THE SECOND ROUND OF DESTINY

Saland and Haytham, having just pierced through the veil of reality via the shimmering portal, found themselves within an impossibly long corridor. The very air hummed with a pure, white light that emanated from the walls, the floor, and the gracefully arched ceiling above.

A quick glance passed between the two companions. It was Saland who broke the silence, his voice carrying a note of urgency. "We must keep moving. Every moment wasted is a moment Sayler could be closer to claiming the Sphere of Fate. We can't afford to lose any more time."

Haytham's response was immediate, his usual enthusiasm bubbling to the surface despite the gravity of their situation. "You're right! Let's go! We're going to save the VR WORLD again, no matter what it takes!"

For what felt like an eternity, or perhaps merely ten minutes, their footsteps echoed in the luminous passage. Finally, a break in the endless white appeared before them – the exit. Stepping through, the two friends were met with a sight that stole their breath away.

Gone was the stark, sterile corridor. In its place lay an enormous, circular dimension. Sunlight, seemingly from nowhere and everywhere at once, bathed a landscape dotted with countless trees. Their canopies, a vibrant light green, pulsed with an ethereal glow. Beneath them, a carpet of lush green grass stretched out. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the faint scent of blooming flora. Looking up, they were greeted by an endless expanse of the purest blue sky. This place… it felt like paradise itself.

Without a word, they continued their journey, their eyes fixed on the distant center of this breathtaking realm. As they progressed, the dense vegetation gradually thinned, the vibrant greens slowly giving way to a more barren landscape. Eventually, Saland and Haytham found themselves standing at the edge of a vast, circular chasm. The gray rock underfoot felt cold and unforgiving. Peering into the abyss, they could see no bottom, only an impenetrable darkness.

Beyond the chasm, suspended in the air, was a circular platform of rock. Its base was so far down within the chasm that it remained hidden from their view. The only way to reach it was a precarious series of rectangular rocks, levitating in mid-air. They were arranged like stepping stones, leading across the seemingly bottomless void to the platform.

And there it was. In the very center of the platform, resting serenely, was the object of their desperate quest: the Sphere of Fate. It pulsed with a soft, multicolored light, no larger than a tennis ball. But their gaze was soon drawn beyond the sphere.

Standing on the far side of the platform, near another set of levitating rocks, was their adversary. His hair, long, black, and wildly tousled, cascaded down his back. A long, narrow black hat, reminiscent of a certain legendary archer, sat atop his head. His eyes were striking – white sclera, violet irises, and black pupils – and a confident smirk played on his lips. He wore a heavy black jacket, fastened with six silver buttons, its collar standing tall. His attire was completed by long black pants and a sturdy belt that held two holstered pistols at his hips.

Saland and Haytham recognized him instantly. It was Sayler.

As he fully arrived on the platform, the cracks in the rocks beneath their feet began to glow with an ominous yellow light. The individual rock segments, now illuminated, started to rotate clockwise, slowly rising like colossal building blocks. A circular pyramid was forming beneath them.

Sayler's voice, laced with a chilling certainty, echoed across the chasm. "It seems fate has indeed brought us together again. But this time, the outcome will be different. This time, I will not lose!"

Saland's grip tightened on his twin swords. "We are not the same people you faced in that forsaken place, Sayler."

Haytham, his eyes blazing with determination, added, "We have become stronger!"

A cruel smile stretched across Sayler's face. "Then by all means, show me what you are capable of. Because in the world I am about to create, there is no room for the weak!"

In unison, the three figures shifted into combat stances. Saland held his twin blades ready, their edges shimmering. Haytham's hand rested on the hilt of his katana, its dark steel reflecting the strange light of this dimension. And Sayler, with practiced ease, drew his two pistols.

The moment stretched, taut with anticipation. Then, with blinding speed, Saland and Haytham launched their attack. Saland darted to the right, a blur of motion, while Haytham mirrored him on the left. They aimed to flank Sayler, striking from both sides.

Saland was the first to reach him, unleashing a lightning-fast slash aimed at Sayler's side. But Sayler was prepared. His left pistol snapped up, and a crimson beam of energy erupted from its barrel, hurtling towards Saland. With a nimble twist, Saland dodged the attack and lunged forward, attempting to strike Sayler's chest with his signature "X" light technique. In response, Sayler's fingers flicked a switch on the grips of his pistols. From beneath the barrel, near the magazine, two long, wickedly sharp blades sprang forth. With a swift motion, Sayler parried Saland's crossed strike.

Before Sayler could counter, Haytham, now behind him, drew his own pistol with his right hand and fired a potent azure energy beam. Sayler reacted instantly, dodging the blast with a rapid sidestep. He then retaliated, firing a red energy beam at Haytham, who in turn managed to evade the attack.

A wave of power seemed to roll off Sayler as he declared, "It is time for you to witness my true power! Supreme admin mode instal!" A fierce red aura exploded from his body, engulfing him in its crimson glow. His eyes underwent a terrifying transformation: the white of his eyes turned pitch black, his irises burned with an intense red, and his pupils remained a stark black. Even his two pistols pulsed with the same malevolent red energy. Immediately, Sayler pointed his weapons at Saland and Haytham, unleashing an unending barrage of red energy beams.

The air crackled with destructive energy. Saland and Haytham, however, were more than capable of meeting this assault. With incredible agility, they dodged the relentless projectiles, their movements a blur of speed and teleportation, deflecting the energy with practiced ease.

Then, their voices rang out in unison, filled with newfound power. "Admin mode instal!!" "Admin mode instal twin demons!" "Admin mode instal elf dive admin mode!"

Haytham's transformation was dramatic and terrifying. The right side of his body, the side that now instinctively reached for his brother's greatsword – a weapon crackling with violet energy – was consumed by darkness. From the center of his head down to his right foot, his skin turned a deep, inky black. Across this dark canvas, lines of violet energy, like writhing flames, pulsed and shifted. His right eye now possessed a black sclera and a piercing violet pupil. On his right side, a massive demonic wing erupted from his back, its outer surface a matte black, the inner membrane a swirling vortex of violet energy.

The left side of his body, where he gripped his black and red katana, underwent a similar transformation, mirroring the right in its descent into darkness and the emergence of fiery red energy lines. A matching demonic wing, this one with an inner membrane of blazing red energy, unfurled from his left side. His left eye now mirrored its counterpart, with a black sclera and a burning red pupil.

Saland's transformation was equally awe-inspiring, though distinctly different. As he activated his admin mode instal, an enormous azure aura enveloped him, radiating pure energy. Behind him, countless rays of blue energy materialized, forming two majestic wings of light. His sword grew significantly larger, the word "EXSTAR" emblazoned across the flat of the blade, glowing with power. Lines of blue energy traced patterns across his entire body. And now, upon his forehead, a third eye opened – a swirling vortex of multicolored light with a white sclera, a multicolored iris, and a white pupil.

Both now stood radiating immense power, their forms a testament to their growth.

Sayler, his face contorted in a manic grin, made a lightning-fast dash towards them, teleporting directly between Saland and Haytham. He unleashed another furious volley of red energy beams from his pistols. But the two enhanced warriors were ready. With blinding speed, they dodged and weaved through the barrage.

"EXSTAR MULTIPLE SLASH!" Saland roared, unleashing a storm of azure energy slashes that tore through the air towards Sayler. The latter, with astonishing agility, evaded the onslaught.

Haytham, not to be outdone, unleashed a massive blast of violet flame from the tip of his black sword. Sayler met the attack head-on with a powerful red energy beam, the two forces colliding in a burst of raw power. But Haytham pressed his advantage, making a rapid dash while seemingly slowing down time around him. He launched a relentless assault of slashes, his katana and greatsword a blur of motion. Sayler, however, met each strike with the blades that had sprung from his pistols, his movements displaying incredible skill.

Suddenly, Saland teleported to Sayler's side. "EXSTAR SHOT!!" he yelled, firing an enormous beam of azure energy point-blank. Sayler, in a desperate move, released one of his pistols and fired a concentrated burst of red energy directly into Saland's attack, creating a devastating explosion that rocked the very platform they stood on.

In the ensuing smoke, Haytham drew his pistol and unleashed a rapid fire of red energy beams, while Sayler countered with his own volley of crimson projectiles. But Haytham was not relying solely on his firearm. With a fierce cry, he gripped both his katana and his greatsword, a potent aura of red and violet energy swirling around him. "Dimensional slash of demonic flames united!" he bellowed, unleashing a devastating crossed slash of violet flames and red demonic energy towards Sayler. Again, Sayler managed to evade the attack with incredible speed.

From behind, Saland's voice boomed, "EXSTAR STARDUST!!" He swung his massive sword in a powerful horizontal arc, creating a myriad of tiny stars made of pure energy. These miniature celestial bodies hurtled towards Sayler, detonating in a massive explosion that engulfed him.

Seeing their chance, Saland and Haytham pressed their attack, charging towards Sayler simultaneously. But their opponent was far from defeated. With a fluid motion, Sayler crossed his arms, the pistols in his hands undergoing another terrifying transformation. They morphed into two completely black blades, their surfaces etched with pulsating red energy lines. The blades were long and wickedly sharp, with only a short hilt. With these new weapons, Sayler effortlessly parried the incoming strikes from Haytham's katana and Saland's greatsword.

The two admins were momentarily stunned by this sudden shift in weaponry. But Sayler gave them no time to recover. Myriads of small red energy spheres materialized on the surfaces of his blades, firing countless energy rays in a devastating spray towards Saland and Haytham. The two were blasted backward by the sheer force of the attack, but they quickly regained their footing, returning to their combat stances.

Sayler, a blur of motion, made another lightning-fast dash, appearing directly in front of them. He unleashed a furious barrage of rapid slashes, creating a chaotic storm of red energy blades that flew in every direction. Saland and Haytham could only parry these incredibly powerful attacks, the clang of their weapons echoing across the desolate landscape. Yet, Sayler continued to generate an endless stream of red energy rays from his twin blades.

Desperate, Saland and Haytham attempted to counterattack, Saland unleashing slashes of azure energy, and Haytham responding with his own furious assault of red and violet energy. But Sayler's reaction speed was simply phenomenal. In the blink of an eye, he teleported back between them, his blades once again morphing into pistols. Two enormous beams of red energy erupted from their barrels, striking Saland and Haytham head-on.

With a supersonic burst of speed, Sayler shot upwards. Saland and Haytham, battered and bruised but unyielding, returned to their fighting stances. They were wounded, exhausted, but their determination burned brighter than ever. With a shared glance, they too launched themselves into the air, matching Sayler's incredible speed, attempting to close the distance. They rained down a series of rapid slashes, but Sayler parried each blow with astonishing speed. He then spun around, facing them, and in an instant, his pistols transformed once more, this time becoming a sleek black rifle adorned with red energy lines. A massive beam of red energy erupted from its muzzle, striking Saland and Haytham with devastating force. Sayler landed gracefully on the ground, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

Saland and Haytham emerged from the smoke of the explosion, their bodies bearing the marks of the fierce battle. They were injured, their movements sluggish with fatigue. Meanwhile, Sayler began his ascent of the circular pyramid, his steps slow and deliberate as he made his way to the apex, where the Sphere of Fate pulsed with its multicolored light. Reaching the top, he reached out and grasped the sphere. As his fingers closed around it, the sphere flared with an intense red light.

"I have won!" Sayler declared, his voice ringing with triumph. "My wish is simple: to become the one and only god of this new world!"

With a swift, decisive movement, Sayler plunged the Sphere of Fate into his own chest. The sphere erupted in a blinding flash of multicolored light, and Sayler screamed in agony. A radiant glow emanated from his body, momentarily blinding Saland and Haytham. When the light subsided, they beheld a terrifying transformation.

Sayler's body was now covered in pulsating lines of multicolored energy. He was shirtless, the Sphere of Fate embedded in his chest, glowing fiercely. His eyes had changed once more, now possessing white sclera, multicolored irises, and white pupils. The weapons were gone, and he wore only his black pants, his signature hat nowhere to be seen. A manic grin stretched across his face. "In my world," he hissed, his voice now imbued with an unnatural power, "there is no room for the likes of you. Die!"

From his outstretched index finger, Sayler unleashed an enormous beam of multicolored energy. But Saland and Haytham reacted instantly, leaping out of the way just as the devastating blast tore through the air. They landed in a fighting stance, their eyes locked on their transformed foe.

Saland roared, unleashing a massive diagonal slash of azure energy. Haytham followed suit, sending a powerful diagonal slash of red energy hurtling towards Sayler. The two energy blades converged, merging into a colossal, crossed slash of pure power. It hurtled towards Sayler, but he simply sidestepped it with effortless grace.

With lightning speed, Saland and Haytham dashed to either side of Sayler, attempting to strike him with two simultaneous, devastating blows. Sayler, however, was ready. He caught Saland's strike with his left hand and Haytham's with his right, his grip like iron. But even as he held their attacks at bay, the two admins felt Sayler's body tremble. The connection between him and the Sphere of Fate was unstable.

With a grunt, Sayler shoved them away, but Saland and Haytham immediately regained their footing, exchanging a knowing glance. They understood. The bond between Sayler and the Sphere of Fate was weak, and their only chance was to strike him as much as possible, hoping to sever it completely.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Sayler snarled, sensing their intent.

Without a word, Saland and Haytham launched themselves at Sayler, unleashing a furious barrage of rapid slashes aimed at every part of his body. "Damn you!!" Sayler roared in frustration and pain. Suddenly, an intense light erupted from his body, and he screamed, "NOOO!!!" The Sphere of Fate embedded in his chest began to dislodge. Sayler desperately reached for it, but Haytham, with a burst of speed, activated his Phantom Thief ability, snatching the Sphere of Fate before Sayler could grasp it.

Holding the glowing sphere in his hand, Haytham declared, "Sayler, you have lost. My wish is to become strong enough to defeat you, and for Saland, Shimmon, and Christy to become just as strong!"

Immediately, Saland placed his hand on the Sphere of Fate alongside Haytham. A blinding light erupted, engulfing Sayler, who began to revert to his previous form. When the light finally faded, two sentences appeared in the air above Haytham's and Saland's heads: "the sphere of fate has been given to the five chosen ones, now Saland is a GAME MASTER, ELVEN GOD OF LIGHT" and "the sphere of fate has been given to the five chosen ones, now Haytham is a GAME MASTER, DEMONIC GOD".

Saland and Haytham had undergone their final transformation. Saland now radiated a powerful multicolored aura. He was clad in an elegant white jacket with multicolored accents that mirrored his pants. His ears were now pointed, and his eyes shone with white sclera, multicolored irises, and white pupils. His long blond hair flowed down his back, and he held a long gray sword with a hilt made of a similar gray material. Runes, glowing with multicolored light, covered the flat of the blade. His expression was now one of serene determination.

Beside him stood Haytham, emanating a potent dark aura. He wore a black jacket with violet trim and ripped black jeans. His hair was short and black, his eyes now with black sclera, violet irises, and black pupils. He gripped a katana with a longer blade that pulsed with dark energy.

Sayler, now back in his supreme admin mode instal, stared at them in disbelief. "Impossible… impossible!! You do not have the right to possess such power!!! Only I am worthy!"

Saland's voice was calm but firm. "I am sorry, Sayler, but you lost the moment you believed you had already won. The Sphere of Fate is more than just an object. Now that it is within me, I can feel it… it is like a living being."

Haytham nodded in agreement. "The Sphere of Fate chooses its wielder, not the other way around. Sayler, destiny has decided that you will not prevail!"

Sayler's face twisted in fury. "Don't make me laugh!!" He unleashed another furious barrage of red energy rays, but Saland moved with hypersonic speed, delivering a single, devastating punch at the speed of light that sent Sayler hurtling backward.

Before Sayler could recover, Haytham teleported behind him and unleashed an enormous slash of dark energy. Sayler desperately tried to parry the attack, morphing his right pistol into a sword, but Haytham's blade cleaved through it, the shattered weapon reverting to its pistol form and breaking in two. Haytham's attack grazed Sayler's right hand, drawing blood.

In the blink of an eye, Saland teleported to Sayler's side, unleashing a flurry of rapid slashes. Haytham joined the assault, his katana and greatsword a whirlwind of dark energy. The very dimension around them began to crack and crumble under the immense power being unleashed. With a final, synchronized strike, Saland and Haytham delivered a simultaneous, earth-shattering punch to Sayler's stomach, the force of the blow so immense that it ripped him from the fabric of their reality, sending him hurtling out of the dimension entirely.