Game's Extra

Aiden stirred awake as the sun's rays pierced through the curtains of his dorm room. Groggily rubbing his eyes, he stretched and checked his watch, only to notice a flashing notification:

"Ascendants: First Game Begins in 2 Hours. Ensure you are logged in before the start!"

His eyes widened. "Damn, almost forgot!" he muttered, leaping out of bed. After a quick shower and a light breakfast, he then logged into the game.

As his consciousness synced with the virtual world, Aiden materialized in a colossal coliseum. The roar of thousands of spectators filled the air, their cheers reverberating through the vast arena. High above, holographic displays projected live footage of the event, showing the names and ranks of players. Aiden took a moment to take it all in.

"Wow... This is insane," he murmured to himself.

Scanning the area, he noticed countless players gathering in their designated zones. Each one looked ready for battle, their expressions a mixture of excitement and determination. Aiden walked to his assigned zone and soon found himself face-to-face with his partner for the game.

She was striking: long, fiery red hair cascading down her back, eyes like molten lava, and an air of confidence that radiated from her. Her avatar's username hovered above her head: FieryLady.

"You must be LukewarmWater," she said, her voice carrying a casual confidence.

"That's me," he replied, offering a small smile. "Looks like we're in this together."

FieryLady extended a hand. "Let's make this a win, yeah?"

Aiden shook her hand. "Sure. Got any strategies in mind?"

She nodded. "For a Battle Royale like this, survival is key. Stick close to me. We'll loot first, avoid unnecessary fights, and take out weakened opponents."

Aiden smirked. "Sounds good. I'll follow your lead."

Before they could discuss further, a booming voice echoed across the coliseum, silencing the crowd.

"WELCOME, ASCENDANTS, TO THE FIRST GAME!" The MC, a flamboyantly dressed man with glowing neon patterns on his suit, appeared in the center of the arena, his voice amplified magically. "TODAY, YOU WILL COMPETE IN A BATTLE ROYALE!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. The MC gestured upward, and a massive floating screen materialized above him, displaying a detailed map of a vast island.

"THIS IS YOUR BATTLEGROUND! A MASSIVE ISLAND WITH A CITY AT ITS HEART, SURROUNDED BY TOWNS, FORESTS, AND BEACHES. YOU CAN USE YOUR POWERS, COLLECT WEAPONS, SOLVE PUZZLES, AND ELIMINATE OPPONENTS TO CLAIM VICTORY!"

Aiden whistled under his breath. "That map's huge..."

FieryLady crossed her arms. "The bigger the map, the more strategic we need to be."

"YOU'LL ALL BE DROPPED FROM THE ASCENDANTS PLANE. PICK YOUR LANDING SPOT WISELY," the MC continued. "THE LAST TEAM STANDING WILL BE DECLARED THE WINNER!"

With that, the MC began his countdown.

"FIVE... FOUR... THREE... TWO... ONE...!"

Aiden felt his body dissolve into glowing particles. The next moment, he rematerialized aboard a massive plane flying over the island. The hum of engines mixed with the chatter of players deciding their drop zones.

FieryLady leaned over the map displayed on her wrist device. "We'll drop near the small town by the beach. It's usually a quiet spot, good for looting."

Aiden nodded. "Got it. I'll follow your lead."

As they neared their target, FieryLady signaled. "Ready? Drop in three... two... one!"

They leaped from the plane, the wind roaring past them as they freefell. The town came into view below, a cluster of small houses and buildings nestled near the shimmering coastline. Deploying their parachutes, they landed safely in the yard of a modest house.

"Let's move fast," FieryLady said, drawing a small dagger from her inventory. "We don't know how long we have before others show up."

They began looting the house, rifling through drawers and cabinets. Aiden found a pistol and a sniper rifle, while FieryLady grabbed an assault rifle.

"Got something good?" she asked.

Aiden held up the sniper. "I'm decent with this."

"Good. You can cover me from a distance," she replied, loading her rifle.

As they moved through the town, Aiden spotted a block of metal near the side of a building. Glancing around to ensure FieryLady wasn't watching, he used his power to reshape it into a sleek metal spear. Smirking at his handiwork, he quickly strapped it to his back.

"Over here," FieryLady called, motioning for him to follow.

They crouched behind a wall, peeking through a broken window. Two players were holed up in a building across the street, scavenging through a pile of loot.

"What's the plan?" Aiden whispered.

FieryLady grinned. "You've got that sniper, right? Take a shot to weaken them. I'll move in for the kill."

Aiden nodded, positioning himself behind the window. He steadied his aim, focusing on his target. The sniper rifle's reticle hovered over the leg of one of the players. With a sharp exhale, he pulled the trigger. The bullet whizzed through the air, striking the player in the thigh.

"Got him," Aiden muttered as the injured player cried out, stumbling to the ground.

"Nice shot," FieryLady said, darting across the street. The other player scrambled for cover and fired back, bullets peppering the ground around her. She zigzagged, leaping over debris and sliding behind a crate for cover.

Aiden fired another shot, narrowly missing the second player as they ducked behind a table. The tension was palpable as gunfire echoed through the street. FieryLady took advantage of the distraction, tossing a flash grenade into the building. The explosion of light and sound disoriented the players inside.

"Moving in!" she shouted, charging through the doorway. The injured player tried to crawl away but was swiftly dispatched with a clean shot from her rifle.

The remaining player lunged at her with a sword, their blade slashing toward her midsection. FieryLady parried with her rifle, knocking the blade aside and delivering a powerful kick to their chest, sending them sprawling.

Aiden climbed through the window, his newly-crafted spear in hand. The player scrambled to their feet, only to find the tip of the spear aimed at their chest. With a precise thrust, Aiden struck, and the player disintegrated into white light.

Breathing heavily, FieryLady grinned. "Not bad, partner."

Aiden smirked. "You're pretty good yourself."

They began looting the room, gathering supplies from their fallen opponents. "This is just the beginning," FieryLady said, reloading her rifle. "Stick with me, and we might actually win this."

Aiden nodded, tightening his grip on his spear. "Let's see how far we can go."