Since the dawn of time, all stories have the same dream: to reach the top. It was a deep, instinctive desire, whose origin they didn't know. In the middle of these desires are the referees, in charge of managing and organizing contests to attract "readers."
The reward? Glory, wealth, and above all, power.
But few can make it—competition is tough between original, crazy, and hilarious stories. Who will reach the top?
Jack, Fiona, and Ron wake up with no memory, their minds foggy, among a crowd of other stories, just as lost as them.
Suddenly, a thing shaped like a winged cat appears and declares:
- Welcome everyone! I'll be brief: you're currently in Neoville. A city where all beginners like you start. The "gate" will open soon, so try to survive and attract at least one reader, hehe! »
As the creature was about to leave, it added:
- « Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm referee 'N', in charge of this city. Basically, I'm your boss, so don't piss me off! »
Jack and Fiona looked around with alert eyes and senses, until they saw small blue screens appearing everywhere, with faces hidden in the shadows. A loud voice rang out. It was N:
- Ladies and gentlemen. Sorry for the unwanted wait you had to go through, but the wait is over. Let the contest begin! »
After the announcement, one of the stories screamed with rage:
- « What the hell! What's going on here? You bring us here, and expect us to take part in this contest we only heard about minutes ago?! IN YOUR FUCKING DREAM! »
Referee N, still calm, didn't say a word but killed them instantly. Blood splashed on the ground.
Another story, Ron, spoke up:
- « FIRST KILL !! »
Referee N, still emotionless, immediately started the contest. With a wink, giant insects and flaming skeleton bikers started chasing them. Panic broke out.
Jack, Fiona, and Ron started running to escape.
Ron began the conversation with a big smile:
- « Those skeletons are awesome! By the way, you can call me Ron XD »
They kept running until Jack spotted a fort and grabbed Fiona and Ron by their collars, dragging them inside. Now inside the fort—
- « Close all the doors! No monsters must get through! » he barked, locking the doors with military precision.
After closing all the exits, Fiona collapsed on her knees with a weak voice and answered the two others:
- « Sorry I didn't answer you earlier… I'm Fiona, nice to meet you. »
Jack let out a small sigh and said dryly:
- « I'm Jack. »
After this short exchange, a "view" appeared above their heads. Curious about this "view," Ron was about to ask a question, but before he could, monsters started entering the fort. Fiona screamed with all her strength:
- « Monsters!! They're entering the fort!! »
All three, surprised to see the monsters enter, tried to understand how they got in. Jack, near a window, saw something with shock:
- « That bastard… that veiled person helped them get in. »
Fiona and Ron immediately looked out the window… but nothing. The person had already disappeared.
Trying to find a way out, the three of them ran through every room of the house, until suddenly Jack and Ron found a rope with children's drawings tied to a tree leading outside.
They called Fiona and climbed the rope to escape the fort. Halfway up, Fiona slipped and was about to fall when Ron grabbed her hand, saying:
-« Don't worry, never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down. ».
But she kept slipping slowly… and fell. Surrounded by monsters and with her hand shaking, she began to say her last words:
-« So it's game over for me. ».
But suddenly, a shout was heard—Jack, attracting the monsters around Fiona toward him. Fiona started running toward the exit door next to Jack.
As soon as they got out of the fort, Fiona, still trembling, said:
- « Thank you both for not leaving me behind. »
Ron replied with a relaxed tone:
- « No problem XD! That was some action! ».
Jack added:
- « I only did what felt right. No need to thank me.»
Ron said with a deep voice:
- « Well then, Fiona, how about a date if you really want to thank me? ».
He quickly added:
« By the way guys, what are those 'views' above our heads? ».
Fiona, still puzzled, added:
- « We'll think about it. ». Then she added, regarding Ron's question: « Also, they keep increasing. I wonder if that's a good sign. ».
Jack replied clearly:
- « Doesn't matter if it's good or not. We have to move. We're not safe here. Any suggestions on where to go? »
After a few minutes of thinking, Fiona proposed:
- « Since downtown is still full of monsters, why not go to the outskirts? »
Jack followed:
- « Good idea. Also, we don't know how long this will last. The instructions weren't really clear. »
Ron, with a smile, said:
- « Alright guys, I'm with you. ».
While walking toward the edge of the city, they entered a small forest where they found a medium-sized manor. Still alert, the three of them began searching the rooms.
Ron ended up in an office. After searching it, he found a map of the city and a first aid kit. He said in his head:
-« This manor must be worth some cash. ».
Jack, on his side, found himself in an armory. He picked up a few guns and swords while thinking:
-« AK-47 rifles, batons, swords and more over. This might be useful. ».
Fiona, meanwhile, was in a library where she noticed a glowing book that seemed to call to her. She approached it and managed to read the title: "Children of Time."
As soon as she opened it, a white light filled the room.
Surprised, Fiona asked herself:
- « Where am I? »
After a few seconds of thinking, she realized she was outside the fort from earlier. But something was wrong—there were no monsters, no people, everything felt too calm.
She also noticed that the rope that had helped them earlier wasn't there.
Curious, she entered the fort and saw the rope with children's drawings lying on the doorstep. Then—BOOM! Shocked, she grabbed the rope, ran up the stairs, and looked through the window. Covering her mouth with her hands, she whispered:
« That's us ».
She understood that she had gone back in time. She quickly ran to tie the rope that had helped them escape. But a black shadow moved silently behind her.
The veiled person whispered:
- « Sorry, dear, but your run ends here. »
She turned around immediately—but saw nothing.
The shadow started circling her quickly. She ran into the forest.
While fleeing, the number of "views" above her kept rising. She reached a dead end. There was nowhere left to run.
But against all odds, her views reached 30. She suddenly started glowing and "remembering." She said:
-« Ugh! Of course—it's me. I come from Nexus, the land of magic… ouch! ».
A mysterious blue light appeared and scared away the veiled person chasing her.
After defeating the shadow, she moved toward the tree and tied the rope. Her vision became blurry, and she fainted.
After completing this, the same white light from earlier appeared again and brought her back to the manor.
Jack and Ron found her unconscious and tried to wake her up.
Ron shouted to Jack:
-« I have a first aid kit!! But I don't really know how to use it TuT ».
Jack looked at him from the corner of his eye and said:
-« Give it to me. I'll show you how to do it. ».
After some time lying in one of the manor's rooms, Fiona woke up with her head numb. She immediately called Jack and Ron to explain what she had experienced:
-« Okay guys, I think I figured something out. You see this book—Children of Time—after I opened it, I think I was sent into the past. And it's there that I discovered what this 'view' might mean.»
-« To keep it short: the more views we get, the more we remember who we are, and the more powerful we become.
Me, for example—I'm from Nexus, the land of magic. I unlocked that memory when I reached 30 views. ».
Jack asked a question:
-« Wasn't there another factor that helped you remember? Because neither of us remembers anything yet.»
-« I'm still at 25 views. And that other idiot… I don't know. »
Ron added to Jack's sentence:
-« I'm at 29, four more than you, my dear. »
-« So I could be Superman if I get more views?
Hey Jack, wanna be Batman? ».
Ron, with tears in his eyes, couldn't stop laughing while Jack gave him a death stare full of murderous intent.
After Ron calmed down, he shared what he had discovered:
-« So, I found this map. It shows a safe zone. Maybe we can finish the contest there. But there are lots of monsters on the way.».
Jack reassured the other two, saying:
-« We can go there. I found weapons downstairs. And Fiona has unlocked some powers, right? »
Fiona answered, looking them straight in the eyes:
-« I can summon an energy beam, but it still tires me a lot. I should use it wisely. »
Jack nodded slowly and murmured:
-« Then we have to gather more views. »
Ron, with stars in his eyes, exclaimed:
-« We'll clear our path by turn
ing monsters into stew!!! ».
Then shouted at the top of his lungs:
-« Vamos, amigos!!! Onward to the safe zone!! »