"FWLS53" - читать интересную книгу автора (A Future We'd Like to See)

a very impressive game... the polygons are quite simple and the
senses are simply audio and video, no feeling or scents. This is
good, because the level I was stuck in was the level four, Sewers.
I'd hate to smell that each day.

I had every level including the Sewers memorized. I knew
where each of the alligators where, where the mutant lizardmen
were, where the disgruntled sanitation engineers hid above you to
mop you to death. One whack and it was over, time to wait another
24 hours to get a rematch.

If I won, it would unlock the gates and I wouldn't need to
play again. But I've never won, not once in my year of playing
Nowhere Land. Sure, I thought, slashing my sword through a group
of mutants, I've been playing nonstop and have every move, every
flick of the mind needed to win memorized.

I climbed the stairs to the manhole that would lead me to the
base of the Tower. The Tower was the last level in the game, the
final confrontation. If I could get in there, beat the Demon King
and open the gates before time ran out, I'd be able to free her.

Problem was the Panda King. Guardian of the Tower entrance.
I've never lasted more than fifteen seconds against him.

I crawled out of the manhole, dodging a bloodsoaked paw. He
always swipes as you climb out. Duck. Hide. Dodge. Swipe...
missed. Swipe, hit! Only nineteen more hits to--

Then he does something new. He jumps in the air, curls into
a ball, and comes hurtling down, meaning to crush me.

I stick my sword up... not much else I could do. It counts as
a hit, but all he needs is one hit to do me in.

The Tower is ripped apart, replaced by the void of Nowhere
Land's entrance.

"Sorry, you have lost!" the announcer laughed evilly, cursing
my very existence. Maybe the voice didn't enjoy reminding me of my
failures, maybe it was my imagination. It's too damn hard to tell
lately.

"Yeah, I know I lost. Again," I said, despite the fact that
the announcer couldn't hear me.

"Timelock reactivated. You may play again in twenty four
hours. Thank you, and have a nice day!"

"Fuck you," I said, jacking out.