Matthew Atkinson & Natalie Russell
Fourth Layer of the Supernatural Realm
00:12:54
That was the remaining time.
Meanwhile, Matthew's Healing Factor (Super) skill had activated, and his missing arm was beginning to regenerate, starting from his shoulder.
It would most likely be completely restored within a minute.
"Natalie, how about we move the plan forward?" Matthew asked. He could see that Natalie's injured ear had already healed.
Now, with one arm missing for a minute, it would be difficult to stop the other bosses.
"There's no need, you've kept them far enough away. They won't be here in three minutes. Just attack them from a distance so they can't launch long-range attacks," Natalie said.
Matthew paused for a moment, then agreed.
The adrenaline rush from the previous danger was currently hindering his judgment. If they couldn't get here within three minutes, there was no point in engaging in a direct confrontation with them.
So, following Natalie's advice, Matthew stayed in the Artifact Zone, and while Natalie continued clearing NPCs, Matthew attacked the boss characters from a distance.
Meanwhile, Matthew examined the Sniper Rifle he'd received from I-R0k and realized it was an Artifact.
It was a top-level Artifact with absolute penetration, ignoring all other skills, shields, and protections.
But its disadvantage was that it had to remain locked onto its target for 30 minutes before firing. Therefore, Matthew couldn't use it against boss characters.
About a minute later, Matthew's arm returned to normal, and then even his costume regenerated. Most likely thanks to the Hero Template card.
And for the remaining minute, Natalie and Matthew continued defending the Artifact Zone in the same manner.
And when the Panel showed the remaining time at 00:09:59, Natalie took out the second Cataclyst they had purchased in the preparation phase from her inventory, threw it to Matthew, and said:
"Use it. The grade of the fourth layer will be calculated based on who has the highest kill count or the most coins on the team. It's better for us if you use it."
Matthew had no intention of arguing about it. After all, the grade would belong to both of them.
So, he quickly completed the three stages of the Cataclyst, and then a warning reappeared in front of all the NPCs and Players.
[A Bomb Has Been Planted]
[Cataclyst Explosion in 10 Seconds... 9... 8...]
When Matthew checked the number of avatars on the planet in the Panel, he realized there were 837,883 NPCs and 93 Players.
But the numbers didn't mean anything anymore.
Ten seconds later, the Cataclyst exploded, and within 30 seconds, all the avatars and portal gates on the planet were destroyed.
Except for Matthew and Natalie.
Also, ParzivalSub2 and Art3misSub2.
But both of these bosses' shields had turned red, indicating that they were nearing the end of their protection.
Natalie and Matthew immediately fired their Heat Rays. Natalie aimed at Art3mis, and Matthew at Parzival.
Art3mis' shield lasted only 3 seconds, while Parzival's lasted 12 seconds. Afterward, they both turned into piles of items.
Meanwhile, Natalie and Matthew's Currency Coins increased by 100 billion each, as a reward for Art3mis and Parzival killing avatars.
The rewards for the other bosses, NPCs, and players had already appeared on their panels when the Cataclyst killed them.
But neither of them had made a move to collect items from Parzival and Artemis, or any other bosses.
When a player died, even if they still had Extra Life Coins, they had to wait at least 15 minutes to revive.
And it took at least 10 minutes for the destroyed Portal Gates to repair themselves and become usable again.
By using Cataclyst when less than ten minutes remained, Matthew and Natalie had guaranteed an early conclusion to this Battle Royale and the fourth level.
But the Supernatural Realm seemed not to agree with them and surprised them with a new warning:
[You have successfully survived the Planet Doom Frenzy event and defeated all your enemies, defying all odds. Achieving the impossible.]
[Breaking the boundaries of this world made of data has caught someone's attention.]
[James Halliday's avatar, Anorak the All Knowing, the creator of OASIS, is coming to Planet Doom to participate in the Battle Royale as a Final BOSS. Get ready!]
[00:01:00... 00:00:59... 00:00:58]
"Oh, come on! We just got out of a crazy battle, and you're sending us the Final BOSS in a minute? And the creator of this world at that!" Matthew shouted to the sky.
"Maybe the Supernatural Realm really doesn't want us to win the Artifact Hunt," Natalie said.
"There's nothing we can do. Natalie, get ready for the final fight."
But when a minute passed, nothing happened while Natalie and Matthew waited. And then a new warning appeared before them.
[All Portal Gates are unusable. Access to Planet Doom is impossible.]
[Anorak the All Knowing cannot participate in Battle Royale.]
[Congratulations, Players. You managed to defeat Anorak the All Knowing in its own...
But the text appearing on the panel suddenly stopped, and Matthew and Natalie saw a small typhoon appear before them, then transform into an avatar in a wizard's costume.
And when they examined their Panels, this avatar's name appeared as Anorak the All Knowing.
But before Anorak the All Knowing could make a move, a new warning appeared on both their panels:
[Anorak the All Knowing has been detected cheating.]
[Anorak the All Knowing has lost his Final BOSS title and powers.]
[Anorak the All Knowing is in the Battle Royale area without permission. All his attack powers have been suppressed.]
"Phew..." These notifications reassured Natalie and Matthew.
Apparently, the Supernatural Realm didn't overlook the possibility of even the creator of this world cheating.
"Hello, young Padawans. It's a pleasure to meet you."
After a moment's pause, Matthew began to speak to him.
"Hello, Anorak the All Knowing, or should I say James Halliday? It's an honor to meet the creator of such an amazing world. But no matter how much I thought about it, I never imagined you would cheat."
Anorak chuckled. "I'm sorry about that, but knowing that there are those who transcend the reality of data, I couldn't help but meet them."
"Huh? Didn't you come here to fight us?"
"Why would I? I leave those kinds of things to the young Padawans. This old body of mine can't handle too much movement anymore."
"Yeah, right..."
"Oh, before I forget... We don't have much time, so let me give you your gifts first, then we can chat."
Then he extended the tip of his staff towards them and said, "Once you both touch this wand together, your Artifact Hunt will conclude, and you will each receive two Artifacts."
Natalie looked at Matthew, but his brows were furrowed. "But for that, we'll both have to leave the Artifact Zone."
"Hmm...? Does that change anything? After all, you'll get your reward."
"Of course it does. Something you achieve through your own efforts is not fundamentally the same as something given to you by others, even if the reward is the same. What truly gives a Player pleasure is not just the rewards they've won, but the fact that they deserve them."
"So, you're rejecting four Artifacts to stay in the Zone without knowing what you'll earn at the end?"
"I'm sorry, but this is something we've earned with our blood, sweat, and hard work. I want what we've earned, nothing more, nothing less."
Anorak responded with a warm smile, "Forgive this old man for his small trick. You are truly Players who deserve to be real Egg Hunters. It's no wonder you've managed to transcend the boundaries of this world."
"Was this... a test?" Matthew asked, even though he had suspected it from the beginning.
Anorak, or James Halliday, tested Parzival in a similar way in the film, even though he managed to gather all three keys.
"That's right. And you have passed successfully, young Padawans. Now your true rewards..." said Anorak, and after swinging his staff, a beam of light descended upon Matthew and Natalie.
Then a notification appeared on both their panels.
[Anorak the All Knowing has bestowed upon you a data-based blessing. In addition to the Coins you obtained in this layer, you will also be able to carry the items in your inventory to the next layer.]
Their eyes widened at this notification, and Natalie, saying, "I'll take care of it," flew off to collect the items scattered around.
Of course, starting with the items from the defeated bosses.
Meanwhile, a second notification appeared on their panels.
[Anorak the All Knowing has bestowed upon you a data-based blessing. The Extraordinary Treasure Chest you earned at the end of the third layer has been strengthened with this blessing.]
A strengthened Extraordinary Treasure Chest?
Matthew was supposed to open this Extraordinary Treasure Chest, which he earned at the end of the third layer, here, in this layer.
But the Supernatural Realm had notified that he could only obtain it upon his return, probably because this was a data-based and not a physical world.
It seems this worked to Matthew's advantage. This would make his reward even more powerful.
"You first defied the odds, transcended the limits of data, and then passed my test. Two successes, two rewards."
Matthew looked at Anorak the All Knowing in front of him, but for some reason, he saw more of James Holliday in him.
At the end of the film, there was an implication that James Holliday had transformed from a living human into a living data being, and that he may have transferred his consciousness to OASIS before dying.
So, instead of acting with codes, was he thinking like a human?
Perhaps...
"Mr. James Holliday. This world you've created is truly fascinating, and if possible, I would like the people in my own world to experience it as well. Is there any possibility that you could share the technology behind OASIS with me?"
"You have quite a big appetite, young Padawan."
"Which Player, which Egg Hunter didn't have a big appetite? Aren't we all striving for things we don't have and want to obtain?"
Anorak chuckled again and said, "Yes, that's true, but two achievements mean two rewards. Sorry."
"Well... it was worth a try," Matthew said.
Then he said, "I understand. At least let me thank you on behalf of all OASIS users for the sacrifice you made for them. This world is truly a wonderful place."
"I didn't make any sacrifice, young Padawan. Just coding. It's what I love. And I just did what I love, nothing more. Moreover, this world, however it may seem, is ultimately not real." Anorak or James Halliday said.
"I'm sorry, but I disagree. What you're saying isn't true. I know you have regrets. Lost friendships and loves you couldn't pursue... Aren't those sacrifices?" Matthew said.
"They were just mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, and I'm just like everyone else. Mistakes and sacrifices aren't the same thing, young Padawan," said the avatar, whom Matthew now thought was James Halliday.
"Yes, they aren't. But what distinguishes sacrifices from mistakes is that they're made for something or someone else. Today, thanks to OASIS, many people are forming friendships they wouldn't normally have, and some are meeting and falling in love with people they wouldn't normally encounter. Yes, some might be too detached from reality, but thanks to the sacrifices you've made, people are finding new friendships and love every day." He said.
"I see..." said James Halliday after a period of silence.
Then a large orange egg appeared in his hand, and he threw it to Matthew.
Matthew caught the egg, but then it melted and merged with his avatar.
And suddenly, new information began to flash through Matthew's mind.
---------------
Author's Note: You folks can also read up to +50 chapters on my P@treon Pages as an early access privilege.
www.patreon.com/spell_merchant
P@treon Page Name: Spell Merchant
www.patreon.com/vanguard_v
P@treon Page Name: V For Vanguard
Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.126: Artifact Hunt Event Prizes
Ch.127: Another SSS-Grade Results
Ch.128: A Strengthened Extraordinary Treasure Chest