KON POV
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I could hear the boisterous voice of TVHead the announcer from the living room, as well as the creaking couch from the two monkeys jumping up and down on it.
Venti could never settle down when it comes to his favorite team appearing in an official duel, or at least when money betting is concerned. While Zack is just being Zack as usual.
Now if only the microwave could do its magic faster before those two idiots bring the whole house down from the lack of snacks.
The race of D-Day, The Hunt! Both teams are to chase after a fast-moving target that’s currently situated 3 kilometers away from the starting line. The first to obtain the target objective or make the other team forfeit through a beatdown wins the game.
But here's the catch – the target won't stay still! As soon as it detects any players within its 1-kilometer perimeter, it's off and running. With a maximum speed of 150 km/h, you'll need to kick those wheels into high gear because this isn't your average slow-paced race! Be wary of the twists and turns in the Chiba District route! Rows of stacked buildings with bright neon signs welcome you, but don’t be fooled. They are a high-level maze to navigate! Our Pathfinders better be strapped and set coz this place ain’t so forgiving!
I hope you are ready for some blood because anything goes! Except intentional maiming and death of course. But enough about the tiny uninteresting detail. We are not here to read out a boring whipper-snapper TOS; we are here to see a smackdown!
On the left side, introducing an upcoming team, fresh from the guild that is hailed as the unstoppable force of Westward Hurricane, The Zephyr! Comprising multiple exceptional individuals with crazy solo records, the team is no joke, guys! Watch out or be left in the dust by these supernovas!
We have Timji, our beloved Pathfinder! Keep your eyes peeled on him boys, this guy invented dozens of parkour moves to dodge various obstacles. Maybe we will see him break a new Team speed record today!
Then Pina, the new and upcoming Diva! Everyone, give her your best regard! Her soothing ASMR voice is to die for and I even subscribed to her recently. Her Alto voice will make fans and haters alike go putty!
Jin, the Tuner! Oh boy, Will we get to see his magic fingers in action today? Just look at how he tunes and repairs SpeedGear midflight! Are those hands even human anymore? Give it up for Jin the octopus fingers!
Speaking of Inhuman, Welcome your bloodthirsty boy, Branza the Forward! You see him here, now you see him there right in your enemies’ face! Dashing to the thick of things, he is ready to get that first blood!
One legendary match royale battle, in particular, had propelled some of these individuals into the top 20, and—Oh? What’s this!? Aika the Stormhunt is taking the center position! Things are heating up beyond what my stove can perceive!
The holy cracker dial has been cranked up to eleven! Zephyr is not pulling any punches tonight, boys and girls. We may as well prepare the umbrella because it’s raining blood tonight!
As I moved back to the living room, carrying a bunch of popcorn bowls and snacks, I could hear the audience roaring and cheering even louder.
“Aika is joining?” I tilted my head in confusion.
Tonight’s match should be about a simple area grab and maybe a bit of money involved. The vice-captain of Zephyr was never one to set foot unless it involved higher-ranked tournament matches.
“She is. Tch, what a tit load of bullcrap. Being so petty at an upstart.” I could see Venti chewing his fingernail in exasperation while glaring at this Aika person. Was Venti looking forward to a more even-handed match?
“Gahaha, there goes your 5k down the poopdrain.” Zack, for once, stopped stuffing his face full of a Choco bar and laughed boisterously while slapping Venti’s back a couple of times. He shot an annoyed glare at Zack. I wish Venti would stop going after those long shots. With our team-building activities around the corner, money is tight enough as is.
“Shut your pie hole! This is a quarter of my savings you are talking about!”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
I shook my head as the two began to wrestle, and I decided to just settle down on the floor. The couch is a lost cause. I will need to scavenge a new one from the junkyard.
Maybe I can get a nicer one that only needs a bit of cleaning if I’m lucky. Then again, I’m moving from this place soon. I will just make do with the carpets for now.
Speaking of betting, I briefly wondered if a 17-year-old is even allowed to place a bet on a SpeedGear match. Although, we will all be turning 18 this year. Venti probably borrowed the web access from his sister’s account or something like that.
Returning my attention to the match, I wondered if the vice-leader of the Zephyr guild needed to be present at this unofficial district match. A glance at Aika’s Gear revealed that she was using standard shoes and wheel components instead of her personalized ones. So, I figured she must be planning to take it easy.
Regarding the other team, the name Ramp Rebel does surface occasionally. However, openly challenging a high-level juggernaut like Zephyr, especially within a year of the team’s formation, is quite audacious. I’m curious to see how they fare against Aika.
On the right side, we have the new and upcoming rising star, The Ramp Rebels! Six matches, six wins, and zero losses. The CV is looking mighty fine there, boys! Among those wins, this newly-minted team managed to snatch a victory from the jaws of a B-ranked team no less!
Such a powerhouse of tricks and solid combination allows them to climb the ladder quite quickly. To the point that I can’t help but wonder if they are biting more than they can chew tonight.
But wait a minute, hold your thoughts! What’s this? Two Pathfinders!? What in the world am I witnessing here!? And a Beast Tech user to Boot! Watch out, coomers and zoomers! We might see the birth of a new Fanclub tonight.
The noise from the living room quieted down in an instant. All of us were all too busy pondering the implications that the team setup has on the match.
For a whole five seconds, before someone eventually blew up.
“WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY DOING!! MY MONEY, YOU GODDAMNED #&%#!” Venti launched into an incoherent tirade, prompting Zack to do a Nelson chokehold on him in an attempt to subdue the raging gambler. Calming him down when he is that mad is always a challenge.
“Kon, any insight on this? You aimed to become one.” Zack put on his serious face for once as he glanced at me.
“They intended to split the team and stall?” I could hear the gear in my brain turn as I began to envision the multiple scenarios in my mind. I’m thinking of how the team members would coordinate with one another while being separated like that.
“Even if their Diva is specialized in long-range communication, it’s pointless. The majority of teams that came out of Zephyr’s boot camp have always leaned towards getting good at objective hunting and fast-paced combat.
Meanwhile, from the past battle record, the Rebel has always been a well-rounded team. All Zephyr has to do is just overwhelm one part before moving on to another.”
In all of the Zephyr matches I have seen, I never once saw the opposite team, or any team at all, manage to stall Zephyr for more than a few minutes. Once the other team lost a member or two, coming out on top seems farfetched.
Zephyrs are synonymous with wolves’ hunting packs. Their teamwork is immaculate.
“Get offa me! Tch. Kon, assuming you are right about them Rebel idiots splitting up, couldn’t that Pathfinder just aim for the capture target with the borrowed time?” Finishing his rage, Venti elbowed Zack and began to settle down to analyze how his cash bet could still come out on top with these unconventional team setups.
“In other words, you are coping.”
“Shut your mouth, Zack, before I punch you square in the throat.”
I pictured the option for a couple of more seconds before calling it off.
“No, I don’t see it working that well. Not against Zephyr. Pathfinders’ job is to guide the team, acting as a spearhead point, creating the most optimal route for the team to follow and navigate through.
Assuming the pathfinders are strong enough to break through the obstacles alone, all Zephyr has to do is finish off a 5v4 fight easily. Then they just need to hitch a ride on the ‘established pathway’ and catch up in no time.”
Zephyr’s pathfinders have always been good at sniffing down tracks and scouting after prey.
“It’s a desperate gambit then?” Even Zack seemed uncertain about it. When considering the achievements of Ramp Rebel in such a short time, it appears they might be unaware of what they are getting into, especially if they are the ones who initiated the challenge.
Punching up out of arrogance? No, last I checked, their Center seems to be the level-headed type of person.
The real question is, how’s the rest of the team setup going?
“So, that golden-haired girl is Maeve, the Second Pathfinder. A beast tech user. That model, is she a catkin? Then one Diva as per usual. It seems like their previous Forward was promoted to become a Center, congrats to him.
And… Player Q as the Phantom Magician? Am I reading that right?”
I had to double-check the substitute board to see if there were any typos. But it’s just there, Player Q, not a tuner or a forward. Just a self-proclaimed Magician in a bright neon sign that he no doubt customized to be as flashy as possible.
He even dressed like one, with a white suit, jacket, and a white top hat. Not to mention, he even wears a smooth white theatre laughing mask. Is he going to run like that?
No tuner or forward? I could hardly believe what the Ramp Rebel team was attempting to do.
No Tuner means no gear maintenance. No gear maintenance means their performance will drop over time. Are they aiming to finish the hunt in one go? It is either that or their objective is to crush the other team and win by default.
But then, why split the team off with 2 Pathfinders? Not to mention, their Forward has been switched to become a Center.
“I can’t tell what they are thinking at all,” I concluded.
“Well, our resident gambler here might have an idea or two.” Zack shrugged his head towards Venti, who seemed to have gotten silent ever since that magician guy was introduced on stage
“….. I don’t like that guy at all. The way he dresses like some Parlor trick clowns. The way he briefly glances over everything. His stance. There’s something off about him.”
It is quite rare for Venti to get this analytical. Maybe it’s because his savings are on the line. I looked at the screen, and this time focused on this Magician guy.
Now that Venti mentioned it, there is something off about the way he carries himself. Though to what end, I could not tell yet. His upper body is completely relaxed, and yet his fingers constantly twitch in a small almost imperceptible amount. The laughing mask he wears over his face certainly makes it harder to read his intent.
-Thank you once again for today’s sponsor Falconer; Delivery made fast for your comfort and time. Aaaand we are back live into the match, ladies, and gents! Once again, the winner will take home the area-grab of Sector 6 Chiba along with 250k credit. Quite the hefty prize at stake here. For all you not-in-the-know slow-brained folks, peel your eyes, and shoot your beam at the board.
Area: Urban Jungle Sector 6, Chiba District
Race: 5v5 Hunt
Target: Silver Falcon cp3 (Max speed 150 km/h)
Victory condition: - Target Captured, - Enemy Team forfeited
Get ready to witness the clash between Zephyr and Ramp Rebels! Will the rising star outrun the pack? Or will the Wolves once again score this match as one win amongst many in their 15 years of team history? LET THE SPEEDGEAR BATTLE BEGIN!