FANTASY GAME
Chapter 12 — The Announcer's Final Game
The players stood together in the enormous arena as the Ultimate Announcer appeared before them.
Nixon Ballot stood beside Nostradamus and Sukishi, watching as the announcer looked across the gathered competitors.
Adam and Eve stood together. Alexander the Great held his sword and shield. Buddha remained calm, while Shiva and Brava stood beside him.
Napoleon, Leonidas, Rasputin, Miyamoto Musashi, Kakakume Kasugari, and Shinjuku were also present.
The Ultimate Announcer slowly raised his arms.
"Congratulations, everyone. You have survived harsh environments, fought dangerous monsters, and overcome challenges that would have killed ordinary people."
He paused.
"You have also survived the City Survival challenge. Some of you solved your city's problems through intelligence, some through teamwork, and others through abilities that ordinary people could never comprehend."
Nixon folded his arms.
"So, are we finally going home?"
The announcer turned toward him.
"That depends on whether you can survive your final challenge."
Nostradamus narrowed his eyes.
"Final challenge?"
The Ultimate Announcer smiled beneath his mask.
"Your final problem is simple."
The arena became silent.
"Defeat me... or die."
Several players immediately reacted.
"Excuse me?" Nixon asked.
The announcer continued.
"Whether you are a god, a human, or a historical figure, every one of you must work together. You must defeat me if you want to return to your original worlds."
Alexander tightened his grip on his sword.
"And if we refuse?"
"You will die."
Eve laughed.
"How amusing. You gathered all these powerful individuals together, only to demand that we kill you?"
Adam looked at the announcer carefully.
"Perhaps he is more confident in his abilities than we realize."
"Perhaps," Nostradamus replied. "Or perhaps he knows something we don't."
Buddha remained silent.
Shiva stepped forward.
"If destruction is what you seek, then destruction is what you shall receive."
Brava glanced at him.
"Do not rush into this. We have not seen what he can do."
The Ultimate Announcer began laughing.
"You still don't understand."
Suddenly, the arena shook.
The announcer's body began transforming.
His arms stretched unnaturally. His body expanded, and his appearance became grotesque and monstrous. His original form disappeared beneath a horrifying creature whose presence seemed to distort the surrounding space.
The players watched as the transformation continued.
The creature's body was unlike anything they had ever encountered. Its enormous form radiated an overwhelming force, and strange energies moved across its surface.
Then the announcer spoke again.
"THIS IS MY TRUE FORM!"
The creature released an enormous roar.
The surrounding environment changed.
The arena vanished.
The players found themselves standing in what appeared to be the emptiness of space. Galaxies stretched across the distance. Stars shone in every direction, and enormous cosmic structures surrounded them.
Yet something was wrong.
There was no visible ground beneath their feet.
Nevertheless, every player remained standing as though an invisible, solid surface supported them.
Nixon looked down.
"WHAT IS THIS PLACE?!"
Sukishi examined the space beneath her feet.
"We're standing on nothing."
"That observation is correct," Nostradamus replied.
Nixon stared at him.
"How can you say that so calmly?!"
"Panicking would not improve our circumstances, my dear fellow."
The creature's enormous voice echoed throughout the cosmos.
"I HAVE INFINITE POWER AND ABILITIES BEYOND HUMAN HISTORY!"
Its presence extended across the cosmic surroundings.
"I AM A CATASTROPHIC UNIVERSAL CALAMITY! GALAXIES AND STARS ARE NOTHING BEFORE ME!"
Alexander raised his shield.
"Then we shall discover whether your confidence is justified!"
Leonidas stepped forward, holding his mystical shield.
"Warriors! Prepare yourselves!"
Napoleon examined the creature.
"We cannot defeat an enemy like this through reckless attacks. We need coordination, timing, and a strategy that uses everyone's strengths."
Musashi drew his sword.
"Then let us see whether this creature can withstand our combined attacks."
Rasputin smiled beneath his beard.
"I have survived things that should have killed me. Let us see what this monster can do."
Adam studied the creature.
"If I can copy its power, we might gain an advantage."
Eve raised her hands as dark energy gathered around her.
"And if copying fails, I will use my magic."
Shiva stepped forward, his expression becoming serious.
"Ultimate Destruction."
Brava raised his hands in response.
"Ultimate Creation."
The two gods prepared to unleash their abilities.
Buddha finally opened his eyes.
"Everyone, remain calm."
His voice was quiet, yet everyone could hear him.
"Do not allow fear to control your decisions."
The creature looked toward Buddha.
"YOU BELIEVE YOUR CALMNESS WILL SAVE YOU?"
Buddha smiled.
"No. But losing our composure will not help us win."
Nostradamus looked toward the creature, his eyes moving as he examined possible futures.
For the first time since Nixon had met him, the prophet did not immediately make a joke.
"There are many possible outcomes," Nostradamus said.
Nixon turned toward him.
"Good! So we can win, right?"
Nostradamus remained silent for a moment.
"Some outcomes lead to victory. Others lead to our deaths."
"How many lead to victory?"
"That, my dear fellow, is what we must discover."
The creature raised one enormous arm.
Cosmic energy gathered around it.
"COME FORWARD, ALL OF YOU!"
The players prepared themselves.
Gods, warriors, conquerors, prophets, swordsmen, and ordinary players stood together before an enemy who claimed to possess infinite power.
For Nixon, the situation was almost absurd.
He was only Level 2.
His strength was still 5. His defense was still 5. His agility was still 5. His intelligence was still 5.
He possessed two basic spells.
Lightning Bolt.
Mystic Armor.
And now he was expected to fight a creature that claimed to threaten the universe.
Nixon swallowed.
"I really should have stayed home and played a different game."
Sukishi drew her katana.
"Stop complaining and prepare yourself."
Nostradamus smiled faintly.
"Do try to survive, Nixon. I would find replacing you rather inconvenient."
"That is the least comforting thing you've ever said to me!"
The creature roared again.
And the final battle began.
TO BE CONTINUED...