21 Screech. Crash. Boom.

In the world of Oasis Online.

Frustration filled the air as the man in the black suit reloaded his mana gun, his companion expressing dissatisfaction with their repeated failures in the chase.

Racing through the streets, their black car was part of a convoy of six vehicles, all focused on a single objective: the eradication of Viktor Vladimir and Fernando Torres. No other considerations mattered, and their task was straightforward: to kill, no questions asked.

"Why must we go to such extremes for a mere human? And why make it so messy, doing it in front of all these people? And in Bourgys Oasis, for fuck's sake," complained the mercenary, his mana gun trained on Vik's car as he continued firing.

"You clearly didn't read the entire file, did you?" the shooter retorted, adjusting his gun and channeling mana once again before unleashing another barrage of shots. "We've been hired by someone with close ties to Oasis, venturing into this forsaken area to eliminate these fools. Perhaps it's one of the major Houses, but we don't have all the details."

The howling wind accompanied their relentless shooting, creating a tense atmosphere as the shooter continued, "They're still trying to locate them outside, so we're here, tasked with ending the lives of individuals who aren't truly living to their fullest. But hey, the pay is decent, and these targets have gained notoriety among the Bourgys due to the bounty on their heads. We might even get a bonus out of it. Hahaha."

Taking a momentary break, the shooter leaned back in his seat, realizing that these individuals they pursued were not part of Oasis, unlike him, Vik, Tory, and the rest of the whistleblowers. It seemed they hailed from a different stratum of society, but their status mattered little in this life-or-death situation.

Observing Vik's car, which had endured substantial damage from their mana guns, suddenly execute a 180-degree turn, the shooter noticed something unusual in Vik's hand—a weapon resembling a miniature bazooka with transparent vials attached to its scope, containing sparkling green liquid.

Recognition dawned on the shooter. "That's mana liquid—a potion bomb," he muttered to himself, understanding that the design of the device allowed non-Metas to utilize the mana liquid. Thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, processing the situation.

Unaware of his partner's realization, the driver continued approaching Vik with a hint of pity on his face, ready to take the lives of their targets. However, the shooter, seizing control of the levitating car's panel, erupted in panic and urgency.

"What the fuck are you still driving toward that maniac for, you idiot? Let me turn this shit around!"

But it was too late.

The shooter and his partner's memories ended abruptly, consumed by a blinding light that preceded an earth-shattering explosion. Green flames enveloped the area where the black cars had congregated, leaving the onlookers in a state of shock and exhilaration.

***

Vik and Tory, having spent their remaining funds on an arsenal, realized they couldn't log out of Oasis Online, placing them in mortal danger. The duo was no stranger to the dark underbelly of their era, possessing extensive knowledge about the major Houses associated with Oasis Corp.

To merge Tory's desire for an audacious confrontation and Vik's intention to exact revenge on Raquel, they pooled their resources, acquiring a considerable sum of 4,000 New World Coins. While not enough to grant them unlimited freedom, it sufficed to purchase the arsenal they required, filling a car to the brim with deadly weapons.

In Oasis, virtual items didn't always remain confined to the digital realm. Through various outlets—ranging from legal to illicit—people could transform their virtual purchases into tangible objects using the appropriate models acquired within Oasis, using real-world currency.

Vik and Tory were aware that they couldn't wield these guns in the physical world, a fact that disappointed Vik, as he appreciated the arsenal he possessed. The items he bought were already formidable for an average person, even within Oasis Online. While their acquisition hadn't been arduous, considering the frequency of violence within Oasis, their focus was primarily on gear designed to counter Metas. It was this aspect that accounted for the majority of their reward money.

In Vik's hand was the most valuable purchase of all—a projectile launcher loaded with vials of potion bombs. It was a costly investment, but its potential impact on Metas made it worthwhile.

As Vik abruptly turned his vehicle around, a series of events unfolded in rapid succession. He launched the potion bombs, targeting four of the six cars tailing them, utilizing the entire arsenal designed for Metas. One of the shooters managed to intercept and detonate a potion bomb in midair, neutralizing the threat. However, the others weren't as fortunate, succumbing to the expanding green flames that consumed their vehicles.

The mana-fueled explosion affected even the nearby car that wasn't directly targeted, its destructive force evident to all. In a matter of moments, Vik had effectively eliminated five cars and all the mercenaries within them using the four potion bombs at his disposal.

The detonation of the potion bomb in midair also damaged Vik's own vehicle, sending it off course toward the car he couldn't target. A wicked smile spread across Vik's face as he witnessed the rapidly shrinking distance between their two cars, hurtling toward an inevitable collision.

With screeching tires, a thunderous crash, and an explosive boom, their fates intertwined in a catastrophic clash.

Screech. Crash. Boom.

===

AN: Bourgys means low-class people in dystopian literature.