"One more time. I refuse to believe I can't win against a little girl," said the boy, whose name she had learned was Lennox.
Azalea looked at the Kael and the other two, who were holding a bunch of different toys in their hands, and then at the four boys who were unwilling to believe that they had lost to her.
Earlier, when they'd asked how she wanted to settle things, she'd simply asked what games were available. She hadn't expected to find that the traditional claw machines still existed. That was how they all ended up cramped around here to see who would win. Of course, it was Lennox who was paying. Azalea didn't even have a single penny to her name.
"Alright," Azalea held out her hand to Lennox, who immeditly handed her his game card to pay for another round.
Azalea happily took it from him and swiped it on the machine before handing it back to him. Thus, another round began, which, unfortunately for Lennox's pride, was once again won by Azalea. You couldn't blame him. Azalea often went to play with this thing to clear her mind and relax.
After a few more rounds and an almost empty claw machine, Azalea decided it was time to stop messing. She was, after all, a responsible adult who did not bully kids.
"Okay, that's enough. It's quite clear you are too bad at this," she said.
"That's not fair. It's obvious you have played this game before." Lennox complained, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"Then we can play something you are confident at," Azalea offered with a shrug.
The moment those words left her mouth, a wicked grin spread across Lennox's face. He exchanged meaningful looks with his three friends.
A few minutes later, they all found themselves in a room lined with egg-shaped pods. Each pod was large enough to fit a person inside.
"Here is your card, Mr. Santino," said the middle-aged manager of the facility, bowing slightly as he returned Lennox's game card with both hands. "As you requested, I've reserved the entire simulation lounge for the day under your name. You and your friends can enjoy yourselves without any disturbances. If you need anything at all, just press the call button, and someone will assist you immediately."
The manager gave another respectful bow before quietly excusing himself from the room.
Once they were alone, Lennox faced Azalea with an arrogant grin. "So, are you ready to play my game?"
"I sure am..." Azalea dragged, running her finger over the glass surface of one of the pods. Besides a comfortable-looking reclining seat, there was nothing else inside.
Kael and the others looked at her in surprise. Did she even know what this thing was? Even they were seeing the real thing for the first time. Before this, they had only seen them on the internet and fantasized about them in dreams.
Suddenly, Azalea turned around and flashed Lennox a brilliant smile. "...but how do we play?"
Lennox blinked several times, momentarily caught off guard by her smile. He quickly looked away, trying to hide the blush that was creeping up his neck and coloring his cheeks.
His three friends exchanged excited glances with each other, barely able to contain their glee. Finally, they were going to win and teach these country bumpkins a proper lesson.
Meanwhile, Kael and his friends had long since forgotten the original reason they'd gotten into this competition. All they could think about now was whether they'd actually get a chance to play in one of these incredible machines themselves.
"It's not hard. You just need to sit inside, and it will take you to the Star Planet. Both teams will hunt down demons and beasts. Whichever team has the highest kill count at the end wins. Simple as that."
Hunt down demons and beasts? That sure sounded easy. She had been doing that since she learned to walk. But what exactly was Star Planet? And how was this thing going to send them there? Surely not by teleportation, right?
The concept of teleportation itself didn't surprise her. It has existed long since magic. What worried her more was whether these children were actually capable of killing demons and beasts. She found that extremely hard to believe.
Kael and the other two seemed to realize what she was thinking. They quickly pulled her aside to a corner of the room to explain.
"It's just a simulation game. The Star Planet is a world created inside it. You won't actually be sent there, but everything will look and feel real." Raya explained.
"Your consciousness enters the game while your body stays safe in the pod. It's supposed to be incredible." Marlin added eagerly.
"Wao, the world really has advanced." She muttered, but why did this sound familiar?
"What are you whispering among yourselves in the corner? Are you playing or not?" one of Lennox's friends called out impatiently.
"There is still time if you want to back out," another teased. "We won't think less of you. Well, we will, but at least you'll save yourselves the embarrassment of losing."
"We'll play, of course," Azalea said brightly, returning with the others. "Mr. Santino has so generously paid for everything. We couldn't possibly waste his money like that, could we? It would be terribly rude."
Lennox scoffed, putting his nose high in the air, "At least you have self-awareness."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Santino is the best. Isn't that right?" She turned to look at the rest.
Marlin was the first to catch on to what she was doing and immediately plastered on his biggest smile. "Of course! No one is as generous and kind-hearted as Mr. Santino, who even took pity on us poor village kids and gave us the chance to experience these amazing astral pods."
"It's good that you know," Lennox said arrogantly.
Kael and the others shared knowing glances with each other and had to suppress their smiles. What an idiot.
"You can choose any pod you want, but let me warn you. I have been playing this for a year. Don't complain later that I bullied you."
Three sets of eyes fell on Azalea.
It was still unknown who would be bullying whom today.
Marlin leaned over to whisper to Kael, "I almost feel bad for them. Almost."
"They brought this on themselves," Kael whispered back with a grin.