—Covering an entire nation with a single banner.

A tyrant once called this a “triumph of the will.”

Then, when all nations of the world are covered with that flag...

Would that be God’s will?

...Akira Ono, Memorial

Neo Universe

“Are you serious, Mister Ono? You’re really going to get rid of this place?”

“Get rid of it? More like induce a rebirth.”

“So you’re getting rid of it. Don’t play semantics.”

“It’s not semantics. It’s just the next step.”

Type type type type. The chatroom symphony.

The year was 1999. The entire world was buzzing about the Great King.

“What about the people who enjoy it? Who enjoy this space?”

“Naturally, they can come on over to the next one.”

“...Think about it, Mister Ono. Sure, you made the game, but...”

“I think it’s natural to move on, taking the experience and knowledge we’ve earned with us.”

Type type type type. The chatroom symphony.

There was no Great King, after all. The year was 2000. Neo Universe. The world had turned a new page.

“You’re not thinking about the ones you leave behind in the dirt, though.”

“In the dirt... Don’t you think you’re being a little overdramatic?”

Type type type type. The chatroom symphony. A new millennium. Chaos everywhere. The world was changing, after all.

“I liked it here. To be honest, it pisses me off to see you’re ready to move on so easily.”

“I’ll make sure you’ll like the next one, too.”

“I feel like you haven’t really been listening to me...”

...XX has joined...

“Cool your jets, guys. Don’t spend a day like this fighting, LOL! It’s the year 2000! Come on! Let’s drink!”

“I’m not in the mood. I’m signing off for the day.”

...XXX has left...

“That sucks... I thought it’d be received better than that.”

“It’s just ‘cus that little one loved this place. LOL like a mother’s cooking.”

“The game’s going to be so much better. I’m sure of it.”

“You really are optimistic. Give me some of your courage so I can go find a job, LOL.”

“Then go find one instead of drinking, LOL.”

“Never! How could I work during this momentous 2000th year of our calendar!?”

Type type type type. A new millennium had begun. The year was 2000. Let us take the glorious first step.

“...People come and go, don’t they?”

“Hah? LOL, you drunk?”

“Whatever. Just watch. I’ll make the next game the most popular one yet.”

“Hell yeah. I’ll follow you to the ends of the Earth, captain. LOL like I got anything else to do, LOL.”

“Get a job.”

Type type type type. The monotonous clacking echoed.

“You know the worst part? The Great King never came, LOL. I was kind of hoping he’d blow up the world, LOL. Nostradamus? What a dick, LOL.”

“You do get into that kind of voodoo...”

“And you don’t, do you, Akira?”

“Great King, my ass. I’ll show the world a real Demon Lord in the next game.”

Type type type type. The world disappeared.