Level 6

North couldn't stop staring.

It wasn't like Blaise Fury was his role model or anything, he just never thought he'd meet someone who's game play skill he respected in real life. But guess anything could happen at a convention huh? His mind was a bit blown, maybe he'd get an autograph for the sake of it. He pulled out his notebook, and he couldn't help but notice how good looking the Pro was in real life.

He also noticed the bragging was still ever present. Not paying attention to how long he had been studying the Pro, he wasn't quick enough to avert his eyes when Blaise suddenly looked his way.

The Pro gamer raised a brow as if asking 'Why the hell are you staring?'

North pretended not to notice and instead decided to study the rest of the entourage which consisted of three beefy men, probably body guards, a few bronze tag followers and another Pro gamer who North recognized as Zack Zayne.

The names in the Gaming Industry these days.

Once again he got too carried away and unlike Blaise, Zayne was in no way subtle.

"Hey, face cap, what you stating at?" Zayne called with a sneer, the sickly green frosted tips of his fringe brushing over his eyes, "Never seen stars walking before or something?" Sniggers from the entourage followed his statement.

North refused to be put down so easily, the only people who scared him were his father, and girls. "Just thought you looked pretty fake so I decided to make sure."

The sniggering stopped.

Migos facepalmed and Beth rolled her eyes, already knowing something like this was bound to happen sometime.

Zayne approached him, Blaise following a few paces behind with an amused look on his face.

North didn't step back even with Migos tugging at his sleeve with soft calls of, "Come on buddy, you've done enough, let's go."

The red-head wrenched his arm free and turned back to the two pros to see Blaise rest a calming hand on his comrade's shoulder before stepping forward himself.

Blaise raised his tag, just like those that belong to Noobies or Pros in the tournament, it had his name and picture, "Real enough for you, Noobie?"

"You're already in huh?"

"I've been pushing into top tens throughout the year, I think it's only fair. What did you expect?"

"More of a challenge." North shrugged, he really wanted to play against a Pro now that two were actually standing right there before him. Might as well see what he would soon go up against.

Gasps rang through the group and North was pretty sure he heard Migos faceplam again.

"I just have to look at your tag to know you're a no one, Red." Blaise said coolly, looking, like he was slowly getting irritated, "Do you really think you have something to prove against me, kid?"

Kid? How dare he? North was pretty sure they were around the same age group, The dark haired Pro was just taller. He clenched his fist, now he really did have something to prove. He pointed to the game he had been about to ask his priest to play. "Let's find out then Mr Bigshot Pro gamer."

"He ain't worth time, Blaise." Zayne said dismissively. No one in their right mind would outright challenge a Pro that way.

Blaise smirked, "That's exactly what I'm going to prove to him." He was already paying the booth attendant. North put down his own cash without taking his eyes of the other.

They both sat down on the cylindrical seats and took the controllers handed to them, we'll aware that some people's phones were already put of their bags and pockets. Bethany walked up to North as they began picking avatars.

"Don't screw this up, you beat this guy, you get us reps." She whispered before pulling back to yell, "Good luck!"

"Tell your girlfriend thanks cause you'll need it." Blaise chuckled.

"Then I'll give it to you when I beat you."

"Mouthy one aren't you?"

North snarled and settled on a female sorceress fighter who's stats were more his speed.

"All weapons and skills are unlocked." The attendant informed.

"I'm done, you ready to have your ass handed to you, No-one?"

North gave a curt nod, already set to enter the zone. They started the game and after the countdown, they lunged at each other.

The screen lit up with combos, stamina increases, blasts and so much more. The sound of Blaise's fans cheering could probably be heard from far away and some people were already narrating into the phones.

North didn't take his eyes of his screen, actually afraid he'd get distracted and leave Blaise and opening but while Blaise's avatar was sturdy, his was quick and agile, with long range attacks that worked best especially since Blaise decided to teleport all over the place.

Blaise frowned, barring his teeth, he had decided to go easy but this match was going on a bit too long, he upped the pace a bit, "Not bad, No-one."

"Shut up."

"What? Breaking a sweat already? Your luck's about to run out though."

North pulled out a near fatal combo which set Blaise back a bit. More gasps and shouts erupted around them. "Luck's got nothing to with it, now shut up and show me what you're really made of, Fury."

Blaise scowled but he had to admit, a very small part of him was impressed beyond words. No normal person would ask him to push harder when he was clearly leagues ahead. It pissed him off so bad. He unleashed his own barrage of attacks which ended North in under a minute.

He stood up and dropped the controller before turning to the red-head beside him who was still seated and staring at the screen with a look of deep contemplation. "You asked for it, No-one, and I gave it to you. Hope it helped you realize how far beneath me you are?"

North looked up, brown eyes looking as unconcerned as he could behave with people around. He wasn't going to look like a kicked puppy, not here and at least not now. "You're good, I admit."

Blaise's tone became even more condescending if that was even possible. "I don't need you to admit anything." He took a few steps closer since North had stood up now and was glaring at him. That was the look he wanted, anger, it bred competition and this guy could actually be a worthy opponent, "I hope to kick your ass again soon, that is, 'if' you pass the test phase."

"Let's go dude, we don't have to stand around and take this shit talk." Migos scowled taking North's arm and tugging himself a little to hard in the other direction.

North wasn't so ready because he was still engaged in glaring at Blaise. The force of Migos's pull sent him stumbling a bit. His cap fell off. He scrambled to pick it before hurriedly pulling it on.

He walked of, his friends either side of him and aware of the lingering feeling of Blaise's gaze. 'What a jerk.'

"The nerve of that guy." Migos exclaimed before trailing into cursing in Spanish.

North gave a small smile while staring at his tag with a mixture of emotions.

Bethany patted him on his back, "You did well, but with a little more practice you'll be dancing circles around that guy."

"I actually need a lot more practice. He was right, I was a bit lucky several times and he was going easy at first. It's kind of pointless to hope when I don't even have equipment to train with." North said shortly. He was never one to ramble but a part of him he had always refused to acknowledge during gaming had been shaken up. Hiss confidence had been boosted and drop at the same time, ic that was even possible.

"Leave that to me." She grinned, pulling out her phone.

"You're telling me you're ready to buy games and I console just so North can practice?" Migos asked in surprise as he snapped out of his Spanish muttering.

"Heck no! I'm not ready to waste that much money."

"Then how are we gonna do this?" North questioned.

"Just get ready to be picked up tomorrow, you are going to pass the Test Phase." She shook him by the shoulder, "You aren't losing, not on my watch."

He couldn't help but come out of his mood with that, "Thanks guys."

"Now that that's done, we have more to explore, so let's go!" Migos said before dragging North off to the first booth that caught his eye.

~Check point Reached!

~Flip Page to Enter Next Level!