MMORPG - The Final Chance

The room was dimly lit by candles, casting flickering shadows on the rough stone walls. The scent of melted wax mingled with the musty air, creating an atmosphere heavy with tension and anticipation. Six people sat in a circle on ornate wooden chairs, their faces partially obscured by the shadows. In the center of the circle lay two obsidian cubes, their polished surfaces reflecting the candlelight. Six crystal glasses filled with dark red wine stood in front of each person, the wine catching the light and appearing almost black.

Ancient tapestries depicting long-forgotten battles hung on the walls, their colors faded with age. The floor was made of cold, uneven stone, partially covered by a large, worn rug with intricate patterns. A faint draft stirred the flames of the candles, causing them to dance and making the shadows on the walls seem to come alive. 

"I think this might be our only chance. Rexlent, what do you think about volunteering for the greater good?" said the person in the center, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous room. 

He was a pale man with well-combed hair and a double chin that obscured his neck. His eyes, sharp and calculating, fixed on Rexlent with an intensity that demanded a response. Rexlent looked at him and sighed, the sound mingling with the distant rumble of thunder outside.

"I like the idea of going back in time, but even if I do, I don't think I'll be of any use, MatPat. Think about it: if you give me the opportunity to go back in time to fix the future, I'll probably just break it. In my early days, I was more focused on grinding and topping the leaderboard. I don't think I'm suited for this job," Rexlent replied, his voice tinged with regret and uncertainty.

MatPat understood the problem. Rexlent had received the power of Greed, which meant he might exploit the future for his gain. It was a dangerous gamble, one that could backfire spectacularly.

MatPat then turned his attention to the woman sitting beside him, staring out the window. Despite the night and the storm outside, he knew she had the ability to see in the dark. Her profile was illuminated by the candlelight, highlighting her sharp features and calm expression. Lin's presence was a source of quiet strength, a beacon of hope in the midst of their despair.

"Lin, what do you think? You're the only female member to receive one of the seven sins. You have a level head, and I trust you since you're the most powerful among us," MatPat said, his voice softening as he addressed her.

Lin maintained her calm demeanor and looked at MatPat, her eyes unwavering. "I'm willing to go, but on one condition—"

"Done. Whatever condition, we agree," MatPat interrupted, his eagerness palpable.

She breathed slowly, her gaze steady. "I will try my best to change my husband's behavior. If anyone has concerns, please share them now," she said, her voice firm but tinged with a hint of vulnerability.

The person opposite her banged the round table, causing the glasses to rattle. "You want to save that bastard who helped the demon lord? And what do you mean by husband? You spread your legs without thinking, and now you think he's your husband because he fucked you? This is ridiculous. You know what, now that I think about it, I should go with you and kill that son of a bi—"

Before he could finish, blood sprayed from his mouth, and his tongue landed on the table. Two shadowy figures emerged from the corners of the room, handing him a towel and taking a combat stance.

MatPat sighed, his breath visible in the cold air. "Please, we don't have a second chance. I think Lin is right. If she can change his behavior, we might have a second chance. He was the queen on the chessboard, the reason the demon lord came to life before we could clear the last floor. If she can positively change history, it might be for the best. I agree with your proposal."

Everyone else in the room remained silent, the only sound the distant howl of the wind outside. The weight of their decision hung heavy in the air, a mixture of hope and fear.

"So who will be the second person?" asked the one sitting next to Lin, who was clad in full knight armor that gleamed dully in the candlelight.

"The second condition is that MatPat should come with me," Lin said, her voice steady and resolute.

Everyone started to discuss. "But he doesn't have a blessing. No one will listen to him. The only reason we gave him any credibility was because he was a YouTuber, and he only had some followers after version 2. It would be better if you took someone else," advised the Knight.

Everyone nodded, including MatPat himself. "That's right. I barely have anything of value to add. I won't be of any use except maybe creating a guild and managing it," he said, his voice tinged with self-deprecation.

Lin shook her head, her expression softening slightly. "You are the only one besides Rexlent who knows about every quest in the map, and you were theory crafting. You know where and when to grind, the secret dungeons, the loot they drop," she said, her voice carrying a quiet conviction.

Everyone smiled at their foolishness. If Lin said something, it was important. She usually didn't talk, but when she did, every word had meaning. Some of them facepalmed. "Of course, I forgot we had quests till version 5," said the guy sitting next to Rexlent.

MatPat nodded, his confidence bolstered by Lin's faith in him. "Lin, your words are absolutely correct. I still remember all the quests in the game. We can use that knowledge to gain funds and unite us. If that's all, I think the plan is set. Lin and I will go back in time and try to stop the demon lord from resurrecting. Once we clear the last floor, we can return to our world and leave this stupid game."

The meeting turned into a celebration. A few sang songs while others looked at the storm outside the room, the thunder and lightning adding to the surreal atmosphere. Despite the sadness of losing to the demon lord once, they were happy that the loot dropped by the 149th floor of Hell would allow them to go back in time. After the celebration, Lin returned to her castle, where she met her close friend Mavis.

"Is he doing well?" asked Lin as she walked towards the dungeon of her castle, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit corridor.

"No, he is shivering in pain. He is also shouting some name," Mavis replied, her voice filled with concern.

Lin couldn't take it anymore. She opened the door to the dungeon cell to see a fragile man sitting up straight. His once-strong frame was now gaunt and trembling, his eyes hollow and filled with torment.

"What is that?" Mavis muttered at the reddish-dark figure behind him, her voice trembling.

Lin was no stranger to the creature. It was a demon, a high-ranked one, likely the demon who had made a pact with her husband, the fragile man. A rush of emotions filled her mind—anger, sorrow, determination—as she drew her sword and went straight for the kill.

The demon jumped high. "Now, now, Lady Lin. Don't kill me just yet. The demon lord wants him alive to ascend his throne. I will just be borrowing him," it said, its voice a low, menacing purr.

Lin didn't respond. Instead, she noticed the sound of footsteps approaching the dungeon. 'I told the guards not to come here,' she thought, her grip tightening on her sword.

The demon grabbed the fragile man by his neck. "I must apologize, I had something to say to you. Wait, what is going on—" asked MatPat, who had just walked into the room, his eyes widening in shock at the sight before him.

"Wow, is that Master MatPat of the guild Game Theory? That's really wonderful. I will kill both of you and take the right-hand side of my lord," said the demon, rushing towards Lin while using her husband as a meat shield.

Lin jumped backwards while Mavis took her side. But surprisingly, the demon didn't engage in battle; instead, it phased through the wall, escaping the palace.

"That demon escaped," exclaimed MatPat, taking the obsidian cube in his hand. "We don't have enough time. Come on, Lin, let's go," he said, placing the obsidian cube in Lin's hand and watching as unreadable symbols appeared on the cube.

Slowly, the world around them started to spin like a distorted water puddle, the walls and floor warping and twisting as the magic took hold. Lin felt a sense of vertigo, her surroundings blurring as they were pulled through time.

Disclosure: i used Ai to check grammer, but for some reason it changed the details of the room and setting . and i liked it so , here is what i will do . i will be using ai to add details to the script. the story and dialogues will not be changed what so ever. i am still learning english so it would be kind if you commented on my work.