[Welcome to Virtual Strike]
The blue, glowing text appeared briefly before fading into another screen:
[Virtual Strike, an MMA-inspired game. Virtual Strike is a combat game in which you challenge Opponents to an MMA match. The higher your win rate, the higher your rank on the leaderboard. Each fighter has the chance to choose a single skill, which can be evolved by points gained in every match. Rise to the top of the leaderboards and dominate the world of Virtual Strike. Good luck.]
"I guess that's the lore the devs are sticking with. Lazy writing if you ask me," Kade muttered to no one in particular.
[Choose your skill]
A new prompt appeared, presenting a list of skills. He scrolled through it, unsure of what to pick. In the end, he opted for the random option, crossing his fingers for something useful. With no way to delete the game, he'd be stuck if he ended up with a dud skill.
[Congratulations, you've gained 'The Eye' (Rank Ex)]
"What the hell? What's with this skill?" Kade blurted out, but he quickly calmed down. "It's Ex rank, supposedly the highest in the game, so it might be useful, right?"
Another message popped up before he could inspect the skill further.
[Since a skill has been granted, a full body and brain scan will be taken to display the player's details]
"Sure, go ahead," he replied, unbothered. He knew this game was known for its realism, but a body scan for a simple character setup seemed excessive.
[Scan complete. Displaying Player details]
[
Name: Kade Rivers
Age: 19
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Weight class: Lightweight
Attack Power: C
Speed: D+
Endurance: C+
Stamina: C+
Fighting Styles:
Kickboxing: Stand-up striking and footwork.
Techniques: Combines punches and kicks.
Proficiency: C
Boxing: Primarily focuses on hand strikes and footwork.
Techniques: Uses jabs, hooks, uppercuts, and crosses, with an emphasis on head movement, blocking, and angles.
Proficiency: C+
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Ground fighting and submission holds.
Techniques: Emphasizes chokes, joint locks, guard positions, and sweeps.
Proficiency: D
Skill:
The Eye (Lv 1): Allows you to read and predict an opponent's attacks just before they are performed by interpreting muscle movements and relaying the data to the player's brain.
Level-up Requirement: Continue using the skill.
]
"That was… useful," Kade muttered, closing the screen before another message popped up again.
He remembered how he'd dabbled in various martial arts, training in Kickboxing, Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu over the years. Other forms had intrigued him too, but he hadn't pursued them enough to reach any meaningful skill level. "Maybe that's why only those three showed up," he thought.
[Tutorial match initiated. Winning or losing this match won't affect your ranking. This is purely to introduce you to the game mechanics and matchmaking process.]
[Searching for an opponent...]
Kade shrugged, resigning himself to wait while the loading icon spun.
[Opponent found]
A screen displaying his opponent's details appeared before him:
[Opponent:
Name: Justin Leathers
Age: 23
Weight Class: Lightweight
Fighting Style: Karate
Fights:
Matches: 8
Wins: 2
Losses: 6
Rank: 3,000+
]
"I thought I'd be facing a newbie like me, not someone who already has some fights under his belt," Kade muttered, frowning at Justin's stats. He could technically decline the match, but he wasn't sure how long it would take to find another opponent, and there was no guarantee he'd be matched with a true beginner. With a sigh, he accepted the challenge.
[You've accepted your first match. Choose your costume and get ready.]
A set of customization options appeared for gloves, shorts, and other gear. Kade chose white shorts with a black band and black fingerless gloves with white straps, leaving the rest on default.
[Selection finalized]
[Please select fighting venue]
More options appeared, and he randomly selected an octagon cage.
[Selection complete. Good luck on your match.]
The white room around him dissolved, replaced by the intense atmosphere of a fight arena. Kade took a deep breath, realizing he was now standing in a classic octagon cage. While his opponent was still finalizing his setup, Kade had a moment to look around.
The stadium had the familiar layout of a VFC venue, with tiered, circular seating that rose around him. Most of the stands were empty, though a few avatars began to log in and take seats, filling the air with soft chatter and murmurs. Kade's attention snapped back to the ring as Justin appeared across from him.
Kade took a few moments to size him up.
Justin was around 5'7" and had a strong, athletic build. His yellow hair was cut in a fade, giving him a clean look that matched his sharp brown eyes. Dressed in red shorts with a black band and red fingerless gloves, Justin exuded confidence. He carried himself like he'd already won, which left Kade feeling a mix of unease and motivation.
Before long, a third figure appeared between them—the referee. The ref glanced at each of them, signaling for them to come closer to the center.
"Alright, let's go over the rules," he announced. "This match will consist of three rounds, each lasting five minutes. No eye-poking, groin shots, biting..." He rattled off a list of prohibited moves. Kade's mind wandered briefly as he recited the standard rules, but his nerves sharpened with every passing second.
'Mom, Dad, I hope you're watching. I'll make you proud,' he thought, feeling determination well up inside him.
"Alright, touch gloves if you want and step back to your corners," the referee said.
Kade lifted his gloves to offer a touch, but Justin merely smirked and walked away without acknowledging him. Kade let out a short breath and moved back to his corner, reminding himself not to let his opponent's attitude get under his skin.
This was it. His first real fight—not a sparring match, not a drill, but an actual competition. He'd trained hard, but this felt different. Strategy ran through his mind as he weighed his skills against Justin's style.
The referee's voice broke his concentration: "Ready? Ready? Fight!"