*Sigh* Being an Administrator is Hard Work, Isn't It?

The steady whirr of the computer fan dominated the silent bedroom. In the dark Evan sat, staring at his creation. At this point, he had completed the website. 

This website used to mean something... Before everything that happened, we dreamed of becoming the #1 guild in Arcadia... I guess a part of me still wants that...

But here we are... on the road to our dream coming true... not realizing that at the end of the road is a deep, dark, fathomless pit that swallows everyone and everything.

Now that I think about it... it's funny. Conner and I dedicated our lives to that game so much that our life became exactly that--a game. But, we're not the Players. Never was, never will be. Despite what the Administrators might say.

...

I guess I now understand what it feels like to be an NPC...

Evan got up from his seat and laid down on the floor, staring at the ceiling.

They say third time's the charm but we've been so utterly defeated. After two timelines all we could reach was the 6th Floor...

Evan swallowed his spit, a chill running down his spine, cold sweat enveloping him.

The 6th Floor where...

He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.

Don't think about... Don't think about it.. DON'T THINK ABOUT IT! Don'tthinkaboutitDon'tthinkaboutitDon'tthinkaboutitDon'tthinkaboutit.

And yet, he thought about it. About the searing pain, the guttural screams that deafened the snap of flesh being torn and the haunting crunch of bone.

It sounded like an apple...

...I give up... That freak seems to believe we have a chance... but I know... we'll never be able to reach the 100th Floor... Never.

And why should we? This... this life isn't worth continuing...

Evan slowly opened his eyes, breathing heavily.

He stared at the crack in the ceiling. 

***

9 PM at The Lake's Hotel.

Sipping from a ceramic mug with Lake the Duck's face plastered all over it, Doug stared out at the horizon from the living room window.

It was an admittedly beautiful sight, the rainbow neon lights lighting up the night sky.

Doug sighed in appreciation. He and Allison did it. It took a lot of work--an almost astronomical amount--and an equal amount of saving to reach this day, but it was worth it.

To see Allison and Emma so happy today made him proud. Despite his shortcomings as an older brother growing up, he was finally able to repay Allison a teensy bit for all she'd done. 

Grabbing his phone from his pocket, he groaned. It had died at some point during the day. After rummaging around for a few minutes in his luggage case, he found his charger and plugged it into a nearby outlet. He immediately turned on his phone.

He clicked his tongue in irritation. "Come on, a System Update?"

{Now Updating...}

Doug dropped his phone in shock, the phone cracking into the wall with a loud SMACK. A series of thumps followed as it dangled on the cord of the charger.

"What the hell?" Doug glared at the blue hologram in front of him, dumbfounded. He rubbed his eyes. 

{Now Loading...}

"Is it because I'm tired that I'm seeing things?" He muttered to himself.

Trying his best to ignore the large, blue, transparent window right in front of his field of vision, he grabbed his phone and checked its condition. Luckily it wasn't cracked... He peeked at the bedroom door. It seems like he didn't wake up Emma or Allison. Good.

He placed the phone on the counter and focused his gaze on the blue hologram in front of him. It was just too hard to ignore. He could hardly see past his hands with it in the way.

{Name: Doug Fozman.

Level: 1

HP: 500

Mana: 100

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 10

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom : 5

Skills

Inventory}

I hope the stress of the job didn't make me develop schizophrenia...

Doug waved his hands in the air impulsively. Oddly enough it worked, the window disappeared from sight. Doug buried his face in his hands. He should see a doctor when given the chance. This wasn't okay, not in the slightest.

Trying to distract himself from this mind-boggling situation, he grabbed his phone. Luckily the update was quick so he was able to see the notification of two missed calls from Rob, his best friend at work. 

Holding the phone to his ear, he paced the living room. "Hey Rob, it's me."

"Doug! You'll never believe this!" Rob excitedly announced. Doug winced. That was a bit loud.

"What? What happened?"

"We just got a report earlier this morning about a robbery. Turns out some psycho decided to rob the local Gusto's."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. They came and went on foot. We were able to track traces of them to the Autumn National Park, but we've lost the trail. Just keep an eye out for a blonde young adult when you get back."

"Rob... that's practically half the city."

"Exactly, which is I why I need you to rush on back so we can catch her in time."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Great, I'll see you soon."

Doug hung up the phone.

No rest for the wicked huh?

***

"Dang it, I forgot how to do this." Mell grumbled, crouched beside the driver's seat of a car. In her hands were a couple of wires that she fiddled with, trying to do something...

"Uggghhh!" She growled in frustration, tossing aside the wires. "This shit is starting to get really annoying!" She kicked the vehicle in frustration.

She slammed the car door shut and sat down on the curb. "Why does Evan have to live so far away?"

It was currently 1 AM in the morning and Mell still hadn't picked up a mode of transportation. In her defense, though, she learned her lesson the first time when riding that stupid bike and the second time she had managed to hijack a car thanks to her studying.

Unfortunately for her, it had been quite a while since then--maybe five Human years before the reset? And she didn't need to steal anymore cars after the first time. They were practically free after the first floor was cleared.

Mell took out her phone from her black leather jacket--which she both just recently stole--and searched up the URL she had memorized. A toothy grin formed on her face. "Thank you, Evan."

She quickly made her account, the usual "Mellenia", and quickly messaged Evan.

"Yooooooo Evannnnn." She typed. "Come pick me uuuuuppp."

...

Nothing.

Mell furrowed her brows.

"Yo butt face."

"Hellooo."

"Why aren't you answering?"

...

Mell exaggeratedly laid down on the concrete, her arms spread out in defeat. She watched the stars in the sky silently.

"I can feel you fuckers laughing." She muttered. "No worries, I'll show you guys who's got the last laugh."

The crunch of tires on gravel and the slam of a car door soon followed her statement. "Excuse me ma'am, are you okay?"

Mell's eye twitched. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Mell turned her head, studying the police officer approaching her carefully.

"Oooo~ free gun!" Mell quickly jumped up, her rather quick movement startling the police officer.

"Excuse me?" The officer eyed her warily, hand ever so subtly inching towards the taser on his waist after that comment.

"Yo, catch this!"

Before the officer could react, a metal pipe appeared out of thin air and rapidly approached, hitting him square in the forehead. With that, he was down for the count. A woman's scream pierced the air. "What are you doing?! I'm calling the cops!"

Mell chuckled, quickly looting the officer's body. "Go ahead." She jingled the care keys in delight. "Hohohoho, look at that guys, you thought I couldn't do it and Karma just had to prove you wrong."

She skipped towards the officer's car and crawled inside. "This car is so comfy." She giggled in glee. She laughed even harder when she saw what was inside.

"How come I've never chosen a police car before today? There's so many guns!" She quickly summoned the System and stuffed the shotgun and ammo found on the passenger seat in her inventory. 

"Wait, since Police are supposed to be Earth's Enforcers, does that mean there's more stuff in the trunk?" She gasped in anticipation. "Ah, I gotta get to Evan's first before I can look inside."

She shuddered in excitement, her heart racing. "We've never started the Tower with guns before. If I had known it was this easy to get them, I would have done so a long time ago! How come none of you told me!"

Although Human guns were useless in higher floors, they were next to OP in the beginning floors.

Not only would having these guns make farming easier and faster, they would also help in asserting their authority and help in influencing those pesky Human's decisions. Instead of being overcome with fear of the Ogres, they would be overcome with fear by her... And with that in mind, they would have no choice but to listen to her--if they wanted to live.

After all, no one likes an uncooperative bait that tries to trash the team.

Mell turned on the radio, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat. "This is so exciting."