Project Mage

Michigo made her choices in the game. Like Roselle did, she decided to go with a hero’s side. She chose one character that closely resembled her and her martial arts background.

With her hero selected, Michigo also chose the hero side, aligning herself with the forces of good in the game. It was a decision that just felt right for her.

Her character materialized on the battlefield, ready to face off against Alex's Dark Knight. She was prepared to prove that choosing a hero was not a sign of weakness.

“Let me show you what a hero’s made of, Alex,” Michigo shouted.

Alex, ever the taunter, couldn't resist poking fun at Michigo's choice. With a sly grin, he remarked, "A martial artist hero? Just like Roselle's choice. Are you trying to mimic her strategy, Michigo?"

Michigo didn't let Alex's words faze her. “Nah. Roselle didn’t pick the Martial artist hero did she? I've got my own style, so just shut your damn mouth."

The battle music began to play. The Forest battlefield came to life with its lush greenery and towering trees. The atmosphere was filled with the serene sounds of nature, but it was about to be disrupted by the clash of two powerful characters.

Michigo's Martial Artist stood poised, her movements reflecting her real-world martial arts skills. Her character was ready to face the challenges of the forest with grace and agility.

On the opposite side of the battlefield, Alex's Dark Knight exuded an aura of foreboding power, the dark and sinister presence seemingly out of place in the serene forest setting. He was prepared to use the environment to his advantage.

The battle commenced with a flurry of strikes and spells. Michigo's Martial Artist displayed her swift and precise movements, dancing through the forest terrain. She utilized the trees and natural cover to her advantage, making it difficult for the Dark Knight to land a hit.

Alex's Dark Knight, unfazed by the forest surroundings, summoned dark magic to his aid. Shadows seemed to converge around him as he launched powerful spells and attacks. His character's brute strength and calculated tactics made him a formidable opponent.

Alex confidently summoned his minions to the Forest battlefield, he couldn't help but smirk, convinced that Michigo would make the same strategic move. However, his confidence turned to confusion when he saw Michigo with her eyes tightly closed when he was about to gloat.

"What are you doing, Michigo? This is no time to take a nap. I'm waiting for your move,” Alex said with a glare.

Michigo remained focused. She could hear the sounds of the minions emerging from Alex's base, but her concentration was elsewhere. Roselle and Angie exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what Michigo had in mind.

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Michigo opened her eyes, revealing a burning fire within them. In an instant, she issued a command to her Martial Artist, who leaped into action.

Michigo's character dashed forward, avoiding the attacks of Alex's minions with unparalleled precision. She moved gracefully, almost as if she could anticipate every move her opponents made.

Alex, taken aback by Michigo's unexpected tactic, struggled to react in time. His minions, unable to keep up with Michigo's agile Martial Artist, found themselves overwhelmed.

In a daring move, Michigo's character delivered a series of rapid strikes and precise blows to Alex's minions, one by one. The Forest battlefield echoed with the sounds of combat. Minions were defeated and vanished in flashes of light.

Alex's Dark Knight, realizing the threat that Michigo's Martial Artist posed, charged forward with a renewed sense of purpose. The dark and imposing character moved swiftly through the forest, closing the distance between himself and his agile opponent.

Their characters clashed in a battle of skill and strategy, Michigo's Martial Artist displayed a level of proficiency that surprised even Alex. Her movements were fluid, and her strikes were precise, making it difficult for the Dark Knight to land a blow.

Alex shouted angrily, “I can't believe i'm being pushed by another person attempting a one man army strategy!"

Michigo's Martial Artist moved with agility and precision, keeping the Dark Knight at bay with her rapid strikes and evasive maneuvers.

However, the turning point of the battle came when Alex's Cannon Girl made her unexpected entrance. The mechanized character emerged from his base and, with ruthless efficiency, launched a powerful long-range attack. The blast was perfectly timed, catching Michigo's Martial Artist off-guard. It struck her character with devastating force, causing her health bar to plummet.

Michigo's face contorted with frustration. With a heavy heart, Michigo issued the command for her Martial Artist to retreat. Her character retreated to a safe distance, gasping for breath and severely weakened. The forest battlefield was marred by the explosion and the aftermath of the attack.

Alex, with a triumphant grin, seized the opportunity. "Looks like the tides have turned, Michigo. Your one-man army strategy had its moments, but in the end, you couldn't withstand the power of my Cannon Girl."

Michigo realized that she was at a disadvantage. Her Martial Artist had suffered critical damage, and Alex still had the upper hand. She had to make a critical decision: continue the battle with her weakened character or accept defeat.

Michigo turned to Roselle and Angie momentarily with frustration. "I can't give up just yet. I've got one last move that might turn the tables!”

Michigo tightened her red headband and activated her character's ultimate ability, Final Will, a surge of power coursed through her Martial Artist. She had made a bold move, and her character radiated an aura of strength. Her martial artist was now a force to be reckoned with.

With confidence, Michigo's character dashed forward to confront the Cannon Girl, who had unleashed the devastating attack moments earlier.The enhanced Martial Artist displayed incredible resilience, her movements infused with agility and power. She nimbly dodged the Cannon Girl's projectiles and swiftly closed the distance between them. Each strike from the Martial Artist carried the force of accumulated damage, making her attacks devastating.

The battle raged on, and Michigo's Martial Artist seemed invincible, withstanding the Cannon Girl's attacks with ease. Angie watched in awe as Michigo's character continued to fight despite the odds. She shouted,"Go, Michigo! Show him what you're made of!"

In a desperate move, Alex summoned more minions from his base, attempting to overwhelm Michigo's character with sheer numbers. But Michigo's Martial Artist, empowered by Final Will, remained resolute, continuing to strike down the minions one by one.

Michigo's Martial Artist went in for the final blow, she poured all her energy and willpower into the strike. The Cannon Girl was on the brink of defeat, and Michigo could taste victory. But her character's enhanced form, Final Will, reached its limit, a sudden exhaustion overcame her.

With a gasp, Michigo's Martial Artist automatically reverted to her standard state with her health bar plummeting to a mere 1 HP. Michigo's eyes widened in horror.

“N-NOOO! DON’T GIVE UP ON ME NOW! YOU CAN STILL--”

Alex, seizing the opportunity, wasted no time. With a triumphant grin, he commanded the Cannon Girl to launch a final, devastating attack. The blast struck Michigo's character with brutal force, and with just 1 HP remaining, the Martial Artist couldn't withstand the attack.

The forest battlefield erupted in a blinding explosion with the Cannon Girl's attack connecting. Michigo's character was overwhelmed by the force. The game zoomed in on the impact and replayed it three times.

Alex smirked. "Well played, Michigo. You put up a good fight, but in the end, my strategy prevailed. It seems the one-man army approach can only get you so far."

Michigo's shoulders slumped. Her hands trembled slightly while staring at the screen. The words "Game Over" flashed.

Roselle, sitting beside her, leaned over and placed a hand on Michigo’s shoulder. "Hey, Michigo, you were amazing out there. You did a lot better than I ever did against Alex. You almost had him!"

Michigo shook her head. A heavy sigh escaped from her lips. "But I let you down, Roselle. That’s unacceptable. I promised to protect you, to be your shield. And I failed."

Angie chimed in from nearby. "Michigo, you can't blame yourself for this. You fought with everything you had. Sometimes, things just don’t go our way, even when we give it our all."

Alex chuckled. "Looks like I've won both the game and my prizes. You'll be seeing me soon to fulfill those favors, Roselle."

The students surrounding them, who had been spectators to the intense gaming battle, began to murmur and share their thoughts.

"I can't believe Michigo almost pulled it off. She had him on the ropes for a while there."

"Alex is seriously good at this game. He knows all the tricks and strategies."

"Two favors? What's Alex going to ask for, I wonder?"

Alex stood up, gesturing for Roselle to follow him. Suddenly, Angie stepped in front of him, her gaze unwavering. She locked eyes with Alex.

"Alex," Angie began, "I hope you're proud of beating up two newcomers to the game and getting two favors from them."

Alex raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Angie, I know Roselle and Michigo aren't exactly your close friends, so I'm not sure why you're so invested in this. You have no reason to stand in my way."

Angie's response was firm. Roselle and Michigo are still learning the game, and yes, they did have a fair shot, but if you keep taking on challengers like this, it's not going to be fun for anyone else."

Alex smirked . "Angie, they challenged me. They knew the risks of going up against me. What makes me the bad guy here?"

"Taking advantage of them," Angie shot back. "I know what you're going to do, Alex. You need to challenge someone in your league."

Alex's eyes narrowed with a glint of interest. "Is that a challenge, Angie?"

Angie hesitated for a moment. She didn't quite know why she was getting involved, but it was too late for her to shut her mouth now. She squared her shoulders and declared, "Yes, Alex. I challenge you."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Alex's smirk widened. "Alright then, Angie. But let's up the stakes. If you win, I'll drop all claims to those favors. If I win, I get one more favor from you."

Angie looked at Roselle, who seemed worried. Her eyes themselves were pleading for Angie to reconsider. She then turned to Michigo, who had gritted teeth, trying to keep herself composed despite her frustration and disappointment. Angie’s face hardened. She pulled out a lollipop from her school pocket and popped it into her mouth. Her face went dark while she spoke around the lollipop.

"When you said upping the stakes, I thought you really would do more than that," she said while taking steps closer to Alex. "Here's the deal. If you win, you get three favors—from me, Michigo, and Roselle. But if I win, I get three favors—from you, Roselle, and Michigo."

The crowd gasped. The stakes were higher than anyone had anticipated. Roselle and Michigo’s mouth’s dropped to the ground.

Alex's eyes widened. His shock soon turned into laughter. "Holy shit! That is the mother of all deals! Angie, you must be the true villain here. You know what’s gonna happen to you and those girls when you lose, but hey, this is your funeral. “He extended his hand to seal the deal with a wide and confident grin. “Let’s make it official."

Angie shook his hand firmly, her eyes locked onto his. "Let's."

The challenge had been set, and the room buzzed with anticipation. All eyes were on Angie and Alex.

"Why would Angie do that?" Roselle whispered to Michigo with concern.

Michigo, still gritting her teeth, shook her head. "Angie isn't exactly our friend, so we can't really know what she's thinking. But either way, we'll owe favors to one of the winners."

Roselle bit her lip. "Do you think Angie might have something planned for us?"

Michigo glanced at Angie. "I don't think Angie's a bad person," she said slowly, "but you never know. Regardless, we've got to root for her. It's our best bet to not be under Alex’s thumb."