Chapter 58: Max’s Response
[Greetings, Max! Rhayne’s statements have come into our attention. I believe this is bad for you and also to our upcoming agreement. I hope you won’t simply ignore this and release a statement, as well.
We believe you are not that kind of person as she described to be in the last part. There might have been some confusion that we must shed light for. If you want to, you can send us your reply, and we’ll post it in our page.]
Max gritted his teeth. As much as he wanted to ignore the controversy and the Aethernova, he couldn’t do so to the latter. The upcoming agreement was too beneficial for him.
There was still five years left before the apocalypse descended and he must take advantage whatever blessing was chasing him. If he pushed them away, he’d definitely regret it.
He must have the Aethernova in his side. They could constantly provide him the gaming pod that he wanted to, increasing the chances of claiming the difficult rewards inside game in the future.
He didn’t reply immediately. He meditated first to calm his mind.
After closing his phone and spent half an hour sorting his thoughts.
He finally replied to the Aethernova, "Thank you for informing me. This is my response statement.
"Hello, I’m Max, the subject of Rhayne’s statement. Her narrative is closer to the truth, but the last part was simply based on her point of view. There were also missing parts that I can’t ignore.
There’s something you all must acknowledge, Apocalypse Online is a hyper-realistic game. You can’t play well if you simply treat it as a game. Be empathic with the NPCs, be engaged with them, treat them like a real person because they almost are. If you compare it to the other games, the other games has dialogues that was already programmed, while Apocalypse Online’s NPCs are definitely not.
In the first place, how did it even just appear out of nowhere and obliterate other games as if we are being forced to play it?
Even the pentagon themselves can’t crack down the perpetrator. That’s why I develop some kind of conspiracy.
What if this came from an alien? They gave us a game forcing us to play, as if we are being prepared to fight against what was the NPCs inside the Apocalypse Online are fighting?
Those convictions are something I can’t deny that made me become the First Awakener. If you don’t know, I’m so familiar with the NPCs that my mere presence garners their respect and extreme polite behavior towards me. The players in the Greyfen Village can attest to it.
That’s why when I said to Eva, an NPC in my party, that her mother doesn’t care if she dies, as Rhayne claimed—it’s half true. Her mother will definitely care if she dies, but if she dies because of fighting a demon, then it’s justified. No one will be blamed, not me.
But that was only to boost morals and help them muster courage to fight against the boss. As Rhayne described of how a highly competent leader I am in her early part of the statement, I know how to emotionally and psychologically prepare my party members to fight against a boss.
I do not intend to sacrifice them at all.
Rhayne cowered in fear and kept rejecting my decision to fight against the boss when my NPC, who will die a true death, had already decided to fight against me. That’s my first reason why I hate her to the core.
As for how Eva died, it wasn’t entirely my choice. I ordered them to retreat, but they refused my order, which was very surprising.
They instead courageously brave through the corrupted mists and died, successfully killing the demon, in the end. I was very exhausted, emotionally and mentally, attempting to revive Eva and Jasper.
I then carried Clara, my support, to leave the place, but guess what welcomed me?
Rhayne’s constant blaming towards me. She shouted again and again, that I should blamed myself, that their deaths was because of me...
Who would want to hear that nagging?
Then, what’s the best use of shutting her up?
I was too exhausted to argue with her, that’s why I didn’t hesitate to kill her in the game. That was the first time I fought against a player.
So, how could I know about the pain synchronization or what not?
If I knew, then the best I could do was to order my other abled NPC to tie her up and cover her mouth.
I hope this clears things up.
-Max, the First Awakener.]
Max read his statements repeatedly and was immense satisfied. He pressed "send" without hesitation and almost immediately, the Aethernova replied.
[Thank you for responding with our suggestion. We’ll try edit it and post it in our social media with your consent.]
Max simply reacted with a heart message and leaned his back into his chair.
He laughed. His shoulder jiggled in ecstasy.
Oh, how I loathed the players... Especially, Rhayne. Women are so emotional.
He knew about the pain synchronization, but they would surely believe it more that he didn’t know about it.
Thankfully, he didn’t attack Jaden and Julian, or else he wouldn’t have an alibi.
Max stood up. His face turned serious. He gritted his teeth and threw the phone into the bed.
He was still infuriated of Rhayne. He thought players were different, but now, they were certainly the same.
They are a headache!
Max had now resolutely decided not to play with other players again.
Of course, except if Enzo and Auntie Sarah would play the game.
Max took a shower, wore cooler clothes, and proceeded to his Nova Pro Immersion Pod.
He distracted himself, protecting his peace of mind, by practicing his spells to increase their proficiency...
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A/N: Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to show your supports by giving golden tickets, powerstones, gifts, and reviews! It means a lot since this is participating for WSA.
