The XP: Chapter 20

The town around the arena is filed with players, all of them watching screens that have been placed in nearly every available space. The arena itself is overfilled with spectators, all of whom are cheering for The End of the World Club. Bob, Blackout, Stygian, Torcano, and Trart. The last team standing, the winners of the Tournament.

Up in his private box Volnado expands his voice again. “Congratulations are in order! The End of the World Club has emerged victorious from the most intense competition this game has ever seen!” The crowd goes even wilder, their cheers backed by the spectators in the streets. Volnado looks down on the group. “But to be truly legendary, there is one more challenge they must defeat.” The Arena of spectators and the streets outside go silent as if someone turned their sound off. The End of the World Club look up at Volnado in disbelief.

“What’s the Challenge?” Stygian yelled.

Volnado hopped over the railing of his balcony and effortlessly landed on the ground in a superhero crouch. As he stood to his full height they could see that he was smiling. “You’re looking at it.” Volnado growled.

Torcano shook his head. “You’re a GM, that’s not a challenge that’s suicide.” He said.

Volnado had landed roughly twenty feet from the group. As he walked toward them He took his clothing off. Starting with his suit jacket, followed by his shirt, exposing skin that looks like cracked lava, black with bright red lines separating the plating. He tossed his GM weapons and violently shook his head until his hair disappeared and his face matched the skin of his body. The Arena goes mad. Everyone in the group takes a slight step back. Volnado holds his hands out as if proving that he hides no threat. “I am no longer a GM, I am Volnado, the god of destruction. In this form, it is entirely possible to kill me, you only have to figure out how. Would you not agree little brother that this is a more than fair concession on my part?” He looked down at Torcano with glowing red eyes.

Torcano shook his head. “Onlly you would consider agreeing to a fair fight a ‘concession’” He spat.

Volnado smiled. “What can I say?” He smiled. “I’m magnanimous like that.” He gave an exaggerated bow. And the crowd laughed.

Torcano shook his head. “Yeah, our parents would be sooo proud.” He spat back.

Volnado glared at his brother. “You have ten minutes to prepare yourselves. You may leave the arena but if you do not return you forfeit the competition. Is that understood?” The End of the World club all nodded, turning to leave. “There’s one more thing you should know.” Volnado said, stopping the group. “If you return, this fight is Eternal Death. If you are dead for more than 30 seconds, your character is deleted.” Volnado had a predatory smile on his face. “How good are you Blackout?”

Blackout turned and walked out of the arena, he threw his middle finger up in the air. “You’ll see for yourself ten minutes from now.” His voice echoed off the walls. The rest of the club followed behind him.