Zoe rummaged around and found her Frogitech controller, a clever spin on the classic PlayTerminal design, then plugged it into Code Crusher.
A happy little chime confirmed that the machine recognized it.
She switched the game into controller mode—this secret weapon was her ace in the hole, and she was ready for anything.
She teleported to the arena and checked in as one of the combatants.
A moment later, the game teleported her to her pregame booth.
Screens surrounded her, each displaying shots of the arena's seating and various views of the battleground.
Seats were filling up fast, and she grinned in anticipation.
Snacks climbed up on the back of her chair and draped himself across her shoulder as she double-checked her equipped spells.
QueenBeach was a battle mage, while she was a wizard in-game.
She needed a good shield spell, some long-range attacks, and a solid staff for close combat if Queen got too close.
Zoe browsed her spells carefully:
She chose Mana Shield for solid protection, knowing it could absorb significant damage before breaking.
It was crucial to keep QueenBeach's melee strikes at bay, especially if her rare and prized Mirror Blade started reflecting attacks.
Then there was Arcane Barrage, a versatile long-range attack that fired multiple projectiles—perfect for keeping pressure on QueenBeach from a distance and forcing her to stay defensive.
Next, Zoe selected Ice Shard, a powerful ice attack with a slowing effect.
If she could land this, it would cripple QueenBeach's mobility, limiting her Arcane Charge effectiveness.
She also kept Wind Gust ready, a handy spell to push QueenBeach back if she got too close—maintaining distance was crucial for her wizard play style.
And for her final, heavy-hitting spell, Zoe picked Oblivion Nova.
It was high-cost but dealt significant area damage, something she intended to unleash when QueenBeach's health was low, aiming for a dramatic finish.
She also selected her staff: an epic-tier weapon with a strong stun effect. If QueenBeach managed to close the gap, one solid hit could stun her, giving Zoe the chance to reposition or chain together more spells to chip away at her health.
Finally, Zoe picked the three potions allowed: two health refills and one mana refill.
She wasn't planning to waste mana healing if she could help it, but she equipped a self-heal spell just in case things got out of hand.
She also swapped into her legendary robe—not the one she normally wore when white-named, but a solid defense option with a great mana boost, something she wouldn't mind losing in the battle.
With Snacks lounging comfortably, she gave the screens one last look.
Zoe reminded herself of the stakes.
As a black-named player, if she died at the hands of another player, she would lose all of her equipped gear.
It was similar to an old game she used to play, Conquer Online, where losing a fight meant losing the top two items you had equipped.
Here, though, the stakes were even higher—all her gear was on the line. She wasn't just fighting for pride; she was fighting to keep everything she'd worked hard to earn.
With that in mind, she double-checked each equipped item carefully. Everything was solid and disposable, even the robe—she had three of them, after all.
Best of all, QueenBeach couldn't even use it, since she was a battle mage. This way, if she lost, at least she wouldn't be handing over anything that could directly benefit her rival.
The crowd was roaring, their cheers echoing through her headphones.
Of course there was a cheer emote for the arena.
Zoe knew she was a crowd favorite, and not just because of her power.
She had earned their support by being helpful—taking time to assist newbs, guiding friends through tough spots, and always treating others with respect.
Her kindness had built her a loyal fanbase, and today, they were all here cheering her on. The anticipation was thick in the air.
She smirked, knowing that this fight was going to be anything but predictable.
With a minute to go, QueenBeach appeared on the screen, her avatar looking every bit as intimidating as Zoe expected.
Decked out in gleaming armor, her Mirror Blade shimmering with an eerie light, QueenBeach exuded confidence, even as a game avatar.
Zoe couldn't help but grin; this was the kind of high-stakes challenge she thrived on.
Zoe took a deep breath and put on her game face.
She hit the livestream button to broadcast to the guild Discord.
As Zoeshon, she watched as her platform moved into position, rising up away from the camera setup. A brief darkness later, both of them emerged across from each other.
The countdown began, big, bold letters blazing across every screen.
10, 9, 8... Snacks watched from her shoulder, his ears perked and alert.
5, 4, 3... Zoe took one last sip of her drink, the cold fizziness calming her nerves.
2, 1... GO!
The arena erupted in light as the platforms settled, and without hesitation, QueenBeach charged forward, her Mirror Blade held high.
Zoeshon immediately cast Mana Shield, the shimmering barrier forming around her just in time to absorb the first blow.
Sparks flew as QueenBeach's sword struck against it, the force sending a shockwave across the arena floor.
Zoeshon quickly countered with Arcane Barrage, launching multiple bolts of energy directly at QueenBeach, forcing her to backpedal.
QueenBeach used Arcane Charge, darting to the side and avoiding most of the projectiles. One bolt connected, but QueenBeach barely flinched, her health bar hardly ticking down.
QueenBeach suddenly dashed forward with another Arcane Charge, moving faster than Zoeshon anticipated.
She swung her Mirror Blade, and Zoeshon barely managed to dodge, the blade grazing her side. Her health dipped, and Zoeshon felt a jolt of adrenaline.
She had to keep her distance.
Zoeshon retaliated with Wind Gust, pushing QueenBeach back and giving herself a moment to reposition.
With some breathing room, she cast Ice Shard, launching the freezing projectile toward her opponent.
The ice connected, and QueenBeach's movements slowed, giving Zoeshon an advantage.
Seeing her chance, Zoeshon lunged forward, her epic-tier staff glowing with energy.
She swung it hard, connecting with QueenBeach's side.
The stun effect activated, and QueenBeach was momentarily paralyzed, her avatar locked in place.
Zoeshon used this opportunity to relaunch Arcane Barrage, landing several hits and chunking QueenBeach's health bar significantly.
QueenBeach gritted her teeth and broke free of the stun, her eyes narrowing.
She activated Shattering Pulse, slamming her sword into the ground.
The shockwave rippled outward, and mirror-like shards erupted from the earth, shattering Zoeshon's Mana Shield and knocking her off balance.
The crowd let out a collective gasp, the roar of excitement peaking as they watched Zoeshon stagger, her shield reduced to fragments.
QueenBeach seized the moment, charging in with her Mirror Blade raised high.
She brought it down in a devastating arc, and Zoeshon barely managed to cast Teleport Blink, disappearing just in time to avoid a critical hit.
She reappeared on a raised platform, her heart pounding, but her health bar was dangerously low.
Without hesitation, she took a health refill potion, watching her health bar climb back to a safer level.
QueenBeach wasn't about to let up.
She summoned her Mirror Blade Reflections, three ghostly duplicates that began closing in on Zoeshon.
The crowd gasped in unison as the illusions surrounded her, a murmur of tension rippling through the audience.
Zoeshon quickly cast Arcane Barrage, taking out one of the reflections, and cheers erupted from the stands.
The other two kept coming, though, their ghostly forms weaving towards her. She followed up with Wind Gust, scattering them briefly.
A wave of applause echoed as the gust cleared them, but QueenBeach herself was already on the move, using Arcane Charge to close the distance.
Zoeshon knew she had to end this.
She summoned her mana reserves, casting Oblivion Nova.
The dark energy swirled around her staff, crackling with power, the arena bathed in an eerie violet light.
Sparks flew from the spell, reflecting off the mirror shards still embedded in the ground, creating a dazzling effect.
Zoeshon's pulse quickened, the sheer weight of the mana drain pressing down on her.
'One good hit, just one...' she thought, releasing the spell as QueenBeach charged forward.
The blast hit QueenBeach head-on, her health bar plummeting, leaving her in the red.
Cheers erupted as the tide turned visibly in Zoeshon's favor.
But QueenBeach wasn't finished.
She swung her sword in desperation, aiming for a final, decisive strike.
Zoeshon used Ice Shard again, her aim true.
The freezing magic hit QueenBeach, slowing her movements, and Zoeshon followed up with one last swing of her staff, the stun effect triggering once more.
QueenBeach's avatar staggered, her health bar emptying as she fell to her knees.
For a split second, the violet light from Zoeshon's spell still flickered across the arena.
The entire crowd held its breath.
Then the light faded, and a massive cheer erupted.
Emotes filled the screens—clapping, firework bursts, heart emojis—and in-game chat exploded with messages, ranging from congratulations to stunned reactions.
Zoeshon let out a slow breath, her fingers twitching slightly on the controller.
'That was close... but worth it,' she thought.
Snacks let out a little cheer of his own, flapping his wings excitedly from her shoulder.
Zoe looked down at QueenBeach's avatar, still kneeling in defeat. She offered her hand, just like before.
QueenBeach hesitated, then took it, and Zoeshon helped her to her feet.
"Good fight," Zoeshon said, her voice calm but filled with satisfaction.
QueenBeach nodded, her expression a mix of frustration and begrudging respect. "Yeah... you got me this time. But don't think it's over."
Zoe just smirked, giving the crowd a wave as her platform began to lower. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Queen."