Morayna could never get enough of the victories she achieved through gaming.

Sometimes it felt bizarre to her that people had to go and work outside to earn, while she can earn thousands just by sitting in her bedroom and playing a few tourneys.

Gaming was her passion, but definitely not a dream she wanted to achieve,

however, it earned her good money, so why not make use of it?

Her team had managed to get qualified for the sponsored international tournament but she was the type whose pride would hurt if she even died once in a casual match.

Therefore, she couldn't handle losing.

Landing on the roads of Thailand with her team felt unreal to her. She wondered, is this a little too much of happiness she might end up losing later on? Especially when it's with her team.

The team reminds her of 2 facts

If they lose the first match, they will have to go back to where they came from.

Humiliation and mockery from people that could never tolerate seeing her, or them in the international stage.

How pathetic.

She couldn't lose, not when she reached that far, not when she finally got in the path of the beginning of success.

...----------------...

The people from management led her team to a huge hotel they would be staying in, not only them, but many other teams would be staying there too. The opening ceremony was soon, and the match schedules were still yet to be revealed. Morayna and her team bowed each other goodbyes and headed to their given rooms.

Her room was in black theme. It was aesthetic as fuck.

She opened her luggage and took out a gown that would match tonight's ceremony. It was a shoulder-off long black gown that reached her ankle. She went to the washroom to take a shower and the interior caught her attention. They were all black too but darker.

She took a shower and wore the dress, did her makeup and tied her hair in a messy bun leaving two strands out from both sides.

"Gorgeous." she said

She wore her black pencil heels and headed outside to meet her teammates.

The ceremony began in the big hallway.

...----------------...

With a glass of champagne in her hands, she chatted with her team members about the schedule predictions. However, the back of her neck kept on tickling as if sensing something. She took a sip and leaned back against the wall as she chatted trying to get rid of the weird sensation. She felt it again.

Eyes.

Eyes on her.

She cracked her neck, the sensation was bizarre. She didn't like it.

She looked behind her and saw lots of people, but none digging glares at her. It made her uneasy.

She kept looking.

But she found nothing.

She looked around again but not making it obvious. She sipped on her champagne.

Was it just an illusion?

She started to feel a little sick and excused herself. She went out of the hotel for some fresh air, fortunately there was no one.

But it came back again.

The feeling that someone was constantly digging glares at her.

But a few minutes later, the feeling came back again as the cold breeze of the evening hit her. Furthermore, she was alone. Not that it mattered but it did.

She didn't stay there for a minute longer and returned to her room.

What the hell was that?

Next day,

Morayna totally shoved off yesterday's event that ruined the ceremony for her. She had no choice but to return to her room and rest.

She received text messages from her teammates informing her about the practice schedule, although the offline match schedule was yet to be released. It was an advantage for them.

The breakfast reunited them, but they continued with their meal as one of her teammates, Greta questioned her "Yo Morayna, why did you leave the ceremony halfway yesterday?"

Morayna thought of a response, obviously she couldn't tell them about the bizarre feeling she got because it's still transparent with no evidence.

Morayna replied "I had a long trip, needed a nap" and quickly gobbled up her meal and left without exchanging any more words.

She was bad with excuses, apparently.

Her teammates, Greta, Bonnie, Levana, Tracey and Helena only gave her an odd look as she left.

Greta was the oldest and the founder of the team making her the leader and a main player

Bonnie, Levana and Tracey were the same age and main players of the team including Morana.

Lastly, Helena was the youngest and the substitute of the team making her an all-rounder who can replace anyone when it's necessary or in case of urgency.

Greta named her team as Crimson Scythe for apparently no reason. That's how she is, never serious.

Morayna reached her room and prepared herself for the practice as she showered and changed herself into her team jersey which was an ombre of blue and black with her name on the black and her team name on the sleeves. The combination was fantastic and suits her the best. She took her phone out of her charger as she exited her room and went all the way to the downstairs and in the room of the number that was given. The management provided that as their private meeting room, although it was always possible in each other's rooms.

"Don't care if am late, appreciate that I arrived at least." Said Morana.

Levana scoffed at her, and she went to sit next to Greta. They all were super comfortable.

"So, coach Nathaniel will explain our game plan. Please coach." Said by Greta, requesting their team coach to give them their situational tactics during the match.

They all paid attention and prepared themselves for the biggest moba event ever. The schedule was still yet to be released since there were female and male teams having their matches separately, it was quite a bit of work for the management itself.

In the evening, Morayna returned to her room after all the discussions for hours, it was time for a demonstration. It was tiring.

She went to her balcony by sliding the glass door, and suddenly she remembered everything that happened yesterday. The cold evening breeze reminded her of the chilling gaze she felt, the glare that could cut her entirely and the feeling that didn't feel balanced yet not creepy or ecstatic.

Her phone suddenly rang a notification sound grabbing her attention. She checked to see Helena mentioning her in the group chat with a poster picture of a Fight club

“Fight club?" She thought.

What's that?

Bonnie wrote a whole ass paragraph on that Fight Club thing.

“Geez. What a hassle. Who is going to read all that?” She thought.

but she read it anyway.

Turns out it's also an arrangement from the gaming management.

Players who are qualified can choose to be a part of this whatever club it's called.

Morayna was sure that they were advertising because they found no members, well now they will. It interested her. A fight tournament was a day away and Morayna wanted to watch it. Cause why not?

These players do win technically, it's only fair they win physically.

“Does anyone want to visit the fight club with me, just to watch the tournament?” Morayna typed in the group chat.

And they all left her on seen.

She took it as a no.

Well she doesn't care, she will go and watch alone.

She was still waiting for a certain someone to let her know that she arrived, cause Morayna couldn't wait anymore.

That night,

After a little discussion about tactics with coach Nathaniel, she ate dinner with her team and rested for the night in her room

Fight club, huh?

...----------------...

The physical tournament was already here but not the schedule yet. She didn't want to blame the management knowing how difficult the task is, but she was gradually losing her patience

The fight club was 20 minutes away from the hotel she was staying in and travelling in a new country, she would appreciate a bit of help.

“Am asking again, does anyone want to go with me?" Morayna typed.

Seen.

Seen by all yet no reply.

She went downstairs and asked the hotel manager to lend her the hotel car and gradually explain the location to her.

However, the car that was lent to her had a GPS system in its monitor, it was going to guide her which made her sigh in relief.

It was night time.

The match was about to start in 30 minutes, and she didn't want to be late, although she had no idea who the participants were and whom she was going to support. All she knew was, she wanted to see them bloody each other in rhythm.

She started the engine.

Even though it wasn't much late, the road was mostly empty, and the night breeze was cold as she felt it through the opened window.

Did she regret wearing the black dress that reached up to her ankle but was a bit thin for this weather? Yes.

But did she really regret it? No. Because it was elegant as shit.

She was only 5 minutes away from the fight club as she followed the GPS guidance and heard a notification ringing in her phone. She checked it.

"Did you already leave?"

The text was from Helena.

“Geez. Obviously I did. What did you expect?”

 Morayna thought.

However, she chose to not reply since she only saw it from the notification bar.

 A fair trade.

Morayna parked the car In front of an alley. The club was on the other side of the alley, she thought it's better to walk there since it's a straight walk through the alley.

The night breeze hit her hard as she got out of her car and walked through the alley in straight motion.

I should've bought a jacket. She thought.

She finally reached the other side and crossed the road. Furthermore, she submitted her player ID to the guard and went in.

That's when Helena called, she scoffed.

She was inside the fight club when she received the call and put it in her ear.

The interior inside was wholly red which made it look like a Halloween party.

The guard already told her the location to the hallway. She made her way through the red lights in the right direction while she was still talking on the phone with Helena.

Suddenly, she looked at her left instinctively because she felt it.

Again.

But this time she saw someone amidst the crowd, looking at her. Right at her.

She was feeling the same bizarre feeling of someone digging glares on her, back from that day.

Was it him?

She ignored it as she was still talking on the phone and kept walking in the instructed direction.

She totally ignored it as if it never happened, as if the feeling never came back.

She reached the hall where the ring was prepared for the fight to be held. A huge sum of crowd were in their place and lots of cheers, shouts and curses reached her ears. She had no idea who the participants were in the first place, let alone knowing who was playing against whom.

She reached the bottom of all the benches and sat down in the one closest to the ring.

The most exciting thing about watching someone beating up the other one closely is that,

it seems like they are doing it for your entertainment.

That's what she was there for.

Entertainment.

She cut the call.

It wasn't even worth explaining.

The cheers and shouts reached her ears as she looked around.

The set-up sure was huge.

She crossed her legs as she waited for the match to begin. 2 more minutes.

Two players names were called out

“AJ” and “Remi”

Sounds like an American kinda.

Two shirtless bulky guys made their way inside the ring as she looked up and saw them for the first time.

She was just about to turn her head to another text she received and that's when her eyes locked in the middle of the other side of the ring.

The same guy from the entrance middle now wearing a black leather jacket.

Intently looking at her.

Morayna didn't break the stare and stared right into his soul.

But she felt the pressure and looked down at her phone, pretending to actually read the message. But the truth was that, she couldn't read it.

She couldn't focus on the words between all the cheering, screaming and... Someone staring.

“What a creep.” She thought.

She wanted to leave for a moment,

But why should she care about a creep who is just trying to ruin her mood? She has seen quite a lot of them.

She turned her head to the ring and watched as the two men launched at each other after the hammer hit the ring. She ignored him.

However, he kept looking at her with an unexplainable look even when the 1 on 1 began, even when two guys were bloodying themselves, even when the match ended and AJ won with a bloodied nose and an arm almost broken. Even when more names were called out.

Morayna was shocked by how good AJ was. His strong demeanor fascinated her.

She got carried away as she instinctively cheered for AJ along with others when he got out of the ring.

But she didn't know,

the one looking at her, saw it.

Morayna felt thrilled.

The next names were called as she never removed her gaze from the ring.

She didn't notice someone sitting beside her.

Until she felt like the cheering, and screaming disappeared and all she heard was soft yet deep breaths near her.

She turned her head to her left

The overwhelming feeling hit her like a rock.

That guy from the entrance.

That guy from the other side of the ring.

Looking right into her eyes, away from her within a few inches.

She instinctively moved from her seat and sat a chair away from him.

Which made her wonder, did she just lose her cool?

She couldn't hear the names that were called out and two more shirtless guys made their way inside the ring as the crowd was louder this time.

She felt overwhelmed. Highly overwhelmed.

“Does he plan to do something to me or what?”

She thought.

The fight began but she couldn't watch. She couldn't focus, not when that man was sitting right beside her.

She finally gave him the look of disgrace even though she couldn't deny he had great details.

He finally turned to her with an odd look.

As if she was bothering him, and it was not the other way around. She looked at him in disbelief.

That look made her speechless. She shrugged and returned her attention to the match. F him.

To her surprise, this match was more thrilling than the last one. Bloody hell.

The two fighters were smashing each other with punches like they were mere punching bags.

Their faces were bloody and bruised as they were beating each other into a plump.

Until they lasted for another 4 minutes and the winner was announced of that round.

“Aurgran”

The screams augmented as they reached her ears. This guy was hella popular but didn't seem like an Esports player to Morayna. He might be, who knows?

“The last round before the semi finals, Third round” The host spoke out In front of the audience.

So there are 9 participants in total. After this match ends, the winner of the first round would be fighting with the winner of the second round and then the winner of the third round and vice versa. They all would be fighting each other until one of them would be out in the semi-finals and two people would be playing the final match.

“Wait, what's the prize pool?” She wondered.

Maybe no prize pool?

There was, she just didn't know.

The host started speaking again

“Now make your way to the ring,

Killian Romanov and Dominic Caspian!”

The crowd was louder than never before. As they screamed for a specific guy

“Killian!”

“Get it Romanov!”

“A kill for the way!”

She looked around. The crowd was going insane over this guy

“Who is Killian?”

“What an odd name tho. Sounds half russian”

She thought.

Suddenly, the guy who was sitting beside her stood up tall, and the crowd went berserk.

She couldn't control the gasp that left her lips at that moment but no one heard it. She was surprised,

So surprised that she hated it.

He took off his hoodie and left it on the bench and turned his head to look at me.

He cracked his head and tilted it when he saw my reaction, he gave nothing back.

“This guy was Killian Romanov?” she thought

“Meet me after the match.” He left.

“Huh?” It took her a few seconds to process what he said, she couldn't form any words as he left.

She was dumbfounded.

“What the actual heck is happening with me?”

Everything pissed her off. And even more when she saw Killian walking inside the ring

Dominic Caspian was already there.

Killian wasn't really naked, however, he had great details.

She had enough of this bullshit. First the stalking reflection. Now a weird dude ordering her around. Everything has been absurd since she landed on the grounds of Moscow.

She ain't meeting anyone.

She wanted to leave. And she will.

But first things first, she wanted to see him beaten and bruised to a plump. She was going to cheer for his opponent while he gets a good beating and humiliation as he betrays the crowd's expectations.

And she was going to enjoy all of it.

She took her seat and crossed her legs once again but this time more relaxed as she was sure Killian was going to lose this one.

Morayna intently looked at Killian as the fight was about to begin but before it started Killian looked back to where she was sitting cause he felt her digging glares at his back and his mouth twitched. Something about that smile made Morayna question herself.

If he wins, she will be humiliated Infront of him cause he knows what she wants.

The match begin with a punch received by Killian from Dominic as he kept on getting beaten.

The sight satisfied Morayna.

The enormous crowd's scowls and cheers gradually faded as Killian kept on getting beaten more and more with every minutes passing by.

The noticeable thing was that, he didn't even raise his hands as he received beating. It's almost as if he received all of it intentionally.

Why?

His neck and face was bruised and scratched, and blood was oozing out from the corner of his lips.

Morayna grinned.

She normally wouldn't be this satiated to watch someone receive a beating like that but as she has an unknown beef with this one that didn't even make sense, thus, she enjoyed it.

She, at that moment, took him as the person who kept on investigating her from the ceremony day and entertained herself. Maybe it could be him?

However, what she didn't realize is that,

It was intentional.

He only gave her a moment of satisfaction.

He looked at her as he still received the beatings.

The next thing she did, triggered him.

She stood up and screamed Dominic's name, cheering for him.

The next punch Dominic was about to throw was held by Killian in an instant. Killian looked at Morayna and showed his twitched lips again.

He twisted Dominic's hand and kicked him right on the stomach, and he fell.

Morayna went rigid and the crowd went berserk once again.

The cheers were back once again.

Her grin fell.

Killian kicked right on his head and sat on top of him.

He punched his face and kept on punching till it was bloody. And the fight went on

Morayna's eyes widened and her mind went blank. Not only at the scene but that, even after receiving all those hard hits he had the physique like he was only hit by a 2 year old child all that time.

Killian was winning that one and probably the final too but she wasn't going to stay there any longer.

Her feet took her backwards as she practically ran out of the crowd and out of the hallway as the winner was announced. Killian.

He definitely wasn't someone to mess with.

Dominic wasn't any less bulky or strong but nothing Infront of Killian.

She exited the fight club and crossed the road once again, reaching for the alley she had to cross.

“It's okay don't bother” She assured herself.

She walked through the alley. It was really late at night by then but she still had to drive back.

At this point she could only hope for the best.

She was in the middle of the alley when suddenly she heard someone running behind her.

Before she could react she found herself being pulled by her hand and shoved to the nearest wall.

She wanted to scream or fight, she knew she could do both but she felt vulnerable.

Her instincts on top of that indicated her to not scream, it's almost as if it wasn't necessary.

She looked up at the person who grabbed her.

Her eyes widened slightly, but she kept her details bold.

She felt his body heat.

He was so close. Almost an inch away from literally brushing his body against her.

Him.

Killian Romanov.