I've moved on. I no longer play for levels, but for novelty and experience. I find much more enjoyment in the conversations I have with fellow players. Watching a yellow bar fill and empty, hundreds of times over, becomes meaningless and hollow. At what point does it no longer matter? A level is just a number, and in the end, just a badge. Sure, we can parade around, flexing four digits and the newest, strongest, most coveted gear, but that’s not what makes a player. We come back time and time again, not because we enjoy mashing our spacebars into our keyboards (or letting a pet run rampant, to each their own, I suppose), but because of the players behind the screen, the individuals who are so much more than just stiff-limbed avatars with three facial expressions.
For that reason, I understand why I do not belong in the most venerated guild in the game. I have no levels, no stats, nothing of value to contribute to a well-oiled machine that climbs the rankings with unyielding zeal. I’ve wasted a slot in this elite 40 for too long. It is no place for a crumbling veteran like me, and with college soon on the horizon, I may be gone for good.
I thank you, Emperor, for giving me the opportunity to fight, grind, and laugh alongside the greatest players in the game.
Thanks for all the memories!
- c8
Long Live Emperor!