"Is there even a facility out there you can use as a base?"
"If Shana says there is, then there is."
"Finally," Shana said, his voice dropping to a chill. "To the warriors of the Red Army... I'll leave you with a little demonstration."
The camera panned around. Two jeeps were visible in the distance, both flying the Red Flag of the Heike.
"A few 'sharp-eyed' players have been tailing us since we left the city. Consider this our signal fire for the start of the war. Keep your eyes open, you idiots. Use those clouded eyes of yours to see exactly who you've decided to make an enemy of."
Without even appearing to aim, Shana drew his M82. He pulled the trigger.
The lead jeep's windshield shattered instantly. The driver was struck square between the eyes. The vehicle veered wildly, spinning out in a cloud of dust.
"What the...?"
"He wasn't even aiming!"
The second jeep opened fire, a hail of lead raining down on Shana's armored Humvee, the Black. The bullets pinged harmlessly off the reinforced plating. The Black roared to life, returning fire. Within seconds, the first jeep was a smoking wreck, its occupants wiped out.
"This is insane..."
"That thing is broken!"
The Black performed a perfect 180-degree turn, drawing level with the second jeep. A wire launcher fired from the Humvee, snagging the back of the jeep. When the Black slammed on its brakes, the sheer torque of the modified engine won out, pinning the jeep in place.
"No way..."
"How much horsepower does that Humvee have?!"
"It's clearly been modded to hell and back."
Realizing they were sitting ducks, three players leaped from the jeep. The audience watched with bated breath, expecting Shana to mow them down. Instead, the gunfire stopped.
Shana vaulted out of the Humvee and sprinted toward the three survivors.
"Whoa, close-quarters?"
"I mean, Shana is a melee specialist, but..."
"What is he thinking? He's just going to get shot!"
The three players scrambled to level their guns. But before they could fire, a burst of black, buckshot-like light erupted from Shana's hand. A massive cloud of dust obscured the area.
"What was that?!"
"An optical shotgun? No, that looked different."
"Did he have a staff or something in his hand?"
"A new weapon?"
When the dust cleared, only one player remained standing. He was missing an arm and had dropped his weapon. Shana turned toward the camera, holding his weapon aloft. It was a beam saber—but the blade was a void-like black.
The audience erupted.
"Wait, is that...?"
"The Black Beam Saber? That joke weapon?"
"No way, that thing is literally just a glow-stick!"
On the battlefield, the survivor stammered, "What... what the hell is that...?"
"Your head is next," Shana said calmly. "Get ready."
With a single fluid motion, Shana swung. The player was decapitated, his avatar shattering into polygons. The viewers were speechless.
"What is that thing...?"
"Is it even a beam saber?"
"That's it! That's what killed us the other day!"
"Does anyone know what that weapon is?!"
Silence was the only answer. Shana sheathed his weapon and addressed the monitor one last time.
"By the way, those guys were part of the group that harassed Rosaria. That's why I killed them personally. As I'm sure you've realized by now, anyone who participated in those 'gatherings' is already on my list. Don't think you can just 'retire' and walk away. If you try to quit, I'll release that list to the public.
"If you want someone to blame, blame your own stupidity. I'm going to kill every last one of you. There is no escape. Like I said, today is Day Zero. You won't be disqualified for not fighting today. Use the time to come up with a plan.
"Lastly, I have a message from the Zaskar rep. See you tomorrow."
Shana's image vanished, replaced by simple text and a voiceover.
[Some players may feel this event is unfair. However, everyone was given an equal choice; this is simply the result of your own decisions. We ask that you participate with honor. Furthermore, on a moral level, we do not support your actions. Please consider this event a reflection of those sentiments.]
It was, in a sense, lip service from the Zaskar execs looking to please the Soleil Corporation. But for the anti-Shana faction, it was a death knell. The developers had officially condemned them.
It was the ultimate proof of Shana's innocence. While they wouldn't be banned—since they hadn't technically broken game rules—the moment Shana released his "blacklist," their social lives in GGO were over.
With no escape and their backs to the wall, the desperate players began to mobilize. Driven by a need to strike back at least once, they began the long march toward "The Tree," where they would eventually fall, one by one, to the monster they had created.
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