Chapter 2: Tragic End

"You know, Alex," Dave said one afternoon over coffee, "you're always telling me how great it'd be to live in one of those worlds, but don't you think that'd be kind of.dangerous?"

"Yeah, you know you sound just like that author right now, but that's part of the fun!" Alex exclaimed, eyes shining bright with excitement. "I mean, can you imagine? The adventure, the magic, being some sort of hero-it's all worth the risk."

Dave laughed and shook his head. "You're impossible, dude, but as long as it keeps you happy."

And it did make Alex happy. As a matter of fact, it was the only thing that made him feel alive. Working for ABC Company, he was just another cog in the machine of life, typing away at his computer, finishing simple tasks that truly made him feel so empty.

But the moment he opened up a book or loaded up the latest episode of his favorite anime, he was transferred into a world where everything had been possible.

A few minutes into it, Alex suddenly said in delight, "It's happening; it's happening, Kingdoms of Desire-it's finally out".

He had just gotten the newest volume in the mail and was dying to see what other trials the poor hero and his harem were going to have to go through. He lay down on his couch in the dark, ready to be pulled into the story.

As he read, the outside world tended to melt away: the sounds of the city, the hum of the traffic, his friend-everything just disappeared as he became fully absorbed in the tale.

In this story, the hero had to face his ultimate challenge in the form of a demon king who wished to eradicate everything he had built. More than ever was at stake, and Alex found himself on the edge of his seat, turning page after page to find out what happened next.

"This is it," Alex muttered to himself, wide-eyed with anticipation. "This is the battle that will decide everything."

"Oh ummm Alex! I forgot some things in my car, I will go get them and come back right up and you better be done before I return," Dave added as he went ahead to leave the house. "And could you also microwave the pizza; it's gotten really cold, thank you! I would be back in a few."

"Ahhh, ahhh just go man! I will do all that!" Alex replied as he went back to reading his book.

But in getting to the climax of the story, "What the actual f**k? This nigga really kept to his word and ruined the story, how could he Just kill the MC and end the world entirely." Alex cursed as he hastily went on to check the comments section.

As he proceeded to the comments and review section, he found an outpouring of hate and bad comments and reviews hurled on the book and the author, though he found the author responding to only one: that he was sorry.

'What a strange man! But it is what it is' Alex Thought to himself before taking the pizza to the kitchen to microwave it a bit.

Alex had put the pizza in the microwave and continued arranging the dishes and drinks for his fun night with his best buddy. That is when he started hearing these strange sounds behind him, almost as if someone was there, chanting stuff to his ear.

He slowly turned around to see what this was, but there was nothing there, so he again returned to his business.

*BOOOOM!*

The whole apartment just exploded, sending shock waves throughout the building, the glass shattering down to the street below.

Downstairs, cars almost ran into each other, and everyone's attention was turned to that apartment which just blew up.

Dave, who sought cover as soon as the explosion happened, looked up now and realized it was his buddy Alex's apartment that just exploded.

Alex.! " Dave yelled, running straight into the building headed for Alex's apartment.

Getting to the apartment, the door was already blown off and the entire place was covered in flames. Just then the fire-fighters arrived to the scene and took control.

They let Dave inside the apartment after all the fire had been taken care of and the only things that were left were ashes.

"We are really sorry, but the bomb was so much that we couldn't even get a single part of his body. It must have all burnt to ashes with every other thing.

Dave had been devastated and traumatized at that very moment, as he could not utter a word.

He just stood there, tears rushing down his face, as they investigated the place. Not until his eyes caught something that was really strange.

Among all the dust and ashes, he slighted a glowing light, almost looking like a screen. He quietly picked it up and took a good look at it.

It was the tamplet which Alex used for reading, which he was also reading from before Dave left.

'Uhu? How could this still be possible? Everything turned to ashes, but the template that he had in his hands didn't even have a scratch on it. Dave was thinking as he took a good look at the tamplet.

Instantly some writing appeared on the screen as if typed by itself, it quoted and Dave read.

"Hahahaha! Now I possess all the powers, let's write our own story- exactly the way I have always wanted it to be!