"That's Alex. He is the son of Mr Howard, the one who created this software. Tom and Alex aren't on the best of terms. Alex tries to belittle Tom to gain Mr Howard's attention. Seems like the discussion got heated today", Emily said to David.
David did not know about Mr Howard or care about him. He immediately lunged towards the bodyguards who were holding Tom by his collar.
"Stop, they are professionals," Emily tried to whisper, but David had already dashed forward. The other bodyguard noticed David running towards them and took a firm stance, preparing to fend him off.
Undeterred, David grinned and abruptly changed direction, leaping toward Alex lying on the ground. He stomped on his torso before gripping his neck in a choking position. "So, everything cool?"
"HELP!" Alex suddenly shouted, prompting the bodyguards to release Tom and rush towards David and Alex.
By this time, many guests and investors had gathered near the fight.
"Did Tom and Alex fight again?" one of them asked.
"Yeah, it seems Alex said something about Tom's mom", the other replied.
"Mr Howard would be outraged. Even though he made the software, it is only viable if Mr Allister goes ahead with the business deal to add them to their piece of tech."
Meanwhile, David whispered to Alex, "Hey buddy, tell your guards to back off, or you won't walk out of here with all your limbs still working." However, Alex just grinned confidently, retorting, "Do whatever. The doctors can treat me, but you won't walk out of here alive."
David glanced at Alex again and calmly responded, "Seems like that will make the two of us," as he tightened his grip around Alex's neck.
"Matt, Carl, STOP!" Alex shouted, causing the bodyguards to halt, and David released his grip.
"Good boy," David muttered to Alex, adjusting his tuxedo, and then began walking toward Tom.
"What's going on?" A loud voice roared throughout the hall as a man in a black tuxedo emerged from the crowd, casting a stern gaze at Alex on the ground.
"Daddy, Tom started the fight, and then this guy came out of nowhere and started attacking me", Alex shouted while pointing at David.
"Who the hell are you?" Howard shouted.
"He is with me," Tom replied
"Doesn't mean he can come into MY party and hit MY son and still get away with it", Howard replied, not eager to back down.
"Then Howard," Tom said while walking close to David, "keep your son under leash."
Howard gave Alex the 'What did you do now' look, prompting him to fall silent and gaze at the floor.
"I apologize for my son's misdemeanours," Howard suddenly pleaded to Tom, who reluctantly agreed. Tom was there to represent his father and didn't want to cause any trouble for the company and its investors.
"Now that everyone has gathered here," Howard said, replacing his disapproving look with a more determined one. "I would like to show everyone the capabilities of the new software under Howard Tech, The Virtual Arena."
His announcement was met with a thunderous round of applause as people eagerly anticipated learning more about this groundbreaking software. With the increasing popularity of Orion, investors were eager to hunt for these investment opportunities.
"He's a smart man. He diverted the audience's attention from Alex to his new product in mere seconds," David commented.
Howard clapped his hands, and two assistants appeared beside him, each holding a VR headset.
"My software can be downloaded into these headsets created by Mr. Allister. This software will then store the player data from Orion to create virtual arenas for the players, which can be used for tournaments, duels, and much more."
The announcement was met with another round of applause. Tournaments and duels meant that a competitive league for the game could be set up, attracting sponsors and other brand deals.
"As a demo today, my son would like to utilize this VR headset, which has been integrated with our software, to show how fun duels can be in the Virtual Arena," Howard finished as he handed one of the VR headsets to Alex.
Alex quickly looked at David. "I would like him to be my opponent for this duel." The spotlight was now on David, who glanced at Tom. "It's just a mock, don't worry."
"Alright, alright! Just don't go crying to your dad again after you lose," David smirked as he took the headset from Alex.
"Your friend really likes to get on nerves, huh?" Emily whispered in Tom's ears. "Yeah, but he is a nice guy, trust me." Tom smiled.
David and Alex wore the VR headset, entered the machine, and loaded their players into the virtual arena. "Currently, the software is being developed, and we have used a simple grass field for this match, " Howard said as everyone looked towards the screen.
"hah, you are only level 7. Do you think you can defeat me?" Alex smirked.
The investors watching the match thought this was a one-sided match. "Alex is a level 10 swordsman, and David seems like a level 7 mage. It doesn't seem like he has any prominent class either."
Alex and David faced each other, ready for the duel. Alex swiftly leapt at David as the match commenced, utilizing his agility against a mage-type player. However, David, having prior experience as a swordsman in his previous life, met the challenge head-on. Instead of retreating, he engaged in close combat with Alex.
David's strategy seemed ludicrous to onlookers—after all, it's nearly impossible to beat a swordsman in close combat. Despite this, David didn't falter. He unleashed a barrage of spells, but Alex deftly dodged each one. Seizing an opportunity, Alex executed a swift strike, only to have David parry it with his staff and respond with a powerful kick to Alex's torso, pushing him back.
The experience gap between David and Alex was evident. While Alex was adjusting to VR combat, David had spent much of his life playing Orion and engaging in life-and-death battles. David lunged at him without giving Alex a chance to recover, launching a flurry of lightning spells. Despite Alex's evasive manoeuvres, David found an opening. He struck him on the head with his staff, rendering him unconscious with a single, decisive blow.
[ Alex has been defeated; David is the winner]
Everyone was shocked.
"Your friend has quite a unique way of fighting for a mage", Emily giggled, and even Tom had no reply but to laugh. A mage using his staff to fight against a swordsman made no sense on paper, yet David had managed to do the unthinkable.
The people watching the duel started to clap loudly. Some clapped for the remarkable piece of software, which had endless possibilities. In contrast, the others clapped for David, an under-levelled mage who defeated a swordsman in close range. Alex and David took off their headset and exited the machine with a different expression.
"This isn't over", Alex muttered, but David had no interest in making enemies. He knew that the real threat would be other races, not humans. But that didn't stop him from trolling others. He looked at Alex and muttered two words: "Get good". He then stood next to Tom and Emily with a prideful expression on his face.
A few men and woman walked towards the trio. "We would like to congratulate you for the victory. We would like to invite you to our company if a Competitive league is really made possible in Orion using Virtual Arena", one of the man said as David politely accepted the card
Emily was the first one to congratulate him: "Though your food choices are terrible, you are average at the game". Tom also looked at David before saying, "What did she say?"
"traitor", David muttered as he glared at Tom.
"She is my childhood friend! Just like an older sister", Tom coughed. "I could set you with her if you want."
"No thanks. I like me, my woman; I'm intelligent and cute. Not dumb and rash", David smirked.
"We both know who liked the noodles with chocolate; clear signs of missing intelligence", Emily retorted.
"Aah, true love", Tom commented, giggling.
Amid the party, David's performance in the duel garnered the attention of numerous attendees. The prospect of Orion evolving into a competitive realm fueled discussions, with many recognizing David as a potentially valuable addition to any team. Simultaneously, Howard and other investors eyed David warily.
They understood that his influence over Tom's decisions could disrupt their business ventures and strategic plans, creating an undercurrent of caution and scepticism within the influential circles of the party.
"Get more information about David", Howard muttered to his assistant. He had to be ashamed of his son twice the same day due to David and shenanigans.
David and Emily kept bickering and spent the rest of their night with Tom, talking and eating with each other. They even exchanged numbers to stay in touch.
"Unlike all the other times, the party this time was fun, " Emily muttered. Tom couldn't agree more as both knew that the reason for that was eating five scoops of ice cream dipped in hot chocolate.
The ride back home was uneventful, as Tom had fallen asleep. David decided that he would finish the quest today, and he went to the room where the VR machine was kept while the servants carried Tom to his room.
"Well, that's done. Should I hop into the game now?"
He quickly hopped on to defeat the Slime King and continue his quest. He spawned in front of the cave where he had logged out and peeked in, trying to find traces of the Slime King. David carefully ventured into the cave, trying not to make a sound and alert the monsters.
"Where the hell is it?" he muttered, but suddenly, he heard a loud noise coming more profound into the cave.
"YES!" David quickly rushed further and noticed a gigantic slime chilling on the top of a rock.
"Maybe I could sneak attack?" he thought as he silently cast a barrage of Lesser Fire spells and shot them all towards the monster, but to his surprise, the attacks were absorbed inside the slime's body, which turned around its jelly-like body, to see who had interrupted its slumber.
"Shit!"