“WE WELCOME YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT TO WITNESS A TRULY SHOCKING SPECTACLE!” The voice sounded throughout the stadium, and a series of roars and shouts poured from the crowd, the stadium’s noise filling the air for miles around, truly that night would not be one to be missed. Ren would not miss it for the world, the unveiling of the long awaited Time Fight, a truly incredible life changing experience was finally going to be released to the public.
Ren was beside himself with joy, he had to beg so hard to be able to get where he was now, but he knew that it would all be worth it. All those chores, every extra night saving money and doing odd jobs in his neighbourhood would all be worth it if he was just able to witness this spectacle.
“NOW YOU’VE ALL BEEN SITTING IN YOUR SEATS LONG ENOUGH, SO LET US BEGIN. WELCOME TO TIME FIGHTS! THE NEW WORLD OF SPORTS! A TRUE TEST OF SKILL, BOTH IN BODY AND IN MIND!” The spectator announced boldly, and it was certain that no-one in the crowds disagreed with him. Ren certainly didn’t. The stadium housed over 200,000 people, and the place was absolutely packed. Despite the small size of the arena the seats were practically bursting with people.
“EVER SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF SMALL SCALE TIME SLIPS AND REVOLUTIONARY ADVANCES IN CLONE TECHNOLOGY, WE HAVE BEEN ITCHING TO BRING THIS EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY TO YOU! I PRESENT TO YOU TIME FIGHTS!” The crowd was even rowdier now, and Ren had no idea how that was possible besides the fact he was screaming too. This was truly a moment worth waiting for, they all knew that what happened in this stadium tonight would be a world first, and would truly change the world as they knew it. They were so right.
“GIVE IT UP FOR OUR FIRST PLAYER TONIGHT, RANDY ROGERS!” At this point, it was obviously impossible to hear, but slowly and surely the name Rogers came to sound throughout the stadium, steadier and steadier until it was simply a requirement to be deaf to hear anything else. For a moment Ren wondered if he would be deaf by the time the night was over.
Randy Rogers was a well known VR gaming veteran, and of course VR games had come a long way since their inception. Randy had experience both in tactics and physical action, he was fit, good looking and incredibly well recognised. For certain Randy was not the best player out there, but you would be hard pressed to find someone at his level anywhere other than the full hardcore competitive scene that was so widespread in the modern day.
In the centre of the stadium a semi-circle podium slowly rose out of the ground, and on it stood a relatively short brown haired young man with dashing golden eyes. As soon as he saw the crowd he smiled and waved, and a group of women not too far from Ren screamed so loud his ears rang. “ROGERSSSSSS!!!!!! ITS HIM!!!! I’m gonna DIEEEEEEE!!!!!” The girls were so loud it was hard to even make out what they were saying, though their constant tears, screams and pointing fingers were more than enough indication. It did not help when Randy Rogers winked in their direction.
Trying his best to ignore the deadly sound waves emanating from around him he focused in as best as he could to catch the commentators next words. “AND NOW, FOR THE SECOND PLAYER TO EVER ENTER THE FIELD, FENARDO PRIER!” The cheers were less loud this time around, and Ren was thankful for the break, but he was a little curious as to who this guy was. Fenardo Prier hadn’t been in the booklet he’d been given, so why was he in the arena? When did they add him? Was he a surprise? Suddenly, Ren was even close to the edge of his seat as he watched the middle of the field in powerful anticipation.
Slowly, on the other half semi-circle podium rose Fenardo Prier, and a collective sigh filled the stadium, even Ren could not believe his eyes. There on the podium stood the most handsome man Ren had ever seen, with a sharp jawline and his gaze set forward. He did not wave to the crowd, he barely even acknowledged them, instead his gaze was fixed on his opponent, Randy Rogers. The entire stadium went silent as though it were holding its breath before erupting into cheers, but this time other than the women, the men weren’t screaming as loud.
“ALRIGHT! SETTLE DOWN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET US EXPLAIN THE RULES!” The Announcer said, doing his best to calm the cacophony of whoops and whistles that sounded out from the crowd constantly. Slowly a small calm began to blanket the stadium and after a brief cough the announcer continued.
“Well the rules themselves aren’t too hard to understand. There are two players, and they will fight a series of five rounds. In each of the first four rounds, Randy and Fenardo will create a plan of attack, give equipment to their clone, and send them into the field. These clones are known as extras, and we will simply refer to them as Randy one through four, same goes for Fenardo. In the fifth round, the players themselves will enter the field, and the results of the final round will determine the victor!”
The crowd took their time processing this information, quickly whispering to each other about why this would be special after the Announcer had spoken. But Ren knew, and it was clear that those around him also knew despite their whispers, or most of them anyway.
“The twist is, every extra is brought back to fulfill their original goal each round! Through a small scale time slip, we return the extra or extras from the last round to go back in with their old plan! If you don’t fully understand what this means yet sit down and watch on, you are in for a treat I tell you!” The announcer finished, but despite that the crowd grew even closer to the edge of their seats. Ren understood, he knew what it entailed. The concept was simple to understand at first, but the true consequences of such a thing were beyond imagination. Despite his small moment of elation, no-one else around him seemed to realise what it meant. Ren now knew why the Announcer had told them to watch instead if they didn’t fully understand.
“The theme today is Killhouse!” The announcer said, and the feed on the speakers gave out a TFI jingle as fireworks erupted over the stadium. Randy reached his hand towards Fenardo, gesturing for a handshake. Fenardo looked at Randy for a moment, and then turned and walked the other way. The crowd wasn’t happy about this, but Fenardo cared little. Ren stayed silent, and where everyone else was watching and praising Randy, Ren had his eyes on Fenardo. There was something about him, something that made Ren understand he would not lose this fight.
Finally after a decently long walk Fenardo and Randy stood at opposite ends of the blank white slate that was the arena, watching eachother with fire in their eyes before a wall emerged from the ground, followed by several more. Soon the entire arena had been converted into the exact kind of building the announcer had mentioned before, a killhouse. The killhouse wasn’t particularly large, it featured no actual rooms, but there was a section that was almost closed off to the top left of the killhouse.
From where Ren was sitting he could see the killhouse side on, Fenardo was on the right side, and Randy was on the left. The bottom left, right and top right of the killhouse had wall extrusions, providing cover that would probably go unused throughout the match because of how far back it was. The middle of the killhouse was probably best to describe as split into three sections, an upper path, a middle path and a lower path. The top and middle path join on the right side of the killhouse, but towards the middle was split by a small almost enclosed section, barely 4 '10 " wide, but the extra walls that stem downwards from it are enough to provide more than ample cover closer to the mid left field.
The middle and lower paths were far more separated, a long twisting wall starting from the top right corner, but leaving enough space to pass through the top path, winding down and then left, before going back down and left again. It covered a good half of the Killhouse in terms of length and width, but it also had an extruding wall on the lower paths side, providing further cover than just its corners. Ren spent a good time analysing the field as Fenard and Randy stared off into what looked like nothing, and most people would have assumed so if they did not have eye implants. Ren knew they were taking in everything he was.
Arena [https://i.imgur.com/NkGVM7Z.jpg]
With ten seconds left on the clock Ren watched on as Fenardo deployed his first extra with a small pistol, one that he had never seen before. Ren mentally named the extra Fenardo P, for Pistol. On the other side of the arena Randy had already summoned his extra, and Ren looked on in surprise as Randy’s extra had nothing. A setup for sure, but what would he do with it? Ren mentally named Randy’s first extra as Randy U, for unarmed.
“START!” The announcer said with joy, and Ren could practically feel the giddiness of the man roll over him. Or perhaps he was just too giddy himself, he wasn’t sure. Ren watched absolutely fascinated as Fenardo P took the upper path, slowly but carefully, doing his best to watch both the middle and top paths. Randy U on the other hand ran to the middle path, and just as he reached the small section in the middle left, stopped to peak around the corner. It was a smart play. Fenardo P didn’t spot him. Randy U hurriedly took a pallet leaned against the wall and adjusted it, placing it on an angle against a stack of wood before dusting off his hands and running down to the lower path.
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Ren’s gaze flicked to the timer, and he knew the round was up. 0:05, 0:04, 0:03, 0:02. Fenardo P turned the corner of the small upper right section and, spotting the setup that Randy U had created, he cursed before disappearing from the field. Some of the crowd gasped at Randy U’s and Fenardo P’s sudden disappearance, but Ren just considered what he had seen so far. Fenardo P was definitely going to go top right again, but this time there would be a problem, Randy would send someone to occupy the position Randy U had made, and shoot over the walls.
The question was, what would Fenardo do in response?
Forty five seconds later that question was answered when Fenardo called in his new extra, equipped with a flashbang and a knife. Interesting… On the other hand Randy did exactly as Ren had predicted, and had even equipped his new extra with a rifle. That was a big expense in the early game Ren noted as he looked at the points that were tracked on the four screens above the middle of the stadium. Randy was already down to 145, but Fenardo was still at a solid 600 points.
The speakers blared, and people watched, not quite sure what to expect or where to place their focus, but Ren knew. Ren watched as he mentally named the two new extras, Fenardo F for flash and Randy R for rifle. Randy R predictably ran over with Randy U, who had just reappeared at the start of the match, and reached the pallet. Randy R helped Randy U a little bit this time, and in just seconds he was on top of the pallet and steadying his gun on the wall. But he wasn’t quick enough. Fenardo F chose this moment to throw his flash into the air, stunning Randy R, before moving down towards Randy U with his knife. Fenardo P turned the corner from his first round and spotted Randy R, still reeling from the flashbang, and shot him three times.
“250 Points to Fenardo!” The speakers blared, but it wasn’t the announcer this time, and Ren had already read through the rules. Instead, Ren tuned out the noise and focused on the lower section where Randy U had run to take cover. Fenardo F was close behind though, and Randy U was unprepared. Fenardo F slammed his knife into Randy U’s back, and Randy U collapsed. “250 Points-” Ren ignored it, already enamoured by the play Fenardo had made. The match ended. The crowd reeled in shock and elation, “He’s so SMART!” One of the girls cried. “What will Randy do now?” One of the men said, unsure of how to counter such a play.
Ren agreed to an extent, countering an aired flashbang was hard, especially when Randy R wouldn’t be able to change his plan. Randy would need to counter the flashbang by destroying it, or killing Fenardo F before he threw it, and that would be hard. Even from where he was sitting Ren could tell that Randy was already seething with rage, no longer so sure how to proceed. But Fenardo didn’t have that issue.
The playing field cleared, the blood and bodies disappearing suddenly, but the crowd registered it more easily this time. They knew that they would all come back. Fenardo was the quicker one now, barely waiting fifteen seconds before calling in his extra, this time armed with an SMG. Ren checked the scoreboard and nodded, that was the right play. Randy on the other hand had already stressed his funds from the last round, and as a result could only equip his third extra with a machine pistol. Ren winced before mentally noting down the two new extras as Fenardo S and Randy M.
The speakers blared again, and so the match continued. Randy M moved straight to the middle path, quickly spotting Fenardo F and Fenardo P. Randy M shot at Fenardo F, but the recoil threw him off and he hit Fenardo P instead. Some of the crowd considered this intentional, but Ren knew that this would not be good for Randy. It hadn’t been his intention. Fenardo F let go of his flash, and although Randy M was prepared, Randy R was not.
Randy M tried to duck down towards the lower section with Randy U, but Fenardo S had also taken the lower path, and both of them were killed. Fenardo P was dead now however, and Randy R had survived. Randy roared in outrage as he realised what had happened and Ren saw him kick himself, likely a reprimand for not realising that if he had just killed Fenardo P in a more organised manner Randy R would have survived and Randy M would have proved more useful, trying to stop the flashbang would be too difficult.
Fenardo S did not advance past the lower path, and Randy R just watched through his ironsight, ready for a move. The time ticked down, and the match ended. This time Randy had more points to spend, but it wasn’t even close to the amount that Fenardo had. Fenardo was now at 2000 points, and Randy was at 1290. Fenardo did not have to worry about his spending, but Randy did. Even more importantly, Randy now had to figure out how to save Randy M and U.
Ren watched on as Randy called in his next extra, giving him a bullpup rifle. It wasn’t a bad play Ren thought, acknowledging his plan. But Fenardo had already anticipated the action, and had equipped his final extra with a machine gun. Ren noted down both of the new extras, Randy B and Fenardo M. This particular round was already won, but depending on what they did in the final round, Ren knew anything could happen. Even so, Ren didn’t think Randy would be able to beat Fenardo, not after what he had seen so far.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEOW
The sound filled the stadium, and aside from the fight that was occurring in the stadium no other sound could be heard, people no longer able to do anything other than focus on what was happening in the match. Ren wondered briefly if this is what it had been like to watch the first chess match, or a first game of football. He smiled.
Fenardo M moved to the lower path, contrary to Ren’s expectations, and lay down on the ground after setting down his bipod. No cover, but he probably wouldn’t need it. Fenardo S ignored Fenardo M and continued forward on the lower path before taking cover behind one of the corners of the lower middle separating wall. Ren made yet another mental note as he considered this, he had not been watching Fenardo S too closely in the last round.
Randy B moved to the lower path, stopping before the corner to wait for Randy U and M before turning the corner with them. Fenardo M absolutely peppered Randy U and B with his machine gun before Fenardo S peeked from his corner and shot down the surprised Randy M with his submachine gun. The only extra left on Randy’s side was again Randy R, who looked on with his rifle, and Fenardo had still only lost Fenardo P, leaving Fenardo F, S and M alive.
Randy to his credit didn’t slump down, but he bit down harder and wasn’t as quick to act, carefully considering his actions. Ren nodded in respect, even if he was only going through anger, giving up was not the right thing to do, especially not in an olympic event like this. If he played his cards right, he would be able to bring the match home.
This time, there were no extras, instead Randy Rogers collected a weapon from the wall, an old fashioned but still more modern version of the AK and a grenade. Ren nodded in appreciation before turning his focus to Fenardo who, to his surprise, took two dual berettas. Fenardo had plenty of points left to spare, but even so he didn’t spend them. Ren contemplated it for a moment longer before watching as Randy and his four extras moved onto the field, and Fenardo mirrored the action.
Fenardo Prier followed behind Fenardo Flash, but ran ahead of Fenardo Pistol, turning the corner with his dual berettas and shooting Randy M just as he turned the corner, saving Fenardo Pistol from Randy M’s poor shot. Randy Bull made it to the lower section, but was killed by Fenardo Machine and SMG along with Randy Unarmed, just like they had been killed in the previous round. Fenardo moved along the top route with Fenardo Pistol, but as Fenardo P turned the corner an explosion sounded. Ren glanced towards the source and spotted Fenardo Machine and SMG dead, along with Fenardo Flash killed in the middle of the arena.
After Fenardo Prier had gone through the top route, Randy had killed all of the lower Fenardo extras. Turning his gaze back to Fenardo Pistol and Fenardo Prier, Ren watched as Randy Rifle, who was unfazed by the explosion, focused on the upper arena, and shot Fenardo Pistol as he turned the corner. Ren practically reeled in surprise, Fenardo was the only one left, it was him against Randy Rifle and Randy Rogers.
Fenardo leaped past the corner, but Randy Rifle's shot came too late, missing just barely. Fenardo completely unloaded his berettas into Randy Rifle before reloading and moving to the bottom left corner of the arena where an extruding wall was, that way he could focus in one direction. Ren watched in slow motion as Randy turned the corner.
Click
At that moment Fenardo had finished inserting his magazine and had just pressed the slide release, his gun already aimed towards the corner that Randy was now emerging from. Randy moved his gun to aim at the sound, but he was too late. With a final resounding Bang Fenardo’s shot landed, killing Randy and ending the round.
The stadium went silent for a moment as the killhouse sunk into the ground and the bodies disappeared, Randy and Fenardo reappearing where they had been before the final round. Both of them looked up towards the scoreboard before Randy slumped in defeat and Fenardo let out a sharp smile.
Fenardo had won.
The crowd screamed, and even Ren could not help but join in this time, ripping his vocal chords with the intensity of the sound, his complete and utter disbelief at the skill and strategy displayed by both sides. There were so many things that could have happened, so many things that changed and ideas that were pulled through, and yet despite that the match had played out as it did and the result was there. Ren considered that every match would be infinitely unique, more so than any other sport to ever exist, and laughed.
That was the night Ren wished he could also partake in that, that he could become as good as someone like Fenardo and fight in a battle of pure wits.
That was the night Ren decided he wanted to become a Time Fighter.
(Final Fight)
Final Fight [https://i.imgur.com/N1Ey0uL.png]