Friday 10 January 1999 ZAGE Tower
On some floors of ZAGE Tower, it's already 07:00 PM. The workday has ended, lights are dimmed, and most employees have gone home. The office floors are quiet—almost eerily so—except for one group that's still wide awake and full of energy: the Bakudan Boys. Instead of heading home, they've gathered together for what's becoming their Friday night ritual—a full-on gaming session at one of the tower's dedicated gaming floors.
Zaboru Renkonan himself had always believed that passion for games shouldn't end when the work clock stops ticking. He made it clear from the start: as long as work is done properly, employees are encouraged to unwind and play together. The gaming rooms—installed on almost every floor—were designed exactly for this purpose. Complete with top-end PCs, massive TVs, and old -to-modern consoles like ZEPS 1, ZEPS 2, and ZEPS 3, the rooms weren't just for show. They were symbols of ZAGE culture—where work, creativity, and play lived side by side.
Right now, the Bakudan Boys—Sakaki, Kumogi, Sawada, and Rikki—are sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at the row of PCs in one of the tower's more stylish gaming lounges. The room hums with the soft glow of RGB lighting, and behind them, game posters, arcade cabinets, and even a vending machine stocked with energy drinks add to the vibe. With 10 gaming-ready PCs lined up, plus couch setups for console gaming, the space feels less like an office break room and more like a futuristic cyber café designed for developers who live and breathe games. It's the perfect battleground for what's about to come next.
But right now, the Bakudan Boys have recently gained another member—a quiet but oddly persistent newcomer who had been following them around more and more. It all started just a few weeks ago during one of their usual Friday night gaming sessions in the office. As always, the core four—Sakaki, Kumogi, Sawada, and Rikki—were holding their ground in one of the ZAGE Tower's game rooms when an unfamiliar yet polite young man entered the room. His name? Yuto Nakajima. He didn't say much, just watched at first with a mix of curiosity and admiration, laughing softly at their banter and chaos.
The next week, he showed up again—this time with snacks. By the third week, he was sitting down and helping set up the PCs. And before anyone really acknowledged it out loud, he was already picking his hero and queueing up with them. It became unspoken but fully accepted: Yuto was now the unofficial 5th member of the Bakudan Boys.
And now the once-quiet room is filled with roaring laughter, shouted insults, and curse-filled commands as the Bakudan Boys dive headfirst into yet another high-stakes match of DoTA in Warcraft 3. They've got their five-man squad fully assembled, locked in, and playing online as a party. The noise is wild—rage, joy, stress, and pure chaotic energy blending into a symphony of after-hours gaming at its best.
"F*CK you, Rikki! What a dogshit Yurnero you play! You're our carry! You should carry us!" Sakaki yelled, slamming his keyboard while desperately trying to keep up with the enemy assault using his underfarmed Crystal Maiden. He was on tilt—mana nearly gone, cooldowns wasted, and his positioning a disaster.
Rikki didn't skip a beat. "F*CK YOU! Shitty support stealing my kills again! And WHERE are the wards?! The map's pitch black! Are we playing blindfolded or what?! I swear we've been ganked more times than we've farmed creeps!"
The voice chat was nuclear. Everyone was shouting, pinging, and rage-spamming hotkeys. Sawada, the only one doing remotely well, laughed under his breath as his Lina landed a clean stun-combo to score a solo kill mid. "At least someone's winning their lane," he muttered, but nobody heard him over the noise.
Kumogi, face buried in one hand while the other clicked frantically, shouted, "WHY am I ALWAYS stuck with offlane? I've got no help, no farm, and no will to live. I'm tanking creeps, ganks, and now your f*cking egos!" Kumogi Playing Abaddon.
Meanwhile, Yuto said only one thing—"Careful bot." His Sven calmly pushed a wave, placed a ward, and pinged the incoming danger. He had the best CS, highest net worth, and said the least.
Their draft was fine. Their execution? A flaming trainwreck. Sakaki bought a Dagon for "burst support," Rikki refused to rotate, and Kumogi kept engaging alone. It all fell apart by minute 30. By minute 45, the base was gone, their comms had devolved into pure salt, and the dreaded word appeared on screen: DEFEAT.
Silence followed. Real, stunned silence—the kind where five people stare blankly at their monitors and wonder if they even like video games anymore.
Rikki was the first to break. "Enough of this shit, man! I'm DONE playing DoTA today. Let's play something else before I uninstall this garbage."
Sakaki scoffed, half-laughing, half-angry. "You f*cking bastard. You only wanna play carry and flame everyone else! I always sacrifice for this team—I build support, I buy wards, and we STILL lose! You think I like being broke all game?"
Kumogi snapped. "Oh, come on! You built a f*cking Dagon on Crystal Maiden! And then you brag about 'sacrificing'? That's not sacrifice, that's sabotage!"
"I needed the Dagon for burst, asshole!" Sakaki roared back. "You think I get gold from creeps? You guys steal everything! I'm poor out there, crawling through this goddamn economy! My inventory looks like it belongs in myself in 1991!"
Sawada let out a long sigh and cracked his neck. "Guys. Let's settle this like men. ZAGE Arena. Free-for-all. No excuses. No teammates. Winner talks. Losers shut up."
Kumogi and Rikki exchanged evil grins. "Now you're talking," Rikki said, slapping his desk. "I'm gonna massacre your ass, Sakaki."
Sakaki grinned back, already clicking to launch the map. "That's my line, dumbass."
And just like that, the Bakudan Boys queued up for their next war.
ZAGE Arena features a total of 64 unique heroes, all based on legendary ZAGE IP characters—ranging from iconic platformer mascots to obscure cult favorites. Each hero has their own skill set, often wildly exaggerated or humorously mismatched compared to their original canon, which only adds to the charm and unpredictable nature of the game. Some characters that were once known for stealth might suddenly become explosive tanks, while others known for brute strength could become tactical spellcasters. This creative imbalance is part of what makes ZAGE Arena so beloved by fans.
The match structure itself is chaos incarnate. Every two minutes, the game triggers a random duel mechanic—two players are selected and thrown into a mini arena, where the winner is rewarded with extra gold and buffs, instantly shifting the balance of power. These duels are a constant threat and opportunity, keeping players on edge and disrupting any one-sided momentum. On top of that, scattered across the map are randomized item spawns and power-up shrines that can completely change the tide of battle.
At the heart of every match lies the ultimate objective: the Final Boss known as ZABO-Man. This towering AI-controlled behemoth spawns late-game, loaded with unpredictable attacks and massive HP. In the Free For All game mode, only one rule matters—the player who lands the last hit on ZABO-Man claims the win. This mechanic turns every match into a final chaotic scramble, where even the most underfed player can steal victory from the jaws of defeat with a single lucky strike or well-timed burst.
And so, the match begins. Sakaki selects Mario, a fast, brawler-type with bounce movement mechanics and fireball zoning. Rikki picks Chun-Li, whose mobility and stun-heavy kit make her a relentless duelist. Kumogi locks in Robo-Cop, a slow-moving tank with chargeable attacks and a terrifying stun gun. Sawada opts for Cloud, the balanced swordsman with powerful limit breaks. And finally, Yuto quietly selects Doomguy, The strong but hard character.
The battlefield is set, the timer ticks down, and the Bakudan Boys prepare to throw themselves into yet another storm of digital warfare—loud, messy, unpredictable, and exactly the way they like it.
Then the game folded into absolute chaos. Sakaki, determined to hit level 6 and unlock his ultimate skill "Here We Go! Yahoo!"—a massive area stun activated through a supercharged jump—was off in the jungle trying to farm. Still stuck at level 5, he moved cautiously, clearing neutral creeps and trying to avoid fights. But even as he tried to focus, a strange tension lingered in the air. Rikki and Kumogi had been suspiciously quiet for the last minute. And then it happened—they both grinned and made eye contact across their monitors. That was the moment Sakaki realized something was off.
"You bastards! One v one me, don't be cowards!" Sakaki shouted, instinctively backing his Mario toward the tower.
Too late.
Rikki pounced first. With a flash of movement, he activated Chun-Li's first skill—"Thunder Legs Kick"—a targeted leap that stunned Mario mid-animation. Sakaki's Mario staggered backward, frozen in place, unable to escape. Within seconds, Kumogi followed up, triggering Robo-Cop's first skill—"Stun Gun"—firing a charged taser blast straight into Mario's chest. The second stun chained perfectly, and before Sakaki could even lift a finger, both characters were pummeling him from both sides.
Rikki's Chun-Li dished out her 2nd skills rapid strikes with her brutal combo chains, while Robo-Cop unleashed his calculated, gun attack. Sakaki was completely locked down. No blink. No response. No ult. Just helpless rage.
And with one final hit from Kumogi's Robo-Cop, Mario collapsed in a flurry of pixelated sparks.
The in-game announcer's voice echoed loud and proud: "Robo-Cop has eliminated Mario!"
"NOOOOO! Are you freaking kidding me?!" Sakaki screamed, both hands thrown in the air as he slammed his desk in disbelief. His face twisted in frustration, eyes wide, mouth open in disbelief. "I WAS FIVE SECONDS AWAY FROM LEVEL SIX!"
His monitor shook slightly from the impact as his Mario character slumped in defeat on the battlefield. The betrayal and timing couldn't have been worse—and Sakaki knew it. He leaned back in his chair, hands on his head, trying to process the double-stun ambush that ended his run before it even began.
"Damn you! Kumogi! Rikki!" Sakaki shouted, his voice cracking with fury as his Mario lay dead. He slammed his hand on the desk again, still tilted from the ambush. But before he could even hit respawn, another eruption of chaos unfolded right before everyone's eyes.
Yuto, calm and quiet up until now, had been waiting. His Doom Guy crept into the battlefield like a predator in the shadows. And then, without warning, he struck.
Target: Chun-Li.
With cold precision, Yuto activated Doom Guy's first skill—"Doom Shotgun Charge!"—a devastating dash that sent Doom Guy barreling forward like a freight train. The impact knocked Chun-Li back, and before she could even recover, Yuto pressed his advantage. His second skill, "Doom Machine Gun," roared to life. A relentless hail of bullets poured into Chun-Li, tearing through her health bar in seconds. Chun-Li dropped to the ground in a burst of digital gore.
The in-game announcer's voice echoed loud and proud: "Doom Guy has eliminated Chun-Li!"
Rikki stood up from his chair and threw his hands up. "F*CK YOU, YUTO!" he howled.
Kumogi, seeing the opportunity, didn't waste a second. His Robo-Cop turned toward Doom Guy, already calculating. Yuto's mana bar was nearly empty—he had no escape options left. Robo-Cop's third skill, "Charge Shot," began to power up. This was no auto-target move—it required manual aiming and impeccable timing. Kumogi leaned in, focused, lining up the shot.
He clicked.
The charge fired in a bright blue beam—but Yuto, reading him like a book, faked a forward strafe. At the last second, he spun the other way and slipped past the projectile with pixel-perfect footwork.
"What?! DAMN YOU, YUTO!" Kumogi yelled, gripping his mouse with white-knuckle intensity.
But there was no time to recalibrate.
A storm approached.
Sawada's Cloud came screaming into the scene. Without hesitation, he activated his ultimate: "Omni Slash." In a dazzling blur of light, Cloud zipped across the screen in multiple slashes, each strike glowing with cinematic flare. Robo-Cop's "Armor Mode" was active—granting bonus defense and slowing damage taken—but even that couldn't save him, especially because no other enemies around. Slash after slash landed with brutal accuracy, and before Robo-Cop could even move, he disintegrated in a burst of light.
The in-game announcer's voice echoed loud and proud: "Cloud Strive has eliminated Robo-Cop!"
"DAMN! You're already level 6?!" Kumogi gasped, eyes wide. "I'm still stuck at level 5!"
Sawada didn't even respond. His Cloud stood calmly in the center of the battlefield, sword over shoulder as he trying to chase Yuto but Yuto already retreated..
Then the battle continued with pure madness—curses flying, wild laughter shaking the room, and absolute chaos breaking out at every corner of the screen. The tension was thick, but it was the kind of tension only the Bakudan Boys could thrive in. Everyone was yelling, trash-talking, and flinging skills left and right. It wasn't just a game anymore—it was war. Explosions, combos, backstabs, and hilarious betrayals filled every second of the match.
Somehow, in the middle of all that mess, Yuto managed to keep his composure. His Doom Guy was relentless, calm under pressure, always in the right position. As the boss "ZABO-Man" spawned—a massive, overpowered AI juggernaut meant to decide the final phase—the energy in the room spiked. Everyone rushed in for the last hit, each hoping to steal the win.
Rikki dashed forward with Chun-Li, aiming to finish ZABO-Man off with her lightning kick barrage. But before he could even touch the boss, Yuto appeared like a ghost from the shadows. His Doom Guy activated "Doom Shotgun Charge," blasting Chun-Li sideways, and then immediately followed with "Doom Machine Gun," shredding Rikki before he had a chance to react. Chun-Li dropped dead, and the room roared with a mix of screams and cheers.
And just like that, Yuto scored the final blow on ZABO-Man.
Victory.
Not only had he slain Rikki mid-boss fight, he also ended the game with the highest kill count and the fewest deaths.
Doom Guy (Yuto): 28 kills / 6 deaths.
Mario (Sakaki): 7 kills / 23 deaths.
Sawada turned to him with a surprised smile. "You're really good at gaming, Yuto."
Yuto gave a small, humble smile and shrugged. "I guess I just got lucky."
"LUCKY MY ASS!" Rikki exploded. "You only won because Sakaki played like trash feeding your ass! and THIS F*CKING TRAITOR KUMOGI decided to gang up on me!"
Kumogi immediately fired back. "What the hell are you talking about?! You stole my last-hit bounty three times! You think I'm gonna let that slide? Of course I targeted your ass!"
Sakaki leaned back, smirking. "Hmph. You guys don't get it. It's not about kills or wins. It's about how many times you've died—and how many times you've come back stronger. The number of deaths I have just proves how experienced I am. I'm like a goddamn phoenix!"
Sawada laughed out loud. "Yeah right! You're the only guy I know who brags about having 23 deaths in one game!"
Sakaki nodded proudly. "Pain is temporary. Respawn is eternal."
They kept cursing each other, throwing insults, laughing like maniacs—but despite the noise and chaos, it was clear they were all having the time of their lives. What they didn't know was that, from the upper floors of the ZAGE Tower, Zaboru was quietly watching them through the CCTV feed in his office.
He leaned back in his chair, sipping a half-finished energy drink, a soft smile playing on his lips. "They're clearly having fun," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn't mind them playing after hours—not at all. In fact, he encouraged it. But as he watched the Bakudan Boys screaming at each other, bickering over stuns and wards, and bragging about who died the least, a faint feeling tugged at his chest.
It was envy.
This kind of raw, chaotic fun—this unfiltered joy—was something he hadn't felt in years, not since his past life. Back then, late-night gaming marathons with close friends had been his escape. Now, even though he could still technically play games, it wasn't the same. He was Zaboru Renkonan—the CEO of ZAGE, a public figure, a symbol of innovation. People didn't treat him like an equal anymore; they treated him like a boss, a legend, a persona to impress.
No one would curse at him mid-match. No one would dare yell at him to buy wards.
That kind of closeness—the kind Bakudan Boys shared—was rare. And the more famous he became, the rarer it felt. As much as he loved what he had built, there were moments like this when he longed for simpler times. Times when games weren't just design documents or market strategies—they were just fun.
He chuckled again, watching Sakaki slam the table while Kumogi shouted and Rikki screamed at the screen. His laughter echoed softly in his quiet office.
"Bunch of Idiots having blast," he said fondly, and kept watching.
To be continue
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