The group were led into a room inside the base, and when Archer[Quinn] set his eyes on a certain machine, he knew what the game would be instantly. He was quite familiar with it, and had played it a few times in the past as well.
"The game that we challenged them to, was Block, Block, " Jorge[Mantis] said, pointing at the machine.
Looking at the thing was bringing back bad memories for Wilson[Dennis]. He started rubbing his arms in certain places that felt a little sore, even though his injuries had happened a while ago and had long healed. It was more mentally damaging than physically.
Refusing to give up, he stubbornly tried playing the game multiple times and each time losing.
Block, Block. It was a game played using a Cylinder object that was as large and as thick as an adult male. The pole was split up into six different segments. On each segment, there were two poles that would stick outward.
There were multiple different levels of the game, and depending on what level, more segments would move at the same time, and the speed would vary. The player was to block each of these segments from hitting their body. The only parts of the body that were allowed to be hit by the incoming poles, were the area from the hands to the elbow, and the foot to the knees.
If the pole touched any other area, then the game would end. Hence the title of the game, a person was to block all the oncoming attacks.
The question was, how were the Parasites cheating on a game like this? The last time Archer[Quinn] had played this, was during the Inter base military event. At the time, a group of people cheated in the past as well, using their abilities to break the machine.
However, these weren't students. They were now playing the game with seasoned Travellers who had a keen eye, if someone was using an Skill[ability], then it would be quite obvious.
"We play the game as intended, no beast gear, no abilities are allowed to be used. So it all depends on natural talent." Jorge[Mantis] explained. "How could we even cheat on a game like this? I think at the end of the day, the Parasites just have many talented people that belong to our faction."
Smiling and standing forward, Lawson[Nat]e looked at the machine.
"Hey, Archer[Quinn], I know you wanted to play, but do you mind if I take this one?"
Lawson[Nat]e was a martial artist, and he loved things like this. He knew Archer[Quinn] was strong and had even shown impressive martial arts, but if it was a game of reflexes, he thought he would fare better.
"Go ahead, as long as it can solve this silly dispute, " Archer[Quinn] replied.
"Excellent, " Jorge[Mantis] siad. "So the deal is, if you win this game, then we will allow your people to back out from their previous deal. If we win, then you must provide us with the credits needed to purchase the items they wished at our set price."
The whole thing seemed petty, but Archer[Quinn] knew this wasn't just a single incident. Especially judging from Wilson[Dennis]. If they wanted to sort this out, they would have to figure out how they were cheating.
"And if we find that you are cheating?" Archer[Quinn] asked again.
"I'm afraid that's not on the table, because we aren't cheating.
Archer[Quinn] decided to leave that for now, and could perhaps use it against them for later.
The game started with Lawson[Nat]e going first, it started at level one, which was quite easy. It was probably something Lawson[Nat]e could have done with his eyes closed. Only the top segment of the machine moved for this one.
On the Parasites side, a small adult man named Pestile[Wevil] was playing. There was no surprise here as the game was easy for him. Archer[Quinn] was observing carefully, Lawson[Nat]e's blocks were confident and powerful, while Pestile[Wevil]'s seemed more quick and smooth.
Just with the first level alone, it was hard to tell who was more skilful, but both of them were doing well.
"I remember seeing you play this game before Archer[Quinn], " Mill[Sil] said.
"Oh?"
"It was at the inter base tournament, didn't a video go around of you?" He asked.
"Ah yeah, luckily I didn't get caught."
Rachael[Linda] was listening in on the two's conversation. She was wondering why a video of a person would have gone around of someone playing a game like this. Sure there were those who enjoyed the game so much they watched professionals play.
But it sounded like they were talking about when they were still students.
The two participants carried on through the levels of the block block game until they had reached level six.
"Is Lawson[Nat]e really doing all this with no abilities?" Wilson[Dennis] said with his mouth wide opened. "I guess i should get him to teach me sometime." Remembering that Wilson[Dennis], and only reached level four, sometimes even performing worse, getting knocked out at level three.
Archer[Quinn] preferred not participating, if he was going to catch anything the Parasites were doing, it would be from watching.
Level 6 onwards in the block block game was where it got really hard, it was starting to get to the point where professionals would be playing something like this. However, Lawson[Nat]e concentrating to the max, had managed to clear it, lifting his hand and leg up blocking the last two strikes.
When it was Pestile[Wevil]'s turn. The parasites were cheering him on and not a single one of them looked nervous, unlike Archer[Quinn]'s group. Then when it started, Archer[Quinn] noticed something almost immediately.
It wasn't anything suspicious to be called cheating, but it was Pestile[Wevil]'s movements that had suddenly changed. Up till this point, his movements had been flowing quite naturally, and now they seemed quite robotic. Still, he had managed to clear the level, which meant Lawson[Nat]e would have to go to level 7.
'I'm glad I took over instead of Archer[Quinn]; otherwise, it would have been embarrassing to have our faction leader lose to this little guy. I didn't think they would have someone so skilful.'
The game started, and again Lawson[Nat]e was doing well, that was until the last ten seconds had come. This was where the machine would ramp up, and unfortunately, he had lifted up his shoulder blocking the pole form hitting his head, but it was still declared a loss.
Still, there was a chance they could win. If Pestile[Wevil] was knocked out as well, but lasted for a shorter time then Lawson[Nat]e, he would be declared the winner.
The game started, and once again, Archer[Quinn] noticed that his movements had the same feeling as in the last round, robotic. Soon, the sound of the level being complete appeared.
"Now, did any one of you spot us cheating or using an Skill[ability]?" Jorge[Mantis] asked. "I didn't think so."
"I'm sorry, " Lawson[Nat]e said, looking disappointed. He really thought other than professionals he could have beaten anyone at a game like this.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault, " Archer[Quinn] said stepping forward. "You don't mind keeping the bet on, do you?"
"Sure, go right ahead, " Jorge[Mantis] said, so confident in winning.
"Archer[Quinn], you don't have to do this, " Lawson[Nat]e mumbled.
"Let's start from level seven, there's some things I have to do, " Archer[Quinn] said.
The machine was repositioned, and the level was set.
"Hey, you went to military schools the same time as Archer[Quinn] did, so were you at the inter base tournament?" Rachael[Linda] asked.
"Yeah, why?"
[Level 7 selected]
"Was there some type of video shared around about this game during that time?"
"Come to think of it, yeah, I remember it being shown to everyone everywhere. The person had done something that had never been seen before, even for professionals. It looked like rather than blocking the attacks from the machine, he was hitting it.
"It sounds simple, but if you hit a non-moving target, the machine also considers the game to be over, which meant he had to be hitting the machine so fast, as soon as it moved, that it looked like he was attacking it."
"Stop joking." Rachael[Linda] chuckled. "That would be impossible."
[Game begin]
"Impossible, " Mill[Sil] said. "Not for Archer[Quinn]."
As soon as the game started, Archer[Quinn] concentrated, using his ears to pick up the different segments moving, his eyes reacted as quickly as he could, snapping out his hands and legs lightning fast.
This continued on, for an entire minute. The whole time the Parasites were waiting for a game over screen, but it never appeared.
"Don't tell me?" Lawson[Nat]e said. "That guy was Archer[Quinn]?"
To be continued....
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