After the colossal clash against Goros, our quartet still found themselves within the shadowy embrace of the dark forest. Anty's voice cut through the lingering tension, "The Supreme Admin extends his gratitude for your valiant efforts in vanquishing the primordial glitch. He has summoned you to the admin headquarters."
Stenly, ever the pragmatist, added, "Follow us, and we shall guide your steps."
Sting, his usual playful demeanor slightly subdued, questioned, "And what fate awaits us?"
Anty's gaze swept over Sting, Ken, and Rick. "Your contributions were also significant, and you shall receive due recognition. However, the Supreme Admin's personal summons has yet to reach you. Until that moment arrives, patience is required."
Ken, ever the understanding comrade, nodded. "Then we shall await your tidings in Valley. Should you seek us, that is where we will be." With a final farewell to Saland and his companions, the trio turned and began their journey towards Valley.
Their path led Anty and Stenly, along with our heroes, through a considerable distance until they stood before a sprawling swamp. Only stagnant pools of water and the skeletal remains of ancient trees marred the landscape. Haytham, his brow furrowed in confusion, voiced their collective thought, "But... there's nothing here. Where exactly is this headquarters of yours?"
A knowing smile played on Anty's lips. With a subtle gesture, he conjured a holographic key that shimmered into existence. It passed effortlessly through what appeared to be empty air, and a radiant door of azure light materialized before them. Stenly gestured invitingly. "Please, step through, everyone."
Hesitantly, our heroes complied. The moment they crossed the threshold, the dreary swamp vanished, replaced by the breathtaking sight of an immense castle. A potent azure luminescence emanated from its very stones, causing Shimmon to gasp in awe, "Now this is what I call beauty!"
The castle was a marvel of interconnected light bridges, spanning across its towering structures. Christy, her curiosity piqued, asked, "What are those... bridge-like things?"
Anty explained, "Those bridges of light serve as conduits for us admins, allowing swift passage across the entirety of the VR WORLD. We can traverse vast distances in mere moments, saving precious time. This entire magnificent structure was conceived and brought into being by the Supreme Admin himself."
Saland, his mind reeling, interjected, "Wait a moment... the Supreme Admin created all of this, single-handedly?"
Stenly offered a cryptic reply, "It's a rather intricate explanation, one best left for another time. You will likely uncover the truth yourselves in the days to come."
Stenly and Anty ushered our heroes into the castle's grand entrance. Haytham, still trying to process the sheer scale of it all, inquired, "So, where exactly will we be meeting this Supreme Admin?"
Anty's answer was direct. "Naturally, in the uppermost tower of our headquarters. Ascend this staircase, and you shall find him." He gestured towards a colossal spiral staircase that wound its way endlessly upwards, seemingly piercing the very heavens. A familiar sense of dread washed over Haytham as the image of the Kyofei mountain resurfaced in his mind. "Not again... noooo!"
With a collective sigh, our heroes began their arduous climb. Each step seemed to stretch into an eternity, the spiral ascent showing no signs of abating. Finally, after what felt like an age, they reached a spacious landing. The floor was an immaculate white, and the walls pulsed with an eerie, steely blue light. Before them stood a solitary door. As they approached, a mechanical whirring sound echoed, and the door shimmered, projecting a scanner that meticulously analyzed each of them. With a soft click, the door swung inward. A moment of shared uncertainty passed between the heroes before they stepped through.
Instantaneously, a blinding light engulfed them. When their vision cleared, they found themselves within an enormous, pristine white hall. Two symmetrical rows of admins stood facing each other, their drawn swords held aloft, forming a majestic arch of gleaming steel. At the far end of the hall, upon a raised dais, sat a figure of imposing presence – the Supreme Admin. He was clad in an elegant black military uniform, adorned with numerous insignia and rank markings. His neatly styled black hair was swept to the right, and a subtle smile played upon his lips. His eyes radiated a piercing, almost brilliant, azure light.
Saland, Haytham, Shimmon, and Christy proceeded through the solemn archway of swords. Haytham, Saland, and Christy maintained a respectful seriousness, while Shimmon, ever the showman, exuded confident smiles and playful winks towards the stoic admins, who remained impassive.
Finally, they stood before the Supreme Admin's throne. He rose gracefully to his feet, and our heroes instinctively snapped to attention. In a swift motion, the Supreme Admin materialized a sword in his left hand and addressed them, his voice resonating with authority. "You four have demonstrated beyond doubt your worthiness to join our ranks. You have vanquished Bruhsuperdoom, faced Null in battle, defeated the high-level glitch Yardrach, and ultimately, overcome Goros, the most formidable glitch to ever plague the VR WORLD. Despite not yet being admins yourselves, you have confronted adversaries that no ordinary player could even dream of challenging. Now, I, the Supreme Admin, shall bestow upon you the mantle of adminship."
With deliberate movements, he rested the flat of his blade upon Saland's left shoulder, then his right. "Saland," he declared, "you have proven to be a steadfast and loyal warrior to your companions. Your very light has been a weapon against the encroaching darkness of the glitches. I hereby name you the Admin of Light."
He repeated the gesture with Haytham. "Haytham," he proclaimed, "your fighting style is both versatile and swift. You possess the ability to unleash slashes at supersonic speeds, to disarm your foes, wield a firearm that discharges potent energy beams, and command a formidable dark transformation. I name you the Demonic Admin."
Next was Christy. "Christy," the Supreme Admin stated, "you are a woman of immense strength, a unique fusion of two souls. Your command over the power of chaos is unparalleled and exceptionally potent. Therefore, I name you Christy, the Admin of Chaos."
Lastly, he turned to Shimmon, who stood at attention, awaiting his turn with anticipation. "Shimmon," the Supreme Admin began, a hint of amusement in his voice, "you possess a singular perspective, finding beauty where others see none. Your strength is considerable, and you stand as the last of the ancient draconic lineage. You have overcome numerous formidable opponents on your journey. I hereby name you the Draconic Admin."
As the Supreme Admin concluded his pronouncements, a wave of applause rippled through the assembled admins. Within our heroes, an unfamiliar surge of energy began to bloom, a tangible manifestation of their newfound authority. They offered a synchronized bow of gratitude to the Supreme Admin, who then declared, "Now that you are admins, you have earned the right to know my name. I am Andrew, the Supreme Admin."
With those words, the assembled admins returned to their duties, a silent dismissal. Our heroes, feeling a profound sense of renewal and amplified power, exited the grand hall. Just beyond the threshold, they were greeted by the familiar figures of Crowar and Sylene. Crowar was impeccably dressed in an elegant black suit with subtle blue undertones and a dark blue bow tie, a stark contrast to his usual attire. Sylene, too, had traded her lab coat for a sophisticated light blue dress.
Crowar offered a warm smile. "Congratulations on your ascension to admin status. Now that you are part of the organization, allow me to outline the existing roles. I function as a 'funder' – I am responsible for orchestrating events within the VR WORLD and monitoring the movements of the various glitches. I also provide intelligence on glitch locations to the 'fighters,' whose primary duty, as you now know, is to combat and eliminate these anomalies. You, naturally, fall into that category. The final role is that of the 'researcher.'"
Sylene elaborated, "Sharon and I, for instance, were part of that division. We researchers gather data from the encounters between the fighting admins and the glitches, meticulously analyzing it in our constant pursuit of new information. As you are aware, each glitch possesses unique characteristics and singularities."
Saland, eager to embrace their new responsibilities, inquired, "Now that we are admins, what are our immediate tasks?"
Sylene replied, "Within this castle lies a dedicated training facility. I strongly advise you to hone your skills there until the Supreme Admin calls upon you again. Preparations are currently underway for something that will fundamentally reshape the entire VR WORLD."
With a final nod and farewell, Crowar and Sylene departed, leaving our heroes to navigate a long corridor. Its floor was a pristine white, while the walls were shrouded in shadow, illuminated only by the faint glow of widely spaced white lights. After a silent walk, they arrived before a formidable door of reinforced iron. As they approached, it swung open, revealing an enormous, completely white chamber. In the center of the room was a raised platform, upon which sat a peculiar rectangular structure made of swirling wind, with only two entrances on opposing sides. Saland and Haytham exchanged a knowing glance. Shimmon, ever the enthusiast, declared, "We understand perfectly! Go ahead and enjoy yourselves, show me the full extent of your newfound power!" And so, Saland and Haytham stepped forward to begin their first training session as admins.