Twenty-one days remained until the first round of the Magic Metaverse Tournament. In the past week, the most serious magic duelists trained night in and night out, unlocking new spells as well as learning to understand their Chronicle. The so-called serious duelists included Tom, those from the five Super-Nations, and many others from all around the world.
On the current day, Kamari and Seon were having lunch together, sitting in the cafeteria with the rest of the contestants. Tom was there as well, sitting next to Kamari. The three of them talked about the mundane and the tournament, trying to find some joy in the dire situation. However, this brief moment of tranquility would be interrupted by the Game Master's masked face appearing on the large screen in the cafeteria.
"Good afternoon, Magic Duelists! Today is a very, very special day! The bracket for the tournament has been completed! Now, don't shoot the messenger, as this bracket was generated using an AI, meaning the AI created the most fair bracket possible using statistics that we've gathered in the past week.
Are you guys ready!?" The Game Master asked this as if he were waiting for the contestants to cheer for him, holding up his ear to the camera. "Just kidding, this is prerecorded." he joked before the screen shifted to show a massive tournament bracket with two hundred and fifty slots.
"Yes!" one young woman shouted, seeing that she would have faced off against Edgar Gonzales, who was preemptively eliminated by the Game Master, meaning she didn't have to compete this month.
As for everyone else, they scanned desperately for their names. Having a week to get to know each other, some of them were able to recognize their opponent's name, eyeing them from across the room.
However, in the case of Hana Seon and Kamari Yelekal, they looked at each other with horrified eyes. In the first round, Kamari Yelekal #126, would face off against contestant Hana Seon #111.
Tom saw this as well, looking for Kamari's name to see when he'd have to inevitably face him. They were on opposite ends of the bracket, so they'd never face each other unless they both made it to the grand finals. However, the same could not be said for Seon and Kamari.
"Now if I was there, I bet I'd see that some of you aren't too happy with your position. If that is the case, I have a deal for you! As you can see, the contestant named Danielle Martin #72 does not have an opponent. In other words, there is an opportunity for anyone to fight her instead of their current opponent.
Danielle, the contestant from New Australis, had a look of shock on her face. After just celebrating that she would get a free ride through the tournament, things were about to change quickly for her. Knowing an explanation would be needed, the Game Master continued to speak.
"You're all probably wondering what the catch is. Well, it's simple. At any time before the first round, whoever wants to change their standing must be a guinea pig for us. We are currently developing an AI that is capable of fighting as a human would. Of course, we don't want to make the perfect machine, that would be too easy. We're developing an AI that learns through battle and we would like one of you, or however many want to volunteer to change their standing, to fight it."
By this point, Kamari was already set on changing his standing. He wasn't going to fight against Seon, and he knew she wouldn't fight against him. Even outside of avoiding having to fight Seon, he would give her another month to live by giving her no opponent.
For the first time during their entire stay in the Metaverse, Kamari wanted to get stronger. He found the thing he wanted to protect.
The Game Master continued. "However, just as poor Edgar lost his life in our sparring match, if you lose to this AI, you will be eliminated from the tournament. Permanently."
Just like that, it was clear that many people who wanted to simply change brackets to avoid having to fight people from Super-Nations felt deflated. Fighting a learning AI sounded far more unfair than fighting a prodigy who'd trained their whole life for the tournament. It was far too unpredictable.
"For anyone who wants to take the plunge, you can find my office on the opposite side of the living quarters and we can discuss this in more detail if you'd like. You can't miss it. Until next time!" the Game Master disappeared from the screen, which continued to play a show for the contestants to watch as they dined.
Tom could see on Kamari's face that he was willing to fight the AI, which he didn't too much like, though he held his tongue. Kamari and Seon then looked at each other before Kamari volunteered. "I'll do it. I'll fight the AI." he told her.
Seon shook her head, placing her hand on Kamari's gently before telling him her side of the situation. "Kamari... It would be best if I were to do it. If you were to die, it would be wasteful. If I die, I'm simply allowing the inevitable." For Seon, being a young woman with a terminal illness made this entire thing pointless for her. Inversely, Kamari was completely healthy, able to actually have a life if he were to miraculously win the tournament. For Seon, the decision was a no-brainer.
"You don't know what's inevitable and what's not, Seon." Kamari told her, surprising himself with his own words. Not too long ago, he would have agreed with her.
"I'm sick, Kamari." Seon reminded him, though he wasn't going to let that stop him from telling his piece.
"And you can be cured. I know you said it will be too late, but we don't know for sure. Even if the chances are low, nearly zero, there is still a chance. Besides, you have a family still, don't you? I have nothing to lose if I were to take on this challenge. No one would miss me."
"But I would." Seon said quietly. She was feeling selfish at the moment, not wanting to be the one who had to suffer loss if Kamari were to fall to the hands of the AI Magic Duelist. Hearing Seon practically confess that she didn't want to lose him sent a jolt through Kamari's heart.
"It's for the best, Seon. Think about it, this learning AI has likely learned things about the tournament's history. Meaning it knows all about your Chronicle's possibilities. I am the first person with a Dark Chronicle, meaning it has to start from scratch when forming a strategy against me. I have a better chance at winning this."
Seon knew he was right. Outside of their opinions about who was more deserving to live on, this was a fact. Kamari could use the unknown to his advantage. "You're right." she told him reluctantly. In the background, Tom's eyebrows furrowed upon hearing how this was all going to go. 'Do I really not have a say in this?' Tom thought to himself.
Kamari was his only friend so far and he didn't want to lose him. However, this also wasn't his business and he knew that. He did, nonetheless, have something he wanted to say to Kamari about the whole ordeal, but he'd wait until the two were in private. "I guess it's to the training room we go, right, lad?" Tom asked Kamari, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Right." Kamari repeated as both he and Tom started to get up from the lunch table. As he stood up, Seon grabbed his hand and stared deeply into Kamari's eyes. "Remember our promise. You promised me."
"I know. Don't worry, I don't intend on breaking that promise. I'll see you tonight."
And so, Kamari and Tom took off, leaving Seon behind. Kamari may have been behind in terms of his training, but he was nonetheless determined to catch up as quickly as possible with Tom giving pointers on how to do so most efficiently.
Back in the real world, the marketing team could be seen talking with the Game Master through the screen in their office, praising him for a job well done. "Wonderful idea, Game Master! The Dark Chronicle user is now training his Chronicle!"
"Just as I said he would. It would be wise to begin the marketing campaign for the boy against the machine, yes?" the Game Master asked, getting nods from all the members before the council's leader spoke. "Yes, we are generating interest through social media as we speak. A team will be creating a preview starring 126 and 111."
"Perfect." the Game Master spoke, his smile being heard from beneath his mask.