Chapter 36: Release the Strategy

Peripheral gaming area.

The process of the hidden level was worlds apart from the earlier stages. The bishop sighed; having finally reached the boss, he was instantly killed by over a dozen horizontal lasers. In that instant, the bishop felt as if he himself had become one of the small planes shot down, his entire body seemingly ablaze with excruciating pain and searing heat.

But when the bishop finally broke through the hidden level boss amidst the surrounding cheers, all past hardships and tortures became tasteless, leaving behind only the exhilarating triumph over a formidable foe!

Well fought! Truly a great enemy!

The notification of the bishop's reward for clearing the stage also appeared on the screen of that arcade machine, and soon, in the top left corner of other players' screens, pixelated text appeared like a server-wide announcement.

[Player "Reva" has conquered the hidden level and will receive a special reward from the God of Fiction.]