Game's Extra

Aiden and his fiery ally, "Fierylady," arrived at a modest, abandoned house nestled within the heart of the city. The house's faded paint and cracked windows offered the illusion of safety amidst the chaos. Without hesitation, Aiden activated his Overhaul ability, sealing the entrance with reinforced barriers of metal and stone. The hiss and clatter of reshaped matter provided a sense of security as they both slumped onto the dusty couch, finally able to catch their breath.

Aiden opened the game interface, noting the remaining player count: 38/100. He sighed, "Still a long way to go."

Fierylady leaned back, a small smirk playing on her lips. "You're not bad at this game. Honestly, I thought I'd have to carry you since you're a newbie."

Aiden chuckled lightly. "It's alright. If I were in your position, I'd probably think the same."

An awkward silence settled between them before Fierylady suddenly blurted, "Your avatar's pretty handsome, though. What would you rate it compared to your real face?"

Caught off guard, Aiden scratched his head. "Uh, maybe... 8 out of 10?"

Fierylady grinned. "Wow. Not bad. How about me?"

"You?" Aiden tilted his head, genuinely pondering. "If your avatar's anything to go by... 9 out of 10."

A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she looked away. "Thanks," she murmured.

"Well," Aiden clapped his hands together, breaking the tension, "let's get back to hunting."

The duo ventured into the shrinking combat zone, moving in perfect synchronization. Fierylady's fists ignited with roaring flames as she unleashed fiery punches, torching anything in their path. Aiden, meanwhile, used Overhaul to disassemble nearby structures and craft impromptu weapons and traps. Together, they moved like a well-oiled machine, taking down one opponent after another.

In one encounter, a group of three players ambushed them from behind overturned vehicles. Fierylady ducked and weaved, delivering a flaming uppercut that sent one opponent flying. Aiden, using his Overhaul, created a stone wall for cover before launching sharp spikes toward their foes. Within moments, the battlefield was reduced to rubble, and the ambushers lay defeated.

By the time they regrouped to check the player count, the numbers had dwindled: 12/100.

The next circle began to shrink aggressively, forcing them to relocate. Aiden and Fierylady jogged through the war-torn cityscape, exchanging light banter.

"You're pretty quick for a guy who's new to this," Fierylady commented.

"And you're pretty relentless with those flaming fists," Aiden shot back with a grin. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."

As the circle tightened, only six players remained. Aiden and Fierylady encountered two opposing teams, leading to a chaotic firefight. Bullets and abilities tore through the air as explosions rattled the ground. Aiden manipulated the terrain with Overhaul, creating barriers and spikes to control the battlefield, while Fierylady dashed between enemies, her fiery punches leaving trails of destruction.

"Watch out!" Fierylady yelled as an opponent aimed a sniper rifle at Aiden. Without hesitation, she launched a fireball, forcing the sniper to retreat.

"Thanks," Aiden nodded, focusing on the remaining threats. He disassembled a nearby vehicle, reconfiguring its parts into a barrage of flying shrapnel. The opponents had no chance; within minutes, the two teams were eliminated.

The player count updated: 4/100.

Suddenly, a sneak attack! A blade sliced through the air, grazing Fierylady's arm. She cried out, clutching her wound as blood seeped through her fingers.

"Hang on!" Aiden shouted. He activated Overhaul, deconstructing and reconstructing her injured arm in a matter of seconds. The audience in the colosseum watching the live broadcast erupted in confusion and awe.

"Did he just... heal her?" one commentator exclaimed.

Back in the game, the ground trembled as their opponent, a player with vibration-based powers, unleashed a devastating attack. The earth cracked and shifted violently, forcing Aiden and Fierylady to steady themselves.

"He's breaking the terrain!" Fierylady yelled.

"Not for long," Aiden muttered. He used Overhaul to anchor himself to the ground before charging forward. The vibration-wielding player infused his punches with seismic energy, each hit sending shockwaves through Aiden's body. Gritting his teeth, Aiden relied on his MMA training to counter the relentless assault.

"Left hook," he whispered to himself, dodging a vibrating punch. "Weave. Jab, jab, straight." His fists moved with precision, each strike targeting weak points. A calf kick sent his opponent staggering, and Aiden pressed the advantage.

Fierylady, watching from a safe distance, froze. "No way," she thought. "That fighting style... I recognize it."

The duel reached its climax as Aiden slipped into a defensive Philly shell stance, redirecting his opponent's punches. With a sudden burst of speed, he landed a jolt counter straight to the temple, dazing the opponent. Seizing the opportunity, Aiden executed a guillotine takedown, snapping the player's neck and ending the fight.

The final opponent tried to flee, but Aiden used Overhaul to conjure a massive rock spike, hurling it with precision. The impact was catastrophic.

Winner! The announcement echoed as the audience in the colosseum roared with excitement.

Back in the colosseum, replays of Aiden's 1v1 were displayed on massive screens. Commentators marveled at his ingenuity and skill.

"What a show!" one shouted. "This newcomer is something else!"

When the microphone was handed to Aiden, he simply said, "Thanks for the support," before logging out.

Fierylady, however, remained silent, her thoughts racing. "No way... It has to be him." She logged out as well, her suspicions growing stronger.

In a lavish mansion, a red-haired woman with short hair opened her crimson eyes. Her cheeks flushed as memories of Aiden's words replayed in her mind. "He thinks I'm beautiful..." she whispered, glancing at her reflection. "Should I grow my hair?" The woman, revealed to be Ava, stared at herself, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Aiden stretched as he logged out of the game. "Not bad for a first match," he said to himself, checking his rewards. "100,000 Aurens. Nice!" He chuckled. "Let's get ready. I have to meet Ava at the gym." With that, he prepared for the next chapter of his adventure.