[Server Shutdown in...00:00:12.]
I can’t move my damn arms. Cracking noises under my legs, it actively feels like something is climbing alongside me. My calves, my thighs, even reaching towards my back and some on my neck.
Barely moving my head around, I could see it. My pants no longer baggy, or my bare chest revealing my super mega awesome 8-pack.
No, what covered all of my glory, and everything else that made me...me, was stone.
Actual stone.
My body isn’t even obeying me anymore.
Kami could only look, but even he himself looked kind of shocked. His head tilted, as if not registering this—
Wait, could he ever do this?
I’ve fought him 800 times. Out of those times, he’s never used this move.
Why now?
And what was that pop up before?
Another one came up, I barely had time to see it.
[Tier 0 Skill: Medusa’s Stare has been successfully executed.]
[Disconnecting...Error: Body not found.]
[Ryuuzen Valeflame has been saved as a World Object.]
"Gw-gwah...?!" I could barely speak. I was being turned to stone overtime, and slowly. Kami lagged, repeating a few practiced dialouges that he would’ve said.
I thought it was the game breaking...and then, I realized.
The servers. They are supposed to shut down.
Entirely!
And I’m still here!
Shit, how much time left—
[Server Shutdown in...00:00:07.]
Less than 7 seconds, got it! Quick!
"Mwenu!" I managed to get out, but there was no pop up that flashed out afterward. Nothing popped up.
"Wenu!"
"Mwhanu!"
It got harder, and harder to even say the damn word. When I thought all hope was, a little light emitted from my chest, and broke out.
Yes! Guide!
She flew around, wings fluttering, but even she was lagging too!
"Sire Ryuu! The Servers will be shutting down!" I know that Guide, that’s why I’m trying not to freak out before the servers and my brain go ka-put!
The stone then claimed my latter jaw, and at that point I could no longer properly speak. I tried to blink multiple times to Guide, but even that wasn’t working.
Then, as if a miracle occurred, the menu appeared. With my free hand, I tried to touch the log out button, but I was too far! The damn MENU didn’t appear right in front of me even closer! Argh!
[Server Shutdown in...00:00:03.]
Three seconds! I have three seconds to make this count! Guide can’t even interact with the menu, so no point there!
Try, Ryuu! Try!
I tried to push further, and further, and further, but to no avail, I couldn’t. I could feel my heart drop to my ass at this point. Not because I couldn’t touch it.
But because I saw the timer.
[Server Shutdown in...00:00:00.]
Gulp.
[Server Shutdown in...00:00:00.]
[Thank you all for playing Dragon’s Tale: Ultimate! Goodbye!]
[Forcing user close application...]
My breathing got caught in my throat, just for a split second. That was close. The world slowly got darker, and Kami stood there...slowly being bounded by the darkness. I could slowly start to move now.
Guide was there, fluttering around as well.
"Phew, close one." I wipe the sweat of my brow, but it felt stoney. I didn’t think much of it. I was quite literally one step away from being on the news.
Warning! Gamer stuck in massively popular VRMMORPG...how many times has this happened again?
I would be no different from the others. Rest in peace to them, however.
Alright, time to log out. I had my fun here.
"Menu." I said.
But nothing popped up.
I turned to Guide, but there was something off about her. The little light that she was, her wings paused mid-animation. Mid-frame. Must be the game...they did force close the application anyways and not the proper log-out.
I guess I’ll just wait.
And keep waiting.
...
...
...
Okay this waiting stuff isn’t for me.
My hands went instantly for my head, "Where in the hell is the log out button!!"
If Guide couldn’t help me, then who could? Myself? The damn Menu isn’t even responding to me anymore...
...and my skin. My hands, it hasn’t resorted to the natural state yet. I could still feel the weight of the horns on my head alarmingly enough. The more I stare at this dark abyss...the more I feel like.
"I didn’t log out, did I?"
Yep.
That’s most likely the answer.
So...does that mean...
"Argh! No! I’m stuck in the damn game still!"
My body no longer even feel like mine anymore. In this dark, very dark abyss, I can even feel the sense of time moving, but I’m not.
It’s weird! All weird!
Get me the hell out of here! I want out, I say!
Stomping my foot repeatedly, my knees dropped down to the floor. I wanted to pray and ask for forgiveness for anything I’ve done. Knowingly or unknowingly.
Is this the time where the game punished me for all of my bad deeds?! But there were people far worse than me! Everything I did I had to surivive in-game and areas with permadeath on!
Some people can’t even play the game regularly on PvE, and I happened to flourish in PvP! This isn’t the time where I get to experience absolute nothing!
I’m still young! I still have shit to achieve! This damn game won’t hold me back!
Not at all, I say!
Not at all!
...
...
...
Alright, maybe it will. Thinking that waiting just for a couple moments would’ve allowed me to do something here.
Allow me to log out. But no, I’m still here. My hand grips tightly on my black horn. That’s still there. But...weirdly enough, it feels more realistic than it should.
Guide’s still there, just floating around mid-animation. She’s not responding to me. I think the game broke her, servers were suspended.
But shouldn’t that mean my online connection be severed? Why am I still part of the world?
Only because I see black, and nothing. That’s about it.
How long will I have to sit and wait here?
Hopefully it’s not long.
I’ve been through longer loading screens than this. This game surely doesn’t think it’ll one-up me by trying to test my patience, huh?
They must not know I’m the most patient thing alive.
I’ll wait!
And wait!
And wait if I need to!
I’ll wait...!
And wait...!
And wait if I need to...!
...
...
...
I’ll wait.
And wait.
And wait if I need to.
...
...
...
I’ll...wait...
...and wait...
...and...and maybe...wait if I need to.
And then...
...
I think I’ll just...