Missio couldn't contain his laughter as he put on his visor. He grinned manically as data streamed across his visor — heat signatures, weak points, ship velocities — all reduced to numbers. Players ejected from their ships, desperate to face him head-on.
"These fools…They're far too weak for my might…" Missio muttered under his laughter.
He pressed a button on his highly advanced chair. Immediately, laser cannons blasted the enemy ships and droids were released. His humanoid droids drowned the other ships with their numbers, eliminating anyone daring to clash with him. Drones fired lasers on other ships who were farther away. The screams and cries of the players made Missio chuckle as he leaned back in his chair. His visor streamed with one victory after another.
'This is why I love this game…It lets me to release my pent-up emotions…'
Smaller ships were destroyed as his thoughts spiraled. They crashed into debris and massive explosions engulfed the area. He looked at his droids and ordered them to return. A crooked smile made its way onto his face as he activated the auto tracking feature.
[Auto-tracking activated! Target: Martian King]
His sonar showed him a red dot which was rapidly escaping the battlefield. He moved further up the map and saw a planet. He clicked on it, and his smile turned upside down.
[Planet – Mega Earth 2.0]
'Escaping to the planet with the most defense…huh, pretty clever, Krishna…but that won't be enough.'
His thoughts caused him to grin as he opened a window. His grin widened as he clicked on something.
***
[You have landed on the galactic trade hub! Welcome to Mego Earth 2.0]
As the message appeared, Krishna walked out from his ship. Beside his ship, another ship landed. From the ship, Henry and Eira emerged wearing black suits and glasses. Krishna himself was wearing a red waistcoat, orange pants, and a fluffy red cloak with a crown on top of his head.
"Yo!" Krishna greeted his friends through voice chat.
"Hello," Henry and Eira replied.
"We're finally safe for now…" Krishna sighed while placing his hands on his hips.
"It was funny when you told us to retreat. Are you that afraid of Missio?" Eira chuckled while lifting her glasses.
"You were so cocky until Missio showed up, and you screamed like a toddler." Henry laughed.
"No, I didn't! Who told you that?! You don't know the horror I experienced when he invaded my empire." Krishna retorted with a serious face. "He's a completely different person in-game."
"Really?" Henry and Eira asked at the same time.
"Yeah, he was a monster. One time he killed off a hundred players in a single hour." Krishna replied while widening his arms.
"Wow…I never knew. Missio had such a side to him." Eira said solemnly.
"You wouldn't have known if you just met him in real life but those who met him in game…I feel only pity…" Krishna said.
"Damn…he's a complete monster…why does he even act like this?" Henry probed.
"Well…he's just releasing his emotions here because…y'know, no one will judge him here…unlike the real world." Krishna answered.
Henry and Eira remained silent for a while before Krishna waved his hand and said while turning back.
"Anyways, let's go. I have a few things to buy."
Just before Henry and Eira could respond, a warning message appeared in front of them. The color in Krishna's face drained when he read the message. The market's neon lights flickered red as system alerts flooded every holo-panel.
[Warning! Warning! Mega Earth 2.0 is being invaded by the King of the Eastern Galaxy!]
***
Missio laughed maniacally as his armada began to invade the trade hub of the galaxy. His droids and drones fired lasers at the planet at a terrifying speed. The cannons on his ships began to fire space missiles and nukes on the planet. Then he got a message which made him frown.
[Initiating defense protocol! If you don't destroy mega Earth 2.0, your account will be kicked, and you will not be able to log in for 3 days.]
'That's a bit harsh…'
Missio frowned and activated his shield. As the planet's rings expanded to form a metallic shield, he opened the window and equipped a certain title.
[You have equipped the title – Planet Eater! The planet's defense will now be lowered by 20%]
***
"No…No…No…No…" Krishna muttered with a pale face as Henry and Eira approached.
"What's the matter? He won't be able to break the defense of mega earth and, besides, his lasers aren't even penetrating the barrier." Henry chuckled while looking at his friend's pale face.
"Yeah, but…Why aren't they calming down?" Eira asked while pointing at the panicked players and NPCs.
Krishna looked at them and then the panel. He closed the panel and started pacing around the market while mumbling something.
"You don't understand…Do you remember the player who was banned for months because he destroyed the last mega earth?" Krishna questioned them while turning into an alley.
"No…We just play this game for fun. We don't engage in any wars or anything," Eira answered.
Krishna pressed a brick on the mossy wall and opened a secret entrance. The doors of the secret base opened in front of Krishna's feet as the group descended.
"…It was Missio who destroyed the last mega earth while…attacking my empire," Krishna replied as they saw light flickering beneath their eyes.
They arrived at a bunker where many players were gathering. Players were pushing each other to get into the bunker.
"Follow me," Krishna said.
The couple followed without question, and they arrived at an NPC who was standing near a door. Krishna whispered into his ear while handing him some coins, and the NPC let them into the door. Inside there was a room with couches, plants, and books. Other players were also here who had crazy outfits.
"What is this?" Henry muttered while sitting down on the couch.
"This is a bunker that was ironically on the previous mega earth…this is the only reason I escaped Missio last time, but now…it has less than a 50% chance at working." Krishna replied while resting on the couch.
"Less than 50%?! Then why don't we escape on our ships!" Eira retorted.
"That's the thing. I would've escaped, but the barrier is preventing anyone from leaving…Missio should've been issued a quest to destroy this planet or else he would be banned…I hope he doesn't destroy it this time." Krishna answered her as he leaned on the couch.
"He got banned last time because he killed every NPC and player on the planet…except for me after breaking the barrier and then he destroyed the planet. Players complained about him and…he got banned."
"We're cooked," Henry sighed.
"Yes…I'm just hoping he doesn't kill me or else he'll absorb my fleet."
As he spoke, a message appeared which made everyone in the room tremble.
[King of the Eastern Galaxy has broken though the barrier!]
As the message flickered, Krishna froze — chills ran down his spine, bringing him back to the day when Missio invaded the last mega earth.