[Congratulations, Team 1!]
[You have won the Challenge!]
"Congratulations to Team 1!" Dr. Merlin said, trying to sound proud and serious.
The NPCs cheered and celebrated too.
"As a promise—" he started, but didn't finish when his assistant showed up again.
"We have ten million views, Sir!" the young man announced proudly.
Merlin's eyes twitched. "And I'm losing my patience with you! Can't you see I'm talking here?"
"Ehh?" I watched them argue on the large screen.
"Where were we? Ahh, yes," he said. For a moment, his usually jolly personality turned serious. "Listen carefully, all you Beast Masters out there. You see, I've transferred the consciousness of hundreds of pro players from all around our country into my game. Ever heard an explosion right before entering a game? That loud BOOM you just heard—that's probably your brain transferring your consciousness into Beast Master Online. Don't worry, all your real bodies are perfectly fine in my hospitals… they're just a little confused, while your minds are inside the game"
I froze, my eyes wide. "What?! They transferred our consciousness here?" I shouted, completely shocked and scared.
"Hey!" Dahlia's voice cut through my panic as she hurried to my side, her trident glowing faintly. "Are you okay?" she asked, concern written all over her face. "This is probably some kind of virtual reality MMORPG," she added, trying to make sense of everything.
I blinked, struggling to sink it all into my head. My ears still rang from that explosion. "I think so," I stammered. "But… what does he mean that our bodies are in his hospital?"
Dahlia frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know," she admitted, gripping her trident tightly.
"Yes, you heard that right—your real bodies are safe in my hospitals," he said, his face suddenly serious. "I'm not just a game developer who creates online games. I own lots of companies, tons of online games, and even hospitals! I know, I'm pretty brilliant, right?"
He waved his hand as if brushing away our worries. "And don't worry about paying any bills in the hospitals—I've already told all my staff to make everything completely free. Your parents don't even know, so you don't have to worry about them."
He leaned closer to his chair, eyes sparkling with mischief. "And the best part? Nobody can interrupt you while you're playing games! You can explore, battle, and level up without anyone bothering you. Sounds perfect, doesn't it?"
A sly smile spread across his face. "Some of you here might be feeling a little down… maybe games are the only thing that makes you happy. Well, now I have something even more exciting to tell you. You won't just enjoy the game—you can also earn millions of money if you reach the top ranks, perform well, gain many achievements, and defeat lots of bosses. Isn't that amazing?"
He paused for effect, letting us imagine the possibilities. "I know, I'm generous. I actually did some research with my pro players. Some of them had big debts, and then it hit me—why not help you while you play? When I watched your performance in my other games, a light bulb went off in my brain. I realized that if I give players like you a chance, you could have fun and earn rewards at the same time. It's a win-win!"
"He is really… some kind of crazy, stalker-like psycho," I muttered under my breath. "I can't believe someone like him would actually do all this. Who even thinks of keeping people's bodies in hospitals while their minds are trapped in a game? This is totally insane!"
"Well… if there are rewards, I'll take them," Dahlia said, shrugging as if it was no big deal.
"Ehh? You fell for his bait?" I exclaimed, shocked, turning to her.
"Hey, we're not really that rich," she explained. "And I've seen how hard my parents work every day. I want to repay them somehow. If this game can help, then why not?"
I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could, Dr. Merlin continued. "Now, let's talk about Beast Master Online," he said, his voice full of excitement. "First of all, there are unique types of beasts in the game. The four challengers in the Arena prove this, each standing proud beside their Beast—a living symbol of their strength and dominance.
But rarity isn't everything. Even if your beast isn't legendary, you can still rise to the challenge. Battles aren't just about raw power—they're about skill, strategy, and the way you grow into a true Beast Master."
"And that's not all," he continued, leaning closer with a grin. "There will be many battles in the game. I will announce Duels, Guild Wars, Party Battles, Challenges, Trials, and so many more exciting events. Every battle is an opportunity to show your skill, earn rewards, and climb the ranks. The world of Beast Master Online is huge, full of surprises, and only the best players will survive and succeed."
"That's not all," Dr. Merlin continued. "This online game will also follow its own lore and story. Remember the Abyssal Lord? He and his armies will try to conquer as many kingdoms as they can. That's why this whole adventure is called War of Conquest."
He leaned back. "There will be huge world events that will shake the entire game. Imagine a night when the red Blood Moon rises and terrifying monsters crawl out of the shadows or picture a Zombie Apocalypse, where waves of the undead swarm across the land, attacking anything in sight. There will be many other dangerous events too, where monsters of every kind will try to dominate the world."
His tone grew more serious. "And that's where you come in. Your mission is to protect your kingdom. If you fail to defend it, your citizens will lose hope. They'll stop working for you—no more farmers making food, no more blacksmiths forging weapons, no more builders creating shelters. All the things that keep your kingdom strong will disappear."
"But if you fight bravely and protect your people, your kingdom will grow stronger. The citizens will support you, give you resources, and cheer you on as their champion. Remember—this world is alive. Everything you do matters, and the fate of your kingdom depends on you."
"This is all for today. And don't worry—the time in this online game moves faster than in the real world," Dr. Merlin announced, his voice echoing across the arena. "I wish you the best of luck. Do your best, keep improving your performance… oh, and one more thing—if you die in the game, you'll also die in your real body."
I froze in shock until he suddenly laughed. "Just kidding! Don't look so scared. Still… don't let yourself die, okay? I'll be keeping an eye on you. Remember, I'm always watching."
He tapped the side of the massive floating screen. "Ah, before I forget! My challengers here in the Arena deserve a reward for such a thrilling battle today. You'll get to stay in a luxurious mansion for one whole day. Everything there will be free—food, drinks, soft beds, and more!"
"And don't forget, money works here too. So go out there and hunt monsters. The stronger the monster, the better the loot you'll get. Gather treasures, grow stronger, and rise above the rest."
His image began to fade from the large screen, but not before he gave one last wave. "Goodbye, my Beast Masters. Until we meet again!"
The large screen flickered once, then shut off completely, leaving only silence in the arena.