"Tch ... Tch ..." the man teased Alisha who again could not overtake her ranking

"Tch!! Adam feeder!" Alisha replied in an annoyed tone full of jokes

Alisha is a university student who spends some of her free time playing games either with her brother or sister. But since her two siblings were preoccupied and diverted by their own respective friends, Alisha, who held to the principle of the family first, is the only one who remained in her position. She didn't have many gamers friends so sometimes she lost her motivation to keep her hobby up. But one day, one of Alisha's friends who were 'popular', who happened to have a free slot for Alisha to join in her squad, happened to lead Alisha to meet her gaming best friend, Adam.

"The heck? No, I'm not! You're just too slow!" Adam kept dodging himself from Alisha accusations with the intention of teasing the girl again

Adam, a friend of the same age as Alisha, is known to live on a different island from Alisha. Alisha did not know much about this guy, but he soon became familiar with him because of his personal friendliness and voice which made Alisha enjoy playing games with him for hours or even all night.

"Hahaha, whatever! Let's play again" Alisha exclaimed getting all excited

"Bring it on!!"

For the next few matches, Adam's first place was irreplaceable, although Alisha had more kill than the man on several occasions, she can never take over his 'most valuable player' place.

"Argh, I thought I was calling out the final kill cam. Adam feeder!" Alisha huffed again in a joking tone

"Now what? Wanna play another match?"

"Get it started already! Drain this battery off or 'till I get knocked out!"

"You're lucky tho'. My battery will run out first."

"Hahahahaha"

"My bad, incompatible gaming phone "

"It doesn't matter if you lack device but you still can play like a pro"

"Oh yes of course. I'm Adam the Ace."

"Tch, look at you getting conceited by a cheap bragging"

"Hahahahaha, just kidding, Sha"

"Hahaha I know, idiot!"

"So, do you wanna keep playing Multiplayer or should we switch?"

"I'm... not sure. What do you think?"

"Me neither. You are the room master"

"No...! You are!"

And they begin to throw exchange of the room master over and over again.

"You are,"

"No, You are,"

"No, You, Adam!"

"No, no no, I'm not. You are, Alisha!"

Alisha sighs, "Arghh." Alisha immediately click on the start option and the loading screen appears

As usual, whenever she already in the match's lobby, Alisha wouldn't turn her mic on unless she saw Adam is on the player list.

"As usual sir, you are the last logged in" she scoffed Adam in a joking tone

"Sha, your mic hasn't turned on yet" Adam's voiced and that left Alisha a lot to be curse about.

"I'm soo freakin' dumb-head asdfghjkl ........." she curses to her own stupidity

"Hello ... hello, I'm talking to myself, argh, again~" whined Alisha

"Hahaha not even surprised anymore"

Yes indeed, this has happened a lot, sometimes it was Adam sometimes it was Alisha. They share enough the same ridiculous habit.

After the match, back to the lobby room.

"Hey, Sha. I heard that your city's battleground club is going to roll out an event. Is that true?"

"Really? What kind of event is that?"

"I just read about some of it. Is it a trip or camping? I'm not sure. You should probably go check on that. The poster seems pretty attractive"

"Is there going to be a game session or a match? Probably like battle royale or something?

"The poster kinda picturing that."

"Hold on a sec. I'm gonna check on that. Charge your phone while you wait for me"

"Okay"

A few minutes later Alisha returned online in the room,

"Oh yeah, you're right, Dam! There is the Battle Royale! I think it's gonna be a huge event cause the theme is Road to Virtual Battle"

"Guess the registration fee would cost enough. I have to save some money for other things."

"Well ... 300k per player ... But that's if we sign as an individual if we propose as a squad, it would be cheaper 'cause they have some packet for that."

"Let's just see. I can't promise anything."

"Hmm, OK", "Well, since you mention battleground, I kinda feeling that"

"Hahaha, alright. We're gonna play one more match then we're gonna switch to that one."

"Ready!"

. . .

The next day the two discussed the game again.

"So, what, Dam? Did you finally decided to join the event?"

"Hm... I don't think so, Sha. The thing is, none of my friends interested in joining in, so..."

"Well, it's okay. No problem then."

"How 'bout you? Will you?"

"As usual, I gotta see what's 'boutta come first. Besides, I still running some petition lol"

"Hahaha petition, huh?"

"Yea~ Petition for some gamers human"

"LMFAO...!!! Well, let's get back to business."

"This time, Adam, You're going down!"

"Hahaha, Try me!"

~ Virtual Battle ~

By. Teadhika

Day 1

~ ~ ~

The day has come,

After agreeing on her senior's offer; Ezra; one of Alisha's gaming friends, that also has the intention to join in the event, Alisha then decided to enroll in his squad. Since the local event held out of town, Alisha comes all the way from her hometown to the far east of the island. However, the moment when she arrives at the spot, none of those faces she could recognize expecting for her presence. Feeling a bit downhearted, Alisha sighs in silence.

Heedful towards Alisha's mood, the guy who just came out the car engage her with a question, "What's the matter, Sha? Can't see any familiar faces?"

Alisha grins to cover her disappointment, not letting her emotions turn everything awkward, "Sorta, but maybe they're on their way"

"Nah, forget it and chill. You have us" Ezra referring to the boys and himself.

Alisha glanced at the boys unloading their stuff out the car.

Seeing her saying nothing more, Ezra continues, "You'll overcome the awkwardness once we get along"

Alisha finally gives a proper smile, "Of course we will. Alright, let's help the others and head inside"

"Wait!" Ezra clutched her sling bag's strap, made the girl turns around with a confused look,

"Leave it to them. We have to claim the attendance"

. . .

"Wow, Sha! You build the tent on your own...?!" exclaimed the man who walks over her as he held out a bottle of water for her, looking kinda mesmerized by her talent

"Of course, I do. This is basic, who doesn't?" Alisha answered being low-key

"Nah, stop" the guy whines in disbelief,

"Hahaha, fine!" She cries and lays her hand on the bottle, "I've done once by myself, so a pinch of experience. Happy now?" she initiates.

She drinks one gulp before saying, "What about you guys'? Thanks btw" she was talking about the drink

"Don't mention it," Egan said,

'Yeah, don't! You're the only primadonna in this squad, we need to take care of you!' Kalvin said abruptly from far away

Egan chuckled, "Don't listen to him. Um, yeah, we're clear" Egan then points at where Ezra and Twan were messing around with each other

Alisha nodded, "Well done"

. . .

For a squad/team activity, this event is pretty liberating. They allow whoever wants to build a tent whether in a team or individually as long as they don't take up much spot. Since Alisha doesn't know anyone other than her squad here, she built a tent close to them.

Ezra was chitchatting with his friends when he saw Alisha just got back from cleaning up. He then runs towards her tent.

"Hey Sha,"

Alisha hums as a response, "While still bright, mind if you come with me to look for firewood? They don't supply it for us"

Alisha glance at the boys, wondering of all members, why should she? But to think of Ezra's value equality, Alisha agreed and tails him for the second time.

"Kay, Let's go"

. . .

Both are walking in through the woods escort by silence and the cool breeze of the evening air. Not far from them, Alisha could see some of the other teams out for the firewoods.

"Do you know which called firewood?" Ezra asked to break the silence

"All woods can be used as firewood, but they have to be in smaller pieces for them to easily burn" she answered

"Impressive" Ezra praised.

Alisha sees some and quickly pick them up and Ezra helps her collect the rest. They keep looking for another until they couldn't find vacant space to place them on their hands

"I think these are enough? We should go back to the tent before dark," Alisha claimed.

"Yup. Let's go" Ezra respond and turn around to lead the way,

But then, he suddenly stopped and Alisha accidentally bumps into him.

"Ouch?" she said confronting Ezra's foolish act. Gladly, the firewoods are safe, or she could have picked them up one by one again.

"I can't remember the way back"

Alisha sigh, "Quit playing and follow me"

. . .

"Hey, you both! Where have you two been leaving without any words?" Twan greets and rallies them with a tease

"Can't you see?" Ezra said appoint the firewoods they had collected.

"Hey, why did you let her carry all of that? What a gentlemen you are, Ezra" Egan replied

While they are arguing about nonsense, Alisha just walks pass them to put the firewood aside.

"Shut up, horse's tail" Ezra exclaimed and catch up with Alisha to help her out

As those branches rolled down Alisha's arms, it left some dirty wood crumbs behind. Without further ado, Ezra grabs her hand and cleans that up in turn; made the girl put out her clueless face.

"Done" he said with pride.

When she figured out what just happen, Alisha chuckles. Even though she does not like spontaneous skinship from a random guy, any guy, but Ezra's intention is good, so she gonna let that pass this time.

"Thank you," she smiles, not knowing how charming she looks in his eyes

Ckrek!

"Tch" The guy grouched seeing someone familiar caught by his camera. He sent a very resentful look at the two people standing far enough from him, committing chemistry to each other.

"Hey, Al! You better get going!" a voice yelling from afar, calling the guy to step on his feet back in the path

"Coming" he responds, took a last glared at the duo before turning around and walk away

Right before the skies turn dark, the committee has the participant gather up for the very first briefing.

"Our schedule would start at 6 am" he said to the crowd line with a very loud and firm voice, a military typical.

Alisha's glancing around and realized that the female participants can be counted by fingers.

"You will be given material and training related to the Battle Royale and Team Deathmatch modes which include rules' explanation, types of equipment and operation guides as well as your squad's schedule."

"Wow! No night hunts?! Too shameee~!" Ezra cries, drawing his surroundings' attention

Alisha glances her surrounding before saying, "It's better not be. Cuz, I don't want the same sh*t back in MWD happens again"

"What's MWD?" Twan asked

"Maha Widya Dharma, kind of orientation for new freshmen of Hindu's uni students last for 3 days 2 nights"

"Oh, sounds fun. Too shame we only got Pasraman in the auditorium" Ezra chimed.

As the skies dim and go darker, the committee dismissed the participant to their tent.

"Okay, that's all for today, you may dismiss. Have proper rest, cause I bet you all gonna need that. Good night...!"

"Good night!" all the participant response non-simultaneously