The roar of the crowd surged through the Olympus Grand Arena, shaking the virtual ground as thousands of spectators, both in-person and watching remotely, eagerly anticipated the main event. The massive screens surrounding the stadium displayed the tournament brackets, the contestants’ avatars, and flashes of their previous battles.
Spotlights danced across the stage, illuminating the raised combat platforms where soon, contestants would fight for dominance. Then, the announcer’s voice boomed through the arena’s in-game audio, crisp, commanding, and brimming with charisma.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Welcome, warriors, challengers, and legends in the making—to the MAIN EVENT!"
His voice module was top-tier, his tone a perfect blend of showmanship and clarity.
Byte (Private Chat):
"Yo, tell me that’s not the cleanest voice module you’ve ever heard."
Shiro (Private Chat):
"I was just about to say! Like, it’s AI-enhanced, right? Dude sounds like a sports announcer from an actual pro league."
Vessa (Private Chat):
"Most likely. That level of clarity? That’s a voice module integrated with AI filtering. It’s expensive as hell, but it makes the audio perfect."
Hexa (Private Chat):
"Guess that means it’s time for Dani to get ready."
Dani, standing beside her friends, exhaled slowly, stretching her fingers over her HUD.
Dani (Private Chat):
"Yeah… but I wanna hear this first."
The announcer’s holographic avatar strutted across the stage, his gold-trimmed jacket flaring as he gestured toward the giant screens above.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"The preliminary rounds have officially ended! Congratulations to all who competed! You gave us a hell of a show! But now, we move on to the REAL competition!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Contestants stood at the ready, waiting for their names to be called.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Before we begin the main bracket, the judges have carefully reviewed the performance scores of the final four contestants from the preliminary rounds!"
Hexa (Private Chat):
"Alright, place your bets. Who’s landing in which bracket?"
Shiro (Private Chat):
"I mean, Sickblade has to be first bracket. That dude moves like a damn ghost."
Byte (Private Chat):
"Drevan should be second. Tank build, aggressive playstyle, but he's predictable. Judges love flashier coding skills, so if someone outmaneuvered him, they might rank him lower."
Dani (Private Chat):
"What about Aeris? She is a Codebender. That alone could put her higher."
Vessa (Private Chat):
"Judges score on combat efficiency, creativity in coding, adaptability, and crowd impact. Winning matters, but style and coding fluency weigh in too. If you can win while making it look effortless? You score higher."
They fell silent as the announcer raised a hand, signaling for quiet.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"And the results are IN!"
A hush fell over the stadium. Then, the announcer dramatically flipped through a digital parchment HUD, shaking his head playfully as if the results were too juicy.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Ranked in the First Bracket, we have…"
The spotlights swung toward a shadowed figure standing near the combatant waiting area.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"The man who moves like a whisper and kills before his opponents even realize they’ve been struck… The assassin whose name is synonymous with lethal precision—SICKBLADE DAWSON!"
The screens flashed clips of Sickblade’s previous fights—his poison-coated blades cutting through opponents, his movement a blur. The crowd cheered wildly, chanting his name. Sickblade stepped onto the stage with his usual quiet confidence, his glowing gauntlets pulsing faintly as he nodded to the audience.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"In the Second Bracket we have…"
He paused for dramatic effect. Drevan straightened his massive frame, puffing his chest out as he began to walk toward the stage. The announcer smirked.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Ohhh, well now, THIS is an interesting twist."
Drevan froze mid-step, blinking in confusion. The audience rumbled with anticipation. The announcer grinned, barely holding back a chuckle. Drevan frowned. Then—
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Ranked in the Second Bracket… AERIS VOSS, THE CODE BENDER!"
Aeris strode past Drevan without hesitation, a confident smirk tugging at her lips. As she ascended the stage, her glowing tome hovered beside her, pages shifting as if responding to her unspoken commands.
She threw Drevan a side glance, shrugged, then turned to face the audience. Drevan, still standing on the steps to the stage, looked utterly bewildered.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Finally… your turn, Drevan."
The announcer grinned wider, waiting until the moment hung in the air before he called out—
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"In the Third Bracket… Give it up for the Iron Titan himself—DREVAN COLE!"
The crowd erupted as Drevan scowled, finally stepping onto the stage. His massive armor gleamed under the lights, and he immediately turned his attention back to Aeris, their silent rivalry now undeniable. The announcer let the moment settle before turning back to the audience with a dramatic wave of his hand.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"And now, the final change to our lineup! Due to the nature of our Second Bracket contestant’s powers—as a Codebender who technically qualifies as two contestants—"
A murmur went through the crowd.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"—the judges have selected a wildcard! Filling the last position in the Fourth Bracket—BRAXX STONEWELL!"
The massive bruiser Braxx stepped forward, cracking his knuckles, his body tense with readiness.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"And with that—our contestants are LOCKED IN! The preliminary rounds are OVER!"
The crowd erupted as the brackets were displayed on the massive stadium screen.
Then, the announcer paused, tilting his head as new information loaded on his HUD.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
"Hmm. Well now, seems we have… one final adjustment."
Dani, who had been preparing herself mentally, froze.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"The first match of the main event will come from the Fourth Bracket!"
Dani inhaled sharply.
Dani (Private Chat):
"Wait. What?"
She had expected to wait a little longer before her name was called. The announcer grinned.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"On Platform Four—Dani Shaw will face Braxx Stonewell!"
A roar of excitement erupted as Dani’s name flashed across the massive screens.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Simultaneously, on Platform Three, the Third Bracket battle will feature Drevan Cole versus Orion Star! Get ready, Avatars, because the opening rounds are about to begin!"
The stadium shook as the lights dimmed, and a holographic display showed the two arenas loading into position.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"This tournament is sponsored by Auracron Prime, Hackrosoft Inc., Mapple Computers, Soka-Cola, T&T Candies, Mojitos Chips, Mixnvidio MeForce, Pintel Microchips, and Andenheiser Kush Beert! Savor—the smooth flavor!"
The announcer pointed up at the control booth.
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Roll the sponsor ads, Chuck!"
Announcer (Voice Chat):
"Ahhh… I feel the kush in this one."
As the screens flickered to commercials, he grabbed a cold Andenheiser Kush Beer, popped the cap, and took a long, satisfying sip. With a deep exhale, he leaned back, savoring the moment. Meanwhile, Dani bolted from the booth, weaving through the packed bleachers, dodging avatars left and right.
I have to make it before the commercial break is over.
Teleportation restrictions outside the ring are the worst. Doesn’t matter. I have to move.
Her heart pounded as she descended the final steps, sprinting toward the contestant box near the platforms in the center of the coliseum.
The Olympus Grand Arena roared to life as the battle platforms locked into place, the anticipation of the first matches thick in the air. Above them, the massive digital display flashed the combatants’ names:
The holographic countdown in the sky began to tick down.
3… 2… 1…
The bell rang. DING!
Braxx charged forward the instant the fight started, his massive war hammer already mid-swing before Dani could even blink.
Braxx (World Chat):
"No hard feelings, little lady, but I’m about to turn you into a stain on this platform."
Dani barely dodged in time, the hammer slamming into the ground so hard that the stone beneath her fractured on impact.
She skidded backward, her heart hammering in her chest.
Dani (World Chat):
"And here I thought we were gonna have a warm-up round first."
She twisted her hands, her HUD glowing as she activated a script.
Dani: Ignition: Ember Strike → Forward Vector
The air shimmered as a small orb of fire burst into existence in front of her, hovering like a newborn star. She flung it forward, aiming straight for Braxx’s chest.
Braxx (World Chat):
"Oh, cute."
At the last second, he raised his gauntlet, a barrier script absorbing the flames before they could even touch him.
Byte (Private Chat):
"Damn. That dude just ate her spell like it was breakfast."
Shiro (Private Chat):
"Yeah, but did you see how fast Dani coded that? She’s adapting."
Vessa (Private Chat):
"She’ll need more than speed. Braxx isn’t just a brute—he’s got endurance. He can tank most attacks and still keep swinging."
Dani ground her teeth, her fingers flying across her HUD, scripting her next move. If fireballs weren’t enough, she needed to get creative.
Dani: Inferno Surge → Area Effect: Radius 5m
The ground beneath Braxx’s feet ignited in a sudden eruption of flames, licking up around his armor. For the first time, he grunted. It was working. But instead of backing down, he grinned.
Braxx (World Chat):
"Finally. A real fight."
Then he charged straight through the fire, his war hammer now glowing red-hot from the heat. Dani barely had time to move before the hammer came crashing down again, the force sending rippling shockwaves through the arena. She tumbled, her health bar flashing red.
Hexa (Private Chat):
"Oof. That hurt ME, and I’m just watching."
Byte (Private Chat):
"She needs to heal. Now."
Dani gritted her teeth. They weren’t wrong.
Dani: Healing Pulse → Self-Target
A wave of warm light surged through her body, restoring a chunk of her HP. Braxx laughed.
Braxx (World Chat):
"Oh, you’re one of those. A fighter and a healer? Cute. Too bad you won’t have time to keep healing once I break your legs."
Dani’s mind raced. She had to think faster. Then it hit her. She didn’t need to out-tank him. She needed to outlast him. With a smirk, she typed her next sequence.
Dani: ?? Fire Cloak → Self Buff
A whirlwind of flames suddenly surrounded her, forming an armor of living fire. Braxx paused mid-step, eyebrows raising.
Dani (World Chat):
"Try swinging at me now, big guy."
He grunted and swung anyway. Bad move. The moment his hammer made contact, the flames surged, consuming his gauntlet and searing through his defense script. His HP ticked down. Fast. His eyes widened.
Braxx (World Chat):
"Aw hell."
While Dani’s fight blazed across Platform Four, on Platform Three, Drevan Cole was introducing Orion Star to the definition of brute force.
Drevan (World Chat):
"Hold still, Starfire. Let me see if you’re as fragile as you look."
Orion teleported behind him, launching a barrage of Starfire-infused arrows that ripped through the air like lasers. Drevan barely flinched, turning just enough so the arrows pinged harmlessly off his armor.
Shiro (Private Chat):
"Bro, he just TANKED THAT."
Byte (Private Chat):
"Drevan’s a monster. I’d uninstall the game if I had to fight him."
Orion’s face twisted in frustration. He raised both hands, chanting another incantation, the air around him crackling, and the night stars in the sky began to shine brighter.
Orion (World Chat):
"Fine. Let’s see how well you handle this… Starfire Barrage!"
A massive storm of Starfire energy swirled around him. He launched it forward. A blinding wave of destruction erupted toward Drevan, distorting the air as it raced forward. Drevan grinned. And walked straight into it.
Hexa (Private Chat):
"WHAT IS THIS MAN MADE OF?!"
As the Starfire blast engulfed him, Drevan kept moving, the glow from his rune-forged armor absorbing most of the damage. By the time he emerged on the other side of the spell, Orion was already backing away in panic. Drevan cracked his knuckles.
Drevan (World Chat):
"My turn."
Then he lunged, moving way faster than a man his size should be able to move. Orion barely had time to react before Drevan’s gauntlet caught him mid-air. The audience gasped. Then—Drevan slammed Orion into the ground with bone-crushing force.
Shiro (Private Chat):
"Yeah, that’s gonna need some digital therapy."
Orion’s HP plummeted. He tried to crawl away, but Drevan simply placed one heavy boot on his chest, pinning him down.
Drevan (World Chat):
"Stay down, mage. You lost."
The match timer flashed.
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT:
"Winner: Drevan Cole!"
Dani sidestepped Braxx’s latest attack, the heat from her Fire Cloak still wearing him down.
His movements were slowing.
She could end this now.
Dani: Infernal Finality → Target: Braxx
A massive firestorm erupted beneath him, the flames spiraling upward, engulfing him completely. Braxx’s HP drained rapidly. He stumbled, his hammer dropping. Then—his avatar flickered.
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT: Winner: Dani Shaw!
Dani exhaled hard, her body still glowing with embers.
Byte (Private Chat):
"SHE DID IT!"
Shiro (Private Chat):
"Holy hell, that was brutal!"
Hexa (Private Chat):
"Told y’all she had it in her."
Dani looked down at Braxx’s flickering avatar, then up at the massive stadium screen displaying her victory. The first match was hers. And she wasn’t done yet.
This is part of a series of stories that have lived solely in my head for many years, and I’ve finally started writing them as serialized fiction books. If you think the story sucks, feel free to tell me—it’s all part of the process. That said, I’m also looking for constructive criticism, so any suggestions are welcome and will be considered as I work to improve the series.
