OTAKU'S FOR PRESIDENT.
Waking up and seeing that as the headline of one of the best news stations in the world, Mateo naturally thought that he was still asleep and so this was a dream, or he had a concussion, a really bad one. Checking the time on his phone, it was 9:37 in the morning, proving that it wasn't a dream, since, A, the time cannot be read in dreams and, B, his parents always come to his room at 9:30 am, which they did, judging by the still warm mug of cocoa by his bedside.
Narrowing his suspects to a concussion, Mateo started checking for the usual symptoms; dizziness, headache, nausea, fatigue and the annoying ringing sound in the ears, but after walking around his room for a while, dizziness, nausea and ear ringing had been crossed out, leaving only fatigue and headache from his dungeon experience.
Sitting down to finally watch the news, a behaviour grilled into all of them by his father, Julian, Mateo found out the reason for the absurd news headline. Apparently, at around 11 o'clock in the morning, gates and portals started appearing all over the world. Some appeared in the middle of highways, airport runways and even in bedrooms and lavatories, causing major accidents and flight delays in the former's case and panic and confusion everywhere.
The reason for the absurd headlines was because these mysterious gates were identified as dungeons by the Otaku Faction, who also claimed to have knowledge on the types of beasts, their weaknesses and how to beat them. With many youths rallying behind the newly formed faction with riots breaking out, the world rulers consisting mainly of the older generation were in trouble, especially after the news that people at and above the retirement age were not called into the DEAD-ZONE.
Rumors had also started floating around about some Otakus who had entered dungeons and had come out stronger and faster, though not yet at the superhuman level. With various people with otherworldly powers leading riots and protests, the militaries were at a loss on the next cause of action with government officials going silent in fear of being singled out and humiliated, or worse, silenced forever.
Watching the scenes of chaos happening worldwide, Mateo was so engrossed that he did not notice when the figure spying on him from the window finally slithered in to complete its mission. At least this was the figure's thought process right up until it dodged the fist sized rock that wanted to take its head off. Straightening itself, it then scanned the room for Mateo until it felt a sense of pressure behind it. Hurriedly taking off his mask and hood, Leone turned around and showed his face to Mateo who stopped the rock he created earlier mere inches away from his face.
Cocking his head to the right to see beyond the floating rock, Leone was met with the displeased face of Mateo. Taking some time to recover from the shock, Leone finally spoke. "Yo, Matty, how did you know it was me. I made sure not to make a sound."
"I didn't."
"Bro, what do you mean you didn't. I mean you were able to stop the boulder in time. And you just don't conjure boulders to play a prank on anybody but your homie. Right?"
"Prank?... Oh yeah, it was a prank I was playing on you. How did you know?"
"What the-, you mean you actually thought an intruder broke into your mansion, passed by the AI operated security system and climbed your room on the 5th floor?? Nah bro, you either high or brain dead, and knowing how strict your parents are, it can't be the first one, so I'm sorry for your loss bro.", quipped Leone with a not so faint smirk.
"Tsk. Have you seen the news? With all that is going on it wouldn't be surprising if someone got an invisibility skill or potion, and if that person happened to be Billy Brent, he would obviously come for me." Countered Mateo, eager to explain his excessive reaction and shed off his new title as brain-dead.
"Hmm. Oh yeah, that's why I'm here. Our parents have set up an emergency meeting in the bunker where your dungeon is located about how we could be the catalysts that set this event in motion. And I don't think a person who can turn invisible would wear a hood or mask since, you know, they can't be seen. Plus, I don't think Billy would cook up an elaborate plan of revenge just because you embarrassed him in front of a girl he wanted to score. He has many girlfriends, remember."
Accepting his loss with grace to save whatever dignity he had left, Mateo quickly put on a shirt and some sneakers, and soon the two could be seen running past the few gardeners and cleaners in the compound. Despite adding a point to his speed stat and feeling its obvious effects on his body, Mateo was barely able to keep up with Leone whose speed and agility had increased significantly, probably as a result of the snake side of his new race.
In no time, they had reached the bunker entrance and by inputting a code only known by them, they unlocked the one-ton titanium door and entered the room. The room now had some modifications made to it. Where there used to be a cabinet full of canned foods now stood Weapon Storage, with suitcases full of many types of grenades and mines, and cabinets full of rifles, shotguns and many other types of guns, the sight of which would make any hoplophile drool. There was also the presence of a round table set with chairs, some sofas and a board with the world map currently pinned to it. The room which was initially made for defense had now turned into one used for strategizing and coordination of attacks, and it would have kept its fearsome aura had the wives not added a television and speaker which played classical music.
Appreciating the bunker's new look, at least most of it, Mateo found a seat on the couch after greeting all the adults, like anyone with good training would do, and soon the meeting was underway.