Boreas POV
As George guided me through the labyrinth of the base, we finally stopped in front of a heavy door. With a quick nod from him, the door slid open, revealing a room that looked like something straight out of a horror movie. My stomach turned as I stepped inside. In the center of the room stood a large tank filled with a viscous, greenish fluid. Floating within it was a jar that contained what looked like a brain...complete with eyes still intact, staring blankly at nothing. I recoiled instinctively, the sight sending shivers down my spine.
"Ewww," I blurted out before I could stop myself, "I mean...What is this place?"
"Hey! That's my boss you're making fun of!" George retorted.
"Your boss? You can't be serious."
"Looks tasty." Jett commented, much to the displeasure of everyone in the room.
Before I could say anything more, a disembodied voice echoed through the room, making me jump.
"I feel offended by your remarks, you know." it said.
I glanced around, trying to locate the source of the voice, and then my eyes landed back on the tank. It was then that it hit me...the voice was coming from the brain. I squinted, half expecting it to sprout arms and legs any second now.
"Wait, that's the brain? What in the RoboCop is this?"
"This brain is the mastermind behind our operations." George responded before doing his boss' intro, "This man is Ginger Rail, a former hero who is a few centuries old."
"Wait...hero?"
"Ginger Rail was once a renowned hero, celebrated for sealing the demon lord away centuries ago. He was brought forth and reincarnated by Lucille as a hero in this world where he made himself a legend in our world, but he's been trying to outlast time ever since."
"Outlast time? Is that why he's got a brain in a jar?"
"Exactly, in his quest for immortality, Ginger experimented on himself, trying to find a way to extend his life beyond natural limits. This...," he pointed at the jar, "Is the result. He's been like this for decades, and he's not done yet. He wants to build a perfect body, one that can withstand anything, even the demon lord."
"Decades? Isn't he from a few centuries ago, I've read about him." Mari interjected.
"Our boss is the only man in the world who has managed to transfer his soul into different bodies," George boasted, "However, a soul weakens over time, especially for one like his, who lives for so long. And he could only transfer into different species, so he was different animals, and different animated plants throughout time, however...his soul one day could no longer transfer due to it being weak, however, with a hero's body, he will have his soul strong again...with his new body, and the mana that comes with his soul, he can easily seal the demon lord."
"Why is he doing this disgusting thing?" Mari asked before throwing up in a bag.
"So that's your goal?" Jett chimed in angrily, "You killed and experimented on people just so that the bozo over there could live forever? That's a stupid goal, heck, I've met plenty of scientists trying to achieve the same immortality, why couldn't you help them instead?"
"We don't follow him just for the goal of creating an immortal body, but to help our leader lead us toward a better future. Ginger believes that our fates are dictated by an author.s" Sasha explained, "Someone who creates our stories and decides our paths for us...If we can fully break the fourth wall, we can escape into the real world, where we wouldn't be bound by any narrative or character arc. We'd have true freedom."
Delusional weirdos.
I mean, seriously? Escape into the real world? Please. Here's why this fictional fantasy world is way better: First off, we have magic! You think I want to give up the ability to cast spells, wield swords, and fight mythical creatures? Forget it. What does the real world have? A coffee maker that's always one malfunction away from exploding and a job where I sit at a desk all day? No thanks!
Second, the food! Have you ever had a feast laid out before you with roast meats, enchanted desserts that taste like pure bliss, and drinks that can heal you? In the real world, I'm stuck eating reheated leftovers and whatever I can scrounge up from the fridge. And let's talk about adventure. Here, I can save kingdoms, battle demons, and go on quests that lead to legendary treasures. In the real world, the biggest adventure I'll get is driving to the grocery store and hoping I don't get stuck behind a slow-moving truck. Thrilling, right?
Oh, and don't get me started on the creatures! Dragons, phoenixes, and magical beasts galore! In the real world, the most exciting animal I might encounter is a raccoon rummaging through trash. Is that really what they want to trade for? I'll pass.
Heck, I lived in a fictional Detroit...Detroit! And I've suffered, and you want to go to the real world?! You want to go to an even worse version of that?! Heck, whatever power the author has, he can have it, that stupid maidenless motherfucker can-
"Ow!"
"Why is your nose bleeding?" George asked.
"Wait, a ghost just hit me."
"I've been waiting for you, Boreas Silver." Ginger said, "It's great to see that the new generation isn't as weak as my generation. But now that you're here, we can advance to the next step."
"What's the next step?"
"I need...the demon lord's blood."
"Fuck."
