.

"Hey, wait!" Zayd yelled, his hand outstretched in futility as the robot vanished into the distance.

Sirius turned sharply, his heart pounding. The vault door they had entered through—their gateway into this bizarre world—was gone.

Zayd spun around, panic evident in his voice. "We're trapped?!"

Around them, the other people scattered like ants, fleeing in every direction. A low, ominous hum began to fill the air, growing louder with every second.

Zayd froze, straining to hear. "What's that noise?"

In the distance, something blurred against the horizon. It moved fast, closing in like a predator.

"What is that…?" Sirius murmured, his voice tight with unease. As the objects neared, their shapes became clearer—sleek, metallic, and unmistakable.

Missiles.

Sirius's eyes widened. "MISSILES!!!"

"WHAT?!" Zayd exclaimed, his voice breaking with disbelief.

With reflexes born of desperation, Zayd hurled himself to the ground, tucking and rolling just in time to avoid the incoming barrage.

Sirius, however, stood frozen, his legs heavy as stone. My body! It's not moving!

"S.H., WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Zayd's voice was frantic, piercing through the chaos.

Now. Sirius's mind snapped into focus. Summoning a burst of willpower, he leapt into the air and landed on one of the missiles. Its surface was hot and smooth, but he balanced himself with surprising ease. Behind him, dozens more missiles trailed in relentless pursuit.

From the ground, something burst forth with terrifying speed. The creature—a missile-shaped robot—screamed through the air like a vengeful ghost. Its head housed a giant mechanical brain, encased in glass that gleamed menacingly in the sunlight. Two massive, round eyes stared hungrily, and its toothy grin stretched unnaturally wide, wrapping around its entire face. Long, sinewy appendages extended outward, each ending in a spinning drill.

"What the hell is that thing?!" Sirius yelled, his voice tinged with shock.

A holographic display flickered to life behind the robot, projecting its name in bold letters: D. Big Rill (Missile Drill). Beneath the name, a bounty of $500 glowed enticingly.

On the ground, Zayd called out, desperation clawing at his words. "Wait! S.H., where are you going?!"

Sirius barely heard him. My body reacted too slowly… but too fast at the same time. What is this feeling coursing through me? Adrenaline?

The Missile Drill closed the distance, its drills whirring as they reached for Sirius.

No! Sirius crossed his arms instinctively, bracing for impact. To his astonishment, the drills shattered against his forearms, their jagged remains plummeting to the earth below.

"How did I do that?" he whispered, staring at his unscathed arms. His hair, unbeknownst to him, began to shift to a fiery red hue.

The Missile Drill let out a guttural mechanical roar. A hatch opened on its back, unleashing a swarm of smaller missiles that streaked toward Sirius.

"Why hasn't this missile blown up yet?" Sirius muttered, still riding atop the missile as it carved a path through the sky. Ahead, the giant robot with the rope-like arms loomed into view, still sprinting with its prisoners. Sirius's eyes glazed over, his movements becoming eerily fluid. Without hesitation, he steered the missile downward, flipping off of it at the last second.

The missile struck the robot with explosive force, sending debris flying as the cage on its back shattered. The captives spilled onto the ground, free once more. A hologram blinked on Sirius's wristband, notifying him of a $50 increase to his bounty.

Wait, I can move? Doesn't moving mid-backflip defy gravity?!

As the swarm of missiles closed in, Sirius's transformation completed. His hair blazed entirely red, and his eyes turned vacant, as though he were a machine operating on instinct. With a mighty push of his feet, he launched himself downward, hurtling toward the missiles like a meteor. He tore through the cluster effortlessly, each missile detonating harmlessly behind him.

Sirius redirected his momentum toward the Missile Drill, his body streaking through the air like a lightning bolt. With one earth-shattering punch, he struck the robot's head, driving it into the ground. The machine exploded in a fiery blaze, the impact reverberating like a thunderclap.

As the smoke cleared, the remaining missiles fell lifelessly from the sky, detonating harmlessly in the distance. Sirius landed gracefully amidst the destruction, his wristband flashing once more. The hologram displayed a new total: Bounty Increased by $500.

The freed players scrambled to their feet, gratitude written across their faces. One of them turned back, breathless, and shouted, "Thank you for saving us!" Without waiting for a reply, they bolted in the direction of safety, their footsteps quickly fading.

Sirius blinked, unsure how to respond. "Uh, yeah… no problem," he muttered, scratching the back of his head.

Zayd came sprinting up, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. "S.H., what the hell was that?!"

Sirius threw his hands up, equally exasperated. "That's what I'm saying!"

Zayd jabbed a finger toward him, his voice rising in disbelief. "Your hair… It's red! And you just punched a robot out of the sky while dodging missiles! Are you some secret Syntharc or something?!"

Sirius furrowed his brow. "My hair's red?"

"Yeah! And your eyes too!" Zayd took a step back, gesturing at him with both hands. "You look like you're about to kill me—no emotion at all!"

"Do I now?" Sirius asked flatly, the faintest hint of curiosity creeping into his tone.

"Yeah!" Zayd said, waving his arms frantically. "What's up with all of this?! Do I get superpowers too? Are these wristbands hiding something?"

Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, it's either that… or something else."

"What could it be?"

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Sirius's lips. "I'll keep that a secret—for now. But should I?"

Zayd tilted his head, frowning. "Should you?"

"Let's walk and talk." As they started moving, Sirius's hair gradually faded back to its normal color, and the intensity drained from his eyes. For a moment, the world seemed quiet again.

After a few steps, Zayd broke the silence. "So, you got into an accident the night before I picked you up from that gas station?"

Sirius nodded, his gaze distant. "I swear I died that night. But somehow, I woke up the next morning, alive."

Zayd squinted at him. "You die near anything… unusual?"

"Maybe a secret 6-star cybernetic," Sirius replied, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

Zayd's eyes widened. "Wait—wasn't one of those lost in the Lekt Foundation explosion?!"

"Yeah," Sirius confirmed. "The only one in the world."

"What were you doing there?"

Sirius hesitated for a beat before sighing. "I had a part-time job. Night shift security guard."

Zayd let out a low whistle. "Man, I never knew. So… you were a victim of that terrorist attack?"

Sirius's jaw tightened. "Yeah. I felt it all—the explosion, the impact, the... embrace of it. I remember every detail of that night."

Zayd looked at him thoughtfully. "There can only be a few explanations for this."

Sirius cocked an eyebrow. "I'm all ears."

"This could be like Prototype!" Zayd exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.

Sirius frowned. "Never heard of it."

"It's an old game," Zayd explained, animatedly waving his hands. "Came out like a hundred years ago. There's this dude, Alex Mercer, who has a parasite—"

"A hundred years ago?" Sirius interrupted, clearly unimpressed.

"Yeah! It never got a sequel."

"Okay, go on," Sirius said, rolling his eyes.

"Anyway," Zayd continued, "big spoiler here—Alex Mercer isn't actually Alex Mercer. He's the parasite, or virus, mimicking the real Alex Mercer, who's actually dead!"

"So," Sirius said slowly, "you're saying the real me is dead, and I'm just a carbon copy created by the 6-star cybernetic?"

"Not created by it—you are the 6-star cybernetic!" Zayd declared triumphantly.

Sirius frowned, his expression unreadable. "I don't even know what that would mean for me. I don't even know what this thing does!"

"Well," Zayd said with a shrug, "so far, it gives you super speed, strength, and durability."

Sirius snorted. "That's actually so lame, bro."

"If you are the 6-star cybernetic," Zayd said, "there has to be more to it. Can't you tap into it?"

Sirius shrugged again. "I don't know how."

Zayd grinned. "We'll figure it out!"

"On a more pressing note," Sirius said, his tone shifting, "this game? Definitely a killing game."

"Oh, yeah!" Zayd said, his voice rising. "THAT THING SHOT MISSILES AND HAD DRILLS!"

Sirius's expression darkened. "I don't even want to think about what would've happened to those people if I hadn't saved them."

"And that was just a mini-boss?" Zayd shook his head. "They expect humans to beat things like that?"

"They don't," Sirius said grimly. "That's the point. Whoever's behind this dumped us here for entertainment."

"You think there's, like, VIP spectators? Like Squid Game?" Zayd asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Sirius replied. "But I don't think the big man expects anyone to survive this."

Zayd's face lit up suddenly. "Oh my god, S.H.! This is the perfect setup!"

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"You!" Zayd exclaimed. "A guy with superpowers in a game full of powerless people. You can save everyone!"

Sirius chuckled. "Sounds easy enough. That red-hair form makes me stronger. I doubt I'll struggle taking down these bosses."

"You say that now, but—"

"I know what you're gonna say," Sirius interrupted. "And yeah, you've got a point. So, how do we do this?"

"We hunt bosses!" Zayd said confidently.

Sirius tilted his head, considering. "Kind of like a boss rush in real life. Sounds… interesting. But how are we supposed to find them? There aren't exactly neon signs pointing the way."

"That's why we search!" Zayd declared.

"In this big-ass world? No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Their bickering trailed off as they stumbled across a peculiar building. Shaped like a cat, the structure was impossible to miss. Above its entrance hung a large sign that read: Theater of Tsukuri.

Sirius's eyes narrowed. "No way."

Zayd's grin widened. "Boss stage!" he shouted, sprinting toward the building.

"Why are you running like you're about to fight the thing yourself?" Sirius called after him.

"Because I know you'll follow me!" Zayd yelled over his shoulder.

Sirius sighed, shaking his head. "Man, whatever."