Victor was grimly satisfied with the Forgemaster Strategy, but the lack of direct engagement was a clear threat to his overall integration.
"I have my Citadel and my Forgemaster supply lines secured," Victor stated during their next session. "But I am merely observing the conflict from a distance. I must contribute to the war effort to truly earn my rank. I require a Personal Conflict Zone."
Joshua activated his Concept Transfer skill. He knew Victor needed to burn off his intense T-Rank energy in a way that was legal, non-destructive, and—crucially—yielded Victory Marks. Physical security work, though tempting, was a logistical nightmare of liability forms.
"There is an arena of conflict that utilizes your T-Rank skills better than any physical skirmish, Victor," Joshua began, pulling up a sleek, hyper-realistic video of a competitive gaming championship.
The screen showed two teams of Terrans, faces lit by monitors, furiously clicking and shouting commands in a massive, real-time battle strategy game.
"This is Competitive Gaming, or Esports," Joshua announced. "This is the Terran training ground for strategic command. It is the ultimate evolution of non-lethal, verifiable combat."
Victor observed the screen with intense curiosity, his massive head tilting. The sounds of rapid virtual gunfire and tactical communication translated perfectly into the System in Joshua's mind.
"They are engaging in conflict without the presence of the objective danger," Victor observed, skeptical. "How is this worthy of the T-Rank?"
"The objective danger is irrelevant," Joshua countered, using the Concept Transfer to connect the concept to Victor's core beliefs. "The true test of a T-Rank is not surviving chaos, but commanding strategy under pressure. This arena tests your reaction time, your resource allocation, your decision-making speed, and your ability to execute complex, multi-unit attacks."
Joshua highlighted the prize pool ticker, which showed the winner of the current tournament taking home a bounty far exceeding Victor's entire portfolio.
"In this arena, your reward is not just the personal Victory Mark," Joshua continued. "Your rewards are massive capital prizes and, more importantly, verifiable, public honor that is documented across the globe. You are not fighting for money; you are fighting for the glory of absolute strategic dominance."
Victor's skepticism vanished, replaced by an unsettling, hungry focus. "It is pure war, stripped of the inefficient distraction of survival. It is a competition of perfect execution."
"Exactly. It is a digital arena where your T-Rank strategy is your only weapon," Joshua confirmed. "We will acquire the necessary equipment—a console and a specialized control unit—and initiate your training immediately. You will need to start with smaller skirmishes to build rank before entering the larger, high-value tournaments."
Victor nodded, his eyes already analyzing the tactical flow of the game on the screen. "I will require immediate training materials detailing the common strategies and enemy weaknesses. We must begin the reconnaissance phase now."
[TASK COMPLETE: CREATION OF PERSONAL CONFLICT ZONE (ESPORTS) FOR T-RANK WARRIOR.]
[GOOD DEED ACHIEVED: UTILIZATION OF CORE SKILLS IN A LEGAL, LUCRATIVE TERRAN ENVIRONMENT.]
[SYSTEM POINTS (SP) AWARDED: +40]
[CURRENT SP: 125]
Joshua now had 125 SP and had successfully guided the warrior into an activity that fulfilled his need for conflict while being totally safe for the rest of Earth.
"The reconnaissance begins now, Victor," Joshua said, grabbing his pen. "We will purchase the required equipment and find your first competitive target."
Joshua now needs to purchase the necessary gaming setup for Victor. He has $12,112 remaining in Victor's war chest and 125 SP for skill upgrades.