“Once again, I must ask for you to be on your best behavior. Please do not attempt any of your ‘shenanigans’ once more.”

The elevator continued to climb higher and higher. The only tangible person in the room, Rebecca took the moment to fix a few of the aberrant strands that grew to be quite thick these past few weeks in the mirror. “Hey, you’re the one who gave me confidence. If you don’t like how I use it, why don’t you just get rid of it?”

Despite not having a mouth, the sound of a tongue clicking echoed in her mind, “I would if I could. But for all your problems, you’ve helped me make quite the impression on my superiors. Tolerating your impudence is worth the results.”

“Love you too.”

Reaching the top, the door opened to a well lit hallway adorned with exotic rugs and the occasional marble bust, something she had grown used to seeing when dealing with Miranda. The New York skyline formed its own stars against the winter night sky. The highrise building had a perfect view, especially from this high up.

“Looks like our boss is trying to impress someone…”

“Both of them wield tremendous power already, there is no reason to impress those as lowly as us.”

“I know Miranda hates having a simp for an ACE, but at least hers actually compliments her.”

She carefully began to strut her way down the top floor conference walkway. Adorned in a simple purple dress, Rebecca considered herself fashionable, but lacked the interest in this particular sector. Plus her newfound confidence did not come with any proficiency in walking in heels.

Opening the singular double door in the hallway, a murmur crept out first as the smell of burning wood and champagne followed up with a hit across the nostrils. A good number of people were dressed in fine attire, schmoozing. People dressed in tight suits holding trays, dipped in and out of the soirée. Strangely, for a room full of ACE wielders, the number of outlandish creatures was disappointingly low.

“Wow. She really is trying hard tonight.” A man walked by with three girls on each arm, “Who even are these people?”

“Oh! There she is!” Miranda bounded up to her, dressed in a wide black dress with blinking lights, resembling stars and a plunging neckline, “Rebecca Weatherford, heiress to the Weatherford fortune, there are plenty of people here I’d like you to meet.”

Gesturing towards a man holding a small dog, Miranda continued, “This is Dr. Johanon Loeb, our leading researcher into details around the World Game.”

Dressed in a slate grey suit that matched his slicked back hair, the good doctor held his free hand out, “A pleasure, Miss Weatherford. Miranda had told many your particular ACE creature had led to a great number of revelations to the intentions behind the Game itself.”

“Ooh. I like this man.”

The old man’s accent sounded vaguely west European. The lines on his face were quite apparent, even in the low light of the room. If only Sarah was here, I don’t know a lick of Austrian.

“A pleasure, Dr. Loeb. He said he is excited to work with you in the future.”

Upon her reply, he immediately pulled a paper notepad and pen from his coat, somehow dexterously managing both in one hand, “Tell me frauline, where exactly is your creature? Has he properly manifested himself here?” He quickly looked around as if trying to follow a fly buzzing around him. His teacup chihuahua proceeded to do the same.

“Later doctor. I have a few more people to introduce my star player to.”

Breaking off from the man and his bug-eyed dog, Miranda leaned in close to Rebecca’s ear, “He’s a total crackpot, but it took almost nothing for him to do the job.”

“Are you only picking up people off the street who’ll help us out for a tuna sandwich or something?”

Taking a moment to collect herself, Miranda laughed it off, “Of course not, dear. Everyone here is the absolute best. You know me, I like to only bring along the best…”

Sneaking a peek at a glamorous woman in a long crimson robe, Miranda smirked, “And most fun.”

Hitting the side of the crystal glass with a fork a few times quieted the room. Standing up from the center of the long table, Miranda held her hands out to both sides, “Welcome, my honored guests! Welcome to a night of information, revelations, and a new unlikely alliance!”

The table politely clapped. This feels like one of my mom’s marketing parties.

“Our superiors simply are not selling medical equipment. We are working towards saving both worlds from The-”

Yeah, yeah. Saving both worlds from The World Game. I’ve heard it dozens of times already.

“I have invited you all here because each of you represents the best in either research or duelling capabilities to end this bloodbath with minimal casualties!” A few clapped in response.

“From across the world, I have called upon you all. From Duchess Nikolaevich, to a representative of President William Henry Harrison, from acclaimed influencer Joshua Roteschild, to a mysterious being simply called ‘Sigma’, I have brought together the best and brightest in an effort to broker peace not only across this world, but for the world of Ul’dana.”

A few of the partygoers looked amidst themselves to see who else they recognized. Next to the duchess clad in her sanguine robes, a bald man in a solid black suit sat silently. An asian woman with long spiky black hair sat crossed armed, seemingly disappointed by the gathering. Most notably however, was a wrinkly pink Sphinx wrapped in a silk black towel sitting in a chair on its own. Dr. Loeb and his own mutant creature purposefully sat on the opposite end of the table.

“While I am sure you all have your own motivations to continue in The World Game, I assure you, siding with me will grant you not only the protections you may or may not need, but the one currency we desire the most: information.

I can answer each and every one of your questions: Who selected me for such a cruel and unjust war? Is there really another world out there? What is my reward if I were to see this fight to the end?”

A few members around the room seem to look among themselves, positing these questions for the first time if they have never asked them as of yet. “As an offering of good faith and gratitude for taking time out of your busy schedules and joining us tonight, I will provide the definitive answer to the last question.”

The room appeared to be enraptured.

“For being the last surviving ACE wielder, the prize is actually quite simple: it is one singular wish for both you and another for your creature.”

Eyes widened and either scanned the room in anticipation or suspicion.

“Your questions are heard without a word, dear friends. Yes, a wish. Technically two. No, the wish has no limit. You could raise the dead, control a nation, see the ends of this universe. Frankly, most of these could be done to an extent with a sufficient ACE, but not enough to reach the ends of your imagination, I’m sure.”

The murmurs grew louder as she stood at the table. Her eyes glowed, not with her power, but her influence.

“And how do we know you are telling the truth?”

“Or that you won’t stab us in the back?”

The last one sounded like it came from the direction of the cat.

“I assure you all,” She snapped back to her solemn self, “That my only wish is to see this World Game ended. As long as that is accomplished, I do not care who claims the prize. Work with me to end The Game itself, and I will offer you the best opportunity to reach your goals as well.”

A hand shot up from someone Rebecca could not see too well.

“I already know what you’re going to ask, and no. You can’t wish for more wishes. I asked that myself.”

Straightening herself up, she puffed up her chest and began her closing remarks, “You all are the most powerful, most knowledgeable, and most driven ACE wielders on the planet. There is none that can surpass you outside of this room. Wouldn’t it be more prudent to have at least one ally here, possibly as strong as you, who can watch your back? You could learn the weaknesses of your rivals here, though I am not above asking for you to reduce the infighting here, and take that knowledge to the final stages of The Game.

You all have your reasons to continue fighting in The Game, all I ask is to join me in focusing our immense power towards ending this unprompted war itself. Thank you again for your time.”

The room clapped, those who already swore allegiance to her rose to their feet. Something tells me I’ll be seeing these guys a lot more often…

As the guests finished their meals and more freely chatted amongst themselves, Rebecca found herself in a group with the woman of the hour.

“I think I got my point across. A good number already expressed interest in our little allegiance.”

The tall woman hovered along the side of Miranda, eyeballing most people in the room warily, “Ya did real good. Real real good.” Her voice was more gruff than expected, but the host already seemed used to such a disposition, “Me thinks you’ve got ‘em in the palm of your ‘and.”

“I sure hope so. It’s a shame I couldn’t get everyone I wanted here, but this certainly will do.”

Rebecca stepped up, “What do you mean? You said you had all the greats here under this roof.”

“Wielder, don’t-”

“Come on Weatherford, you know that’s just pillow talk.” Miranda looked around the room and smiled alongside those with her, “While this is the strongest concentration of ACE holders in the world right now, we are missing a few key players I’d still like to get a hold of. Plus, there’s no guarantee everyone here still wants to play nice. I just wanted to put the offer out there.”

“Well, who are we missing? Just looking around, what few creatures we have access to could level a small country.”

The few otherworldly beings hovering around the room were largely humanoid: A feathered man sat in the corner dressed in red with a hood, ready to pull out a dagger at a moment’s notice, a pale man growing shelf fungi from his face hiding a somber yet wise expression, a strange series of shapes that hovered around seemingly looking at various items, and, of course, Miranda’s simp puddle. A few others could be felt, but they either had not fully manifested, or had some form of advanced observational power.

Miranda wrapped her arm around Rebecca’s neck, bringing her down a little, “My sweet little Becky, I know you’ve been out doing some dirty work for me lately, so you know a good opponent when you see one, but there are people with access to even wilder powers than we could ever imagine.”

“Even wilder than straight up mind control?”

“I’d honestly say that my capabilities are just mid-tier at best. In fact, there are two people in this room who could do exactly as you say, demolish a small country. But that wouldn’t end the war. Destructive might is one thing, but it is just a simple tool for getting to the heart of the situation.

I’m sure you of all people know, but if a wielder dies, the ACE lives on. ACE creatures only need a host, a holder. You have to actually defeat them in a duel to remove the despicable being off of this Earth. Your Spirit of Rebirth easily just hopped over from his old wielder, didn’t he? Sure, he wasn’t manifested like he is now, but that just shows the capriciousness of these entities. Completely detestable and one-sided, this arrangement is... ”

Miranda looked around the room, proud of gathering them in a singular location, “What was I talking about? Oh yeah, power. Some of these ACEs can manifest into powerful, powerful beings. I even met one that granted it’s owner any wish she wanted. Completely unfair! Someone else already got a wish, probably not as good as the prize, but still. Surprisingly, it didn’t go to waste at all.”

The tall woman spoke up once again, “And dat’s who you wanted me to ‘ave a look at, yeah?”

“Right on.” Miranda let go of her cohort and stood brazenly before the cockney lady, “I need you to make sure she’s fulfilling her end of the bargain. Have a little fun yourself, if you have to.”

She turned back to Rebecca, “But if I could have anyone here though, it would be a certain gentleman roaming the streets.”

“Like a homeless guy?”

Miranda laughed loud enough to fill the room, “And I’d hire him on with a tuna sandwich too. Nah, the famous ‘Masked vigilante’ everyone’s talking about. Dude’s an ACE wielder, but a total enigma outside of that.” She bit her lip a little, “Kinda got me curious, y’know?”

“I can take him.” Rebecca still was not too sure what to think of her new friend, but something about the way she brought this guy up irked her.

“That’s what I like to hear, dear. You’re a damn good player. If you can somehow get a hold of him, just start by chatting him up. I would hate to lose either of you.”

Raising itself out of the puddle a little, a figure emerged next to Miranda, “My partner, you’re a little too loose in the tongue, if I might say.”

“Shut the hell up, Hermes!”

Miranda did say that morning that she was quite nervous for the dinner. It was surprising she managed to get her speech out. Maybe she let loose after her recruiting call?

“Hey. Did I ever tell you I got started on modelling because of your dad?”

“Holy shit, this is the longest day ever!” Sarah hit her head on the table once again as darkness overtook the skies.

Mikey sat with his sister slumped onto his shoulder, “Bruh. Ask me how I know this is the first tournament Mr. Montgomery ever ran. No, for real. Ask me.”

Even the interdimensional aliens appeared tired with Carbuncle wrapped in a tight little bun on Sarah’s lap, far too gone to feel the vibrations reach down to him. Ortelanus, however, arranged three chairs to support her weight and unabashedly laid herself out, not caring about who or what saw her.

“It’s- It’s not so bad…” Jesse chirped, “I used to be in construction and someone kept breaking into some office building every weekend. I was the guy they sent in to fix the glass by myself on a Sunday…”

Sarah lifted her face, her forehead turning cherry colored, “You? In construction?”

The girl was a walking trip hazard. In just her few hours of knowing her, Jesse had fallen 8 times on the floor, three of which were on her face.

“I…” Jesse immediately turned beat red, “It was just a part time job! I also worked at a breakfast cafe at the same time!”

Suddenly, it all came back.

As she sat extorting Freakazoid for all he was worth, a waitress was there who also had a terrible sense of balance. Now that she had a better look, it was in fact Jesse dressed in a Biergarten outfit.

“Wait… That was you? You spilled coffee on me!” Sarah shouted.

“I’m so sorry!” Tears began to well in her eyes, “I didn’t mean to! I just, I just started the job and it was shortly after Orty manifested with me, so things were awkward, and I-”

“Yo Weatherford.” Isaac walked up to the table, hands in his pockets, “It’s about time for our round. You ready to lose again?”

Sarah grinned, “Listen here, fuckface. I’ve gotten a whole lot better than the last time you played against me. This time, you’re not the best in the room.”