Writing
FANTASY GAME
CHAPTER 2: THE ANNOUNCER
Nixon Ballot was still trying to understand the strange world he had entered when something unexpected happened.
A loud, mysterious voice suddenly echoed throughout the entire area.
"ATTENTION, ALL PLAYERS!"
Nixon immediately turned toward the source of the voice.
In the distance, he noticed a large gathering of people standing in a circle. Some carried swords, others wore strange armor, and a few appeared to possess magical abilities.
At the center of the gathering stood a mysterious man wearing a mask that completely covered his face.
He was known as the Ultimate Announcer.
The masked man slowly raised his head and looked at the surrounding players.
"Welcome, players, to the greatest game you will ever experience!"
The crowd immediately began murmuring among themselves.
"What is this place?"
"Who is that guy?"
"Is this some kind of event?"
"Why can't I log out?"
The Ultimate Announcer raised one hand, and the entire gathering fell silent.
"Allow me to explain the rules of your new reality."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"First, this is a death game. You are now participating in a game governed by RPG mechanics. Your survival depends on your ability to adapt, improve your skills, and become stronger."
Several players exchanged nervous glances.
The announcer continued.
"The rules are simple. Grind, develop your abilities, kill monsters, and survive. If you fail to do these things, you will die."
A wave of fear spread through the crowd.
One player stepped forward.
"What do you mean, die? This is just a game, isn't it?"
The Ultimate Announcer slowly turned toward him.
"Did you not hear me? I said this is a death game."
He paused before adding, "Everything here is real, whether you like it or not. The pain is real. The monsters are real. And death is real."
Silence fell over the gathering.
Nixon's expression changed.
He remembered the goblin he had fought earlier and the pain he had felt when its club struck his Mystic Armor.
If the announcer was telling the truth, then Nixon's situation was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
The masked man continued his explanation.
"Now, pay attention to the next rule. You will all be teleported to different parts of this world. Some of you will find yourselves in forests filled with dangerous monsters. Others will be sent to frozen mountains, scorching deserts, poisonous swamps, or other extremely dangerous environments."
A player shouted from the crowd.
"Then how are we supposed to survive?!"
The Ultimate Announcer answered without hesitation.
"By becoming stronger."
He spread his arms.
"Choose your teams carefully. Find people you can trust. Select companions whose skills complement your own. A strong fighter may protect you from monsters, while a skilled magician may save your life when you are surrounded."
He paused.
"But remember something important. Choosing the wrong person can be just as dangerous as encountering the wrong monster."
Nixon listened carefully.
The announcer's words made sense. If the players were going to be scattered throughout a dangerous world, having reliable companions could make the difference between survival and death.
However, the masked man wasn't finished.
"There is another detail you must understand about this world."
The crowd grew quiet again.
"You are not the only people living here. This world already has inhabitants. Most of the individuals you encounter will be classified by the system as NPCs."
Several players looked confused.
The announcer continued.
"However, do not assume that these people are harmless simply because they are called NPCs. They live in this world, and they can interact with you. Some may offer assistance, while others may deceive you, rob you, or even kill you."
Nixon swallowed nervously.
"So even the people who aren't players can be dangerous?" he muttered.
The Ultimate Announcer seemed to hear the question.
"Exactly. Do not judge someone by whether they are a player or an NPC. Judge them by their actions."
He slowly walked around the center of the gathering.
"You may encounter friendly merchants, experienced adventurers, powerful warriors, mysterious magicians, and ordinary villagers. You may also encounter criminals, traitors, and individuals far more dangerous than the monsters you are expected to fight."
He stopped walking.
"Remember this: the world does not revolve around you. The inhabitants have their own lives, their own goals, and their own reasons for doing what they do."
Nixon stared at the masked man.
For the first time, he began to understand the scale of the world he had entered.
This wasn't simply a game where monsters waited for players to defeat them.
It was an entire world filled with people, creatures, mysteries, and dangers.
And he was only Level 1.
The Ultimate Announcer raised his hand one final time.
"Now, let me explain the ultimate objective."
The players watched him nervously.
"Survive. Grow stronger. Explore the world. Use your skills wisely. Build alliances if necessary, and never forget that your decisions have consequences."
He paused dramatically.
"The player who survives the longest wins."
A notification suddenly appeared before every player.
FANTASY GAME: DEATH GAME INITIATED.
OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: GAIN EXPERIENCE, DEVELOP SKILLS, DEFEAT MONSTERS, AND EXPLORE THE WORLD.
WARNING: DEATH IS PERMANENT.
Nixon stared at the notification.
"Death is permanent..."
His hands began trembling.
He had played countless RPGs in which death meant restarting at a checkpoint or losing a little experience.
But this was different.
There would be no restarting.
No respawning.
No second chance.
If he died here, it might be the end of everything.
The Ultimate Announcer spread his arms.
"Players, your adventure begins now!"
A bright light suddenly surrounded the entire gathering.
Some players screamed. Others desperately tried to run, while a few immediately began searching their status windows.
Nixon looked around as the light grew brighter.
"Wait! Where are we being sent?!"
The announcer's voice echoed one last time.
"Good luck, players. May the strongest survive!"
In the next instant, everyone vanished.
Nixon found himself standing alone in a completely unfamiliar location.
The air was freezing, the ground was covered in snow, and enormous mountains stretched across the horizon.
A notification appeared before his eyes.
LOCATION: FROSTFANG WILDERNESS.
ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT: EXTREME COLD.
NEARBY MONSTER ACTIVITY: HIGH.
RECOMMENDED PLAYER LEVEL: 15–25.
CURRENT PLAYER LEVEL: 1.
Nixon stared at the screen.
Then he looked at the endless snow surrounding him.
His face went pale.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
He was Level 1.
He had two basic spells.
He had no equipment.
And according to his status window, he had just been transported to a region intended for players between Levels 15 and 25.
Nixon slowly turned toward the distant mountains.
A terrifying roar echoed through the frozen wilderness.
Something enormous was moving behind the snow-covered peaks.
Nixon took a deep breath.
"Okay, Nixon. Don't panic. Just stay alive."
He opened his status window and examined his two available spells.
Lightning Bolt.
Mystic Armor.
He had no idea how long he could survive in this environment, but he knew one thing.
He would have to grind, become stronger, and find a way out.
Because in this world, being weak was no longer just a disadvantage.
It was a death sentence.
END OF CHAPTER 2.
Did you like this feature?
Make the announcer feel more threatening
Add a stronger reason for Nixon's danger
Reduce repeated explanations about survival