Chapter 3: Expected Outcomes

[idraax]

Ye Xiu was easy to find as he was sitting at the reception desk, probably playing Glory. Sun Xiang stepped further in, shivering as the door sent cold air across his back as it closed shut. He made his way to the desk, glancing around the cafe. It was mostly empty, normal for this time of night, and the tv was streaming one of the previous matches.

"Here for a computer?" Ye Xiu said, still focused on the computer, as he stepped up to the desk.

"Actually, I'm here for you," Sun Xiang placed the container of dumplings on the counter. He could practically

feel

the disbelief emanating from One Autumn Leaf. He sent him a mental shrug in response and plastered on a smile as Ye Xiu finally looked up.

"Sun Xiang," Ye Xiu said, surprise written all over his face.

"Hello," Sun Xiang replied, pointing towards the container. "I brought food."

Ye Xiu's eyes flicked towards the container and then back to him.

"What do you want?" he asked.

Sun Xiang took out One Autumn Leaf's account card from his pocket. Ye Xiu's faint frown smoothed out, but Sun Xiang thought he saw his hands twitch.

"One Autumn Leaf and I want a fight."

Sun Xiang placed the account card back in his pocket, then picked up the container from the counter and held it out. Ye Xiu's eyes followed the movement, but his eyes lingered on Sun Xiang's pocket.

"Are the dumplings a bribe?" he asked, taking the container. He opened it as Sun Xiang nodded. The dumplings smelled good, and were still faintly warm. Ye Xiu picked one up and bit into it.

"This is good," he said. "Where did you get them from?"

At this, Sun Xiang turned a little red and shifted a bit.

"…I made them," he muttered.

Ye Xiu blinked at him, then looked at his half-eaten dumpling. He stuffed the rest of it in his mouth and picked up the container.

"Come on," he said. "There's some free spots in the smoking section. We can play there."

Sun Xiang followed him, grinning.

---

 

Ye Xiu led them over to a dimly lit corner that was tucked away somewhere in the back. Sun Xiang couldn't really make it out due to all of the smoke.

"We'll use a Fixed Field," Ye Xiu said as he gestured to a nearby computer. "Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair."

Sun Xiang nodded and took his seat.

Ready?,

he thought to OAL as he inserted the card.

You know we're going to lose right?

That’s part of the plan.

Sun Xiang logged in and immediately made his way over to the Fixed Field.

Tall stone columns loomed over a stone platform with Lord Grim waiting on the other side.

The tip of an umbrella dripping blood. A scarf ripped to shreds and a limp body sprawled on the ground

.

Sun Xiang couldn't tell whose memory it was. They'd both seen Lord Grim fall. Regardless, he shoved the memory aside and focused on the avatar before him.

The Myriad Manifestation Umbrella didn't look like it had all of its forms upgraded fully. If he remembered correctly, it needed a lot of rare materials for the upgrades, which explained Ye Xiu's mercenary style completely.

Ye Xiu cleared his throat as if to remind Sun Xiang that he was still there. As if he could ever forget. Even after his death, Ye Xiu's shadow had loomed over them all.

"Let's start," Ye Xiu said and Lord Grim rushed forward.

Sun Xiang got into the flow of battle slowly. His fingers kept reaching for skills that weren't there, that didn't even exist yet. One Autumn Leaf's running commentary in his head didn't help either.

It was strange how he could hear One Autumn Leaf's voice in his mind now. That had been the first sign of the avatars manifesting back then.

Focus,

One Autumn Leaf snapped and Sun Xiang turned back to the battle only to find that One Autumn Leaf's health had dipped slightly.

---

 

His opponent was distracted. Ye Xiu frowned as One Autumn Leaf dodged another strike and nearly tripped before recovering quickly. The pattern of the movements was off too as if his opponent was trying to use skills that weren't equipped.

Sun Xiang had reached for non-existent equipment several times too and the rhythm of his hand speed was off, too quick in some places and too slow in others. It made him unpredictable. Interesting.

Lord Grim dodged a Sky Strike, shifting the umbrella away from its lance form. Sun Xiang didn't react, another odd thing, and instead merely moved One Autumn Leaf out of the range of the gun. It didn't help and One Autumn Leaf's health dropped just a bit more. Lord Grim's had dropped too, but not as much.

Both avatars continued dodging. By now the field was in shambles and both avatars were nearly equal in health. They were also running low on MP. Huh, Sun Xiang did seem to have potential after all.

Ye Xiu executed another move, too quick for One Autumn Leaf to dodge and the avatar's health reduced further. Sun Xiang didn't say anything ... actually, neither of them had spoken since the battle had started.

---

 

We are going to lose.

It's part of the plan.

They blocked a strike, but their health still dropped. They were at the critical level now while Lord Grim still had a good chunk of his health left.

What kind of plan is this?

Sun Xiang didn't answer, instead tapping on the keyboard to execute another move which finished off the last of One Autumn Leaf's MP.

One more strike and we'll be finished.

Sun Xiang hummed under his breath and they dodged again. 

Unfortunately, it seemed that Lord Grim had predicted the path of their dodge and they were met with the lance form of the Myriad Manifestation Umbrella. One Autumn Leaf's health dropped to zero and the word defeat flashed across the screen. Sun Xiang stared at it for a long moment before pushing himself away from the computer and stretching.

"Thanks for the game," he said as he stood up.

Ye Xiu stood up too, rolling his shoulders back and casting a glance around the cafe. It had filled up a little and he gave Sun Xiang a nod before heading off to the reception desk. Sun Xiang rolled his neck and stretched his fingers before gently removing One Autumn Leaf's card.

That went well.

One Autumn Leaf grumbled something and he felt the connection fade. The sudden emptiness in his head was odd, but not unwelcome, and he tucked the card into his pocket as he slowly made his way out of the cafe and into the deep cold night.

It wasn't until he had gotten back to Excellent Era that he remembered the container. Well, at least he had an excuse to go back.