Matt's console came to life and created a portal that began absorbing their surroundings. As this happened, a giant yellow eye and several large red tentacles emerged from the portal with several smaller ones as well and devoured whatever they could.

"He's here! The Devourer's here!" exclaimed Darius. "I did it! I did your bidding!"

Darius started laughing uncontrollably and tried to approach the creature. Before he could do anything though, a large net fell from the sky and pinned him down.

"Thanks Lance. You okay?"

The gunner nodded and handed Matt a medkit. The item instantly restored Matt's health but did nothing for his MP.

"Where are the others?"

"We're here."

Matt's team regrouped and got out their remaining supplies.

"We've got nothing left," declared Andres. "How do we defeat that monster?"

"I don't know," answered Matt. "The bestiary doesn't have any information on that thing and this is the first time this has ever happened."

"YOU CAN'T!" bellowed a loud voice.

The entire team turned around and watched as the Devourer got ready to end them.

"JUST DIE!" yelled the creature.

The large yellow eye began to glow while Natz used the last of her magic to create a barrier. However, the shield was too weak and the laser blasted through, creating an explosion that destroyed what remained of the combat zone.

"Everyone! Report!" yelled Matt.

"We're all fine but we've got no MP points. Got any plans?"

Matt paused for a moment before putting away his sword.

"We need to retreat. It's the only way we're gonna beat this guy."

He picked up his abandoned console and ran with the others to Mrs. Santana's room.

"How in the world are we supposed to defeat something that has never been beaten before?" asked Seth.

"I have no clue," answered Matt. "I've looked up every entry of this creature and its existence has never been documented."

"So what do we do?"

The entire group waited in silence before Matt's brother David opened his mouth.

"I think we should try to send everyone back. If the monster came out because everyone's here, maybe it will go back once everyone's returned."

Everyone looked at Matt who nodded and booted up his repaired laptop.

"That's interesting."

"What is it?" asked Alivia.

"The console's not giving me the option to-"

"Create the simulation. Am I right?"

Everyone turned around to see none other than the creator of EBF, Matt Roszak at the door.

"Surprised?"

"Mr. Roszak! When did you-"

"As soon as you told me what was going on, I got ready to come down here in case something like this happened."

The creator approached the swordsman and gestured for him to move aside.

"May I?"

Matt nodded and watched as Kupo707 opened up the terminal and began writing various lines of code.

"The thing about the Devourer is that he's never been programmed into any of my games so none of your weapons or spells will have an effect on him. He was always there in the background as one of the few characters that weren't implemented. Hence, why he was never defeated," commented the programmer. "Still, that doesn't mean he can't be beaten. All you have to do is buy me some time."

"What's the plan?" asked Seth.

"The plan is to get this console to turn on and create a simulation," answered Kupo707. "Once the simulation is activated, the Devourer must be brought to this classroom where he will be forced back into the world of games. That will not only undo his damage but also prevent him from rising for the next 10 years."

Matt looked at his team and pulled out his sword.

"Do any of you still have some MP left?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Is the slime bunny still here?"

"No. The Devourer ate that the moment it appeared."

"Matt."

The swordsman turned to his brother.

"The Genshin Impact characters and I will hold them off," stated David.

"Are you crazy?" asked Matt. "How will you guys-"

"Look, none of you have any MP left," pointed out his brother. "And since none of your weapons will have an effect on it, you guys won't be able to distract it for as long as you wish."

"How can you be sure that your weapons will affect it?" asked Edward.

"We're from a different game. As an unreleased prototype from your game, the Devourer can't do anything about our weapons," answered David. "However, we won't be able to kill it so finish that code fast."

Matt Roszak nodded and continued coding.

"I'm gonna need 5 minutes. In the meantime, Matt, I'm gonna need you and your team to stand at these seven points and use a normal smack attack on my command. Doing so should force him back into the simulations and ensure that everything will return to normal."

"Got it. Everyone! Get into positions!" ordered the swordsman. "We've only got one shot at this."

The Devourer wandered through the school and destroyed what it could. His servant, Darius no longer had his sword but still, he had the ability to channel his powers so he was still useful nonetheless.

Just as he finished collapsing another building, he felt something sharp poke one of its smaller eyes. Turning around he saw several other beings that he identified as game creatures and began attacking them. However, all his attacks had no effect whatsoever and he also couldn't tell where they were from.

While this happened, David signaled to Jean and Diluc to begin their attack. Moments later, he gave Klee the thumbs up and watched as the sword users made a few cuts on the monster before it was engulfed in several walls of fire. While their attacks weren't doing much, it still allowed them to lure the monster to where they wanted it to be.

By now, the Devourer was getting fed up with the attacks. Nothing he did seemed to affect them at all but he still couldn't let them continue their attack.

"YOU PESTS HAVE DONE ENOUGH!"

The Devourer began charging up its eye again.

"Guys! Fall back! Matt! Is it ready yet?" yelled David.

"Almost," answered the coder. "Give me one more minute."

"I don't have that ti-"

The Devourer fired its laser and created a shockwave that threw everyone off their feet.

"The school's gonna collapse!"

"Finished! Matt! Natz! Lance! Anna! Co! Hit it now!" ordered Kupo707.

Matt and his team emerged from their positions and dealt one final blow to the creature causing it to shriek and stagger back towards the Aftershock building. Just as it came down, a portal opened and sucked the creature back into the console and undid all the damages.

"NOOO!" yelled Darius. He felt the power leaving him and ran over to the console. Grabbing a rock, he attempted to destroy it only for the blow to take his entire body into the portal and trap him on the other side.

"Darius. We've done everything we could to help you out of this but in the end, you left us no choice."

Kupo707 ran the code again and watched as the former student disappeared and remained trapped inside one of the many digital games on the console.

Everyone cheered while Matt and Natz checked on his brother. To his relief, he was alright and just needed some rest.

"Alright. Time for you all to head back," stated Kupo707.

"Can we stay a little longer?" asked Anna.

Matt Roszak shook his head.

"No. If we're gonna return things back to normal, all of the game characters must go back."

All the game characters looked at their counterparts before Natz spoke up.

"Can we get 5?"

"Alright then make it quick."

Aether approached David and shook his hand.

"I know this is partially our fault but still, thanks for the adventure. Come visit us some time."

David smiled before handing him his sword.

"Alright. See you next time."

All the Genshin Impact entered the portal and left. Anna was next.

"Hey Andre! Don't forget that sometimes, it might be better for someone else to take the lead."

Andre nodded and handed her his bow.

"I won't. It's time for me to return to normal now."

Next up was Lance. He patted Seth on the shoulder before taking his weapon.

"You did good out there. Just remember to have more faith in your teammates."

Seth smiled before saluting leaving Natz as the last one to leave.

"Edward, remember to stay true to your faith alright. I'm gonna have to take your powers now."

"No problem," commented Edward. "I've had enough adventure in my life."

Natz used her new staff and watched as several green orbs left Edward before turning to Matt.

"Matt I-"

"I know," cutoff Matt. "I know. Don't worry about it. I'll be there when you need me."

The red mage smiled before taking her leave with the other characters.

"Matt," addressed Kupo707. "It's time for you to make a choice."

"Huh?"

The rest of his team was confused.

"Matt's the only one here to have entered the game world and taken control of a character. For this reason, he doesn't have a game counterpart," explained Kupo707.

"I see," commented Edward. "He didn't have a game counterpart because he was his own counterpart."

Matt Roszak nodded before turning back to Matt.

"You know what this means right?"

Matt nodded.

"I have to choose between living in the game universe or reality," informed Matt. "Both worlds are great but in the end, I can only choose one to live the rest of my life in."

"So what will it be?"