Wednesday 22 April 1999 ZAGE Base London 20th floor the big townhall.
Zaboru now stood inside the large Townhall on the 20th floor of ZAGE Base London, preparing to address the assembled members of Team OMNI.
Team OMNI, a freshly formed core division of ZAGE Europe, currently consists of around 140 members—including developers, quality assurance testers, designers, composers, department managers, and division leads. That number was expected to grow steadily throughout the year as more talent was brought in. Despite its recent formation, the team had already earned a strong internal reputation thanks to its capable leadership.
At the helm were three individuals with diverse and complementary backgrounds: Rebecca Wood, Oliver Heskey, and Tim Scholes. Rebecca, the main team lead and an experienced producer, had previously led a middle size game studio called Rebels Beauty. Though the company only released two titles across five years, Rebecca was widely respected for her creative leadership and hands-on development skills. Unfortunately, she had a falling out with the company's shareholders after refusing to compromise on creative integrity—ultimately leading to her dismissal. That incident only solidified her reputation as someone who prioritized the craft of game-making above profit-driven interference.
Tim Scholes brought a different kind of experience. He had been a senior team lead at Sonaya's U.S. branch, working on several prominent projects. His calm demeanor, technical depth, and familiarity with big games pipelines made him a valuable asset—especially in shaping the early structure of Team OMNI.
Oliver Heskey, the third pillar of leadership, was the wildcard of the group. While he didn't come from a game development background, he had been a lead software engineer at Apple, known for his innovative thinking and clean system architecture. What made him unique was his passion—he was a self-proclaimed ZAGE superfan, known to obsessively follow the company's history, game catalog, and internal design philosophies. When ZAGE conducted an internal trivia test during recruitment, Oliver aced every question without hesitation, much to everyone's amazement.
With this trio at the helm, Team OMNI had a rare balance of vision, experience, and passion. It was clear to everyone—ZAGE Europe was in very capable hands.
So Zaboru began to speak, standing confidently before the gathered developers and staff. "Hello everyone! How's your first week working here at ZAGE Base?" he asked, projecting warmth and energy. The room responded with a cheerful chorus of "Good!" and light laughter, which made Zaboru chuckle. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. As you can see, this office—what we proudly call the ZAGE Base—has just officially opened its doors a few days ago. It's brand new, filled with possibility, and the true heart of this place? That would be you—Team OMNI."
He paused for a moment, letting his words settle, and continued with a confident smile. "I have big plans for Team OMNI. While your primary focus will be developing the next generation of ZAGE's sports games, your responsibilities won't end there. This team will be tasked with a variety of projects—new titles, experimental concepts, genre hybrids—you name it. So don't worry, you won't be locked into just one kind of work. I want you to grow, to create, and to surprise even yourselves with what you can build."
The screen behind him shifted, displaying a graphic titled: ZAGE Stats Division – Exclusive to Europe.
"And as you might have noticed," Zaboru continued, "this London office houses a unique team that none of the other ZAGE branches—in Japan, Korea, or the U.S.—currently have. I'm talking about the Stats Team. So, what do they do? Well, think of them as our talent scouts. Right now, they're gathering live data from major football leagues, and eventually, we'll expand to other sports as well. Why? Because I have a dream—to create the most detailed, realistic, and engaging football manager simulation in the world."
He gestured toward a mockup of the sim's interface on the slide. "And to do that, we need accurate data. Not just for the star players, but for the youth prospects, the hidden gems, the rising stars in every league—from the Premier League , Serie A to the Bundesliga, from La Liga to lesser-known regional circuits. I want to know who the next big thing is before the world does."
Zaboru grinned. "This will be one of your major tasks going forward, especially once we have the raw data from the Stats Team. But for now, let them do their work. Our foundation is being built, brick by brick—and I'm proud that you're all here to be part of it."
Zaboru smiled and said, "But don't worry. I'm not just going to throw you into the fire and walk away. For the next month, I'll be working directly with you, guiding you step by step as you settle into your rhythm. Just like with every ZAGE team I've helped build, I'll personally give you your first three tasks—and I'll be right there beside you to make sure you're ready."
He paused, then leaned forward slightly with a grin. "So, are you up to the challenge?"
A loud, unified "YEAHH!" erupted from the crowd. The energy in the room spiked with excitement, a dream realized for many of them. After all, working at ZAGE had been a aspiration—and now they were not only part of the legendary company, but they would also be mentored by Zaboru himself, the man known across the industry as a game development visionary.
As the townhall wrapped up and the team slowly began to disperse, Zaboru took a quiet breath and headed to the elevator. His destination: the 26th floor. There, he had arranged a private meeting with the three leaders of Team OMNI—Rebecca, Oliver, and Tim. It was time to align visions, share early insights, and lay down the strategic foundation that would guide the team forward.
He wasn't just building another division—he was nurturing what he hoped would become one of the most creatively dynamic teams in ZAGE's entire global network.
Zaboru relaxed as the 26th floor had already been transformed into his personal room, a space that radiated both authority and creativity. The three of them—Rebecca, Tim, and Oliver—sat across from him at the low, traditional-style Renkonan table, soaking in the atmosphere. And almost immediately, they realized something profound: Zaboru's aura was no joke.
The stories were true. There was something powerful, almost magnetic about being in the same room with him. It wasn't just respect—it was admiration, mixed with the quiet intensity of his presence. It made the air feel heavier, like the pressure before a thunderstorm, filled with anticipation and energy.
The three leaders, though accomplished in their own right, found themselves slightly starstruck. Each of them had loved immersed in games, inspired by the titles Zaboru had touched, and now they were here—working directly with him. To them, Zaboru wasn't just a boss. He was a living legend despite Zaboru himself are younger than them. People in the industry called him the "God of Video Games," a title that Zaboru himself never embraced, but one that had stuck with fans and developers alike.
Despite his distaste for the grandiose nickname, to them, it felt fitting. And now, sitting across from him in person, it felt even more real. They weren't just meeting a figurehead. They were about to learn from someone who had reshaped the very art form they loved.
"So welcome, everyone," Zaboru began, his voice calm yet curious. "I invited the three of you here because each of you has a rather unique background, and I'm genuinely interested in getting to know your stories better. Let's start with you, Tim. You were one of the senior leads at Sonaya, right? Did you ever work with Junpei Hoshida?"
Zaboru smiled as he leaned forward with interest. Tim nodded with a modest grin. "Technically, I did, Boss. But Junpei rarely visited the U.S. branch in person. Even so, I was under his division during my time at Sonaya, and I contributed to a couple of projects that passed through his oversight."
Zaboru said, "Junpei Hoshida is a man of immense talent, and I hold a deep respect for him. Without Junpei, I genuinely believe Sonaya wouldn't be where they are today. Even though they've always been trailing behind ZAGE, when you look at the broader industry, Sonaya is actually ahead of most other game companies in several key areas. They're resilient, tenacious, and never give up. That kind of spirit—that refusal to back down even in the face of overwhelming odds—is something I truly admire."
He paused, his voice softening slightly but carrying more weight. "And I'm incredibly glad that Hikaru Kurata, as Sonaya's CEO and a major shareholder, gives Junpei his full backing. That kind of trust from the top is rare, and it speaks volumes. So Tim, with all of that in mind, I'm expecting great things from you too—not just because of your background, but because I know you've been shaped by the same culture that forged leaders like Junpei."
Tim grinned with renewed energy. "Don't worry, Boss! I'll try my best to live up to that. And you're right—Junpei's also a big fan of yours. Seriously, everyone at Sonaya knows it. He used to reference ZAGE projects in team meetings all the time. You've inspired more people there than you probably realize."
Zaboru chuckled and nodded in understanding, then turned to Rebecca. "Rebecca, you were the former department leader at Rebel Beauty, correct? That studio made games like 'Lady Death' and 'Elegentor.' I remember those titles—they were solid. 'Lady Death' launched on ZEPS 2, and 'Elegentor' came out for ZEPS 3 and the Sonaya Game Station. But tell me—why were you fired?"
Rebecca exhaled slowly, her expression serious. "Yes, Boss. They fired me because I refused to follow the shareholders' creative directives. A group of them thought they knew better than the developers and started pushing unrealistic demands onto the project. I stood my ground and rejected their proposals… and well, that was enough for them to call me 'incompetent' and let me go."
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised slightly. "Interesting... What exactly was the idea you refused to implement?"
Rebecca's voice grew firmer. "At the time, we were in early development of our third game, right after 'Elegentor.' And then, ZAGE's 'Final Fantasy VII' dropped—it blew up. It redefined what RPGs could be. It swept awards, shattered sales records, and became the gold standard overnight. That's when the shareholders got greedy. They insisted we create a game to rival 'Final Fantasy VII.' But we didn't have the resources, the manpower, or the technical foundation to pull that off. I told them it wasn't realistic and would only lead to disaster. They didn't like hearing that and decided I wasn't fit to lead anymore."
Zaboru chuckled softly, nodding with understanding. "Hahaha, I see. You were absolutely right. Creating a game on the scale of 'Final Fantasy VII' isn't something you can just will into existence. Even at ZAGE, it took every ounce of our collective strength to bring it to life. It's never easy—not even for us."
Zaboru then turned to Oliver Lewis, who already had sparkling eyes and an unstoppable grin that radiated sheer excitement. It was clear he was having trouble containing himself. Zaboru smirked knowingly. "Oliver, you were a former team leader at Apple, right? And I've heard you're the biggest ZAGE fanboy around."
He let out a small laugh, recalling the surprise test he had personally added to the recruitment process—a deep-dive trivia test meant to challenge even hardcore fans and long-time employees. Most candidates struggled to get half right. But Oliver? He nailed every single question flawlessly, answering with speed, confidence, and joy that impressed the entire review board.
Oliver leaned forward, eyes shining. "Zaboru! That's because I am ZAGE's biggest fan! And I'm your biggest fan too! C-could I… maybe get your autograph later? And maybe a photo with you?"
Zaboru chuckled warmly and gave a nod. "Of course. Just not now—we'll save the fan service for after the work's done."
He stood up slightly straighter, now addressing the trio with a steady, focused tone. "Team OMNI is now in your hands. For the next few months, I'll be here—mentoring you, guiding the early stages, and helping you navigate everything that comes with building a new division from scratch. I won't leave you without support."
He began pacing slowly, his voice firm but calm. "That said, I have offices in Japan, the U.S., Korea—and now here in London. I can't stay full-time. Eventually, I'll only be able to spend five to seven days a month here. But even if I'm not physically present, I want you to remember something."
He turned to face them fully, expression serious now. "Team OMNI isn't just another division. This is the European pillar of ZAGE's next evolution. You're going to set the tone for a new generation of games, systems, and creativity. The decisions you make here will ripple across the company. So I'm trusting you—not just because of your resumes, but because of your passion, your integrity, and your potential."
He looked at each of them one by one. "This team matters to me. It matters to ZAGE. Do you understand?"
Everyone nodded in unison, a shared understanding passing between them, and with a satisfied look, Zaboru dismissed the trio. Once they left the room, silence returned. Zaboru leaned back into his seat, finally alone in his office high above London. The warm hum of the city below and the quiet whir of the air conditioner were the only sounds accompanying him now.
Tomorrow would mark the beginning of his hands-on mentorship with Team OMNI. A new frontier. A new challenge. But in this moment of solitude, something else stirred inside him—an uncanny sensation he had come to recognize.
"It's really happening again…" he muttered, gazing at his open palm with a soft, almost incredulous smile.
"I can't believe I've gained another ability."
Just yesterday, the moment he stepped foot into Team OMNI's space, he had felt it. A subtle but unmistakable shift—like a new circuit connecting deep within his soul. It was always like this when a new reincarnated ability awakened, and the ability name is...
To be continue
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