The next match is beginning. You will be transported back into the arena in 10…
The message popped up in Aegis’ face as he watched Darkshot die to Skar and his three remaining party members, with Lina, Rakkan and Pyri all watching alongside him.
“Anything?” Rakkan asked Aegis with desperation in his voice.
“I don’t know… I…”
“Damnit.” Darkshot shouted in frustration as his body appeared in the waiting area with th...
2024-04-06 10:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post“Stepping into the arena now are the final contenders for the quarterfinals. Rep-” The VGN Broadcaster was speaking from the raised platform, using his staff of voice amplification to carry his words throughout the stadium. He was, however, interrupted by Hae-won who was walking around the base of the stands with her own staff.
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, How’s everyone doing!?” Hae-won shouted over him with a great level of enthusiasm and energy. Her question was met with lo...
2024-03-31 10:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostAegis quickly lost interest in what was transpiring in the arena as Feng’s quarterfinals match went underway. He turned from the three display screens in front of him just as the VGN fanfare began, instead opening up his own livestream viewer in his interface by pressing several buttons.
He then navigated back to the footage of Eerie’s match in the previous round, against their upcoming opponents. Skar - the leader of Aegis’ team’s opponents in the upcoming match, gave very litt...
2024-03-24 11:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostDespite the timer having finished its countdown, Seraxus and his companions felt their eyes drawn up to the stands where illusionary copies of Serenity began to duplicate, mimicking the movements of her real body in their enlarged forms.
“Magic is beautiful. Swords are clashing. Arrows are soaring through the sky. It can be so mesmerizing…” Serenity spoke, her voice amplified by her own voice amplification spell without the need for an enchanted item. Her instruments hit several d...
2024-03-17 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post“Absolutely unbelievable. Completely disrespectful to the spirit of the tournament.”
“Are they even taking this seriously? Or are they trying to act out some sort of lore-related play? I can assure you, something like that won’t do anything to stop Seraxus.”
“From this, to how he’s inadvertently told the world how to empower the sword of hatred, I can’t help but feel that Aegis is here just to make things worse.” Two VGN broadcasters were now shouting out down at...
2024-03-16 11:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostThe blue walls that kept Aegis’ party separated from Mikael’s dropped, and Aegis’ party took a few steps forward in a standard formation. Aegis held his shield up, with Pyri and Darkshot standing behind him on either side with their spells and attacks ready. Lina and Rakkan spread out to his left and right respectively, walking at a pace that matched Aegis’.
Mikael’s party, on the other hand, walked forward casually through the center of the arena, weapons lowering.
“W...
2024-03-10 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post“Synopse’s team wins!” The VGN caster shouted proudly, his voice echoing out across the arena. Aegis and the others heard it, and saw the final match of Synopse’s team conclude by watching the livestream broadcasts of the arena available to them in the waiting room.
“That artifact staff is powerful.” Pyri commented with an impressed look in her eyes.
“I’ve been watching any footage I can of Synopse. It seems like it unlocks a new school of mag...
2024-03-09 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post“Making the world aware of how Seraxus’ sword works was a double edged sword, and it's now backfiring in the worst way imaginable.” A VGN Newscaster spoke to his audience, seated beside his co-host in the VGN broadcasting studio.
“Yes, it was very shortsighted of Aegis, but we can’t expect much else from him as he’s repeatedly shown himself to be hot-headed. He basically just told all of Seraxus’ supporters exactly how they can support them, giving them a meth...
2024-03-02 13:14:45 +0000 UTC View Postauthor note: sorry for delay, rushing to get these out. I will need to delay 282 until Monday to have more time on editing both this chapter and the next so that they flow together properly.
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“Okay…” Aegis let out a gasp of air, sitting on the bench in front of the multiple livestream displays of the gladiator arena. The first match of the tournament was beginning, and the competitors in the match had already been instructed to e...
2024-02-25 11:34:06 +0000 UTC View Post“Ladies and Gentlemen, gamers and watchers,” A VGN Broadcaster began speaking proudly as he stood in his studio, behind him a wide shot of the gladiator arena within Tarolas. “Dwarves, Elves, Lizardfolk, demihumans and humans alike have all gathered in masses to witness this monumental event.” He motioned to the screen more clearly, “Representatives from all of the strongest guilds, biggest streamers, and every island have come together to compete, with the uni...
2024-02-19 11:00:14 +0000 UTC View Post“I forgive you. I know it’s not your fault. The sword is making you act like this.” Aegis whispered into Seraxus' ear as he leaned in and gently nestled his chin on his shoulder.
“What the fuck? Let go of me.” Seraxus freaked out at Aegis’ embrace and frantically lost his composure, struggling free and pushing Aegis back. He managed to do so, though, then looked on at Aegis in disgust.
“Did he just hug you?” Zuon laughed mockingly.
“He hugged you, man.” H...
2024-02-17 11:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post“There are big names everywhere you look, in every direction.” A VGN News caster shouted with excitement from within his broadcasting studio. He was referring to a wide shot view of the Tarolas Arena grounds, with players and NPCs funneling inside the main entrance. The assortment of races, armor types, and sheathed weapons gave an incredibly colorful display.
As he spoke, the view of the wideshot grew and moved forward, due to creative editing, and slowly overtook him so t...
2024-02-11 11:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post“They’re out for blood.” Andrew spoke with his eyes glazed over, due to several calls being put on hold through his ear implant. Both the implant in his ear, and his wrists, were illuminated by several green and yellow lights. He was standing just inside Nicholas’ office as he and Mike stood side by side in the middle of the room, staring forward at the wall of various screens displaying live streams of Tarolas.
“Nearly all major streamers from every network are p...
2024-02-10 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View Postauthor note: editing still needed. It's very likely that this entire arc following other characters will be edited and changed drastically in the final story, as this is still the draft form of the story and I'm feeling out how to tell it the best way possible.
That being said, Aegis will be returning next weekend in one of the two following chapters. The point of these chapters were to establish a major plotline for the last arc of the book, so hopefully it'll pay off!
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2024-02-04 11:01:17 +0000 UTC View PostThe reapers descended on Stormtop amongst the rainfall, darkening the already cloudy skies with their black wings. Before the first reached the walls, alarm bells began to ring throughout the city, emanating from several towers further within the walls. The sound of the bells caused Kelik’radanir to shoot its neck straight up to peer over the walls of the city, and glare in the direction of the nearest bell tower.
He then extended his monstrous black wings, with dark mist emanating fr...
2024-02-03 11:00:10 +0000 UTC View Postauthor note: slightly delayed and unedited still -> this will be the only chapter this week, it is a lot longer than usual but rather than split it into 2 chapters I think I will leave it as one.
thank for your patience with this one!
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Broken fragments of two Airships exploded outward into the skies above the abyss, still several hundred meters out from the edge of the island of Tarolas. Amidst the d...
2024-01-28 11:11:46 +0000 UTC View PostMakaroth’s airship had arrived at the Stormtop skyport - their airship bearing the banners of the Sages of Destiny guild had been tied off to a pier and the members of his guild began funneling down it towards a welcoming party consisting of Yumily and her companions, and Daehyun and his highest level guild members.
Before words were even exchanged with Daehyun and Makaroth, Makaroth could see him smiling excitedly in his direction at the end of the pier, anticipating their first word...
2024-01-20 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostTwo in-game months later…
Ryan walked through a large dimly lit room with several monitors on the far wall displaying a mix of livestream broadcasts, graphics, and other lists of information including several counters. He had bags under his eyes and lazily glanced up at them, processing the information as he calmly moved through the room with a cup of coffee in his hand, taking a sip from it.
The room also contained rows upon rows of state-of-the-art Si...
2024-01-19 11:00:11 +0000 UTC View Postnote: Unfortunate hectic weekend will see to only one chapter this week, but I will attempt to up next weeks releases to three to make up for it. Hope you enjoy and have a good week! (editing in prog)
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“This is insane…” Mikael said with wide eyes, standing atop the stone walls of a small keep. Several days had passed since he’d arrived in Puagas now, and a battle was unfolding in front of him. They were surrounded by tall pine and fi...
2024-01-14 11:00:06 +0000 UTC View Postauthor note: unedited, typoes ect. will edit when can, Have good weekend all!
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“Round ‘em up quick!” Mikael shouted to his guildmates as they ran around him frantically within a large dark cavern. The stalagmites and stalactites of the cavern were shimmering with electrical energy and constantly shot off random streaks of lighting between one another, illuminating the cave and outlining the players and monsters ...
2024-01-06 11:00:14 +0000 UTC View PostOne Real World Month Later…
Nicholas was sitting in an office simulation with hundreds of screens all around him. Some were showing moving text logs, others live streams of players playing his game. Conversations with employees, and other information filled out on charts and graphs all jumbled around him. Also standing nearby, like a statue, was the full body form of Samantha. She had no clothing, nor any human features outside of a plain, female bodies’ silhouette. Her fac...
2024-01-05 11:00:10 +0000 UTC View PostSeveral Real World Months Earlier…
An older gentleman was sitting calmly in a large, deep brown chair with a tall backing and deep blue cushions sewn into it, located inside a rectangular office room with his chair pulled up to a long rectangular table that matched the shape of the room and went down the center. There were many more less prestigious chairs that lined the table in front of him. All seats were occupied by individuals of various ethnicities and genders, wearing ...
2023-12-31 11:00:10 +0000 UTC View PostArms crossed, standing shoulder to shoulder at the back of the arena. Aegis, Lina, Darkshot and Rakkan held their poses unflinching, watching Pyri manipulate her Cinderbolts rapidly around the battle arena. Darkshot was putting a much greater effort into trying to look as cool as possible, while the others kept blank emotionless stares at their opponents anytime their eyes happened to meet.
Pyri stood at the center of the arena, waving her hands around in all directions. Her feet remain...
2023-12-29 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor note: This is an extra long chapter that is in extreme draft form still and needs lots of editing, but I didn't want to delay the release. Read at your own risk! I'll be editing it over the next while, and once it is edited I will remove this message.
Merry x-mas everyone!
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“Listen up,” Quinn shouted from atop Ren’s giant eagle form’s back...
2023-12-23 10:55:39 +0000 UTC View PostThe silhouettes of the mounted players on the backs of the winged beasts became more pronounced as they nocked arrows whose tips burst into flames. Staves and wands, black runes on their skin glowing - the Warlock and Wizard players too prepared their attacks on the lone airship docked at the Kordas Skyport. Many eyes that were drawn towards the blazing flames growing in the distant shipyard were drawn towards the lights that were created as the Shattered Pirates prepared their barrage of att...
2023-12-22 11:00:12 +0000 UTC View PostFor the fourth time, Aegis’ party members were transported out of their preliminary match and returned to the darkened entrance hall of the Kordas arena. The tiny balls of light formed together to create their virtual avatars in front of an eagerly awaiting Yuki, Quinn, and Tullan.
The entrance hall was now completely empty of any other competing players - all others had been eliminated from the tournament. Instead, a good number of onlookers remained outside the arena, cheering in at...
2023-12-17 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post“Hey!” Artaphernes called out excitedly to Aegis and his members, just as they began to reappear from tiny specs of light forming together. Aegis could hear him before he could see him as his body finished the teleportation process within the simulation, and by the time it had fully formed his body back into the entrance hall of the Kordas arena, he saw Artaphernes and his party walking over to him. “How was the first match?”
Aegis didn’t reply right away, instead glancing to ...
2023-12-16 11:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostThe shield had a dull, purplish iron tint to its base. It was circular, but jutted out slightly with sharp points at the top, bottom, middle left and middle right sides of the circle. The base had an inner circle indentation inscribed with runes and texts that looked familiar to Aegis, but he couldn’t read them exactly. Each of the runes were glowing with a bright white light, but they were hard to see clearly due to the second layer of mithril forged onto the base.
The second layer w...
2023-12-01 11:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post“We’re only one hour away from the start of the 29th Gladiator Arena Tournament of the Shattered World Online, hosted every in-game month. It lines up with the 3rd in-game year anniversary of the launch of the Shattered World Online.” A VGN Broadcaster with short brown hair wearing a business suit spoke to his live streaming camera. He had a badge pinned on the breast of his suit jacket with his name, ‘Thomas’, written on it.
2023-11-25 17:26:34 +0000 UTC View Post
The morning sun peered in through the living room windows of Jillian’s house, creeping slowly across the carpet until arriving at the base of the couch. From there, they slowly made their way up to her face, and once shining directly onto her closed eyelids she winced and opened them.
The first thing she looked at was the natural morning daylight, but could hardly differentiate it from the virtual rising sun that she’d been seeing within the game world. She wiped a small streak of d...
2023-11-24 11:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post