The battlefield stretched endlessly beneath a stormy sky, brimming with the presence of magic and mythical creatures. At its heart stood ten warriors, each a master of their own craft, bound together by an unbreakable resolve. Opposite them loomed their final foe—a colossal white dragon. Its shimmering, marble-like scales reflected flashes of lightning, and its eyes burned with an ancient, malevolent fire.

This was the moment they had prepared for, the end of their long and arduous journey.

The group stood ready, their breaths steady despite the overwhelming aura of the beast before them:

A pink-haired healer in flowing ceremonial robes gripped her magical staff, determination lighting her gaze.

A silver-haired elf in radiant armor stood surrounded by ethereal spirits, her bow held with grace.

A beastman, his brown hair tousled and wolf ears twitching, brandished a massive axe with sinewy arms.

A blonde knight, draped in holy armor, carried a gleaming sword that pulsed with divine energy.

A dark mage, wild purple hair framing his face, held a staff that throbbed with dark magic.

A blue-haired rogue, light armor clinging to his frame, clutched twin daggers, poised to strike.

A necromancer with cropped hair commanded an army of skeletons, her sharp gaze calculating.

A green-haired guardian bore a shield so large and unyielding it seemed a fortress in itself.

A beast tamer, her dusty blue hair flowing, stood flanked by her array of mythical creatures.

And lastly, a tall vampire, his lean frame radiating a cold confidence, stepped forward, long black hair framing his predatory grin.

The dragon let out a deafening roar, the sound rolling across the field like thunder. A massive orb of swirling energy began to gather in its maw, its destructive intent palpable.

Vemp, the vampire, raised a hand, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

“Alright, this is it—the final battle! Let’s give it everything we’ve got!”

The group shouted in unison, their battle cry echoing across the plain.

“Right!”

The dragon lunged forward, claws outstretched, its energy orb pulsing ominously. The dark mage reacted swiftly, raising his staff as a glowing magic circle appeared at its tip.

“Disruption Magic!” he intoned, his voice laced with power.

The orb flickered and fizzled, dispersing harmlessly. Furious, the dragon swiped at the group, its claws like scythes. The guardian leaped forward, slamming his shield against the attack with a resounding clang.

“Stand down!” he bellowed, bracing against the force.

The beast tamer’s lion companion bolted beneath the guardian, cushioning his landing as he staggered back.

“Thanks for the assist,” the guardian muttered.

The beast tamer smirked. “Thank me later!”

The healer raised her staff, golden light cascading over the battlefield.

“By the blessing of the gods, I bestow power upon thee!” she cried, her voice resonating with divine authority.

Strength surged through the group as the necromancer commanded her skeletal army forward.

“Surround it!” she ordered. “Explosion!”

The skeletons erupted in fiery bursts around the dragon, smoke and flames enveloping its massive form. As it reeled in pain, the beastman charged with a roar, scaling its back and cleaving into one of its wings with a mighty swing of his axe.

Grounded, the dragon let out a bone-rattling roar, summoning hordes of smaller monsters to its aid.

Vemp’s voice cut through the chaos. “Rogue, beast tamer, necromancer, healer—handle the minions! Elf, keep the dragon contained!”

The elf nodded, her hands glowing with earthy magic. “By the spirits of the earth... Earth Wall!” she chanted, summoning a towering barrier of stone that separated the dragon from its reinforcements.

Vemp turned to the others. “Guardian, beastman—keep it busy! Knight, wait for your opening. Dark mage, prepare your strongest spell!”

The guardian and beastman attacked in tandem, their strikes relentless. Spells of fire, water, wind, and earth erupted from the dark mage’s staff, engulfing the dragon in a whirlwind of destruction. The beast retaliated with another energy orb, but the guardian intercepted it with his shield, absorbing the brunt of the blast.

“Now!” the guardian shouted. “Multi-Shield Slash!”

The shield split into multiple glowing copies, each one slamming into the dragon with devastating force.

The dark mage’s voice rose as he chanted his most powerful spell. “Prepare for annihilation... Dark Destruction!”

The knight raised his sword high, divine light pouring from its blade. “Holy light, pierce the darkness... Holy Slash!”

The two attacks merged mid-air, spiraling together into a vortex of light and shadow.

“Combo Attack: Holy Dark Destruction!” they cried in unison.

The combined force struck the dragon, tearing through the earth wall and obliterating its summoned monsters in one catastrophic explosion.

The battlefield fell silent as the group stepped back, their breaths heavy.

The healer’s voice broke the quiet. “That was incredible... Did we destroy it?”

Vemp’s smirk widened, a glint of mischief in his crimson eyes.

“Not quite.”

The ground beneath them trembled as the dragon’s massive form stirred, its eyes burning brighter than ever.

--

The battlefield was quiet for a moment, the dust and smoke from their devastating attack still swirling in the air. As it began to settle, the colossal dragon came into view—its other wing torn, one leg shattered, and its horns blasted clean off. Despite its grievous injuries, the beast stood tall, its fiery gaze locked on the group.

The shield bearer stared in disbelief, his shield trembling slightly in his grip.

“No... it can’t be...”

The knight clenched his sword, frustration tightening his jaw.

“Even our strongest strike didn’t finish it...”

Vemp, however, remained calm, his trademark smirk creeping across his face.

“Not true,” he said smoothly. “Look closer. The dragon’s missing parts—its wings, its minions—everything we’ve done has weakened it.”

The dark mage gritted his teeth, gripping his depleted staff.

“That doesn’t change the fact that we’re out of mana. We’ve got nothing left...”

Vemp crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as if chastising a child.

“Incorrect,” he replied coolly. “There’s still one person who hasn’t fought yet.”

The healer frowned, scanning the group.

“Who? Who’s left?”

The elf’s eyes narrowed as she looked around.

“I don’t see anyone else.”

The beastman scratched his head, his wolf ears twitching.

“Same here.”

Vemp sighed, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

“Me. I haven’t fought yet. Geez, you guys never pay attention.”

The shield bearer’s eyes widened in shock.

“But you’re just our strategist!”

The dark mage shot Vemp a sharp look, realization dawning on him.

“Wait... are you telling me you’ve been holding back this whole time?”

Vemp’s smirk widened.

“I told you when we first met—I’ll only fight when I’m needed. And it looks like now’s the time.”

The dragon let out a guttural growl, blue and white sparks crackling in its maw as it began to charge another energy blast. The orb of unstable energy grew larger, the intensity making the air around it shimmer.

“Watch out!” the dark mage shouted, his voice panicked. “It’s firing again!”

The dragon unleashed the blast, a blinding beam of energy roaring toward the group. The ground shook violently as dust and debris exploded everywhere, swallowing them in chaos.

The knight blinked, his heart pounding. When the light and tremors subsided, he realized something extraordinary: they were unharmed.

“We’re... still alive?” he whispered.

The healer squinted through the lingering smoke, her staff clutched tightly.

“But how? I can’t see anything...”

As the dust cleared, the answer became clear. A shimmering crimson barrier stood before them, pulsating with a dark, otherworldly energy. It was made entirely of blood. At the center of the shield stood Vemp, his figure outlined against the glowing red. His hand was raised, one finger pointing toward the dragon.

His voice was low and cold.

“Time to die... Blood Arrow.”

The barrier shuddered violently before condensing into a single, glowing arrow of pure crimson energy. The arrow floated in the air, its tip pointed squarely at the dragon.

The dragon, though visibly weakened, roared defiantly. It began charging yet another blast, the light in its maw flickering erratically as it fought against its own injuries.

Vemp’s smirk returned as he gave the final command.

“Now... shoot.”

The Blood Arrow launched forward, streaking through the air like a meteor. It met the dragon’s energy blast head-on, slicing through it effortlessly. The blast shattered into shards of light, disintegrating in the air, while the arrow continued its deadly path.

The arrow struck the dragon’s skull with devastating precision. For a moment, the battlefield fell silent. The dragon let out a final, soul-shaking roar before its massive body crumbled to the ground with an earth-shaking crash.

The beastman let out a low whistle, his eyes wide with awe.

“That was... amazing...”

Vemp lowered his hand, wiping sweat from his brow as though the effort had been minimal.

“And that’s game,” he said nonchalantly.

Cheers erupted from the group as the reality of their victory set in.

The shield bearer laughed, leaning on his massive shield.

“That dragon was no joke! One hell of a fight.”

The rogue grinned, flipping one of his daggers in the air.

“Longest raid we’ve ever done, hands down. Six months, man!”

The healer beamed, her pink hair catching the light.

“And we still beat it just before the expansion drops!”

Vemp crossed his arms, his smirk turning almost conspiratorial.

“I saw the announcement,” he said. “The best part? We’ll pick up exactly where we left off—same characters, same progress.”

The knight raised an eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of him.

“It’s probably too late to ask, but... what level are you, Vemp?”

Vemp shrugged, his tone almost bored.

“99.”

The entire group froze, staring at him in disbelief.

“No way!” the beastman exclaimed. “That’s the max level!”

The rogue let out a low whistle.

“You really are something else, man.”

But Vemp’s smile faltered slightly as his thoughts drifted.

Not really... You see, this is an MMO game called Mythos Reborn. It’s the number-one ranked MMO out there, updated every year with massive expansions. Players all over the world are obsessed with it. And me? I’m not as cool as I look in this game.

In reality... I’m just one of those guys running away from the real world.

Out loud, Vemp spoke with his usual casual tone.

“Alright, I’m logging out.”

The healer pouted, stomping her foot.

“What? Already? We still need to loot the dragon for its drops!”

Vemp’s grin returned as he glanced at the necromancer.

“That’s unnecessary for me. Besides... the necromancer already claimed the best reward. Right?”

The necromancer smirked smugly, crossing her arms.

“Right.”

Vemp closed his eyes, letting the world around him dissolve. The vibrant battlefield dimmed, the triumphant cheers of his teammates fading into silence. Darkness surrounded him as the screen faded to black.

A boy with short black hair sat slouched in a VR MMO chair, his face illuminated only by the faint glow of the now-fading game screen. His round face was dotted with pimples, and his heavyset body sagged into the chair as the immersive world of Mythos Reborn disappeared, replaced by the dim and cluttered reality of his small room.

Nasuke (narrating in thoughts):

Well... this is me. The real me. Not the hero in the game.

He sighed heavily, the weight of his real-world self settling on him as he stood. His movements were sluggish as he dragged himself into the bathroom, flicking on the light with a wince. The harsh glare reflected his figure in the mirror—a round face, dull eyes, and skin marred by acne.

Nasuke (narrating flatly):

See? I’m one of those guys who run away from reality. Oh, and if you’re wondering—yes, I’m 16, despite how I look. I’m Nasuke... (pausing) Nasuke Yamada.

Turning the faucet, he splashed cold water on his face, scrubbing at the pimples in frustration before grabbing a towel. Leaving the bathroom, he made his way to the kitchen, only to be greeted by the hum of an empty fridge. A single carton of milk sat on the shelf, mocking him.

He closed the door with a sigh.

Minutes later, he stepped outside into the cool night air. The streets were eerily quiet, the faint glow of moonlight casting long shadows. With his hands stuffed into his hoodie pockets and his head hung low, Nasuke walked aimlessly, his thoughts swirling in the silence.

Nasuke (narrating in thoughts):

Next week, I start high school. Yay, right? (his tone sarcastic) To be honest, I don’t want to go. I doubt anyone would care if I didn’t show up.

He turned down a shadowy alley between two tall buildings, the darkness pressing in around him. Two men leaned casually against the brick walls—one with spiked red hair and a cocky grin, the other with shaggy yellow hair and a cruel smirk.

Yellow-Haired Guy (mocking):

"Hey, kid. What are you doing walking around so late at night?"

Nasuke froze, his heart hammering in his chest.

Nasuke (stammering):

"Uhh... I’m going to the store."

The red-haired guy stepped forward, his grin widening into something menacing.

"The store, huh? Speak up, kid. Don’t mumble."

Nasuke shifted uncomfortably, his voice barely a whisper.

"...to buy a game."

The two men exchanged amused glances.

Red-Haired Guy:

"Ohhh, I see. Taking a shortcut to the gaming store, huh?"

Yellow-Haired Guy (grinning wickedly):

"Well then... cough up all the cash you’ve got."

Nasuke instinctively stepped back, his hands trembling.

Nasuke (pleading):

"But I only have enough for the game disc..."

The red-haired guy cracked his knuckles, his expression darkening.

"Then we’ll take it by force."

Before Nasuke could react, a fist slammed into his stomach, driving the air from his lungs. He doubled over, gasping.

Nasuke (choking):

"Stop..."

The yellow-haired guy shoved him to the ground with a laugh. They didn’t stop there. Kicks rained down on him, each one sending sharp jolts of pain through his body. Nasuke curled into a ball, shielding his head as best he could.

Yellow-Haired Guy (scoffing as he rifled through Nasuke’s pockets):

"That’s more like it, kid. Thanks for the cash."

Satisfied, the two men sauntered off, their laughter echoing in the empty alley.

Nasuke lay there for a moment, wincing as he tried to move. His ribs ached, his legs throbbed, and his pride was in tatters.

Nasuke (narrating in thoughts):

I knew those thugs were in this area. That’s why I hid some extra money... in my socks.

With a shaky breath, he forced himself to his feet, holding his bruised side as he limped forward. Every step was painful, but he kept moving, the faint glow of his destination urging him onward.

Nasuke (narrating in thoughts while limping):

I know it’s dumb—walking in the middle of the night just to buy a game. But this isn’t just any game. It’s the new Mythos Rebirth Limited Edition! The graphics, the gameplay, the new quests—it’s all updated. And going late means...

Turning the final corner, Nasuke froze. His thoughts screeched to a halt as he stared at the scene before him.

A line of people stretched endlessly in front of the gaming store, some chatting excitedly, others scrolling on their phones. A few had even brought foldable chairs, settling in for the long wait.

Nasuke stared blankly, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Line...?" he muttered weakly.

The realization hit him harder than any of the punches from earlier.

---