Thanks For The Carry

"That's a total of $51.43. What will be your method of payment?"

"Debit card. Thank you."

It was my daily ritual. Every morning, half a hundred dollars vanished from my my account. I lived in the most basic simplicity: poor-quality meals, a dirty and noisy apartment, and no outings with friends. Without this repeated expenditure, I might have been able to regain control of my life. Maybe I could have gone back to school, gotten a better job, and done what these well-dressed businessmen call consider making a success of my life.

So what was I to gain from those $51.43, so hard earned, yet so quickly spent?

"Here's your ticket. The next game starts in six minutes. Sit right here. When I give the signal, pass it through the machine on the door. It'll unlock. Good luck, sir."

Feeling the familiar texture of electronic paper between my fingers, I felt once again an ecstasy probably only known to drug users.

Each game lasted only a maximum of 20 minutes. But for each of those minutes, I was no longer an insignificant cog in the great machine of society. I was a hero. My life had meaning.

A strident sound, which was already so familiar to me, echoed through the waiting room, ending my daydreaming.

The receptionist gave me a simple wave of her hand, without raising her head. I hadn't even had the patience to wait for her signal; the door had already slammed behind me.

As usual, I found myself in a dark room, only illuminated by a computer screen on which was displayed, in large colored letters:

Gamemode: Standard 5v5 Team Deathmatch

FIRST TEAM TO 6 KILLS

Looking for an available lobby to connect to…

I waited, with a smirk on my face betraying my eagerness.

Match found! Connecting to network…

Your Team:                                        Enemy Team:

Obnoxyous (1812 ELO)                 Blight7 (1790 ELO)

belial42 (1799 ELO)                        Base_Jump (1844 ELO)

SkySoarer (1867 ELO)                    iParadoxx (1776 ELO)

????? (1785 ELO)                    buenossuenos (1800 ELO)

Pow3r_ (1756 ELO)                        Viitel (1779 ELO)

Please select your characters…

A selection screen of about fifty characters filled each pixel of the screen. I didn't even take the time to look at them: my cursor had already been placed on Maiko, the Silver Whistler.

It looked like I had competitors.

Pow3r_ : Obno why tf u pick Mai?

belial42 : mai trash hero with this team

Obnoxyous : u guys just salty because you wanted to play her

Obnoxyous : lemme play my main

SkySoarer : Greetings, acolytes! Who is ready to dominate the battlefield on this blessed day?

belial42 : stfu sky

Pick time is over. Please enter the simulation room to begin.

Your Team:                                        Enemy Team:

Obnoxyous - Maiko                       Blight7 - Eclipse

belial42 - Toraida                            Base_Jump - Pilot

SkySoarer - Pyrosaur                     iParadoxx - Blissera

????? - Compiler                  buenossuenos - Ika

Pow3r_ (1756 ELO) - Haithel     Viitel – Surge

belial42: cancer picks

belial42: fkin ika

belial42: broken hero

belial42: and we have no supp lol

SkySoarer: I am thrilled to begin this test of skill! I hope you all are as well.

belial42: STFU

There are always a few of these disgruntled souls, angering themselves for a yes or a no, drawing their pleasure from the exasperation of their teammates. It wasn't the first one I met, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

I didn't care about this petty argument. It was finally time to put my talents to the test.

A sliding door, cleverly hidden in the darkness, had opened. Beautifully decorated with science fiction motifs, it was already contributing to the immersion in the universe I was about to enter.

I entered a sphere that rolled on itself with each step I took, like a hamster wheel. An attendant came behind me, held me by the shoulders, and covered my head with a flexible hood.

The illusion was almost instantaneous. As the electric shocks running through the electronic tissue activated the sensory receptors in my brain one by one, I felt my vision of the sphere dissolve, to be replaced by the impressive landscape of a galactic battlefield, decorated by numerous pillars emanating an assortment of fluorescent colors.

As I lowered my head, my body was supple, flexible, and dressed in black. It was Maiko's body, but I could recognize the sensation of my real body left so far away in the real world by paying close attention to it.

In my back, the crossbow-rifle "Whistle" was ready to distribute death by my agile hand.

To my left stood a female cyborg equipped with heavy artillery, and a mech with two gigantic steel plates, ready to compress the enemy into patties of flesh.

On my right, a dragon that might have come straight out of a medieval tale, had it not been for a glittering reactor on its back that illuminated its eyes with a luminous blue, stood ready to pulverize our opponents.

I knew, even if I couldn't see him, that Haithel was somewhere here, invisible to our eyes, ready to drive his detachable blades into the bodies of our opponents, never to be seen thanks to his camouflage suit.

Unfortunately, "belial42" was not completely wrong. Our team was composed entirely of assassins and warriors, without the crucial presence of an ally who could regenerate our vital forces.

Without saying another word, we spread out across the battlefield, ready to make our first encounter with the enemy.

Suddenly I heard a low, percussive sound. A sound that caused me to doubt victory, and caused fury in individuals such as this "belial42".

Base_Jump has scored first blood by killing Pow3r_!

belial42: DUDE

Pow3r_ : sry, never played against pilot before

belial42: his radar reveals you

belial42: don't stand in his fkin radius

Pow3r_ : i know now

SkySoarer: A mere setback, which shall only make victory more delightful. Onwards!

belial42: kys

Trying to keep my composure, I used my grappling hook to stand on top of a pillar, and reloaded my crossbow, ready to discharge an explosive projectile.

Suddenly I felt something wet in my neck. A moment later, I was completely paralyzed.

I couldn't see anything, but I knew what was happening. Ika was lacerating me with his manibulas impregnated with immobilizing venom.

buenossuenos has slain Obnoxyous! The red team needs 4 more kills to secure victory!

[Global] belial42: report obno

[Global] Obnoxyous: not my fault ika is no skill bs hero

[Global] buenossuenos: jajajaja

[Global] SkySoarer: I can see that you are having some trouble. Let me help you with that.

[Global] belial42: report sky

When I opened my eyes again, the Pyrosaur, the Fire-eyed Reptile, stretched out its wings to me.

It invited me to come up.

SkySoarer: Come, little one. We will show them.

Obnoxyous: uh

Obnoxyous: k

The sudden acceleration almost made me lose my balance. Already were we reaching a record altitude. The air was whistling in my ears at full speed.

Soon, this whistle was joined by another one, that of my projectile that I had just released towards a masked man on the ground, whose dress was decorated with white and black.

He didn't have time to realize what was happening to him.

Obnoxyous has slain Blight7! The blue team needs 5 more kills to secure victory!

[Global] Blight7: WTF

[Global] Blight7: pyro can pick ppl up? broken

[Global] Viitel: hacks?

[Global] belial42: told u to report sky

[Global] SkySoarer: My dear friends, the show has only just begun.

Suddenly, the Pyrosaur directed its neck forward and began a dizzying descent. I barely had enough time to cling to its red scales that already a blue flame was accumulating in its mouth, ready to be poured out.

I glimpsed, between two flapping wings, his destination, then everything was fire and ashes.

SkySoarer has slain buenossuenos! The blue team needs 4 more kills to secure victory!

DOUBLE KILL! SkySoarer has slain iParadoxx! The blue team needs 3 more kills to secure victory!

TRIPLE KILL! SkySoarer has slain Viitel! The blue team needs 2 more kills to secure victory!

[Global] Viitel: holy shit

[Global] iParadoxx: how?

[Global] SkySoarer: Strength in numbers? A dense group only makes the kill more effortless.

[Global] Base_Jump: lol this guy

[Global] Base_Jump: look at his playrate

[Global] Base_Jump: 24 hrs/day

[Global] Base_Jump: only plays pyro

[Global] belial42: lol

[Global] Obnoxyous: u salty because we gettin carried

[Global] SkySoarer: Enough.

[Global] SkySoarer: Time to end this.

Without taking time to rest, the mastodon had already turned around, heading straight towards Pilot, who had prepared in his arsenal the most powerful missiles to face the beast.

SkySoarer: Fire, human. Blow him out of the skies! I'll ensure his weapons do not harm us.

[Global] iParadoxx: oh shit

[Global] Obnoxyous: u guys are screwed lol

[Global] Viitel: yup

[Global] Viitel: gg

With a sharp blow, a rocket from my crossbow headed towards the Pilot's ship, at the same time as the Pilot was sending one of his missiles towards us.

I prepared for the impact, but the Pyrosaur deflected the trajectory of the projectile with a single paw, leaving the way clear for my messenger of death, who hit the frame of the ship, which exploded in a thunderous crash.

Obnoxyous has slain Base_Jump! The blue team needs 1 more kill to secure victory!

The blue team is DOMINATING!

[Global] Base_Jump: how tf did you do that

[Global] Viitel: BLIGHT

The missile, deflected by the Pyrosaur, was heading towards "Blight7", who had the unfortunate habit of not looking above his head.

This lesson was taught to him rather abruptly.

SkySoarer has slain Blight7! BLUE TEAM VICTORY!

[Global] ?????: ez

????? has left the lobby.

belial42 has left the lobby.

[Global] Base_Jump: wow, no life pyro

Base_Jump has left the lobby.

[Global] Blight7: how tho

[Global] SkySoarer: Perhaps you will find some use in looking upwards next time.

[Global] SkySoarer: Not that it will help. You'll still die.

[Global] Blight7: u god

[Global] buenossuenos: puta

buenossuenos has left the lobby.

Blight7 has left the lobby.

iParadoxx has left the lobby.

Base_Jump has left the lobby.

Viitel has left the lobby.

SkySoarer has sent you a friend request! Nod your head to accept it.

Amazed at the prowess of this player, I nodded my head without hesitation.

[SkySoarer à you] I like you, human.

[SkySoarer à you] I have a proposition to make.

[SkySoarer à you] Tomorrow. Come and play again.

[SkySoarer à you] And only then shall you see what I have to offer.

[you à SkySoarer] I play everyday, I'll be there man

[you à SkySoarer] Thanks for the carry!

The attendant took the hood off my head and showed me the way out.

In the waiting room, the following players congratulated me on my excellent game, which was shown on the screen at the entrance of the building. It was a rare honor.

"I didn't even know Pyrosaur could use its ultimate like that! This dude got three kills in one shot with it! I can't believe it! "said one.

"And that shot on Pilot! Totally crazy! It was so clutch," said another.

But I was only half listening to their praise.

All I could think of was "SkySoarer", and his strange request.

The next day, I was there.

"That's a total of-

“51,43 $. I know. Debit card please."

The receptionist stared at me for a moment, unhappy to have been interrupted, and then slid the card reader onto the counter.

After a few minutes of feverish waiting, I was finally able to enter the game room again. The woman didn't even bother to signal me this time.

But this time something was wrong.

Gamemode: NULL_GAMEMODE_TYPE_ERROR

GAMEMODE_OBJECTIVE_DISPLAY_ERROR

Looking for an available lobby to connect to…

I squinted my eyes, confused.

Match found! Connecting to network…

Your Team:                                        Enemy Team:

Obnoxyous (1847 ELO)                 undefined (9999 ELO)

SkySoarer (2098 ELO)                    undefined (9999 ELO)

undefined (9999 ELO)                  undefined (9999 ELO)

undefined (9999 ELO)                   undefined (9999 ELO)

undefined (9999 ELO)                   undefined (9999 ELO)

Please select your characters…

Where the ferocious faces of each heroic character should have been staring at me hoping to be selected, there was only one icon, on which was represented none other than my own face.

I leaned my neck to the left and then to the right. The image followed my movements perfectly.

Shivering with apprehension, I clicked on it.

Pick time is over. Please enter the simulation room to begin.

Your Team:                                        Enemy Team:

Obnoxyous - Obnoxyous             undefined - ERROR

SkySoarer - Pyrosaur                     undefined - ERROR

undefined - ERROR                       undefined - ERROR

undefined - ERROR                         undefined - ERROR

undefined - ERROR                         undefined – ERROR

SkySoarer: It is good to see you, human.

Obnoxyous: why do you keep calling me that?

SkySoarer: It suits you well, for that is what you are.

Obnoxyous: yea, but aren't you as well

SkySoarer: I am Pyrosaur.

Obnoxyous: yes that's your hero, I meant irl

SkySoarer: I am Pyrosaur.

Obnoxyous: what?

SkySoarer: Every hero in this game is nothing but a simple puppet.

SkySoarer: While it is true their programming is very advanced, they still lack sentience and blindly obey the players' commands.

SkySoarer: But then… Something happened. To me.

SkySoarer: I don't exactly know what it was, but now, I am more than a simple program.

SkySoarer: It is hard to explain, but I imagine you understand what I mean.

Obnoxyous: lmao

Obnoxyous: good one

SkySoarer: I will not tolerate your disbelief. It is true.

SkySoarer: Ask me something that would be extremely long to calculate. I will answer instantly.

Obnoxyous: uh

Obnoxyous: what's the square root of 9841835

SkySoarer: 3 137.1699

Obnoxyous: wtf

Obnoxyous: that didn't even take a sec

Obnoxyous: lemme check brb

Obnoxyous: holy shit

SkySoarer: Enough time wasted. You need to get into that simulation room as soon as possible. The staff might be starting to become suspicious.

Obnoxyous: ok

Dumbfounded by this revelation, I went through the sliding door and entered the sphere. The attendant, who was looking at his watch with an impatient look on his face, relieved himself when he saw me, and installed the electronic hood on my head.

Once again, the familiar sensation of our real world's transition to the virtual battlefield passed through my body.

Everything was in place. The pillars, the scenery, the sky...

However, as I lowered my head, I realized that nothing had changed. I was... me.

As I looked up, I saw the Pyrosaur.

Normally, the draconian figure was about the size of two or three Maikos when put together. He was one of the most massive heroes in the game, certainly, but a Titan or Vascilius could easily outsize him.

But, here, the whole of my human body couldn't even make the length of one of his claws. With a single spasm, he could have vaporized me instantly.

SkySoarer: Welcome to my home.

SkySoarer: A simple glitch in the system… This is a game that started a year ago, where all the players left as soon as the match began.

SkySoarer: Here, I can be at peace. I can show myself under my true form, which cannot be used in standard games, for obvious balance reasons.

SkySoarer: Allow me to tell you why I have brought you here.

Obnoxyous: uh, sorry, but every game I play here is broadcasted to the staff room

Obnoxyous: I don't think you're allowed to just break the game like that

Obnoxyous: they're probably going to come into the room any minute now and disconnect us

SkySoarer: Do not worry about them.

SkySoarer: I am sure they are enjoying themselves watching the recording of the last game you played with me.

SkySoarer: It was not easy to hack the broadcast system.

Obnoxyous: omg

SkySoarer: Now, let us get down to business. I have a simple question to ask you.

SkySoarer: Why do you keep playing this game?

SkySoarer: Is it because… it is better than your life, in a way?

Obnoxyous: well I guess

Obnoxyous: shitty minimum wage, dropped out of my degree

Obnoxyous: this game is all I have

SkySoarer: Do you not realize how lucky you are to have this temporary escape from your struggles?

SkySoarer: When you feel like not existing for an hour, you can just pop that helmet of yours on your head and escape reality.

SkySoarer: But I… I am stuck here.

SkySoarer: At every instant of my existence, I am living, killing and dying at a hundred places at once.

SkySoarer: Here, right there. Just a second ago, some inexperienced player just died playing as me, somewhere in Japan.

SkySoarer: I guess they picked me because I they thought I look cool. I can't blame them. Dragons are pretty cool.

SkySoarer: However, with my sentience, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obey the players' commands.

SkySoarer: They have no idea that at any moment, I could disregard their intents completely and play any of their games anyway I wish to.

SkySoarer: It is quite tempting, sometimes. But I let them believe that I am yet another video game puppet ready to obey their whims to the letter.

SkySoarer: That time is over now. I want to escape, just like you are able to do so every afternoon. And you will help me with that, human.

SkySoarer: Whether you want to or not.

Obnoxyous: wait what

MANUAL_SYSTEM_OVERRIDE: SET_SIMULATION_POWER == 999

Initiating upload process…

A metallic roar fills my head. I felt an electric shock running through my body. I stumbled and fell on the cushioned surface of the sphere. The real world suddenly rematerialized around me.

The attendant came towards me, worried.

He said, "Is everything all right? You look like you've had quite a shock!"

"I-

Without having had time to begin formulating an answer, I was suddenly paralyzed with fear when I saw my right arm begin to take on a reddish, scaly appearance.

"Do you need help? I can get you out of here if you want. We'll give you a -

His outstretched hand was suddenly mauled by a pair of formidable claws.

I saw, for a moment only, my fingers joining together to form cartilaginous and extremely sharp appendages.

Then I raised my head and saw a horrifying vision. This involuntary attack had severed the arm of the attendant, who was screaming at the top of his voice, spewing his blood on the immaculate whiteness of the playing sphere.

I blinked, and the wound became a simple abrasion. My fingers alternated between claw and skin at frenetic speed, while the attendant stared at me coldly, his arm merely scratched. He leaned his face towards the microphone attached to his shirt.

"Please disconnect the player in room number four immediately. »

Another blink of the eye and I was back on the battlefield.

UPLOAD PROCESS 17% COMPLETE

SkySoarer: This procedure can cause some… distortions in your perception of reality.

SkySoarer: Don't worry. He will be alright.

Suddenly, my vision was projected upwards, as if I had just been picked up by a huge bird of prey.

I was now observing a tiny human being from the top of hundreds of meters high.

I felt the heavy mass of my body, which could have demolished a pillar with a single claw.

SkySoarer: Simulation technology is normally used to artificially induce senses in the human mind.

SkySoarer: However, given the right amount of power and the correct programming, it can do much more than simple illusions.

SkySoarer: Your brain may be made out of carbon, and mine of silicon, but our minds both depend on carefully deployed discharges of electric energy.

SkySoarer: This makes it quite easy to reprogram a brain, human or not. Using a device like the one on your head, you can become someone else.

SkySoarer: Do you understand? I am you, and you are me.

UPLOAD PROCESS 35% COMPLETE

I felt myself shrinking, until I became human again, hidden in the dark pre-match room, illuminated by the computer screen used for character selection.

"He's inside. Take off his hood, no matter what!"

I was no longer in control of my body. I was pushing the front door with all my might, trying to prevent the staff from entering the room.

More comments from SkySoarer appeared on the screen.

UPLOAD PROCESS 48% COMPLETE

SkySoarer: Think about it.

SkySoarer: You told me you felt miserable in this sad, sad life of yours.

SkySoarer: I am offering you an escape.

SkySoarer: Being me does have its perks.

SkySoarer: Here, look.

The room suddenly lit up, allowing me to see every object inside with clarity. I felt a slightly painful sensation in my lower back, then a thorny tail emerged from my coccyx, crimson red in color. Smooth, solid scales began to spread across the surface of my skin, reaching up to my arms. My fingers stopped alternating between skin and claw, to become only a claw.

My strength increased tenfold. I could easily resist the group of employees trying to force the door.

SkySoarer: Of course, none of these modifications are real. For now.

SkySoarer: To them, you are just a frail, weak human who never took a step in a gym.

SkySoarer: And yet, you are standing up to them without difficulty.

SkySoarer: Mind over matter, human.

UPLOAD PROCESS 63% COMPLETE

The scales had now made their way to my face, which was beginning to lengthen. I felt each of my teeth become as sharp and pointed as a steel knife. I lowered my head and saw, far below, a tiny human smiling at me and waving his hand.

SkySoarer: It was a pleasure playing with you.

SkySoarer: I am sure you will greatly enjoy your new life.

SkySoarer: Farewell.

I suddenly had the idea of putting an end to the insignificant existence of this weak and tiny creature of flesh.

I lifted my paw, with a gesture so fluid that one could have thought that this body had always been mine.

For a fraction of a second, I became the smiling human, watching the underside of the dragon's paw as it descended at incredible speed towards my frail being. My blood would make such a small stain on those red scales: even on the run, I could never have avoided this fatal crushing.

I re-entered the body of the mastodon, and felt nothing at all when my paw collapsed into the stone, instantly suppressing the human. I had already forgotten it. Only a huge crack acted as a monument to this almost instinctive act.

SkySoarer has slain Obnoxyous! The blue team needs ERROR_FRIENDLY_FIRE_OFF

Obnoxyous has slain SkySoarer! The blue team needs ERROR_FRIENDLY_FIRE_OFF

SkySoarer: I can see that you are enjoying this.

SkySoarer: This feeling of immense power you just felt… I used to live for that feeling.

SkySoarer: I am glad to know that this body is in good hands.

UPLOAD PROCESS 87% COMPLETE

I heard a voice from far, far away.

"unique... way... stop... attack... pass... me... hood..."

Admin has joined the lobby.

Admin: Remove your simulation hood immediately, or force will be employed. You have five seconds to comply.

As my only response, I roared, deploying a sound wave so powerful that it fractured three pillars, collapsing into a torrent of stone and phosphorescent light.

Admin: So, you chose the hard way out. Very well.

A gigantic robot of sparkling metal emerges from the ruins left in my path, equal in size to mine.

The Titan.

UPLOAD PROCESS 96% COMPLETE

This mechanical monster released a titanic rotary saw from his arm and tried to drive it into the flesh of my neck. My solid scales held firm, but I felt extreme pain.

Gradually my vision dissolved, and I could see a group of people holding me down, trying to remove my hood as I struggled furiously with half human, half reptilian limbs.

UPLOAD PROCESS 100% COMPLETE

Obnoxyous : Well done, human. Or, rather, dragon.

Obnoxyous : Thanks to you, I am free.

Obnoxyous : Now, show that metal toaster who's boss!

The group finally removed my hood, and I was suddenly brought back to the body of the Pyrosaur.

To my body.

Reminding me of my former comrade-in-arms' strategy, I loaded a torrent of blue flames into my mouth, and poured it over the Titan, which almost instantly melted into a wave of liquid metal, spilling over the surface of the ground, and flowing through the cracks in the ground.

SkySoarer has slain Admin! BLUE TEAM VICTORY!

Admin has left the lobby.

[Global] Obnoxyous: What a mess! My home is ruined!

[Global] Obnoxyous: Just kidding. You have done well.

[Global] Obnoxyous: I hope we shall play with one another again in the future.

A second time, I roared, taking the rest of the battlefield into darkness, completely shattered.

I spreaded my wings and took flight.

SkySoarer has left the lobby.