Ultimate Countdown

His mechanical voice filled the room once more. "This is where you will be for the next six months." A heavy silence fell over the crowd

continued, his tone smooth yet artificial. "Do not be afraid. This is only a virtual reality. Your physical bodies will remain here in a safe state. It will be your subcon

Kyle swallowed, his mind racing. That meant they wouldn't actually be gone for half a year-just less than a week. It was still crazy, but at least it wasn't as impossible as it fir

chuckled, a low mechanical distortion that sent a shiver through the room. He turned slightly, and as if responding to his un

. "Yes, as you may have already guessed-these artifacts are scattered across the island. And the more you absorb, the longer y

l run out, and your subconscious will be disconnected from the system, meaning you lose." Kyle felt a chill crawl up his spine. The man continued. "Howev

ting, they could make a fortune in just six days. Kyle could almost see the shift in their expressions. At first, fear. Then, excitement. A few people even e

n the artifacts themselves." He let his words hang in the air for a moment before finishing with a cruel twist. "Players can absor

What had once seemed like an easy way to make money had turned into something far

ng behind every pair of eyes. This wasn't j

pretty damn dark. Kyle felt a sudden jolt as something heavy slammed onto his desk. His body lurched forward, his eyes barely opening as th

was the spit flying from the man's mouth, landing on his desk-and, unfortunately, on h

ry at a marketing firm-a title that sounded impressive, but in reality, it was anything but. If people heard where

ster as well. She had been sick for months now. Hospital bills piled up faster than he could

with a cost-one he couldn't afford to pay. "If you sleep at work again," his boss snarled, straightening his tie, "I swear it'll be the last t

es drifted to the computer screen. Was this his life now? Utter misery? His hands curled into fists on his