Sweaty hands, trembling fingers danced on the keyboard, but my smile was wild—like a killer who knew their next victim. "LOOK AT THIS, YOU NOOB BASTARDS!" I boasted to the camera, but my voice cracked with adrenaline—my throat burned with stomach acid that had been rising for three days without medication.
On the screen, Reinhard—the red-haired lightning sprayer—leaped onto the back of the Colossal Demon General.
This wasn't just any boss. This was the Deadly Colossal Demon General, the latest challenge in the Ramoz Empire that even the world's number 1 player, 'The First One,' hadn't managed to conquer. Reinhard, the most difficult basic character, was now at the peak of his power, the result of 8 years of my dedication.
Two plasma swords in his hands spun like helicopter blades. Each attack I timed precisely 0.3 seconds before the enemy's counterattack, exactly the algorithm I engineered from 500 battles.
BOOM!
Virtual blood spurted. 87% of that Colossal Demon General's HP evaporated in one deadly combo.
My calculations were indeed correct.
My live stream chat exploded: [Donation!] [Donation!] "WHAT WHAT WHAT IS THIS NOT CHEATING??"
My Reinhard character—the red-haired one on the monitor—pulled out two swords, preparing to finish off the Colossal Demon General. "Play! And die all of you—!!" The deadly combo destroyed the mighty Deadly Colossal Demon General.
"What, is it really over? This Deadly Colossal Demon General is too easy, man!!" I mocked, giving the middle finger to the camera.
Urban Legends. A crazy open-world game. The difficulty exceeded limits, but that's precisely what I liked. This wasn't a cliché fantasy; it blended the modern world with fantasy, creating a virtual reality so real. Millions of users were drawn to it, and the latest update united all elements into an infinite whole. A vast world, limitless freedom, and what was most unique: every character, even NPCs and enemies, had their own story. There was no main protagonist; everyone was a protagonist. As if they lived, possessing their own will.
I opened the community website, reading comments on my latest live stream post. 12,437 Comments.
(Maomao 12: Wohoooo—!! It seems our boss has conquered the most difficult challenge currently in the Ramoz Empire that even the number 1 player couldn't conquer?!!) (Citybang: Kekeke, that was the best UL livestream I've ever watched!!) (Lauraz King: Let me be your student!!) (Peroxide 87: Hey, does anyone know the average rank of the characters he owns?) (Meteor Doom: He should now have characters with an average adapted rank of 5 and 7 with SSS talent and higher, right? Damn, I'm so curious how he can improve his characters at such a speed!!) (Specter 23: Isn't this what a top player is supposed to do? Come on, you're overdoing it!)
"Hohoho…. Yes yes, it seems you're overestimating me, the best player in this game…." I typed a reply, feeling my nose grow longer. Of course, it wasn't entirely true, but after 8 years, my rank was something everyone could only covet.
A comment suddenly caught my attention.
(The First One: Do you really think so…?)
The rank one, The First One. I snorted, replying with a joke.
(Cardless: Ohhh, of course not. As the only person to conquer that challenge, isn't that enough to prove it?)
I wanted to hurt his pride a little, but his answer wasn't what I expected.
(The First One: Umm…. I understand. It seems it's time for you to shine.)
What? Just like that? Not like him. I was a bit indifferent, thinking he was admitting defeat.
(The First One: Pffttt—, you really think I'd say that, idiot?! Fwahahahahah–!!)
Crackk—
"This bastard…." Unconsciously, my hand cursed him violently. Unfortunately, he was too passive. The netizens also teased him.
It was already 21:49. I sighed, I had been livestreaming since 8 AM. Too much time spent playing games.
"Sigh…. Everyone, it's getting too late. I'll just die stupidly if I don't rest. Ohh, and you The First One, according to our agreement, you have to give me one good item from the big world! Don't give me that disgusting one again, huhuhu."
(The First One: Hahaha, forget it idiot. You can't even surpass my rank, don't bite off more than you can chew.)
"Eihhh…. You always play dirty just to reach that rank, don't you? That's the worst, isn't it?"
(The First One: Upss…. The idiot who's too busy playing games is mocking me? Kuhuhuhh…. Shave your beard and long hair before live, Old Man. Use your brain, playing games isn't about skill and understanding of the game, but also about cunning and best efficiency, even if it's considered the worst, because that's the best—!!)
"The best, huhhh…. You always say that nonsense… I wonder, can you really enjoy the game? Ohh, I forgot you're a validation-hungry lunatic who doesn't need to enjoy the game to be happy, hahaha!!"
Despite saying so, that was The First One's strategy. Crazy, it was effective, but also destructive, destroying the main story itself. I turned to the window. The night rain sliced through the city fog, its drops dancing roaringly on the glass. I pressed my forehead against the cold window. Streetlights flickered like drowning stars—dim, distorted, but calming. My breath merged with the mist on the glass, stealing space from the gnawing pain.
After that, I turned off my live stream. I clutched my stomach, which suddenly had severe pain. "Ughhh…. It's back again…. My medicine, I have to take my medicine…." This was the result of playing intensely every day for years.
Taking my crutches, I limped to the medicine cabinet and took a dozen different tablets. "Ahhhh…. I forgot to shut down my computer…." I decided to sleep for my fragile health. Opening my account to make sure everything was done, I grinned at the subscriber count.
5.09 Million.
A crazy number I had accumulated since my name entered the UL leaderboard.
"Well, I have a ruined life, but at least I have this game as my only way to earn entertainment money…."
There was no life for me in this world. Perhaps, my only entertainment and way of living was playing UL and earning money from streaming. I wanted to live a normal life like a young person, being able to go to school, college, make friends, play, and enjoy the beauty of the world.
"Wasn't this world inherently created unfairly from the start? I should understand that, but… sometimes I'm very envious. How kids my age used to laugh with their friends while I had to work on building projects just to live the next day. Moreover, I've never had a partner and am still a virgin my entire life, damn!!"
This was annoying but I couldn't do anything about it. I wanted a family, but realized I didn't deserve one. Poor, ugly, uneducated, old, disabled, and unable to build a family. My destiny was to be single my whole life. Was that a problem? No, I no longer cared.
I once tried signing up for a dating site—once. The photo I used? A silhouette image. I thought it was better to be honest from the start.
The only reply came three days later. "Sorry, this is not a donation site."
Sigh… I didn't reply. I just closed the page, deleted the account, and threw my phone in the trash—still on. The last screen I saw only displayed my pseudonym and a brief identity of myself: Cardless (♂, 45, disabled, unemployed). Funny. Even in the virtual world, I still lost before playing.
Even though I just wanted to have a family and live happily as I wished…. Was that a selfish request? I don't think so.
But, looking from a different perspective, I am grateful that I can still eat and live, and use my hobby to earn a living in my old age and with a body unable to work. Enjoying the evening breeze and sunset while drinking coffee, that's enough.
It's just that I feel useless, like trash. But can't trash become fertilizer? Unfortunately, I don't have anything valuable or close people to give fertilizer to. I'm alone, except for a few in-game friends and loyal viewers. They are my reason for continuing my hobby and my life.
"Sighh.... Why am I so melancholic? Just stop this ridiculous inner drama."
I can't keep being sad, crying is useless. I just want a peaceful life, where happiness doesn't need to be fought for, but simply felt. Where everyone can find peace. Maybe naive, but such a trivial thing is enough to tell any god or deity that I just want to be happy without disturbing or harming anyone.
Even if I am useless, I always try to help, such as collecting donations for disaster or war victims, contributing to developing countries, and promoting free charities. This improves my image as a benevolent streamer, while also increasing personal donations. After all, what's the point of saving a lot of money if you don't have a family? Better to give to those in need.
"Hahh…. This old man's thoughts...." It seems I'm old enough to be thinking this.
What do I want to do…?? I don't know. I just need to continue my life like this for streaming and donations… I'm not sad because I'm lost. I'm sad because I don't remember where I'm going…. Wisdom? Nonsense. It's just a word to give meaning to suffering. My argument is just the thought of someone who already understands how the system reality in the world works, and how destiny and birth determine everything.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning to dance in the rain…."
Turning off the computer, I walked to bed and collapsed there like a dead person due to slightly cramped muscles.
"Ahhhh... Everything's too crazy…. What kind of crazy plot twist makes the Saintess side with the devil?"
A female shadow in a white robe appeared briefly on the monitor that hadn't completely turned off. Her eyes were empty, her lips trembled, calling a name... Devil?
"It's not like the game will gain more interest with such a crazy plot twist."
"It's really annoying, why has the plot suddenly become increasingly unpredictable?"
"Sigh… I just want to relax and enjoy my life peacefully…."
….. …. … […. The dice have been rolled…..]
[….. The game is over @%∗∗[…..Theplayerhas%#@#!!]
Zzssttt! Ehhh….?
[Server has been shut down!!]
Leaderboard
1. The First
2. I'm Americano
3. Sweaty Phoenix
…. Fuck….
[…. A new game has begun…..]