"He's starting to wake up - go get his uncle!"
Kazuya's eyes slowly opened. All he could see was a blinding white. A few seconds later, the lighting subsided as Kazuya's vision came into bearing, making out the surroundings as a small room. Kazuya sat up, realizing that he was in a bed.
"Where am I?"
A man promptly dressed in a white lab coat walked over, smiling.
"I see you're awake Kazuya. You're in the hospital. Your uncle brought you in. You've been asleep for almost two days. I'm Dr. Hatsuo and I'm your attending physician for the remainder of your stay here. Would you like to speak to your uncle?"
"Yes please."
"Alright, I'll let him know."
"Thank you," mumbled Kazuya as the physician walked out of the room. Kazuya's head was swirling, as if his head had been crammed full of several decades worth of information. It was disorientating.
"What happened to me…"
The door opened. Kazuya's uncle, Hidetaka Satoru, walked through. When he saw Kazuya, Hidetaka's face contorted into a strange expression, almost as if it were conflicted in choosing between which of many emotions to convey.
"Uncle," acknowledged Kazuya, "What happened to me?"
"Oh Kazuya… I was so worried. I found you wearing that virtual game helmet, lying back on your chair, passed out. I thought you were just tired, but when I checked back the next morning, you were still in the same position, completely unmoved. I got worried and unplugged the virtual interface, but you still didn't respond so I brought you here."
"I was passed out for two whole days?"
"Yes, the doctor said that it's been happening a lot lately, all around the world. They think there's something wrong with that virtual interface system you kids use. The company has announced that they would make a public statement sometime later today."
"There are others like me then… Do you know how many were passed out?"
"I don't know exactly, but when I brought you here, they had trouble finding a room for you. I saw many other parents waiting with their kids outside. Apparently, you're the first one to wake up."
"I see. Do you know when exactly the statement is going to be released."
"It's supposed to be broadcast around five tonight. That's in less than an hour. Did you want to watch?"
"Yes, I think it's for the best. I had no idea something like this could happen."
"Alright. Are you hungry at all?"
At the mention of hunger, Kazuya's stomach unleashed a wild spasm of growls. Kazuya's face turned sour.
"I'm STARVING… I feel like I could eat anything."
Hidetaka chuckled lightly. "Looks like some things never change. I'll go see what they have at the cafeteria."
On his way out, Hidetaka turned on the television screen at the end of the room facing Kazuya.
"Channel sixty-one."
The screen changed to the desired channel directly in response to the voice command.
"This should be it," stated Hidetaka, "It'll be on soon."
"Thank you uncle."
A few minutes after Hidetaka left the room, the current program blanked out and became replaced by a Public Service Announcement screen.
"This must be it," noted Kazuya out loud.
The screen then shifted to a man standing behind a podium, surrounded by microphones and security officers.
"Good evening. I am Takahashi Yoto, head of the Japanese branch of the public relations department of Virtual World Applications, the leading applied virtual technology corporation in the world. We are also one of the primary sponsors for many virtual technology gaming systems, including the Infinity Works platform that currently powers the highly anticipated Duel Portal Online game, based on the worldwide phenomenon of Duel Monsters.
"It has come to our attention that there have been many reports of interface problems with the gaming system, specifically for the game of Duel Portal Online, and as such, our head engineers and developers in the applied gaming division have been looking into resolving any technical difficulties our users may be experiencing. The specific number must remain undisclosed for conserving the sanctity of our private business practices, but I have been assured that any problem is only temporary and is fully within the scope of our experts to handle.
Therefore, plus remain calm and understand that we are expected to resolve any complications within the next few days -"
The broadcast was suddenly cut short as static momentarily engulfed the screen. Then, the screen shifted to the image of a masked man clad in a white cloak. The door opened as Kazuya's uncle walked in with two large boxes and two pairs of chopsticks.
"Ah, Kazuya, did I miss anything?"
Kazuya was too shocked by the image on the screen to reply coherently.
"Kazuya? Are you alright? Is something wrong?"
"That was the player I faced, just before I blacked out."
The masked man in the screen started speaking.
"People of the world. I am an emissary of Yliaster. We have been the guardians of humanity, helping guide the progress of civilization since its inception in order to allow humanity to reach its full potential and inherit the mantle of the world.
"Through many decades of observing the state of the world as modern civilization has left it in, we have deemed modern civilization to be unworthy of inheriting such a mantle. Despite the technological breakthroughs civilization has achieved, the state of the world is rapidly deteriorating into a worse state than it has ever been. You flood your oceans with waste, your atmosphere with pollutants, and strip your lands bare to attain what little resources are left. Too many lives exist for the sake of a pointless existence of satisfying their selfish base needs leaving humanity's collective will shattered and forsaken.
"We have deemed civilization to be a deterrent to achieving the true potential humanity and therefore unworthy of existence. As civilization now thrives on the technological advancements we have provided it, so shall it fall through the abuse of these gifts. We have unleashed The Cleansing upon your civilization. As I speak, thousands of users of your virtual technology programs have been purified of their tainted existence to give humanity a chance to outgrow the corruption of civilization.
"Those who live through the purification of The Cleansing shall ascend to greatness and establish the foundation for humanity to inherit its mantle, its destiny. Those who do not prove themselves worthy shall be purified and extinguished. Do not think that you can stop The Cleansing by simply logging off of your virtual system. Those who do shall be purified first. Who among you shall be proven worthy of becoming the exemplar for humanity? Who among you shall inherit the mantle? Show us.
The broadcast terminated and the screen shifted back to the public relations speaker.
"Well, that was… certainly unusual. Please disregard that broadcast. Our network appears to have been hacked by a presently unknown source, no doubt for some sort of elaborate, tasteless joke. As I was saying, there is no need to panic. Everything will be resolved in due time. At Virtual World Applications, our guarantee is satisfaction through perfection. Until further notice from future updates, have a good night, people of Japan."
Hidetaka turned off the television.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know… Probably some sort of elaborate prank, just like the speaker said."
"But, who would have the capability to hack into one of the most secure networks in the country just for the sake of a joke? I'll have to look into it some other time. There has to be someone out there who knows what's going on."
"I'm sure you're right. Listen, uncle, I'm feeling all better now. I think I was just exhausted from having almost no sleep so far this week. Can I get checked out soon?"
"Of course, Kazuya, I'll just need to go speak to the doctor."
Hidetaka left the room. Kazuya didn't know what to make of the bizarre broadcast that had just transpired. The masked man was identical to the player Kazuya had faced in Duel Portal Online. Kazuya was certain about that.
"But, it couldn't be…"
Kazuya strained himself to search through the recesses of his mind, trying to remember any detail that he might have overlooked. Then, a memory came to him. Kazuya remembered what happened after the duel. He lost consciousness, but then he somehow regained it. Kazuya remembered seeing a blinding light and a figure in the distance. The figure spoke to him.
Kazuya Satoru, known as Kami no Satsugai-Sha in this world, it seems that the program has deemed you worthy of surviving The Cleansing. This is an honor bestowed upon few of your specimen. You will have to prove yourself in many trials in the time to come, but should you succeed, you will be the harbinger of a new age and become the last hope for humanity in the Great Purge. Unmei wa anata ni yūri ni hataraku koto ga…
Kazuya could hear shouting outside. It sounded like his uncle was having a heated argument with some of the hospital staff.
"What is it now…"
The door burst open as Hidetaka stormed inside, followed by the attending physician from before and what seemed like two security officers.
"What's going on," asked Kazuya, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Kazuya," replied Hidetaka, "These men have something to tell you."
One of the security officers walked up to Kazuya's side.
"Kazuya Satoru, I presume. I'm officer Bayatou of Sector Security. Before you can be checked out, I'll need you to answer a few questions. This is a matter of national security so your full cooperation is expected, do you understand?"
Kazuya nodded silently.
"I've been informed that you were on Duel Portal Online. Is that correct?"
"Yes. I blacked out and was unconscious for two days."
"I see. What exactly were you doing in the game?"
"Nothing special, just dueling another player."
"So it seems. From the online records, it appears that you lost that duel. Is that correct?"
"Yes. I would say it was a close duel, but I made a misplay and my opponent got the best of me."
"Yes, just as the record shows. Were you aware of anything unusual occurring before, during or after the duel?"
"Not particularly. The pain simulation was especially high during the duel, but it happens sometimes."
"That will be noted."
"Can I ask what this is even about? How many more questions will I have to answer?"
The attending physician turned to the security officer. The security officer nodded. The physician sighed and turned to Kazuya.
"Kazuya, I'm afraid that I must deem you unfit to check out from the hospital at your discretion."
"What, why not?"
The officer's face changed into an expression of distress.
"The reason is… complicated. You are one of the few people to have logged off of a virtual interface system and wake up. There are thousands of reports of similar cases throughout Japan and the rest of the world. Many of the others have been unconscious for several days now. Some have officially been declared comatose and even brain dead. The fact that you're awake at all is… nothing short of a miracle."
Kazuya could barely believe his ears.
"This is… a lot to take in. I'll need a moment to think about what you just said."
"Of course, take your time."
"It doesn't sound believable, but I think I understand where you're going. You need understand what makes me different, why I woke up and… so many others didn't."
"Wait," interrupted Hidetaka, "But surely something like this must be consented to."
"Yes, it would usually require the consent from all respective parties involved, but this time, we can't afford to risk Kazuya saying no."
The officer turned to the physician.
"Yes, I'm afraid that I have the power to declare Kazuya unfit to leave the hospital and require hospitalization indefinitely."
"You must understand," interjected the officer, "That something like this is completely unprecedented. We could be in a state of national emergency, even global for all we know. I'm only following orders I've been given by my higher-ups."
"This is ridiculous," objected Hidetaka, "As a citizen of Japan, my nephew has rights. I will take this up in court if I have to."
Kazuya interrupted. "No!"
Hidetaka looked at Kazuya with bewilderment. "What? You don't mean you're actually considering this. This is preposterous. Complete nonsense."
"You can think what you want uncle, but I've made up my mind. The masked man from that strange broadcast, I recognize him. He was my opponent in the duel I had just before I blacked out. It can't just be a coincidence. There's something behind all of this. Something big. If I can help uncover whatever's behind all of this, then I'll do whatever I can to help."
"But Kazuya… are you sure?"
"Absolutely uncle. I've never felt more sure of anything in my life."
"Then it's decided," concluded the officer, "Kazuya Satoru, we are grateful that you understand what kind of situation we're in. We'll escort you home. When you're ready, we'll be headed to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Then, we'll get to the bottom of this."
Kazuya nodded. He wasn't entirely sure what he had placed himself in, but he was sure that he wanted to be a part of it. Duel Monsters was the only life he had known, and if he could help out with his dueling prowess, then maybe he could find a purpose in life.