[Play - Star Anis: Undercurrent]
May 3rd. Saturday evening in New York City, Time Square.
Prior to that evening, a city wide alert had been issued to not be alarmed at any explosions or other chaotic events due to a film shoot.
Considering it was New York... that was par for the course, so most people just continued on their daily business.
But just as the sun started to set at 8 PM...
"What the hell?" A businessman on his way home to the commute looked up to see all of New York had gone dark.
"Was there a power outage?" A college student on his way to the dorms frowned and pulled out his phone, but noticed that it was still working.
"They did say there was an event going on today..." A struggling actress working at a cafe murmured as she looked out the window of her suddenly dark workplace.
...New York went dark.
But only for a moment.
All of a sudden, every reflective surface in New York City showed a man with blonde hair and a black suit. With a pierrot mask covering his eyes, he smirked and then spread out his arms. "New York- No, the entire world. My name is John Smith."
"Whoa!"
"How the hell?"
"Them new fangled technologies are really something, huh?"
John chuckled and said, "Numerous people fall into the dark each day. Some, unseen. Others, seen, but unhelped. Now, it is impossible to save everyone... but what if you could save a few? Just by observing their fates?" After that, he snapped his fingers, causing three shards to appear around him, each reflecting the face of Lady Zen, Priestess Niko Manser, and then a woman with light blue hair but her face obscured by light.
A few people who saw the theatrics just rolled their eyes and kept going.
A few more stopped and looked at the closest display, curious.
And for the clear majority who knew about Project MirAIs...
"OH MY GOD IT'S JOHN!"
"HOLY CRAP HE SHUT DOWN NEW YORK!"
"GUYS GUYS! IT'S REAL! PROTEST IS REAL!"
...They were freaking out and panicking about whether or not this was just another ARG publicity stunt or if it was a real isekai event.
And seeing that, John decided to lean into the bit.
'I think Myth Inc. has reached a point where I can mess around a bit with theatrics without breaking suspension of disbelief, right?'
John snapped his fingers and caused a glowing holographic window to appear in front of everyone in Times Square. "The intervention scenario approaches. MirAIs Agents... you know what to do."
"HOLY SHIT."
"Oh my god. OH MY GOD! IT'S A GODDAMNED STATUS WINDOW!"
"THIS IS REAL! THIS IS REAL! THIS IS REAAAAAL!"
Chaos unfolded.
Cars stopped in the streets.
People left buildings or opened their windows for a closer look.
But miraculous, despite the pandemonium, no one was hurt.
...Mostly because John was actively keeping an eye on things.
And as for what was written on the 'status window' that everyone saw...
===
[System Message]
> You have been selected to become a MirAIs Agent.
> If you accept, you will be registered for the Intervention Scenario.
> Once you accept, you cannot relinquish your duties.
> If you accept and fulfill your obligations, you will be rewarded.
> Details will be sent after you accept.
> If you reject, you will be rewarded with a $50 Visa giftcard for the inconvenience.
> [Yes]
> [No]
===
...It was something inspired from a few webnovels John vaguely remembered reading in the past.
"Hell yeah I'm accepting!" A high school student smashed the [Yes] in front of him.
"Pft. As if we'll actually get a giftcard..." A skeptical middle-aged woman pressed [No]... and then light glittered and a Visa giftcard complete with a receipt showing proof of purchase and activation instructions appeared in front of her. "H-Huh?!"
Seeing that, more people immediately pressed [No], eager for the quick money.
But most people clicked [Yes].
Some because they had been WAITING for a chance like this.
Others because they were diehard fans of Project MirAIs.
And most because they just wanted to see what would happen.
After everyone made their decision, John clapped his hands together, dismissing the hologram windows. And then he spread his hands apart, showing glittering golden threads connected to everyone who selected yes. At the same time, a number appeared over his head: 15,300.
"Wonderful. Over fifteen thousand accepted the call. Now then... As I said, it is impossible to save everyone. But we can save a few by observing their fates. But before we can do that... one must be saved first. A goddess who lost her name, a goddess who lost her powers and reached out for salvation. One who used to be prayed to, sending out a prayer to the void..."
Golden light glittered and then John subtly divided space, shifting all of the ones who pressed [Yes] into an area where he could do some shenanigans while leaving the ones who pressed [No] out.
Mostly so the people who said [No] would just think this was all just CG and movie effects.
As the golden light spread, the dark Times Square distorted, revealing a throne room where a handsome hero and a princess wearing a sage's robe and staff loomed over a glittering blue crystal.
Golden blood pooled on the floor beneath them, the remnants of the goddess that they had killed.
John's face reflected on every surface as he held out his right hand, copying a certain 'Zero' from Brittania. "Your mission is clear. Defeat the traitorous hero and reclaim the divinity from the fallen goddess!"
Blue status messages flickered across the 15,300 people who had pressed [yes].
Stats, class selections, ability gacha... the usual tropes to kickstart an isekai.
"OH HELL FUCKING YES!"
"[Shadow Monarch]?! ARISE!"
"[Mystic Eyes of Death Perception]?! Oh, you are DEAD dead, Hero!"
Cheers erupted from the people who had a gist of what was going on.
Although there were a few confused normies, everyone quickly followed the flow and went through the initialization too.
As they did that, the 'Hero' took a step back in shock. "W-What is this sorcery?! Did the Goddess summon heroes from another world with her dying breath?!"
The 'Sage' quickly moved to the Hero's side and said, "C-Calm down, Beloved! I'll summon reinforcements!" Holding up her staff, she started chanting. "I am the Sage who-"
Before she could continue chanting, a high schooler chucked his phone at her face, forcing her to deflect it.
"KYA?!"
And when the high schooler saw that, he laughed. "You're not a hologram, huh? Oh, this is going to be fun."
As if that guy's words were the starting signal, a health bar and title appeared over both the Hero and the Sage.
===
[The Traitorous Hero once beloved by the Goddess]
Lvl. ??
HP: 9,999,999/9,999,999
[The Wicked Sage who bewitched the one chosen by light]
Lvl. ??
HP: 9,999,999/9,999,999
===
And after those appeared, a system message appeared in front of every person there.
===
[System Message]
> Scenario start: The Traitorous Hero and the Bewitching Sage
> Primary Objective: Retrieve and reignite the divine core of the fallen goddess
> Secondary Objective: Defeat the Traitorous Hero and the Bewitching Sage
> Details: Merit points will be rewarded based upon damage dealt and contribution in reigniting the fallen goddess' divine core.
> Rewards: Varies, but depending on merit points, monetary compensation, personal favor, merchandise, etcetera.
===
A person who just happened to be cosplaying as a certain Black Swordsman from a floating incarnating radius laughed and dismissed the system message. After drawing his blades, he said, "John, my guy. Say less!"
The guy who had shouted about getting Shadow Monarch from the ability gacha cackled and snapped his fingers, causing dark knights to emerge from the ground. "So we're doing a world raid, but in real life, huh? Bet."
A high school girl who had managed to get magical girl powers waved her wand, turning her hair a bright pink and her clothes into a sailor uniform. Giggling with pure joy, she looked at the hero and said, "In the name of the moon... We will punish you!"
John watched the chaos slowly start to unfold and said, "Mission start, Agents. I wish you luck. And I will see you on the other side."
After that, he cut the feed, leaving the 'summoned heroes' armed with all sorts of cheats against the two raid bosses.
===
Back in the New York branch office of Myth Incorporated... Specifically, a high-rise building overlooking Times Square and subsequently the entire 'scenario' ARG being played out...
*Beep beep beep*
John walked over to his microwave and opened it to grab the bag of popcorn he had been cooking up while he was making his speech.
Then he sat down by the window and grinned. "Well. I think that's about as dramatic an introduction to the leader of Protest as I can make, right?"
By morning, the event would be legendary.
Some people would swear they really got magical powers when they were fighting.
Others would say it was delusion caused by CG.
Others still would say it was all just some super realistic special effects with paid actors.
And there might even be more who kept trying to open status windows long after the battle ended...
'Hm. Maybe I'll let a few people keep it.'
There was definitely a market for gamifying life, so John could just pass it off as a prototype AR life app anyway.
Of course he wouldn't let them keep their powers... but having a status screen to reflect your personal physical health and various attributes should be fun.
For now though...
John smirked, watching the Hero and Sage he whipped up that totally weren't inspired by any particular individuals from fiction that he had a grudge against.
"Ganbaru, Hero-san, Sage-chan~ You'll need it against the forces of motivated New Yorkers and Otakus living out their biggest dreams~"