Hopeless Battle

Ziro entered the arena with Alina and Sera. They were talking about something and making their way to Kevin and Kiana.

Kevin was signaling something to Ziro with his eyes, but Ziro didn't pay attention and approached them anyway.

Ziro stood beside Kevin and asked, "What were you doing?"

Kevin placed his hand on Ziro's shoulder and chuckled, "Rest in peace."

"What do you…"

Suddenly, someone placed their hand on Ziro's other shoulder.

'This grip… it has to be Nier.'

Nero hesitantly turned around and smiled at Nier: "Wassup?"

Nier gritted her teeth in anger and uttered, " Why didn't you come to watch my match?"

"I did watch, though," Nero answered.

Nier raised brows and asked with a puzzled look on her face: "I couldn't see you anywhere."

"It's a big arena, Nier. Maybe he was truly watching from somewhere," Kiana quipped.

"I was watching from the…" Ziro pointed his finger at the screen in the air and said, "from there."

"Why did I even bother to speak for him," Kiana muttered in disbelief.

Nier frowned her face and uttered in anger: "Even though I especially asked you to watch my match…"

"I don't know what to say in my defense," Ziro shrugged.

"Make some excuses!" Nier sighed and said, "At least, try to act like you are sorry."

"I honestly have no idea what was going on with me," Ziro replied and pointed his gaze at Sera and Alina: "Ask them."

Nier glanced at Sera and Alina and asked with a curious yet confused look on her face: "What happened?"

"Well… we were on our way here, but Ziro suddenly started glitching," Alina answered.

"Glitching?"

"His Avatar, to be precise. It was shape-shifting and became transparent," Sera explained.

"Why… would that happen?" Kiana wondered. "I have heard similar cases before, but that happens because of internet problems. And… who has internet problems nowadays?"

"Unless you live in a highly undeveloped area," Kevin commented.

"Yeah. Neither of you are true."

Sera turned to Nier and uttered, "Why are you making a big deal even if he missed your match? He literally missed my match in the second round."

It was different for Nier. Ziro and Nier had trained in martial arts together, and that formed a unique rivalry between them. Although Nier never managed to defeat Ziro, she practiced every day to win against Ziro.

However, she never got a chance to duel with Ziro. She wanted to show how powerful she has gotten over the past few years.

Nero had seen Nier fight in the other rounds, but they were like a kid's play for them. As the number of opponents decreased, she had to fight against strong opponents to prove her strength.

Nier clicked her tongue and said, "If that was the case, then I forgive you."

Ziro winked at Nier and said, "I will make this up to you."

Nier's face flushed a little, and she nodded with a smile on her face.

Ziro grinned and patted Nier on the head. Then, he pulled her cheeks and said, "Still, your match was amazing. I can't wait to fight you in the field."

[The Next Match Is Between Byldger And Charles!] The mascot announced.

Ziro was grinning happily, but as soon as he heard Byldger named being called, his grin vanished and replaced it with a furious look on his face.

Byldger entered the field, and Charles entered the ring from the opposite side.

[Three! Two! One! Go!]

Byldger stood in the center of the ring, and Charles circled Byldger as though he was looking for an opening to attack Byldger— even though Byldger was defenseless from all sides.

After circling a ring two times, Charles ran out of the ring.

"....!"

The arena was silent for a few seconds, as no one had any idea what just happened.

[And The Winner Of This Match Is… Byldger!]

"What in the fuck just happened?!" Kevin exclaimed.

"This couldn't be more obvious," Ziro remarked. "His opponent literally ran out the ring!"

Kiana glanced at Kevin from the corner of her eyes and uttered, "I guess you were right. Something is wrong, after all."

Sera folded her arms below her bosom and wondered, "But if his opponent simply wanted to run away… or should I say 'purposely disqualified', then why did he just surrender?"

[Total Time Taken By Byldger To Complete All The Three Rounds Of The Second Day is… 64 Seconds!] The mascot announced, and the fireworks went off.

[Pacil On The Second Spot With a Total Time Of 62 Seconds— In Two Rounds. And Ziro On The Third Spot with a total time of 63 seconds— in two rounds.]

"Isn't it obvious?" Nero turned around to glance at the party and said with an obvious look on his face: "If his opponent, Charles, had surrendered, then as per the rules, that shit would have gotten 20 seconds as default."

"I think I get it now," Kevin nodded and continued, "I don't know how Byldger managed to convince his opponents to retreat or back off or… surrender. But I think Byldger was aiming for the promotion to get to the finals by taking the least time in three rounds."

"But is that even allowed?" Nier asked. "Isn't that cheating?"

"This game is shit!" Ziro commented.

"No." Kevin shook his head and replied, "The game or the developers can't actually do anything as Byldger's opponents left on their own."

"Now it's impossible for Ziro or that player— Pacil to get promoted to the finals," Sera muttered.

"It's not just impossible; it's hopeless," Kevin remarked. "Pacil's score of two rounds is 62, so he would need to finish his match in one second to win."

Kevin then turned to Ziro and asserted, "Ziro's score of two rounds is 63— which is the score he needs to surpass Byldger and get promoted to the finals. As I said, it's hopeless."

"That's not fair!" Nier uttered. "Byldger cheated to get that score. And now it's impossible to surpass him? Talk about injustice; just like what happens in the real world— every day."

Kevin sighed in frustration and shook his head at Kiana. However, Kiana's gaze was fixated on Alina, who wasn't commenting on the current matter.

"Alina," Kiana called out to Alina and uttered, "Are you not going to say anything?"

"Well…" Alina looked at Ziro and shrugged her shoulders, saying, "I don't know what to say. But what I know is; Nothing is impossible for Ziro."

"Who is your next opponent Ziro?" Kevin asked with a curious look on his face, hoping he would ease up the mood.

Ziro opened his menu and uttered, "It's your favorite— Pacil."