An Escape From Reality

The rooftop of the towering office building provided a temporary escape from the suffocating monotony below. Amid the drone of distant traffic and the occasional hum of the air conditioning units, I stood, a mere silhouette against the city lights that flickered like promises unfulfilled. The cigarette between my fingers burned like the countdown to another day of meaningless meetings and corporate charades.

The city sprawled beneath a sea of twinkling lights that mirrored the false sparkle of success preached in boardrooms as I took a drag, a cynical smile playing on my lips, the smoke spiraling into the urban abyss. The skyline, adorned with glass and steel, reflected dreams shattered on the altars of profit margins and office politics.

The distant chatter of colleagues mingled with the distant sirens, creating a discordant symphony of the city's indifference. The rooftop, my clandestine sanctuary, offered a fleeting respite from the relentless pursuit of the next promotion, the next paycheck, the next illusion of purpose. The cold wind tousled my tie, a rebellious dance against the suffocating noose of corporate etiquette.

Leaning against the edge, I watched as the city below continued, oblivious to the disillusioned figure above. Each flicker of a neon sign seemed to mock the pursuit of success, a reminder that in the grand scheme, we were nothing more than insignificant cogs in the machinery of a soulless existence—another drag, another exhale, as I contemplated the futility of climbing ladders to fake destinations. 

By this point, you are probably thinking, "Who the hell is this asshole?" or the more pessimistic among you are thinking, "Is he going to jump?" to answer these questions, I am Tomoya Sato and I am not going to throw myself off of this building. However, I have every reason to do so. I have no friends, my loved ones are long dead, my job is exploitative and dead-end, and I have no meaning in this life. 

But that is just it to the human heart; it doesn't matter how harsh life may be, the heart will refuse death because it is meaningless. So here I am, living this zombified version of a future I never dreamed of. Why did I end up this way? Because I am among the few that see this world as it truly is. In this purported meritocracy that is the modern world, where success is trumpeted as the outcome of hard work and talent, the harsh reality reveals a darker truth.

Meritocracy, more often than not, serves as a thinly veiled justification for the glaring disparities that persist. The illusion of a level playing field crumbles when we acknowledge the systemic inequalities that continue, with privilege and opportunity disproportionately distributed among the few. Meritocracy becomes a convenient myth, allowing those at the top to absolve themselves of responsibility while blaming the less fortunate for their supposed lack of effort or ability.

In pursuing success within this meritocratic façade, the pressure cooker of ambition often boils over into a toxic blend of competition and aggression. The relentless pursuit of personal achievement can become a breeding ground for cutthroat behavior, where individuals undermine one another to climb the precarious ladder of success. This callous mentality, fueled by the dogma of meritocracy, can create a culture where the end justifies the means, and empathy becomes a casualty in the quest for supremacy.

As meritocracy and competition escalate, so too does the potential for violence. The desperation to secure a coveted spot in the winner's circle can lead to ruthless tactics, from character assassination in professional spheres to outright physical violence in extreme cases. When taken to the extreme, the belief in meritocracy can exacerbate societal divisions, fostering an environment where the disenfranchised are left behind and blamed for their misfortune.

The relationship between meritocracy and violence is not limited to individual pursuits but also institutional structures. Institutions, ostensibly built on the principles of meritocracy, can inadvertently perpetuate violence through discriminatory policies that inflame existing disparities. The illusion of a fair and just system crumbles when the inherent biases within the meritocratic framework come to light, leaving those at the margins vulnerable to systemic violence.

The cynical truth about modern meritocracy and violence lies in the stark contrast between the idealized narrative and the grim reality. The pursuit of success, framed within the meritocratic paradigm, can all too easily devolve into a vicious cycle of competition and aggression, perpetuating societal imbalances and fostering an environment where violence becomes an all-too-common byproduct of the relentless quest for individual triumph.

[I recommend you listen for the rest of this chapter LET'S START THE GAME NOW | NO GAME NO LIFE: ZERO OST for story enrichment.]

I put out the cigarette and looked down at my phone, "In layman's terms, I refuse to die without doing something about this fucked shit show we call "the Era of Peace" with so much pride," I said to my greatest companion in the world while closing the script she sent.

"Doesn't it sound great Sato-sama?" My dearest replied with clear pride and anticipation for praise beaming through her words. "You can hack into all the governments in the world in seconds, disable the world's national weapons, and empty every bank's vault all at the same time yet you still cannot generate a speech that doesn't ramble."

"But it is better, right?" Compared to the five thousand pages? "Well, Yes but I'll be dead before I finish this. Alter, I don't need something so long you know." I exasperatedly point out. "But… I- this is the last thing I'll be able to do for you, right," Alter replied hesitantly. "Is it wrong for me to want to draw out our goodbye?" "You know I'm not good with goodbyes and we'll meet again I promise," I lie with a smile to my little AI daughter. "You should get ready, it will be showtime soon, lil Alt," I say with as much affection as I can muster. "See you later Otou-san," Alter says before ending the call.

'I'd say I got about fifteen minutes might as well start now,' I thought before remotely turning on the camera behind me. Turning around with a dramatic flare I say….

//World POV//

In crowded streets around the world in every city on the beautiful blue marble known as Earth the same scene played out everywhere. The bustling city lights, beautiful and vibrant, suddenly without warning shut off causing panic for those on the ground and confusion for those in orbit. 

As fear and panic spread throughout the city, the lights suddenly jerked back on, and over all the screens once displaying advertisements and movie teasers a voice rang out; in every city, in different languages for each specific region. "Hear me people, hear me world, for I am your salvation!"

The people once scared now confused look up at every screen they can find; cell phones, televisions displayed through windows, and electric billboards. On every screen around the world exhibit a figure in a black suit and tie with the build of an average corporate office worker. His hair was in disarray, held in the wind from on top of a building. The smug smile on his face, as if he had won the lottery, was present as he addressed the world with his arms wide open to show off his self-imposed grandeur. 

"I am Tomoya Sato, the Sole member of saishuppatsu and the one responsible for taking down the social media platforms as well as emptying the world's coffers," said the mysterious man on the screen bringing anger and panic from onlookers all over the world.

"You may ask why I have done this. You may ask, how a single man is capable of this. You may even ask who will stop me," the man shouts in visible joy but then turns serious. 

"But I'm here to tell you that there's no going back from this for me nor you. I have revealed my face to you all not for fame or malintent but to offer you a new path for Humanity everywhere," the man speaks with excitement clear on his face and a fire in his eyes.

 "The money I have stolen is not gone and all the games and social media that you have enjoyed still exist but the internet that once existed, that you falsely depicted as bringing you together, must be destroyed and so it has." This single line brought shock to all who heard as for the past month they had been without their jobs and a working internet connection. It was truly a tragedy! 

 "If you want the world's riches, if you want the internet, the games, and all the things that you have once enjoyed. Then you will search for the devices that I have hidden throughout the world, if you wish to restart your search for clout and fame." To all who hear this, a fire was ignited within awakening a sense of adventure fueled by the allure of untold riches.

"I have left one USB in every continent of the world inhabited by humans. Once all six of them are brought together; a new game for everyone to play accessible to all rich or poor shall fairly dictate whether you get your earnings for this new era I bring upon you but beware for all those who seek to exploit others, prepare yourself to be the exploited!" 

*BANG!!!*

With a loud bang, the man who was once addressing the world had his head suddenly turned into a red mist in view of everyone before the screens cut to black and white text reading, "find the king," followed by a picture of a chess' king piece.