Chapter 1: The Beginning of an Escape
Feri Z., 54, sat alone in his small studio apartment in Dubai, staring out at the garden of the villa he had once called home. The house, now occupied by his ex-wife and their two children, felt like a distant memory. The lights from the villa flickered through the night, a constant reminder of the life that had been taken from him. Feri, a Swedish expatriate, had moved to Dubai years ago, building a life, a family, and a career. But now, all he had left was this cramped apartment, a few belongings, and a heart heavy with loss.
He missed his children terribly—his 11-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter—both of whom were now living with their mother, completely out of his reach. The legal battles had drained him, financially and emotionally, leaving him with nothing but a sense of despair. Stuck in Dubai for the sake of his kids, Feri struggled to find meaning in his lonely existence. That was until a push notification changed everything.
Chapter 2: The Last War
One evening, Feri's phone buzzed with a notification for a mobile game called 'The Last War.' It was a game about building military castles, training soldiers, and fighting off zombies. Intrigued by the premise, Feri decided to give it a try. He needed a distraction—anything to take his mind off the pain of his reality.
He chose the player name 'Bo0mer,' a nod to his age and his generation. Despite being a Gen X, the younger players in the game quickly labeled him as a 'boomer' due to his lack of gaming skills and unfamiliarity with their lingo. But Bo0mer didn’t mind; the game quickly became his escape. Over the next 89 days, he immersed himself in server 601, spending hours each day building his castle, forming alliances, and making new friends.
Chapter 3: The Alliance of C4C
In the game, Bo0mer joined an alliance named 'c4C,' where he found a sense of belonging that had eluded him in real life. The alliance members—Abeer, Sara, Mano, Grey, Seniorita, Kimaa, and Isalos—became his virtual family. Although they were all younger, they respected Bo0mer for his peaceful approach to conflicts. He often mediated disputes within the alliance, using his life experience and fatherly wisdom to guide his fellow players. For the first time in years, Feri felt needed.
As Bo0mer’s popularity grew, so did his dedication to the game. He spent money and countless hours reading strategy guides, determined to strengthen his castle and keep up with his peers. Yet, despite his efforts, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was always a step behind. The game, while a source of solace, also became a reminder of the limitations he faced in real life.
Chapter 4: The Connection with Asi123
Among the many players, one stood out to Bo0mer—'Asi123,' a powerful and aggressive player who had reached the maximum level in the game. Asi123 frequently attacked members of the c4C alliance, causing tension and frustration. But instead of retaliating, Bo0mer reached out to Asi123, hoping to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Over time, Bo0mer and Asi123 developed an unlikely friendship. They exchanged stories, bonded over their shared love for the game, and even discussed their real-life struggles. Bo0mer admired Asi123’s strength and strategic prowess, and for a while, their connection made him feel like he was part of something bigger than himself.
Chapter 5: The War with Gk1
Bo0mer had finally found a sense of belonging in the game, but that sense of peace was soon disrupted by a mistake that would lead to an unexpected conflict. One day, while Bo0mer was completing a routine task in the game, he accidentally attacked a truck belonging to the Gk1 alliance. In 'The Last War,' attacking trucks within the same server was a serious violation of the game's unwritten rules, especially when those trucks were part of an alliance's resources.
The Gk1 alliance was outraged, and they quickly rallied to seek revenge. They threatened to 'zero' Bo0mer's castle, a devastating act that would leave him vulnerable and strip away much of the progress he had made. For Bo0mer, this was not just a game—it was a lifeline, a place where he felt valued and protected. The prospect of losing everything he had built in the game was terrifying.
But to Bo0mer's surprise, his alliance, c4C, refused to let Gk1 take him down. Grey, Mano, and several other members of c4C immediately sprang into action. They began sending reinforcements to Bo0mer's castle, fortifying his defenses and standing guard against the impending attack from Gk1. The messages of support flooded in: 'We're with you, Bo0mer,' 'They won’t touch your castle,' and 'We’ll protect you.'
For Bo0mer, this show of solidarity was overwhelming. In real life, he had always felt isolated, abandoned by those he loved and betrayed by those he had trusted. But here, in this virtual world, he had found something different—he had found people who cared enough to fight for him. The emotional connection he felt with his alliance members deepened, as he realized that, despite the distance and the digital nature of their interactions, these were real bonds, forged in the heat of battle.
The war with Gk1 was fierce, but thanks to the unwavering support of c4C, Bo0mer's castle survived the onslaught. The experience left him with a profound sense of gratitude and a renewed belief in the power of community, even if it was one built in pixels and code. For the first time in a long while, Bo0mer felt that he mattered to someone, that he wasn’t just a forgotten soul drifting through life. He was part of something bigger, and that feeling was worth more than any castle or game victory.
Chapter 6: Joining BMB
As the days passed, Bo0mer's experience in "The Last War" grew increasingly complex. His dedication to the game and his attempts to connect with his younger peers often led to misunderstandings. Despite his efforts, Bo0mer's seniority and different life experiences sometimes clashed with the faster-paced, more aggressive style of the younger players. These differences became especially pronounced in his interactions with the president of c4C, the alliance that had become his second home.
One day, a routine chat escalated into a heated argument. Frustrations that had simmered for weeks finally boiled over, and in a moment of anger, the president of c4C made a drastic decision—Bo0mer was expelled from the alliance. The news hit him like a ton of bricks. After all the emotional investment he had poured into the game, he was suddenly left alone, his castle standing isolated and vulnerable.
In a state of despair, Bo0mer scrambled to find a new alliance, seeking refuge in several different groups, but none felt like home. Just as he was about to give up, he found himself welcomed by a new alliance, BMB—a young, lively group of mostly German-speaking players. Despite the language barrier and cultural differences, BMB accepted Bo0mer with open arms. They were kind, encouraging, and eager to include him in their ranks.
Yet, despite the warmth he found in BMB, Bo0mer couldn’t shake the feeling of displacement. Messages from his old c4C friends began to flood in, each one filled with regret and longing. "We miss you, Bo0mer," they wrote. "Come back to c4C." The emotional pull of these messages was strong, stirring a deep conflict within him. He felt torn between his loyalty to the new alliance that had given him a fresh start and his lingering attachment to the old friends who still cared for him.
As the days went by, the tension within Bo0mer grew. The situation echoed the painful experiences of his real life, where he had often found himself torn between places, unable to fully belong anywhere. He realized that BMB, for all its friendliness, couldn’t replace the bonds he had formed with c4C. Those connections had been forged through shared battles, mutual support, and a sense of camaraderie that transcended the game.
Finally, after much soul-searching, Bo0mer made the difficult decision to leave BMB and return to c4C. The moment he rejoined, he was met with an outpouring of love and relief from his old friends. The welcome was overwhelming, a stark contrast to the coldness he had felt in his real life. The bonds that had been tested by separation were now stronger than ever, and Bo0mer felt a renewed sense of belonging.
For Bo0mer, "The Last War" had evolved from a mere game into a vital emotional lifeline. It was a place where he found love, attention, and a sense of home, even if that home was virtual. The laughter, the shared jokes, and the emotional support from his fellow players provided a much-needed escape from the harsh realities of his life. In the game, Bo0mer was no longer the lonely man living in a small apartment—he was a valued member of a community, loved and needed by his friends.
Chapter 7: The Decision to Buy
One day, Asi123 announced in the game’s world chat that he was quitting. He had grown tired of the endless battles and wanted to move on. Asi123 offered to sell his account for $2,500—a steep price, but one that Bo0mer could afford if he stretched his already tight budget.
For Bo0mer, the opportunity was too good to pass up. Owning Asi123’s castle would make him one of the strongest players in the server, a position he had long coveted. More importantly, it would give him a sense of accomplishment and belonging that he desperately needed. Without hesitation, Bo0mer transferred the money to Asi123 and informed his alliance members of the exciting news. For a brief moment, he felt on top of the world.
Chapter 8: The Heartbreaking Loss
But Bo0mer’s joy was short-lived. The very next day, he discovered that the account had been hacked. The castle, the troops, the resources—everything was gone. A new player had taken over, leaving Bo0mer devastated. It wasn’t just the money or the game progress that he had lost; it was the escape he had found from his painful reality.
Bo0mer was heartbroken. He had invested so much time, effort, and hope into the game, only to have it all taken away in an instant. The loss of the castle felt like a cruel echo of his real-life struggles—the legal battles, the separation from his children, the loneliness that consumed him daily. The game had been his refuge, and now even that was gone.
Chapter 9: The Message of Peace
In the days that followed, Bo0mer couldn’t bring himself to log back into the game. The pain was too raw, the loss too great. But as he sat in his apartment, staring at the garden of the villa where his children lived, he realized something important. The game had been more than just a distraction; it had been a way for him to connect with others, to find a sense of purpose and belonging in a world that had otherwise shut him out.
Bo0mer wanted to send a message to the younger generation of players—a message of peace, love, and compassion. He wanted them to understand that behind every player was a real person, someone who might be fighting battles far more difficult than any virtual war. He wanted them to know that kindness, forgiveness, and humanity were more important than any victory in the game.
And so, Bo0mer wrote one last message in the world chat, a birthday greeting to his daughter, who was celebrating her birthday without him. As he watched the gathering from his balcony, tears filled his eyes. He couldn’t be there, couldn’t hold her, couldn’t wish her a happy birthday in person. But he could send his love, even if it was through a screen.
The Bo0mer of 'The Last War' had fought his final battle. And while he had lost, he hoped that his message would live on, reminding others to be soft, to be kind, and to be human.
Bo0mer's Final Message to the One Who Took His Castle:
To the player who took over my castle, I want you to know that I forgive you. Use it well and remember that this castle was more than just a game to me—it was my escape. I send love to every member of the 601 server, and I sincerely thank each of you for the time and the opportunity you gave me to find a place where I could belong, even if only for a while.
I have now deleted the game and quit once more. I am truly tired of being knocked down at every step of my life, and now even in this virtual world. I choose to leave in peace. I choose silence again.
Love,
Bo0mer
