Roselle sat down at the gaming computer, she took in the vivid display of Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows on the large monitor in front of her. The screen was filled with a multitude of fantasy characters with unique abilities and appearances.

Angie, who had settled beside Roselle, provided some guidance. "Alright, Roselle, first, you need to select your character. You can be a hero or a villain. It's important to choose wisely, as your character's abilities will affect the outcome of the duel."

Roselle studied the character selection screen, where a variety of fantastical beings were displayed. Heroes, with their noble designs, were on one side, and villains, often sporting dark and menacing looks, were on the other.

With determination in her eyes, Roselle used the mouse to hover over a hero character named "Sorin the Valiant." The character had a regal, knight-like appearance, with a gleaming sword at his side.

Roselle clicked on the character, and Angie nodded in approval. "Good choice! Sorin is a strong hero with excellent combat skills."

The next step was to choose a side. The screen prompted Roselle to decide whether she wanted to be a hero or a villain. She took a moment to think. In games, she always liked to play the hero, but in most games she’s played, the villans always had more stats than hero’s.

After some contemplation, Roselle decided to play as a hero, aligning herself with the forces of good in the game. She clicked on the "Hero" option, and the screen confirmed her choice.

The game loaded her character into the fantastical world of Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows, Roselle couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and anxiety. She was stepping into a new realm.

Alex smirked after seeing who Roselle chose.

"Really, Sorin the Valiant?" he said while mocking. "Pffftt hahahahaha!!!! Choosing a hero like that. Heroes are so predictable. You should've gone with a villain character. At least that would have given me a bit of a challenge."

He laughed, confident in his gaming prowess. To him, Roselle's choice seemed like a rookie mistake, and he didn't hide his amusement. "But hey, it's your funeral. Get ready to become another victim, newbie."

While Alex continued to taunt Roselle and laugh at her choice, he suddenly heard an unexpected female’s voice inside his head.

“Like, if you come across someone looking like me, don’t underestimate her. Totes. Like Fr.”

Alex's confident demeanor faltered for a moment. He knew all too well who it belonged to. ‘That girl… she wouldn’t ever steer me in the wrong direction, but what am I missing about this girl,” he thought.

Alex contemplated his options carefully. Each character had its own strengths, but he knew that he couldn't afford to take any chances against Roselle. After a brief moment of thought, he selected the Dark Knight, his most powerful character.

With a confident grin, he declared, "I'll go with the Dark Knight. Prepare to face the darkness, Hero."

Roselle gulped nervously.

Battlefield: Aquatic Scourge

The Aquatic Scourge battlefield was a stunning underwater realm filled with shimmering coral reefs and schools of colorful fish darting through the water. But there was an eerie calmness about it, a sense that something mysterious and powerful lurked beneath the surface.

The battle music began to play, setting the tone for the epic confrontation between Roselle and Alex. Their avatars appeared on opposite sides of the battlefield, each standing before their respective bases. The clear water of the battlefield allowed them to see each other clearly.

Roselle controlled her hero, the brave Sorin, who stood with her sword at the ready. She was determined to prove herself in this new world, despite her inexperience.

On the other side, Alex's Dark Knight emanated an aura of foreboding power. With a sinister grin, he knew this was where he excelled, in the dark and unknown.

The battle began with a fierce exchange of spells and sword strikes. Roselle's Sorin used her agility to move gracefully in the water, while Alex's Dark Knight utilized his brute strength.

Roselle knew she had to use the water to her advantage. Sorin's attacks were faster and more precise in this aquatic realm. She summoned a water shield, creating a barrier to protect herself from Alex's incoming spells.

Alex realized he was at a disadvantage in the water. His Dark Knight's movements were slower, and his attacks were less effective. But he had a plan. He chanted a dark incantation, summoning a shadowy mist that shrouded his character, making it difficult for Roselle to see his actions.

Roselle's resourcefulness began to shine though. She adapted to the underwater environment. She commanded Sorin to use his water-based spells create an advantage. One of these was the ‘Call of the deep’, which allowed him to summon a powerful water elemental to aid in the fight.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Alex, realizing the tide of battle was turning against him, decided to make a desperate move. He activated the Dark Knight's special ability: "Dark Knight."

In an instant, the Dark Knight became invisible, cloaked in shadow. Roselle's avatar couldn't detect him, and she found herself facing an opponent she couldn't see. The eerie calmness of the Aquatic Scourge battlefield was disrupted by the uncertainty that now filled the water.

Angie, who had been watching the battle closely, leaned over to Roselle and urgently whispered, "Roselle, this is not good. He's using the Dark Knight's invisibility move. You won't be able to see him for a good minute, and if you make one wrong move, you're finished."

Roselle's heart raced. One misstep could cost her the battle. The water's beauty had given way to an intense, nerve-wracking confrontation. With the invisible Dark Knight lurking in the depths, the battle had reached a critical point.

Roselle had to rely on her instincts, anticipate Alex's moves, and hope that her quick thinking would see her through this dangerous encounter.

As Roselle focused all her attention on anticipating Alex's next move, the unexpected happened. Sorin, her hero, was suddenly struck by a critical blow. The invisible Dark Knight had found an opening and exploited it with ruthless precision.

A gasp of shock and dismay escaped Roselle's lips when seeing her character's health bar plummet. The battle had taken a dire turn. Sorin was in critical condition, and Alex's Dark Knight still lurked in the shadows, invisible and ready to strike again.

Realizing that Sorin was in critical condition and needed to retreat, Roselle swiftly gave the command. With a determined resolve, Sorin began to swim back towards Roselle's base, seeking refuge and a chance to recover.

Alex, watching his invisible Dark Knight closely, realized that the tide of the battle had momentarily shifted in Roselle's favor. He knew he had to make a strategic decision quickly.

Alex called forth his minions and sent them charging toward Roselle's base, he had to end the invisibility of his Dark Knight. The Dark Knight reappeared, his presence known once more on the battlefield.

Angie leaned in and pointed. "Roselle, this is your chance! He's exposed now, and with his minions gone, you can make a move. But be careful, Sorin is injured. One wrong move could cost you the match."

Roselle knew the stakes were high, but even With Sorin injured, she needed to seize this opportunity while she had the chance. She had Sorin summon a water elemental to provide cover while approaching the enemy base. The elemental shielded Sorin from the incoming minion attacks, allowing her to get closer to Alex's base.

The battlefield was tense as Sorin and Dark Knight clashed again, both players aware that this moment could determine the outcome of the battle.

With the fate of the match hanging in the balance, Roselle made her move, unleashing a flurry of attacks against Dark Knight. She aimed to take down her opponent and secure victory.

Alex, now on the defensive, struggled to counter Sorin's relentless assault. The underwater battlefield was a dazzling display of spells and sword strikes, with each player giving their all.

The battle between Sorin and the Dark Knight reached its finale with Sorin delivering the final blows. Alex’s eyes widened in shock.

With a sly grin, Alex said, "Impressive, using Sorin as a one-man army. No minions, no traps, just a straightforward approach. But here's the thing, Roselle. In gaming, predictability can be your downfall. I understand your strategy now, and that's a fatal flaw. Variety and adaptability are key to winning. But, hey, you did well to last this long. I’ll give credit where credit is due."

The Dark Knight fell before Sorin's might. Roselle began to celebrate. She had managed to defeat Alex’s most powerful character, and victory seemed within reach. But Angie remained with a look of worry. She didn’t want to say anything since Roselle seemed to be adapting, but she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer.

"Roselle, it's a fake out! Tell Sorin to retreat, quickly!"

Panicking, Roselle issued the command for Sorin to retreat, but it was too late. In the dark waters of the Aquatic Scourge battlefield, a sudden, blinding explosion erupted from Alex's base.

From the depths of the explosion emerged a new threat, the Cannon Girl, a character capable of delivering devastating long-range attacks. With impeccable aim, she fired the final, destructive blast at Sorin.

The deadly energy sped towards Sorin, and Roselle watched in horror. There was no escape, no way to save her character in time.

The deadly energy sped towards Sorin, slicing through the. Roselle watched helplessly. Her screen flashed red as Sorin's health bar drained rapidly. The game camera zoomed in on the impact, showing the devastating explosion that engulfed Sorin.

The battlefield fell into silence, broken only by the cheers and laughter of the onlookers. Roselle had lost, and the bitter taste of defeat settled in her heart.

Alex's triumphant grin was unmistakable. "Well played, Roselle, but this game goes to me. Sorin is only good in water fields so you obviously know how to choose battlefields well, but you fell for my diversion. You didn't really have much of a chance playing like that anyways. You are a Victim of not knowing the game."

Angie took a deep sigh. "I should have shown you how to use minions, Roselle. It could have made a difference."

Roselle shook her head with her eyes downcast. “No, it’s my fault. I thought I could do this. I didn’t realize how good he was. I just... I wanted to find Tina so badly.”

Alex wasted no time in getting up with a grin. “Now, about that favor you owe me. I've got something ‘special’ in mind for the likes of you." He rubbed his hands together maliciously.

Michigo stepped forward, her competitive spirit still burning. She shot a glare at Alex and said, "Hold on just a second. I'll show you it's not over yet. I'll take you on next, and you'll see a whole different level of gameplay."

Alex raised an eyebrow. He finally recognized Michigo from the Karate club. "Wait, hold the phone, you're Michigo, right? What's a Karate club member doing here challenging me in a video game??"

Michigo's eyes sparkled in reply, "You'd be surprised how much my karate training helps in gaming. Let's just say I'm more than ready to take you on. I'm not going to let Roselle go down like that!"

Alex raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by Michigo’s confidence. “Oh? The Karate girl wants to have a go? Alright, I’m game. But let’s make it more interesting. If you lose, Roselle will owe me two favors.”

Michigo’s eyes narrowed. It looked like fire was ignited in her gaze. “Fine by me. But if I win, Roselle’s favor is null and void, and you’ll have to give us the information we need. Deal?”

Roselle looked at Michigo anxiously. “Michigo, do you really think you can win?”

Michigo gave her friend a confident smile. “Trust me. I’ve got this. Do you believe in me?”

Roselle met Michigo’s gaze. She momentarily paused and stared into her eyes. She then nodded firmly. “I trust you.”

Michigo turned back to Alex and placed her hands on her hips. “Let’s do this.”