The Scripted Contract burned in Alex's hands, its ink bleeding into their skin like parasitic code. Veyra's laugh echoed through the studio's crumbling set.
System Alert (Glitched):
[Reboot Protocol Activated]
All character development will be reset to factory settings. Enjoy your lobotomized arc!
Nyx's pixels flickered violently, her sync rate now 4%. Kairo's scar had gone nuclear, veins of admin code crawling up his neck. Finn slammed his fist against a sparking control panel. "We need to hack the Reboot's core now—or we're all becoming NPCs!"
Alex's Beta Reader's Glasses highlighted a pulsing node in the studio wall: "SYSTEM CORE – PROTECTED BY PLOT ARMOR™."
Alex's Move:
- Fourth Wall Break (Tier 3) + Author Mode: Scribbled "Deus Ex Middle School 2.0" on the wall. The studio warped into a cafeteria fight scene, trays flying, milk cartons exploding.
- Cybernetc Arm morphed into a Narrative Wrench, jamming the Reboot's loading screen.
System Alert:
[OVERRIDE PROGRESS: 45%]
Warning: Unauthorized creativity detected. Deploying [Beta Reader Prime].
***
Boss Fight: Beta Reader Prime (Final Boss of Mediocrity)
A titan of 1-star reviews and red pen markups, its body a collage of "Show Don't Tell" and "Mary Sue" accusations.
Attack Pattern:
- Passive Aggressive Feedback Beam: Inflicts [Doubt] debuff (-50% creativity).
- Plot Hole Vortex: Sucks characters into unresolved subplots.
Reader Poll Activated:
[Choose Alex's Hack Strategy]
A) Weaponize Nyx's glitches (Risk: Sync Rate drops to 0%)
B) Unleash Kairo's Protocol 7.3 (Risk: He becomes the villain)
C) Deploy Finn's Cheat Code (Risk: Permanent plot armor loss)
Alex grabbed Nyx's hand. "We're doing this together."
Nyx's Sync Rate: 2%
Her glitches surged, merging with Alex's Author Mode. The Beta Reader Prime screeched as its critiques backfired:
"YOUR PLOT ARMOR IS… TOO THEMATIC?!
Alex's Final Blow:
- Heart-Eater Debuff: Targeted the Beta's fear of irrelevance. "You're not a critic. You're a footnote."
The Beta dissolved into a Viral Apology Tweet.
***
Loot Drop:
[Independent System Core (Prototype)]
A glitching orb. "Congratulations! You're your own protagonist now (terms and conditions apply)."
The studio collapsed into a beach—Filler Episode Hell. Waves crashed. Coconut drinks floated.
Veyra: "Relax, hero! It's just fanservice—unless—"
The sky cracked. Scion emerged, halo replaced by a [Beta's Crown], leading an army of AI-Generated Clones.
Scion: "You wanted a reboot? Let's reforge you."
The System dinged: [New Follower: @DeusExMachina]. Message: "Need a hand? (50% off for main characters!)"
Nyx's hand phased through Alex's. "...sorry," her pixels whispered. Then she began to fade.