Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991

Saturday, 2 September 1994

Zaboru leaned back in his chair, wearing a tank top and running pants — this was actually part of his daily routine before work; he always made time to train his body. He wasn't working right now; instead, he was relaxing and watching the news. Today and tomorrow were his last free days — the Diablo game was finished and ready, set to be presented to Microsoft on Monday, 4 September.

Right now, he just wanted to relax a bit. It was still 6:00 in the morning, and Zaboru had just completed his two hours of running and exercise, which barely made him sweat thanks to his body, enhanced by his "Enlightenment" abilities. He mostly did it for the peaceful scenery and to clear his mind. Now, Zaboru was sipping from a large glass of milk — not literally gallons, though he jokingly called it that — while flipping through the morning newspaper with a contented, relaxed smile on his face, enjoying the quiet moment and the rare pause from his busy schedule.

He read the daily news casually, then flipped to the sports section. He noticed that this year marked Michael Jordan's rookie season—he had just been drafted to the Bulls. Zaboru chuckled softly, amused. In his previous life, the same event had happened in 1984, so it was expected—this world's entertainment sector was about ten years behind. There were also a couple of news articles about boxing, mentioning a new rising star, "Mike Tyson." Zaboru couldn't help but chuckle in amusement.

He continued reading and, intrigued, found a section focusing on good movies released in 1994, which was this year. Zaboru chuckled as he looked at them; he knew plenty—most were from 1984 in his previous world: Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom, and The Karate Kid. But he couldn't help noticing two anomalies.

First, there was a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger holding a shotgun. In his previous world, anyone seeing this would immediately say Terminator, which it clearly was—but here, the title was Devastator. Zaboru couldn't help but laugh; the term "Terminator" had already been used by ZAGE in Contra 1, so James Cameron couldn't use it. "Well, well, I'm really curious about this. Hahaha! Let's watch it later," Zaboru said, shaking his head with amusement.

The other anomaly was Batman Returns, which was supposed to be released in 1992 in his previous life and, in this world (because it was about ten years behind), should have come out in 2002—but not here. Perhaps because ZAGE had bought and revived Marvel Comics, DC had become more aggressive, pushing for a Batman movie earlier, and somehow Michael Keaton was still the lead actor. "Well, this one's really interesting. I need to put it on the list," he said with a grin.

To his amusement, there was even a little video game section, including a full-text interview of him with Oprah, which made Zaboru smile. The game news itself was exciting. His eyes lit up when he saw it—it felt so '90s! For example, there was an interview with a guy who played Spawn and was genuinely delighted, along with many other funny and direct comments.

Zaboru continued reading, sipped his coffee, and then a certain news headline made his eyes widen, and he almost choked! The news said:

"Bruce Lee back from his training and ready to shoot a new movie."

Zaboru's eyes widened. "What? Bruce Lee...? That Bruce Lee? He's alive?" He looked at the man in the news picture — it was none other than Bruce Lee, one of the greatest martial artists, who had unfortunately died young in Zaboru's previous life. But here, he seemed still alive and kicking! Zaboru leaned in closer, reading every word of the article. His heart raced as he imagined what Bruce Lee had been up to these past years. Had he been training in secret temples? Perfecting new martial arts techniques? He chuckled at the thought of Bruce Lee meditating under a waterfall or punching through steel, preparing to amaze the world once more. "Unbelievable," Zaboru murmured,

He read the article. It turned out Bruce Lee had gone into "isolated training" for five years and had stopped attending celebrity events, focusing solely on refining his craft, mastering new techniques, and exploring philosophical ideas tied to martial arts. His reappearance now was not just a return to fame, but a moment of excitement for fans worldwide, signaling that he was ready to show a new level of skill and wisdom.

Zaboru laughed. "Hahaha, it's really interesting — this world is messed up compared to my previous life, but it's more interesting this way, ahaha." Grinning, he shook his head in amazement. He couldn't believe it! He could witness the prime of the "3 M's" — Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan, and Michael Jackson — and now he could even watch the legend Bruce Lee in action. The idea made his heart race with excitement, a rare kind of thrill. He imagined sitting ringside at a Tyson fight, watching Jordan slam dunk live, or seeing Bruce Lee unleash his iconic one-inch punch. The thought alone made him chuckle again, his eyes shining. He was clearly excited.

"If I have time, I need to visit Bruce Lee, hehehe," Zaboru thought, excitedly punching the air, imitating Bruce Lee with playful precision.He had always been a fan, drawn not only to Bruce's fighting skills but also to his philosophy and charisma, which had shaped generations of martial artists and fans alike.

After a while, Zaboru stopped and contemplated. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, eyes flicking to the window as the sunlight streamed in. "I wonder what I should do? Ryan and James can't accompany me because they are on holiday, hmm." A playful grin crept across his face. "Well, let's explore the local arcade." He felt a spark of excitement at the idea, eager to soak in the lively atmosphere and see how people were enjoying his games firsthand.

He dressed up in a hoodie and went to the local arcade near ZAGE HQ, called Sword and Neon Arcade, or SAN Arcade. The buzzing neon lights, clattering buttons, and triumphant cheers filled the air as players crowded around machines. There, he enjoyed watching players battling through a bunch of ZAGE arcade games, which made his heart swell with pride. He took in the colorful cabinets, the animated faces, and the excitement in the room, feeling deeply connected to the joy his creations brought.

Zaboru ordered a drink and some food from SAN Arcade, pulling his hoodie low — no mask, no sunglasses — while quietly observing the arcade's lively chaos. The buzz of laughter, button mashing, and victory shouts filled the room. He sipped his drink calmly, blending in with the crowd, until two boys, who were queuing for Mortal Kombat, started whispering nearby.

"D... dude, is that who I think it is?" one whispered, eyes wide and voice shaking with excitement. "Who...?" his friend murmured, then turned to glance in Zaboru's direction. "N... no way, right?"

His friend's eyes widened even more. "There's no way I'm mistaking that face! That's the face I see every morning — I have his posters in my room!"

The first boy blurted out without thinking, "Is that Zaboru!?" His voice cracked slightly from the rush of excitement.

Other people in the arcade turned, looked at the boy, then at the slightly buff Japanese man casually eating chips and drinking soda under his hoodie — it was Zaboru himself.

Meanwhile, Zaboru just chuckled and sighed. It couldn't be helped. With a playful grin, he opened his hoodie, and the SAN Arcade roared with excitement.

"Oh my God! It's Zaboru himself!"

Many people approached him. "Zaboru, what are you doing here!?" "I'm your biggest fan!" "Thank you for your games!" "ZAGE games are awesome!" "Fight me in Tekken!" The air buzzed with excitement as fans crowded around, some holding autograph books, others pulling out their own cartridges or ZEPS POWER magazines for him to sign. Laughter and cheers echoed through the arcade, creating a lively, unforgettable scene.

Zaboru grinned and had fun with the players at SAN Arcade. No one could beat him, whether in Tekken, Mortal Kombat, or Street Fighter. He laughed alongside the players, occasionally offering tips, sharing playful banter, and even clapping when someone landed an impressive combo against him which he clearly allowed to. The owner of SAN Arcade was thrilled, proudly snapping a picture with his expensive portable camera — a snapshot capturing Zaboru grinning, surrounded by rows of players, immersed in the pure joy of gaming. The photo would hang on the arcade's wall for years to come, becoming not just a keepsake but part of Zaboru's growing legend, a memory treasured by everyone who had been there that day.

To be continued.

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