The Game The Boss Novels & Stories

I asked hazily, "I thought I had to get married to pass this dungeon…" "Yeah. You have to marry the Sea God." Cyrus' lips kept trailing south the whole time. I could vaguely see a red tuxedo materializing on his upper body. That was when I suddenly recalled the Sea God's statue in the chapel. It had countless tentacles forming its lower body. Did that mean Cyrus was the Sea God? My boyfriend wasn't just an NPC in the survival game—he was also the final boss? As soon as that thought popped into my mind, I felt myself getting enveloped by the water and the tentacles. I could also hear Cyrus' enchanting voice.

He raised a glass, silencing the room with a single gesture. “To us,” The Boss began, his voice steady and filled with pride. “To the masterminds of this beautiful game. We’ve outsmarted them all—the politicians, the scientists, the entire system. They think they hold the cards, but it’s us holding the joker. Soon, we’ll be swimming in billions, and they’ll still be begging us for the cure.” The men erupted in applause, their laughter echoing off the concrete walls. Bottles clinked as they poured themselves another round of whiskey. One of the men, a burly fellow with a scar running down his cheek, slammed his glass on the table.

I shrugged and made to put it back but on a second thought I took a second and closer look. The little boy looked oddly looked familiar the more I stared at the picture. I took the picture and headed inside the house. Boss could be looking for it; I should hand it personally to him. “No way! I thought I aced this level? Why the heck am I still here...” Boss said as he punched fast and repeatedly at the game control pad. “Huh? That is the level you are...watch out!” “No, stop.” Boss paused the game and stood to face Mattia. “Hey! Did you tamper with my computer?”

Damn this woman. I could barely respond before the doors flung open, and Boss’s cold grey eyes sliced into the room as she stalked in, swaying slightly in her heels. Six men flanked her, and I felt something tighten in my stomach as two of them positioned on either side of the door. I sucked in a breath that pierced through my lungs, eyes searching their hands for pliers, shears, anything. Nothing. “What's happening?” My voice wavered. “We…are going to play a game.” Boss paused as the men adjusted her seat a few feet away from us.

The stench of death hung in the air, Mike’s black ooze slowly seeping into the carpet. I forced myself to stay calm, my eyes scanning the rapidly scrolling chat. 【Wait, I think this is a word game!】 【What do you mean?】 【I’ve played horror games like this before. The Boss twists your wish! That guy said he wanted to ‘expose’ the Boss, and the Boss stripped all the flesh from his bones.】 【Holy crap, so how do you beat it?】

If there was another game out there with a serpent boss in it, then she wanted to know. “I could tell you but…” “Ha. Ha,” she mocked. JJ was a game reviewer, and she knew all about the NDAs they had to sign to get early access to a game. She’d made sure Jack signed one today before she showed him anything to do with Paper “Fine, keep your secrets, but remember you’re killing the snakes.” They headed off on the quest, battling insignificant enemies along the way and gathering ammunition and health. “So…does this mean you won’t be wearing your voice modulator anymore?” JJ asked.

“I’ll get back on the game after my meeting, then let’s talk about it if the app is good to be released in the market.” I bit my bottom lip, lowering my gaze when I realized Finn was not playing but testing the game app.

Lady Overseer sneered and tossed the player to the floor. "Oh? Is that so? Then I'll just have to remove the restriction." She looked down at the players. "Care to gamble with me?" Gavin's face was drained of all color. He knew this boss's mechanic. The moment she asked, "Care to gamble with me?", every player present was already locked into the round. Win, and they would live. Lose, and they would die on the spot. So far, not a single person has ever walked out of her gambling game alive.

Right then, the system chimed in again. [Side Quest: “The Boss’s Truth” has been issued.] [Each player may ask the Boss any three questions.] [Quest time: Starting now.] [Eligible participants: All surviving players.] [Hint: The Boss will only tell the truth. He cannot lie.] [Hint: You may not ask questions directly related to the game’s ending, such as what the correct wish is.] [Hint: Questions involving the Boss’s past life may reveal clues to the correct wish—but they also risk angering him, resulting in immediate execution.]

“The Boss sent this for you.” I held out my hands, and he dropped a white, rectangular box into them. It was a top-of-the-line smartphone, the most expensive model being advertised. I stood there, completely stunned. “There must be a mistake… This…” “The Boss doesn’t make mistakes,” he said, turning his back and walking away, leaving me confused with the box in my hands. I hid it under my apron and hurried back to my room.