The Most Powerful Witch in History

Extinction.
A terrifying word meaning ‘to perish and disappear’.
Usually this word is used when a country falls or the world ends, or when something goes seriously wrong, when a huge problem occurs.
Then, can we attach the word ‘extinction’ to
the server shutdown of a tiny, insignificant game
that others might laugh at,
since the world within that game, countless NPCs, and users will disappear?

“…Shit!”
In a room full of musty smells, I cursed and violently struck the keyboard in front of me. The impact knocked over a can of drink beside it, spilling its sticky contents, but I had no time to care about such things.

“Why the hell…”
I lowered my head, clutching at my unkempt hair. The cramped studio apartment was still quiet, but my heart kept pounding.

“…”
A silence that felt cut off from the world. I gently opened one eye and looked at the worn-out computer.

On the monitor was a beautiful girl armed with stylish equipment, and chat messages popping up here and there. It was none other than the screen of ‘Deal and Attack’, a classic MMORPG with just 2 minutes left until server shutdown.

“Hah…”
I let out a deep sigh.

Deal and Attack, an innovative game that appeared like a comet 12 years ago and took the world by storm. I was instantly captivated by this game with its diverse maps and classes, and from then until now, for a full 12 years, I poured all my time into it.

But a game couldn’t keep running on the efforts of just one user. As time passed, many users left, and Deal and Attack naturally began the process of service termination.

A game enjoyed for over 10 years – one might ask if I couldn’t send it off with a smile now, but I simply couldn’t do that.

“This is driving me crazy…”
I look at the ‘Deal and Attack’ screen on the monitor once again.

On the screen stood my playable character, ‘Arianna’, with flowing long white hair, gleaming red eyes, wielding an impressive staff.

And floating above her head were the simple, clear letters ‘LV 798’.

“Hah…”
The current maximum level in Deal and Attack, that is, the level cap, is 800.

But my level, or rather Arianna’s level, was 798, just 2 short of that.

A game I’ve played like a madman for 12 years, yet not being at max level at the final moment – this absurd and unbelievable reality was driving me insane.

Of course, no player had ever verified reaching level 800 so far, but I thought that at least I, for whom ‘Deal and Attack’ was my very life, shouldn’t end like this.

Even if it had been an impossible time frame or mission, I, Arianna, should have absolutely achieved the highest level.

Above all, not being able to see the ultimate skill of Arianna’s ‘Witch’ class, which only unlocks at level 800, felt like it would become a lifelong regret.

“Two minutes…”
The time remaining until server shutdown was just 2 minutes.

In a situation where it takes at least several days to gain a single level after reaching 700, with only 2 minutes left, it seemed absolutely impossible to reach max level before the shutdown unless I used hacks.

No, it was impossible.

I couldn’t exactly call the game company and whine about what the Witch class’s ultimate skill was, so my heart began to pound even more, as if I were on a thrill ride.

“Hah…”
But what could a mere bottom-feeding unemployed person change?

I finally surrender to the chair, giving up on everything.

With a sorrowful expression, I gaze at my character, my alter ego, my other life – ‘Fire Witch’ Arianna.

[…! …!]

“…”
I wonder if she knows she only has 1 minute of life left, as she just keeps repeating the same idle animation over and over.

“It was fun.”
Time has now left only 10 seconds until server shutdown, and I make eye contact with Arianna one last time.

For a moment, those brief 10 seconds felt like an eternity.

“…”
And so,
As the time reached 12 o’clock sharp, the server shutdown time,

“Huh?”
Unknown red lights burst forth from the screen of the worn-out computer, enveloping me sitting in the chair, the studio apartment, this world.