Two weeks had passed since one month ago.
Inside the barrier that isolated us from the outside world, we were developing the game.
With enough food and water stored for three months, there was no problem in our daily lives.
The outside world looked intriguingly slow, moving at half speed, but that novelty wore off after a day.
Besides, it wasn’t the time to be sightseeing the scenery outside.
It was time to put all our energy into finishing [Eternal Fantasy], which would save the game industry from the blue shock.
“Yuren… I’m going to the Bongbong Crystal Ball for a bit.”
“Got it, you need to be quick. Julia.”
The Bongbong Drink magic, a famous combination of [Busker (Berserker Magic) + Kaya (Healing Magic)] from the Irene School, was too precious to waste on mana and time by Jiren and the Master, so it was specially crafted into a crystal ball type and prepared.
Now, the exhausted could just go and receive their buffs at the crystal ball by themselves.
This routine of working for three days, sleeping for three hours, and then working for another three days was our life now.
“Am I going to die?”
Hahaha, I’ve learned [Crohels (Time Reversal Recovery Magic)] from the Master to prepare for this.
With magic that reverses time to heal, as long as I stayed alive, almost any wound could be treated.
I had no intention of allowing our disciples to meet their demise until we finished our development.
Hahaha!
========================================
[Magic Usage Caution]
When using Busker (Berserker Magic) + Kaya (Healing Magic) excessively, it may cause excessive secretion of endorphins in the subject, leading to a heightened state of excitement, hallucinations, and inability to make sound judgments.
Users are advised to take note of this.
– Magic Association –
========================================
Huh? I think something just passed by.
Hmm… I can’t remember it, so it doesn’t seem too important.
“Alright! Let’s pick up the pace! We’re almost at the ending. Just a bit more effort!!”
Thus, I surged forward with everyone in the joyful sprint towards game development.
Ah… I think I can see time.
It feels like Sky and Sephiroth are frolicking right in front of me.
Just wait a bit longer; I will perfect you.
*
It had been two weeks since Yuren and the Irene School entered the barrier to develop Eternal Fantasy.
Having finished preparations, Sylvia arrived at the Irene School to collect the crystal ball.
The research lab of the Irene School was surrounded by a bright, glass-like light.
Today was the promised day, but there were no signs of the barrier being lifted yet.
“Lady Alicia, do you have any idea when the barrier will be lifted?”
Sylvia asked Alicia, the Sage who created the barrier.
Alicia looked at the barrier and said,
“There’s very little mana left, so it has to lift today. But I can’t tell you the exact time. It could be released right away or it could run out of mana and be lifted tonight.”
“I see…”
Sylvia anxiously awaited Yuren.
The basic preparations for the Legend Fighter tournament were done.
But if [Eternal Fantasy] wasn’t completed, everything Sylvia prepared would be meaningless.
As she waited anxiously, changes began to occur in the barrier.
Whooooom
“Alicia! The barrier!?”
“Huh, looks like Irene is lifting it from the inside. It’s finished quicker than I expected.”
The barrier surrounding the Irene research lab slowly began to fade away.
And when the barrier completely disappeared… Yuren appeared.
“Yuren!… Huh?”
But Yuren didn’t look well at all.
In fact, everyone from the Irene School behind Yuren looked unwell.
They all seemed to have dark circles under their eyes, looking like zombies, slowly walking over and appearing even more zombie-like.
Sylvia flinched at their appearance.
“Y-Yuren, are you alright!? And what about the others?!”
Yuren didn’t respond.
He simply walked up and handed Sylvia something.
“Yuren… what is this?”
It was the clearest emerald-colored crystal ball she had ever seen.
Handing over a crystal ball radiating a nature-like green that felt hopeful, Yuren said,
“Mission… complete…”
Reciting Sky’s line from Final Fantasy 7, Yuren collapsed right in front of Sylvia.
Thud!
“Ah! Y-Yuren! Are you alright!?”
“Coo… Zzz…”
And just like that, Yuren fell asleep, while Sylvia gripped the crystal ball he had given her and said,
“Got it. Yuren, don’t worry about the rest.”
Then, starting with Yuren, one by one, the other disciples from the Irene School began to collapse.
One by one, the people from the Irene School fell, and…
“Alicia… please take care of this…”
With Irene collapsing last, everyone fell down and started to sleep right on the floor.
Alicia, having received Irene’s request, made a helpless expression and said.
“I can’t believe this, burning your passion like this over a game… But it’s nice to see you so passionate again, Irene.”
Following Irene’s request, Alicia magically moved the sleeping Irene School disciples.
And Sylvia held onto the precious crystal ball containing [Eternal Fantasy] that Yuren had given her and returned with Thomas.
Now all preparations were complete.
It was finally time to execute the plan.
*
Since everything was ready, the subsequent preparations went very quickly.
That evening, Sylvia executed the plan, and familiar voices began to echoed through the familiar broadcasting room.
[ Hello ♩ everyone! This is JYJ from the J Bard Guild! ♫ ]
On the day of the J Bard’s broadcast, his cheerful voice resonated from the crystal ball as always.
[ Gamers these days are going through a tough time, right? I understand. I’ve bought those games too. Those Yura bastards -beep-! Ah! Yes, I apologize. That was my inner thoughts slipping out. Haha! ]
At the sudden curse, urgent blocking sounds rang out.
But people, especially gamers, understood.
If they had talked about those games, they would’ve cursed out too.
[ As an apology, should I reveal some great news? It is exactly what you have all been waiting for amid much anticipation! The [Legend Fighter Tournament] is finally opening!!!!! Wowwwww! Everyone, clap your hands! ♫♫ ]
At that moment, the sound of hearts racing began to resonate across the nation.
The Tetric tournament had become a legendary event among gamers.
To have such an event return, the gamers could feel their own hearts racing in response.
[ This time, the grand prize is a whopping 1 billion gold!!!! The tournament will be held at the legendary stage, the Zephia Coliseum, in a week!!!! ]
1 billion!!!
That means it’s ten times the previous 100 million gold prize!!!?
Gamers who pride themselves as the masters of Legend Fighter, along with citizens uninterested in games, began to feel their hearts pounding at such an amount.
[ Both men and women, old and young, even foreigners can participate, so anyone who thinks they’re a master of Legend Fighter should come rushing to Zephia!! Let’s unleash our frustrations through Legend Fighter, everyone!!!! ]
With JYJ’s passionate cry echoing, the broadcast ended.
The big news of the Legend Fighter tournament quickly spread throughout the Empire.
Naturally, the news reached the village where Johan, over in the east, was located.
“Hey! Johan!!!! Did you just hear the broadcast!!!”
“I heard it.”
Upon hearing the news, Johan’s friend rushed to Johan.
Without even turning around, Johan was playing the Legend Fighter game.
“What are you going to do!?”
“What do you mean? Of course I’m joining!!”
While playing as Kan in Legend Fighter, Johan defeated Blanc perfectly and said.
“I’ve been bored with no interesting games lately, so there’s no way I’m missing this event, right?”
Johan delightedly tossed his golden hair in excitement at the long-awaited festival news.
And the news reached the western city as well.
“Bean! Did you hear the news?”
“What news?”
Bean, who was studying, heard his friend rush over to tell him.
“Game news! Yesterday JYJ announced an amazing event!”
“Oh… game. I’ve been ignoring games since Unreal Fighter.”
But Bean wasn’t interested.
He had lost his taste after playing the Magus Society’s games recently.
His friend’s unexpected reaction surprised him.
“Really? I thought you’d go crazy over the Legend Fighter tournament.”
However, at the mention of the Legend Fighter tournament, Bean jumped to his feet.
“What did you just say? The Legend Fighter tournament!!?”
“Yeah, they said it’s next week at Zephia!”
His interest in gaming had waned for a while, but the Legend Fighter was a different story.
For the sake of revenge someday, Bean had been training like crazy for the Legend Fighter.
He began to pack his bag and told his friend,
“I’m skipping school starting today!!!”
“Hey!! Bean!!! Bean!!!?”
And just like that, Bean dashed out of the academy to start training for Legend Fighter.
The hearts of the gamers, once dying from the blue shock, began to burn red again.
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