Les leaned back against the cool stone wall of the arena's preparation room, the roaring crowd still faintly audible from outside. His body buzzed with the aftermath of the fight, his muscles sore but his spirit high. The victory had felt good, better than anything he had experienced in months. But now, as the adrenaline began to fade, his thoughts turned to the bigger picture.
Ancient Arena Online wasn't just a battleground for warriors and mages. No, the game was something more—something unique. A world where nearly every form of competition could be found, from monster hunting to dueling, from treasure hunting to crafting. But there was one aspect Les hadn't fully considered until now: sports.
Les recalled reading about it during his first deep dive into the game's description. Ancient Arena Online wasn't limited to just combat and adventure; it was a sprawling, all-encompassing virtual world. You could race, play soccer, basketball, even fencing—any form of athletic competition you could imagine. And in that realization, an idea began to form in Les's mind. His skill, Life Mirror, could be used to replicate the experience of other players, yes, but what if he could tap into something bigger? Someone greater?
He stared at his reflection in the polished steel of his sword, his mind racing. What if he used his skill not just on fighters but on athletes—true legends in their fields?
There had to be a way to exploit this feature of the game, especially in a world where sports had always been a big part of VR culture. Before he was kicked out of The Hub, Les had worked with top-tier athletes and managed teams in competitive VR sports. While most people in Ancient Arena Online focused on combat skills or magical abilities, Les knew that the raw athletic talent of a trained professional could be just as valuable in this digital world.
The thought brought him back to an old memory. Back in The Hub, Les had once worked with a player who wasn't just a top VR gamer but also a professional athlete—Kai "The Phantom" Nakamura. A world-renowned sprinter, Kai had been one of the fastest men alive, combining his natural athleticism with pinpoint gaming reflexes to become a legend in both worlds. Les had managed Kai's VR team for a brief stint, and during that time, he'd seen firsthand the raw power and precision of a true athlete in VR.
Les's mind clicked into gear. Kai. What if he could use Life Mirror to access Kai's skills? His movement, his speed, his athletic prowess—it would be a game-changer in this world, where battles often hinged on agility and reflexes as much as brute strength.
He opened his inventory and reviewed the mechanics of Life Mirror. The skill allowed him to relive a part of someone's life, gaining knowledge and physical skills based on that person's experiences. However, he couldn't just pick anyone; it had to be someone with whom he had personal history or significant interaction. The deeper the connection, the more he could pull from their past.
He smiled to himself. His history with Kai might just be enough.
With renewed determination, Les left the preparation room and headed back toward the city. The streets bustled with players and NPCs alike, all immersed in their own goals and quests. But for Les, the only quest that mattered right now was tapping into the athletic power of Kai Nakamura. He needed to find a quiet place to concentrate, to activate his Life Mirror ability and dive into those memories.
As he entered a small, quiet courtyard at the edge of the city, Les sat down on a stone bench, the faint hum of the game's ambient noise surrounding him. His breath slowed as he focused inward, calling up the memory of Kai—of those long hours watching him sprint, seeing him work out and perfect his movements, even in a virtual space. The way Kai moved was like poetry in motion, every muscle working in sync, every step planned and executed to perfection.
Les activated Life Mirror, and for a moment, his vision blurred as the world around him shifted. He was no longer in the courtyard. Instead, he stood on a virtual track, the air around him charged with the anticipation of a race. The feeling of powerful legs under him, the tension in his muscles—it was as if he had stepped into Kai's shoes, reliving one of the athlete's greatest moments.
The starting gun went off, and Les surged forward, the sensation of speed overwhelming his senses. The wind rushed past him, the ground beneath him barely a blur. He could feel the precision of each stride, the perfect balance between speed and control. This was how Kai had felt during his sprints—untouchable, unstoppable.
When the vision faded and Les returned to the courtyard, he was gasping for breath, the phantom sensation of speed still tingling in his muscles. He looked down at his hands, half-expecting to see them shaking, but they were steady, calm. He could feel it—the difference in his body, the way his muscles responded. He wasn't Kai, but he had absorbed enough of the sprinter's expertise to give him a crucial edge in the game.
Les stood up and began to move, testing his newfound agility. His steps were quicker, more precise, and when he broke into a run, the world around him seemed to slow down. He wasn't just faster—he was more in control. Every motion was smooth, every turn calculated. The Life Mirror had done more than just give him raw speed; it had given him an athlete's understanding of movement and rhythm.
Smirking, Les made his way toward one of the game's sports fields, where players were gathered to practice and compete in various athletic events. In Ancient Arena Online, the sports competitions were just as fierce as the combat arenas, and betting on matches was just as popular.
Les approached a group of players who were lining up for a race on one of the game's virtual tracks. The prize for winning? In-game currency, enough to help fund his continued exploration—and maybe a few new pieces of gear.
He walked up to the betting terminal nearby, the screen flashing with the odds of the various competitors. The favorite, a sleek-looking player with a customized avatar built for speed, was already attracting most of the bets.
Les glanced at the odds listed under his name, seeing that the system had pegged him as a long shot. Perfect.
He placed a small bet on himself, knowing that if he won, the payout would be significant. With a quiet determination, he stepped up to the starting line.
The other competitors eyed him skeptically, probably sizing him up as an easy mark. Les didn't mind. Let them underestimate him. He knew what he had gained from Life Mirror, and more importantly, he knew how to use it.
As the countdown began, Les crouched low, feeling the familiar tension in his legs as the starting signal loomed.
Three. Two. One.
The starting horn blared, and Les exploded off the line, his body moving with a speed and precision he hadn't known before. The other runners struggled to keep up, their movements clumsy in comparison. Les's mind was clear, his focus absolute, just like Kai had been during his races.
With each stride, Les felt more in tune with his new abilities. The wind whipped around him, the world blurring as he pushed himself to the limit. The finish line loomed ahead, and with a final burst of speed, Les crossed it first, leaving the other racers in his dust.
The crowd erupted into cheers, but Les barely heard them. His heart pounded with the thrill of victory, but more than that, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He had tapped into a new part of his power, and he had won not just through brute force or combat skills, but by using strategy and experience.
As the betting terminal flashed his winnings on the screen, Les grinned. This was only the beginning. Ancient Arena Online was a world of infinite possibilities, and he intended to master them all.