Chapter 6: Jan-Ken-Boom

I awoke inside the train the rising sun still at the horizon, the trip wasn't too long thankfully and unlike yesterday I wasn't dreading a race, another problem caught my eye however... Or rather gone from it; Her0 was nowhere to be found. I called out to them, concerned for their wellbeing, it was then I heard a commotion in the train segment behind us.

"JAN-KEN-BOOM" the two screamed as they played Rock-Paper-Scissors surrounded by a crowd of people cheering on as the two players tied and tied per round; The two seemed to be in a jagged state while playing and are breathing very heavily. I entered the train segment behind us to ask about the current event happening, almost forgetting that the train was still moving until I actually stepped outside and realized something; Time had stopped

"What the heck?!" I yelled to the sky in confusion and wondering how time had suddenly stopped. It was then that I heard someone calling out to me with a faint "pssst" from within the crowd. "Marla!!!" A familiar voice called out,it was Her0 thankfully. "There you are! what happened here?" I asked of them in a concerned tone.

Her0 explained the issue as such:

A group calling themselves the "RPSShooters" had infiltrated the train at sunrise and have stopped time for those of us in the train through the use of the "Dimension-4" skill which let them choose a space in the game to control and alongside the "Stopwatch" Item, they completely stopped time for the chosen location. Fortunately they couldn't stop the players from moving, just the time of the place. The passengers who where awake at the time demanded for them to let time flow again but the gang only accepted on one condition; Two passengers had to beat their group in their minigame of "Jan-Ken-Boom" and if they don't by the time the passengers had all had their turn, they'll kill us all right then and there and take all of our items as we are respawning at the spot. Death wasn't the problem but too many players have too many important items at hand which they will drop after death and thus the passengers of the train are fighting the gang for their freedom and safety of their items.

"Seriously? Well has anyone won up until now?" I asked, Her0 seemed reluctant to answer before answering "Well it's not that easy to play because-" *!BOOM!* An explosion interrupted Her0 as they were explaining "That!" Hero continued

One of the two players from before had been thrown back because of an explosion caused by the game. There was a man at the back with big, bulging, muscles wearing a ripped shirt paired with tall black boots and Dark blue Jeans who laughed heartily before commanding his men to pile the loser with the other with a voice I can only describe as something like a dude-bro kind of guy at the gym; I hated the guy for just how horrid his fashion sense is. "Well people?! Who's up neeextt???" He said, taunting the players who were still valid to play but no one wanted to step up; I'm more surprised that Her0 wasn't more excited to beat their asses, I expected them to usually be more eager to do so.

"Seems no one wants to step up! I guess we'll have to kill you guys now!" Said the man until Her0 stepped forward "Hey that wasn't the deal!"

"Don't care, no one wants to play anymore kid... Unless you have the balls to step up"

"Don't make me laugh! I'm just waiting for my friend to give me the signal to play!" Her0 yelled proudly

Confused, I said loudly "Wait wha~t?" Well that answers the question as to why Her0 hasn't played yet. Her0 pulled me forward and proudly asked "Marla! Can we beat their asses?"

"Yeah sure why not? Why did you even wait for me" I mean I still had my stamina potions from the race which replenish a bit of health upon use so I'd probably be fine... right?

The man seemingly annoyed at my tone yelled " "oHhh sUurRe whY nO~ttt" You making fun of my game little girl?! Seems you're more.. Inconvenienced huh? Confident that you will win? Well newsflash. I, Jargon, will crush youu girlie!" He said in a voice so loud and so close to our faces that his spit is practically splashing all over our face; I maybe shouldn't have agreed to this.

•

We took our stances with Her0 going first against the opponents first. Jargon told them both to introduce themselves to begin the game.

In a soft and soothing tone Her0's opponent introduced herself "You may call me Leif, I am the right hand to Mr. Jargon and I have never lost a single match in Jan-Ken-Boom" and seemingly confident in herself she continued "Oh and by the way, don't try to think too hard because I have the Mind-read skill"

Her0 replied to her with a simple sentence "Okay then, my name is Her-0 and I will beat you." They said plainly which seemed to make their opponent chuckle.

The rules were then stated by Jargon:

1. The match will continue until one player wins 5 times.

2. When a player loses, they will be hit by an explosion dealing damage to their stamina

3. All forms of items are forbidden.

4. Skills are permitted but limited to only one skill.

5. When the 5 second timer runs out, both players must throw out an attack and once a player throws out either Rock, Paper, or Scissors they may not change their decision.

Witht the rules set, the first match began

•

Hero and Leif took a stance, readying themselves as the timer ticked down. Both players looked into each other's eyes with a confident and relaxed look on Leif and a cold and an excited but focused look on Her0

*BEEEPP!!* The timer buzzed and both players went yelled "JAN-KEN-BOOM!"

Her0 threw out Rock, unfortunately she threw out paper and BOOM the explosion penalty blasted Her0 across the room.

They continued the match with Her0 only throwing out Rock and losing 3 times after their first loss. The ir match reached he point to which Leif's ego increased. "What's wrong kid? Ain't gonna attack me?" Other players and passengers were booing Her0 at this point and Very loudly too. Her0 stood up once again and assumed the game's proper stance, but looking downwards to cover their face with their big scruffy white hair.

"JAN-KEN-BOOM!"... Leif had thrown out paper once again, confident that Her0'd throw another rock; But to her surprise Her0 had thrown out scissors. BOOM Leif had been thrown back by a strong explosion. She wiped the blood off of her face and stood up again. The next round she threw a Rock but Her0 threw out Paper BOOM she had visibly become pissed more and more as she lost another round to Her0.

Finally, during their last round she had had enough and decided to use her skill "Mind Read" which she used to peer into Her0's mind.

"What the hell!" She yelled getting thrown aback "You!!! Your thoughts, I can't read them!"

"Hehehe did you think I was thinking during this fight!" Her0 retaliated and continued "I SAID I'LL BEAT YOU DIDN'T I!!!"

"Whatever, there's a 1/3 chances that you lose this game anyways, so get ready to eat your words you freak!"

They both assumed the stances soon after. Leif's expression looked puzzled, like she was thinking very hard on what Her0's hand would be. I couldn't say for sure what they're both thinking but it was sort of clear to me that Her0 wasn't.

"JAN-KEN-BOOM!"...

Leif threw out Scissors, definitely overthinking the situation, meanwhile the more stable minded Her0 threw out their hand...

Rock...

Her0 pulled back their fist and before the explosion could attack Leif, Her0 had leapt forward and in the blink of an eye punched Leif across her jaw, causing her to be thrown back harder than she would have ever been with the explosion. Leif looked up at Her0 to hear them yell one thing "Arrogant people like you... PISS ME OFF THE MOST!"

•

Her0 walked back towards my direction with a happy and proud expression on their face "Did you see that Marla!!?!? I won I won I won!! HAHAHA" They yelled as they danced and danced in celebration.

"Not bad kid! You knocked my 2nd hand woman out of commission, can your friend do the same to me? Come on baby guurrll~ Let's Dance!"

Me and Jargon stepped to the middle section and introduced ourselves, although it seems like a moot action at this point. "I am Jargon, Leader of this gang and the one that's going to kick your ass! Whooo" The other member yelled at the same time as him and chanted Jargon over and over until he shut them up. "I am Marla... And I am in a hurry." Whatever it is that I sadi, it seemed to piss him off somehow so instead of arguing about it, we each took a stance and thus our game began.

"JAN-KEN-BOOM" I threw out Paper and he threw out rock, he lost the first round and thus an explosion was on its way which helped me relax and I closed my eyes a bit but before the explosion, suddenly when I opened my eyes all I could see was Jargon's massive fist heading my way. BAM Mercilessly Jargon had punched me to across the room. I hit the wall which rattled my brain a bit and I coughed up a bit of blood. From right beside his left arm the explosion went BOOM which didn't make him flinch in the slightest "Get up girlie, we have a match to settle" I could only look at him from across the room awe; I mean why did I think that he wouldn't fight dirty, not necessarily cheat but beat me in other ways regardless.

We went on to the second round in which I threw out Scissors and with a wide grin across his face, his back illuminated by the now flickering lights of the train causing his face to be blackened by shadows, he threw out Rock again I expected the explosion but once again before it happened he punched me in the gut all the way across the room and before I hit the ground, from behind me I caught a glimpse of it from the corner of my eye BOOM. The explosion threw me upwards towards the ceiling and then I fell to the ground hitting my left shoulder on the ground. I yelled in pain but before any of the kind passenger could help me, Jargon yelled out that anyone willing to help me will be included in the game. No one wanted that and thus they backed away.

The third round began, Jargon stood tall and looming over my small, frail, body and all the while I was just standing wondering how I was going to even stand if we continue. All the while the crowd was forcing Her0 to stop trying to attack Jargon, they yelled that they wanted to do it regardless of the consequences and that no matter what they'll get Jargon back for what he did. I told Her0 to calm down and straightened up my stance "Don't worry Her0... I'll win." I said with a determined look on my eyes as I planted both of my feet on the ground. We threw another set withe him throwing Rock and me throwing out Paper; as expected he went to punch my face with his fist that is almost as big as my head.

!!!BAM!!!

The fist collided with my forehead and produced a sound that rattled the entire train. My forehead began bleeding heavily, and I will admit that it also rattled my brain a bit but as he removed his fist away from my head, I'm betting that all he could see was the look I gave him. I glared at him heavily and as if the mood looked correct the lights flicckered for a long time, with the darkness taking longer than usual causing Jargon to look inyo my eyes which glowed in the dark a bright deep blue color. However, as the light turned back on the look on his face grew paler from seemingly seeing something behind me.

For the next round he grew weary, asking for it to be a winner takes all game. I agreed to do so because I felt bad for the guy, I thought he was scared of what he saw in me in the dark and as I said that he pulled out the rules window and edited Rule 3 which prevented the use of Items, to now only prevent recovery items from being used.

We started the next round and for it he wore the item "Exoddo's Gauntlet" which obliterates the hp of the opposing player to 0 when the player wins a game or lands a successful punch. I was now in a pickle; on one hand, he could use a different hand and kill me, but eveb if I win, I'll lose because he kills me too. It was then I was struck with an Idea.

"JAN-KEN..." Jargon had rushed to stretch out his hand and as he threw down his Rock hand, I took a giant leap back and answered with neither Rock, Paper, or Scissor instead opening the inventory and instantly pulling out my trump card and I yell out to all the players who watched in awe.

ROCK! I yelled as I readied my weapon

PAPER! I screamed as I aimed at Jargon

SCISSORS...

I reunited with Her0 in the crowd who caught me and joined in as we yelled out holding my Portable Laser Gun

"SHOOT!!!"

WHIIRRR~~BAAAAMMMM-----

The attack launched Jargon across the room, to the back, and finally outside of the train's carts. The members who were ready to fight back quickly backed away while I whirred my weapon once again with a smirk on mine and Her0's face.

The bandits dispersed to find their leader and left us and all the other passengers alone and soon the "Dimension 4" skill dissipated and allowed time to move for us again. I looked up at the dark clouds on the sky and breathed a sigh of relief as the clouds passed on by... The then dark skies of the sunrise immediately changed into a hot and sunny Midday afternoon in which I had suddenly stared up, eyes wide, at the sky...

SIZZLLEE~ "AAAAAHH---

•

I went back inside the train cart we had slept inside of to sit down with Her0 and talk about how crazy a day we've had but it didn't take long for the players to thank us and give us freebies as thanks. We gladly took them as the train whistled, signaling that we have reached the station to our desired destination. Gamertown.

•

BEEP* (Robotic voice)

NeoGen database entry:

Username: Marla

Distance: 3500Km

Virus assignation: ILY

Expected time of arrival: 6 weeks, 1 day