As I made my way towards the main gate building, I caught sight of Elizabeth, who was accompanied by four individuals on the periphery of my vision. One of them seemed familiar—the person with whom Elizabeth had engaged in friendly banter during our first class. Taking a deep breath, I overcame my bubbling social anxiety about meeting strangers and approached them cautiously, determined to be as polite as possible.
"I hope I didn't make you guys wait?" I said apologetically as Elizabeth saw me approaching.
If I had known they were already here, I would've come a bit earlier. I spent my time at the library waiting for the allotted time since I didn't want to stand in the main gate building for minutes doing nothing.
"Oh, no, no! We just arrived earlier than expected," Elizabeth vehemently protested.
That makes sense. It was only 3:25 the last time I checked.
"I can't believe you managed to recruit another member so quickly," the familiar boy exclaimed.
"Well, with Liz around, it's not entirely unexpected," a calm and feminine voice responded.
"Oh, I apologize for not introducing everyone sooner. Katherine, these are my friends. We all come from the same high school," Elizabeth explained, gesturing towards the group.
Elizabeth proceeded to introduce her friends to me one by one, being mindful not to overwhelm me.
"This is Lenna, my best friend," she announced.
Lenna, who stood shorter than me, had long brown hair styled in a side bun. Her face exuded a warm and down-to-earth aura. She greeted me with a friendly smile, acknowledging my presence in a relaxed manner.
Elizabeth continued with the introductions, pointing to the next person. "And this is Beny, the support player in our team."
Beny appeared to be a shy-looking boy with glasses and neatly cut hair. There was an endearing quality about him, like a little puppy that one would want to protect. Protect from whom, though?
"H-Hello..." the meek boy greeted.
"A pleasure," I replied disarmingly.
"This one is Romel," she pointed to the guy from earlier in our first class with whom she was bickering.
"Nice to meet you, Katherine. I heard about you from Liz. Don't worry, I'm pretty skilled. If you have me on your team, I'll be sure to carry you," he declared confidently, emphasizing his point by thumping his fist against his chest.
Are you a gorilla trying to show off or something? I wondered to myself.
Although he sure seems confident in his skills. Is he really that good? The question popped into my mind while remembering his earlier statement concerning Zetta.
"Nice to meet you too," I replied politely while giving him an acknowledging nod.
Elizabeth continued with the introductions. "The chubby guy over there is Reynolds," she stated.
Reynolds, a portly guy slightly shorter than me, had wavy, short-cut hair. He greeted me with a friendly smile, his gentle demeanor contrasting with his plump figure.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Katherine," Reynolds greeted warmly, his friendly tone and kind expression putting me at ease.
I pondered for a moment before asking. "Don't we have too many players?"
In Champions of Andartha (CoA), a team match typically consists of four players on each side, totaling eight players in-game. The team composition can vary, but the most popular and well-balanced setup is having two supports and two carries. Carries are Champions who focus on dealing damage and eliminating the enemy team. They typically have a damage-oriented build and are crucial in dealing significant damage. On the other hand, supports have a more comprehensive range of roles, including healers, crowd controllers, tanks, buffers, and debuffers, among others. Their primary objective is to support the carries by either enabling them to deal more damage or hindering the enemy team from doing so.
"Oh, that's alright. Lenna isn't really a player and is just here to watch our game. And Reynolds mentioned that he wants you to be able to join, so he won't be playing either," Elizabeth explained.
"Anything for you, Miss Katherine," Raynold said with a gentlemanly smile.
I forced a smile in response, unsure of how to reply to his remark. It caught me off guard, leaving me slightly speechless.
Elizabeth, noticing my reaction, walked beside me and leaned closer to whisper in my ear, "Just ignore him. He's always like that whenever he sees a beautiful face."
"I... I see," I stammered, still taken aback by the unexpected compliment.
So, he's a real-life example of a simp, huh?
"June mentioned that his team is already there, waiting for us. Are you ready to go?" Elizabeth asked.
"...Alright, lead the way," I responded politely.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this. This would be my first game in a long while, more than two years, to be exact. Thankfully, I still play single-player VR games as a pastime, so hopefully, my skills haven't rusted that much.
--------------------------
As we chatted along the way, we arrived at the VR cafe after a short 5-minute walk. The establishment was housed in a modern commercial building, boasting a sleek and futuristic design.
Stepping into the VR cafe, I noticed that the interior was dimly lit, creating an atmosphere enhanced by the vibrant glow of green, blue, and red lines that adorned the walls and ceilings. These lines provided a futuristic touch and added to the ambiance of the space. The majority of the VR pods were occupied, with only a few vacant spots available. I noticed the staff also sanitizing the pod after a user finished playing which is a huge plus.
My attention was also drawn to the televisions hanging from the ceiling, replaying professional games, predominantly of CoA, along with a few other games that I didn't recognize. It was my first time inside a VR cafe, and I found myself captivated by the lively atmosphere it exuded. Lost in my observations, I realized that Elizabeth had already made her way to the counter.
"Hey, Anna! Is June already here?" Elizabeth inquired of the woman behind the counter.
The lady was surrounded by numerous mini computer screens displaying CCTV footage, providing a comprehensive view of the VR pods throughout the establishment.
"Oh, Liz! He's already waiting for you guys on the 3rd floor. Your reserved pods can be found in the room on your right after taking the stairs. The pods are numbered 315 to 318," the lady behind the counter politely explained.
"Thank you!" Elizabeth responded gratefully. "Let's go, guys."
With Elizabeth leading the way, we made our way upstairs to a spacious room. I noticed another set of approximately 20 VR pods, each with ample space between them. The room was bustling with other customers, all eager to enjoy their virtual reality experiences. As we approached the unused pods, I caught sight of a man standing in the corner, waiting for us.
"Took you long enough. I thought your team chickened out, Liz," the man taunted, his clean-shaven head and muscular physique giving him the appearance of someone who belonged in a gym.
"We arrived here as early as we could, June. Unlike you, we have classes, you know? And who's afraid of who? We completely crushed you in our last betting match," Elizabeth retorted with confidence.
"You were just lucky that time. Our team play has improved since then, so don't expect it to go your way. Plus, we have a new player joining us today," June responded smugly.
Elizabeth turned to June and asked, "Is your entire team already here?"
"They're actually playing already. They got bored waiting for you to show up. Anyway, are we sticking to the same rules as last time?" June inquired.
"No bets this time, just a normal match. And we also have a new teammate from our university," Elizabeth stated, signaling towards me.
"Oh, so you managed to coerce another member to join your team? Well, it's no surprise considering your meddlesome personality," June teased.
"Hmph, I am not THAT meddlesome... right?" Elizabeth looked at me, as if expecting me to deny the notion.
I shrugged nonchalantly, playing along. "You are, though."
June burst into laughter at my response, finding the exchange amusing, while Elizabeth pouted in playful protest.
"Hahaha, alright then, let's play with no bets. But the loser still has to cover the cost of the VR pod usage," June proposed.
"Fine, just don't regret it after we defeat your team," Elizabeth conceded, accepting the terms.
With the stakes finalized, June headed towards his VR pod.
"D-don't we get to warm up first?" Beny chimed after June left.
"Don't be too scared. The enemy will be barely enough as a warm-up," Romel reassured us.
Elizabeth, accustomed to Romel's overconfidence, took charge and instructed the rest of us. "You guys go ahead and create a lobby. I'll lend Katherine one of my accounts."
We each settled into our respective VR pods, and I made my way to pod #318, which was located furthest from the entrance. As I entered the pod and closed the door behind me, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. It has been a while.... too long since I last played CoA.
"Add me on VR chat and I'll send you the username and password to one of my accounts. I already told you my info, right?"
I nodded in confirmation.
"Also, don't worry too much about winning or losing. Just focus on the game and have fun," she advised, flashing a bright smile.
What a kind person, I needed the reassurance with me being already this nervous about playing. Well, I doubt we will lose anyway considering that they already beat the enemy team in their last bout. I'm not that useless that me joining them would drag the team down even if I haven't played in a while... probably.
"Are you certain it's alright for me to use your account?" I expressed my conflicted feelings.
"Absolutely! I rarely use it myself these days since I tend to play as a carry. You do know how to play support, right?" Elizabeth asked, seeking confirmation.
I nodded in affirmation. While I hadn't actively played the support role before, I had enough experience facing off against support players to understand their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the dos and don'ts of playing support.
"And don't worry, our height and body sizes are similar, so you won't feel any dissonance when controlling my character," she reassured me.
Dissonance, huh? It seems she is referring to the concept of real body versus virtual body dissonance. This occurs when there is a stark difference between the proportions of your physical body and the avatar you create in the virtual world. As a result, your movements can feel awkward and delayed, hindering your ability to perform at your best. That's why beginner's guides often emphasize the importance of using a full body scan when creating a character. By doing so, your avatar can be more closely coordinated with your actual body.
Interestingly, despite the hundreds and thousands of guides telling people not to do it, many players still choose avatars that don't align with their own bodies, such as males creating female characters and vice versa then regretting it later on in higher levels of gameplay. Honestly, I can't understand why they would place themselves in such a huge disadvantage.
"Alright, I'll log in now," I declared, stepping into the open VR pod and pressing the button to close the door. The faint scent of detergent filled my senses, indicating that the pod had been thoroughly cleaned and well-maintained. Within seconds, a robotic female voice echoed through the pod.
Please put on the nerve gear*
Obliging, I grabbed the nerve gear placed in the middle of the pod. This is the main feature of the VR pod, the nerve gear. The nerve gear sends fake electromagnetic signals to your head at a frequency unique to the brain. Then the nerve gear produces artificial waves to stimulate the brain to provide artificial senses for the virtual reality that you experience... or something like that, I'm not a neurologist so don't know the complete details but that's the gist of what I read in passing interest.
Though I sometimes have the irrational fear that there is some kind of overblown conspiracy device that will fry your brain to mush if you die on a game thanks to an anime I watched when I was a bit younger. But the VR pod had been studied and cleared of any dangers and there are no reported cases of anyone's brain getting fried so that helps a bit in assuaging my irrational fear.
Vital signs green, mental state green, emotional state green, preparing for virtual dive*
Loading 26%..... loading 59%..... loading 100% complete. Initiating full dive*
In a split second, all of my senses seemingly disappeared, leaving me in a state of emptiness. However, just as quickly, my senses returned, as if they had never left. I found myself in a virtual space filled with beautifully aligned planets, an artistic backdrop that could be customized according to the user's preference, akin to the background of a desktop computer.
"Show all apps," I requested, and a list of cubes materialized before me.
Instantly, I realized my mistake. The number of apps was overwhelming, with a multitude of games, social media platforms, networks, and various other unfamiliar options. There were over 50 installed apps, while I only utilized less than half of them on my own VR pod. Realizing this, I decided to rely on the search function rather than manually opening each app.
"Search and open VR messenger," I commanded, and the VR system acknowledged my request, opening the messenger for me. I sent a private message to the account that Elizabeth had provided earlier, and after a short while, a red notification ping appeared at the edge of my vision. It signaled Elizabeth's acceptance of my friend request, along with a message containing the username and password for her account. I memorized the login details and proceeded to open Champions of Andartha, ready to dive into the virtual world of the game.
In an instant, I found myself transported to a serene plain, with the magnificent statue of Andartha, the goddess, standing before me. The statue exuded an air of tranquility, as its closed eyes and majestic presence emanated a sense of awe and reverence. It was a masterpiece, so otherworldly and captivating that no matter how many times I encountered it, I couldn't help but be filled with a deep sense of wonder.
After the initial awe-inspiring moment, the game prompted me to enter the username and password for Elizabeth's secondary account. Without hesitation, I entered the provided credentials, and as I logged in, a character with the in-game name of Beth appeared on the screen. The character's body proportions mirrored Elizabeth's, adorned with a robe befitting a cleric-type character, and featuring her distinctively beautiful facial features.
So, it seemed that Elizabeth had utilized a face scan to accurately replicate her own facial features onto her 3D avatar. Personally, I hesitated to use such a feature. While a body scan could be manageable, the idea of strangers seeing a realistic 3D version of my face in an online game felt uncomfortable. Though she did say that she streams so I guess it's not an issue for her. I guess streamers are built differently in the confidence department, huh?
Without further delay, I pressed the 'Start' button, and the game began to load.
Loading.....
Loading.....
Loading complete!
Suddenly, a refreshing scent of fresh air filled my senses, and the hustle and bustle of the town came into view. As I strolled through the familiar surroundings, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. If my memory serves me right, this was the port town of Melos, typically accessible in the later stages of the game. It made sense that Elizabeth's max-level character would be here. This town held numerous memories for me, particularly a quest that proved too challenging for my sister involving a skilled NPC. In the end, I took on the quest and defeated the NPC on her behalf... my sister. My heart suddenly dropped as a profound sense of sadness unexpectedly overwhelmed me.
Warning: mental and emotional state fluctuating*
Player is Advised to take a break*
I dismissed the notification. Calm down. I took a breath and tried to calm myself. I forced all the thoughts outside my head and cleared my mind. I need a distraction.
Redirecting my attention to my inventory, I noticed that Elizabeth's character possessed a purple armor set along with a matching purple weapon. This indicated that her equipment was of a higher rarity, as the strength of a set is directly linked to its rarity level. In the game, white represents normal items, blue is rare, purple is epic, gold is mythic, and red signifies the highest grade of a legendary item. Pro players usually have all legend gears and weapons but you won't know unless they show you their gears. But for a pro player, showing your gear is a huge taboo cause if it was somehow leaked, their enemy will surely know their strengths and weaknesses based on their stat build and resistances.
Her weapon is called Staff of Resolute Thorns. This particular weapon enhances the effects of healing skills and had its unique weapon skill.
Weapon skills were crucial elements that often determined the outcome of battles, making higher-tier weapons more valuable than armor sets. In the hands of skilled players, certain weapon skills could even change the course of a battle entirely. The power of high-tier weapons underscored the importance of having a skilled blacksmith on any professional team since they were instrumental in crafting and enhancing these strong weapons.
Thorn burst: Conjures small thorns that impede the enemy's movements.
Cooldown: 21 seconds.
Cost: 50 mp
The weapon seemed potent enough for a purple-tier item, although it paled in comparison to the power of red-tier weapons. However, it had the advantage of a relatively fast cooldown compared to other purple-tier weapons, and it didn't require channeling to be effective.
Next, I examined Elizabeth's character stats.
To say that her build was peculiar would be an understatement. It appeared to be a hybrid of dexterity and intelligence, a combination that seemed indecisive and inconsistent. It seemed as if she initially aimed to be a support mage but later changed her focus to becoming a DPS carry, resulting in a confused and ineffective stat priority. In short, her build was subpar, bordering on being completely ineffective. It became clear why she had created another account; this one seemed to reflect her early gameplay mistakes and lack of experience. While such mistakes may not be crucial for casual players, this type of inadequate build would prove disastrous in competitive gameplay. That is also probably why she easily lent it to me. It feels like I've been scammed! Give me back my gratitude!
Well, let's look on the bright side - considering my previous playstyle as a DPS carry, this hybrid build still suits me fine. Although I may not have the same level of damage as a fully specialized DPS build, I can still utilize support skills. In other words, I become a versatile Jack-of-all-trades character without a specific specialization.
I proceeded to check the game settings. The auto translator was enabled, but the voice changer option was turned off. It seems that she likes to use her real voice quite often even in the game. Streamers really are built differently.
While customizing the settings to my preference a sudden notification popped up.
Player Lizbeth has invited you to a PVP lobby. Would you like to accept?
I accepted the invitation.
Notice: you will be teleported to another location. Some quests or dungeons may fail if teleported, do you want to continue?
"Yes."
Suddenly, I found myself teleported to a new location within the game. As the surroundings came into focus, I was greeted by the image of a charmingly beautiful girl. Her appearance mirrored that of my current avatar, with a face identical to mine. She was adorned in a beautifully crafted set, resembling that of a decorative royal knight. Given the unique style of the armor, it was evident that it had been crafted by another player rather than acquired through in-game means.
![image]()
As I surveyed the surroundings, my eyes were drawn to an enormous round table capable of accommodating more than 10 people with plenty of space to spare. The room exuded a Victorian-style ambiance, adorned with lavish accessories and intricate designs. It quickly dawned on me that this was the lobby for the upcoming match.
Seated on our side of the table were the knightly beauty, Lizbeth (undoubtedly Elizabeth), KingRomel (obviously Romel), and Ozz (most likely Benny). On the opposing side sat our opponents. To the right, there was GigaChad (presumably June, given his muscular physique), accompanied by two unfamiliar individuals who seemed completely absorbed in their own world. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their in-game names, "Dan<3Kay" and "Kay<3Dan," which only served to grate on my nerves. Please get a room, you two!
"Is my character, ok? No dissonance whatsoever?" Elizabeth broke me out of my musings.
"When I walked around town earlier, I felt completely fine. Except for the chest area. How do you even walk with these?"
I groped my own enlarged breast as if to prove my point. Feels soft actually. I might actually get used to this. Wait a second, is this considered sexual harassment or something?
"It's not that bad! But still, looking at my 3D-designed facial features and having a conversation with me at that is kinda... unnerving."
That is why you should not readily lend your account to just anyone. I hope this will be a lesson for her. What if I were a creepy, sexually harassing stalker, which I'm not, of course, then this would not end well for her?
"I don't see the problem, though; your face looks pleasing to the eye," I responded with my honest thoughts.
"Hehehe thanks," she said appreciatively.
Tsk! Not the reaction I was hoping for. I was hoping she would be caught off guard and act bashfully cute or something.
"How long is your last member going to make us wait!?"
Before I could respond further, Romel's exclamation abruptly shifted the attention of the group towards him.
"Patience, we also waited for you guys to arrive you know? Our last member is just finishing a dungeon. He will be here soon," GigaChad replied.
"What?! He's in the middle of a dungeon run when we were supposed to have a match? Those things take too long to finish!" Romel whined.
"Not for him though, he's pretty skilled," GigaChad explained.
In the corner of my eye, I saw Elizabeth narrowing her eyes. "Who exactly is your last player?" she inquired.
It's right for her to be on guard. Our opponents looked pretty confident and reassured that they would win, their ace player must be really good for them to have this much positivity.
"I suppose there's no harm in revealing it now. Our last player is Chu," GigaChad proudly announced.
Elizabeth couldn't hide her surprise. "You managed to recruit him?! I thought he only played 1v1!" she exclaimed.
"I found a way to make it work. I have my own methods," GigaChad replied smugly.
"T-that's unfair, isn't it? Chu is a ranker," Benny worriedly said.
"Really now? It's just a normal match where the loser pays for the winner's VR time cost and not a high-stakes betting game. And don't tell me you guys forgot your captain is also a ranker," GigaChad said as he looked at Elizabeth as if proving a point.
Well, that was quite shocking. I didn't expect Elizabeth to be a ranker.
In Champions of Andartha (CoA), there are two separate leaderboards for rankers. One is for team matches, and the other is for 1v1 matches. To attain the ranker title, a player must be among the top one thousand players in either the team or 1v1 leaderboard before the end of a PVP season. The player then holds the title for the whole duration of the next PVP season.
"Don't tell me you're chickening out this late in the game? It's not like it's a betting match, either. We just need a little practice in our teamplay by fighting another ranker," GigaChad taunted.
"...No, we'll continue with the match," Elizabeth firmly stated.
"Excellent. In that case, let's wait a little longer. Chu messaged me saying he's almost finished with the dungeon," GigaChad informed the group.
Curious about Chu's identity, I leaned closer to Elizabeth and whispered, "Who exactly is this Chu?"
"Chu is a 1v1 ranker in this game," Elizabeth whispered back. "He's well-known for participating in 1v1 betting matches at this VR cafe, and the impressive part is that he has never lost a single 1v1 scenario. From what I remember, he's also a second-year Student at our university."
"That is.... honestly impressive," I murmured to myself.
Those ranking leaderboards are filled with pro and tier 2 pro players and for him to place in the top one thousand on 1v1 while taking into account CoA's massive player base is an incredible feat.
"Don't worry too much though! Doesn't matter if we lose as long as we have fun!" Elizabeth reassured me with a broad smile.
I contemplated Elizabeth's perspective on finding enjoyment in matches, realizing that my own mindset had shifted over time. While winning was once the main source of fun for me, I was no longer as driven towards victory as my younger self. I nodded in response, recognizing that everyone has their unique way of finding enjoyment in the game. I didn't want to dampen Elizabeth's enthusiasm by expressing my own uncertainties.
Just then another player arrived via teleportation. He is wearing a set you would expect from a Taoist with a Longbow attached to his back and a pair of small butterfly swords to his waist. Looking at his in-game name, it reads ZiJi.
"Finally, you're here! Good to go Chu?" GigaChad asked his teammate.
"Let's just finish this fast, I have something more important to do later," ZiJi replied distantly.
Wow, how edgy. He seems to act like your typical cool guy anime protagonist or something.
"Understood... You can start whenever. My team is also ready," Elizabeth replied eagerly.
"Great! It's time for our revenge match!" GigaChad exclaimed, pressing an invisible button.
Suddenly, a timer appeared and began counting down, signaling the start of the match.
The game starts in 3.... 2..... 1....!*
---------------------------------
-Lenna's PoV-
I have always watched Liz's streams. When she plays PVP she sometimes explains the rules to her new viewers that are not all too familiar with team PVP. From what I can summarize from all the times I watched her, the basics of team PVP revolve around three main objective points on the map.
The first is the Top Orb, located at the highest point of the map. The second is the Middle Orb, situated at the center of the game map. Lastly, there is the Bottom Orb, which is self-explanatory in its positioning.
The main goal in a team match is to capture all three of these Orbs. There are three potential winning conditions to consider.
The first condition is when a team successfully captures all three of the Orbs (Top, Middle, and Bottom). In this case, the capturing team instantly wins, regardless of the statuses or positions of the individual players.
The second condition is when a team completely eliminates all members of the opposing team. If your team manages to eliminate all enemy players, you secure a victory. Conversely, if your own team is wiped out by the enemy, it results in a loss.
The third condition involves the passage of time. If the match reaches the 50-minute mark, the team with the most captured objectives at that point wins. For example, if your team has captured 2 Orbs and the opposing team has only captured 1, you emerge as the winner when the time runs out. In the rare scenario where both teams have one Orb each or no Orbs captured, the game ends in a draw.
These are the fundamental rules that I understand, but there are many more specific details that I am not yet familiar with. As I contemplated this, Raynold's sudden voice caught my attention, breaking my train of thought.
"Didn't expect a 1v1 ranker to be on June's team," Raynold commented as he looked at one of the TV screens specifically set up for viewers in the VR cafe.
We were currently in a dedicated lobby area where viewers could watch matches or catch up on gaming-related news while placing orders. The manager had anticipated the match between Liz's team and June's team, so he had arranged for it to be broadcast to the viewers. Liz had a considerable fan base among the players here, and this match served as both entertainment and promotion for the VR cafe, known for hosting betting matches among CoA players.
"A ranker?" I inquired, seeking clarification.
Raynold nodded in response. "Chu Xiaolong, also known as ZiJi in-game. He holds a global ranking of 921 in the 1v1 matches leaderboard."
I was taken aback by Chu's impressive ranking. "He's that skilled!? I recall Liz mentioning that her own ranking is 970. Does that mean Chu is considered better than her?"
Having heard Liz mention her ranking of 970 during her streams, I understood that achieving such a ranking was a remarkable accomplishment, even for someone like me who wasn't familiar with CoA. The fact that Chu held a higher rank indicated his exceptional abilities in the game.
"Liz's ranking of 970 in team matches this season may be lower than Chu's ranking in 1v1, but that doesn't necessarily mean she is weaker. Team matches require teamwork, coordination, synergy, and strategic thinking, while 1v1 battles focus more on technical skills and predicting opponents' moves. It's a different dynamic and skillset altogether, so it's hard to determine who has the advantage solely based on rankings," Raynold helpfully explained.
I also think that way. Liz always says in her stream that she mostly plays team matches because she enjoys it so much more compared to 1v1. But whenever her viewers convinced her to play 1v1 ranked matches via donation or persuasion, I haven't seen her lose a single time.
"It's quite hard to believe, though, that Liz can play on even ground with male players," I mused.
"Hmm, I think it's not that out of the norm. There has been a debate going on that female players have the advantage vs male players in CoA, and with the rising popularity of VR technology, its not rare for it to attract many more female players, some having immense potential."
"Oh Really?" That got me interested.
Raynold nodded in affirmation, continuing his explanation. "That's right. Female players often have an advantage in terms of flexibility and balance due to their innate body type and lower center of gravity. This makes them more skilled in dodging, which is crucial in PVP matches. While males might have the advantage of physical strength and robustness in real life, it doesn't necessarily apply to VR games like CoA. In virtual reality, players can simply increase their stats and acquire better gear to offset any physical disadvantages. In fact, being larger in size can even be a disadvantage as it makes them more vulnerable to enemy attacks due to their increased hitboxes," he explains in some gaming jargon I don't quite understand.
"But if that's true, why is the pro scene still dominated by male players?" I said nonetheless.
"In my opinion, it is more of a mindset kind of thing. Generally, men tend to be more competitive than women, though there are always exceptions. Have you heard of Yuusha 'the Untouchable'?" Raynold asked conspiratorially.
"Hmmm, I think I heard of her. Liz always says she's her inspiration in playing CoA."
If I recall correctly, she was the ace of Team Paragon, the first-ever team to win the Andartha Cup tournament.
"Liz and most female players started playing CoA because of her. The publicity team of CoA advertised the highlights of their final matches to promote the game to the female player base, which was a brilliant move on their part. One could argue that she had a big impact on the drastic increase of the CoA player base throughout the years. Some of her diehard fans even argue that she is the greatest player of all time. Considering her iconic 1v3 at the very first Andartha Cup finals, I wouldn't be too surprised people think that way." he enthusiastically added.
"But she's not part of the professional scene anymore, is she?" I inquired.
Raynold's expression turned solemn as he shook his head. "No, she suddenly quit playing CoA. No one knows the reason behind her decision, not even her former teammates. Since the first Andartha Cup was an online tournament, the CoA community doesn't even have a clear picture of what she looks like. The event didn't have a grand venue or the same level of publicity that we see in today's LAN events."
I couldn't help but feel disappointed. It would have been exciting to support Yuusha if she were still competing in the professional league.
"...So, who do you think will come out as the victor?" I asked Raynold, curious about his prediction.
"It's difficult to say. The outcome will ultimately depend on who can make a greater impact in the matches, whether it's Liz or Chu," Raynold gave out his honest thoughts.
As Raynold and I were engrossed in our conversation, one of the TV screens caught our attention as it began a countdown. It displayed the match between Liz's team and June's team, who were ready to commence.
"Ohh, it's starting!" I exclaimed, feeling a surge of excitement and anticipation in the air.
In that moment, both teams were swiftly transported to their respective starting positions at the back ends of the map, signaling the start of the battle.
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