NOVEL WEB Chapter 260: Deal!
Hugo smirked as he cracked his knuckles, standing in front of the flashing arcade machine.
The neon lights of the game arena reflected off his confident face, making him look like a villain about to deliver his monologue before utterly humiliating his opponent.
Celine, on the other hand, stretched her arms casually, her afro bouncing slightly as she rolled her shoulders.
She was standing casually at ease, yet still managing to look absolutely stunning and effortlessly cool.
Hugo couldn't help but think about how she looked too confident for someone about to be destroyed.
Then again, she had no idea she was up against a man with Gaming Mastery!
She thought she was stepping into a friendly competition, but in reality, she had just walked into the lion's den!
Hugo's den!
The first game was a classic dance battle—Dance Mania Turbo 3000.
The moment Hugo suggested it, Celine's eyes had gleamed with excitement, which should have been his first warning that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't a complete amateur.
"Hope you're ready to embarrass yourself, champ," Celine teased as she tied her stubborn hair with a band.
Hugo scoffed. He flashed her a dashing grin. "You should be worrying about yourself. I'm about to put on a performance that will make the arcade employees call the fire department."
Celine raised an eyebrow but said nothing, but her competitive spirit was clear for him to see.
She wanted to win!
As soon as the game began, the speakers blasted an intense electronic beat, and the arrows started appearing on the screen at breakneck speed.
Celine moved immediately, her feet bouncing in rhythm.
Hugo raised an eyebrow—she was actually good. Not just "casual gamer girl good," but potentially challenging good!
For the first thirty seconds, it was an even battle, both of them hitting perfect steps, their scores climbing at the same rate.
Then Hugo's system-assisted reflexes kicked in. He started stomping on the arrows like a demon, his movements impossibly precise, his legs moving too fast for a normal human!
Celine shot him a glare mid-dance. "What the hell?!"
Hugo smirked while performing a backward moonwalk into a triple spin combo. "What's wrong? Thought you had this in the bag?"
Celine gritted her teeth and doubled her speed, but it was too late.
The music reached its climax, and Hugo executed a final move so flashy that two kids watching gasped and clapped.
The screen exploded with a massive "PERFECT!! WINNER: HUGO" message.
Celine panted, hands on her knees. "You... cheated. You have turbo-powered legs or something!"
Hugo gloated inwardly. "Nah, just natural talent. But hey, don't feel too bad. Losing to me is an honor."
He licked his lips and stared at her lips with a sexy smirk. He needed to gradually build up sexual tension, after all.
Celine shoved his shoulder playfully before dragging him toward the next game. Unknowingly, she was becoming more comfortable with him!
"Fine. But let's see how you do in something that requires actual skill."
Game 2: Air Hockey!
Celine was clearly confident in this one. She gripped the striker with the deadly focus of a trained warrior, her knuckles turning white.
Hugo raised an eyebrow at this. Was she about to unlock some secret pro-level skills? Why did she look so serious all of a sudden?!
The game started, and Celine immediately sent the puck flying toward his goal. Fast!
Like, alarmingly fast. Hugo barely blocked it in time, his eyes widening. In fact, if not for his high gaming mastery, he wouldn't have been able to react in time!
"What was that?!"
Celine grinned. "Oh, did I forget to mention? I used to destroy guys at air hockey back in high school."
Hugo gulped. This was bad. He had assumed his Gaming Mastery would let him coast through this, but apparently, Celine was a natural-born menace at this game!
The next few minutes were an all-out war. The puck became a blur, bouncing off the walls like a possessed entity, neither of them letting up.
Pish! Pish! Pish! Pish! Pish! Pish! Pish!
The score was 4-4, and the final point was incoming!
Hugo activated every ounce of his reflexes. Celine smirked, thinking she had the perfect angle, and sent the puck flying with a powerful flick—
Only for Hugo to predict it, curve his wrist slightly, and send the puck straight into her goal at the last second.
"VICTORY: PLAYER 1!" the machine announced.
Celine's jaw dropped. "No way! How did you react that fast?!"
Hugo grinned and leaned forward. "I told you. Natural talent."
Celine crossed her arms and huffed. "You're annoying."
"You're cute when you're salty," Hugo teased, earning another light punch to his arm.
By now, Celine was determined to win at least once, so she stomped toward their final game.
Game 3: The Ultimate Claw Machine Challenge!
"This isn't about reflexes or speed," Celine said confidently. "This is about strategy. Mind games. And patience."
Hugo had crazy thoughts about how she sounded like she was about to perform a sacred ancient ritual, when in reality, she was about to try and grab a plushie with a robotic claw.
The challenge was simple: whoever got the most plushies in five minutes won!
Celine went first, expertly maneuvering the claw, her eyes focused like a sniper lining up a shot.
She managed to snag two plushies—a cute pink bunny and a blue dinosaur.
Hugo nodded in approval. Not bad.
Then he stepped up.
With surgical precision, he controlled the claw as if it were an extension of his own hand. First try? Perfect grab.
Second try? Flawless execution.
By the time the five minutes ended, Hugo had an embarrassingly large pile of plushies, while Celine stood there, arms crossed, completely defeated.
"You're not human," she muttered, finally admitting defeat.
"Say it," Hugo grinned.
"Say what?"
"Say, 'Hugo, you're a god among men, and I bow before your superior gaming skills.'"
Celine snorted. "I'd rather eat my shoe."
Hugo laughed before leaning in closer, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Alright then. Let's make things interesting. How about... a bet?"
Celine raised an eyebrow. "What kind of bet?"
Hugo smirked and lowered his voice seductively. "If I win another game, you have to let me pick your outfit for our next hangout. Something... bold."
This was pro-level rizz. By making this kind of bet, he was already making it clear that there would be a second date.
This was showing intent!
Celine narrowed her eyes, but he gleam of approval in their depths betrayed her true emotions. "And if I win?"
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Hugo leaned in even closer, their faces almost touching. He glanced at her lips confidently before flicking back to her eyes.
"Then I'll do anything you say. Anything."
Celine's lips curled into a smirk as she extended her hand. "Deal."
Hugo shook her hand, inwardly celebrating like he had just won the lottery.
He had successfully set up his next victory while also ensuring an excuse to make Celine wear something utterly scandalous!
Celine, on the other hand, was already planning how she was about to make his life a living hell.
Both sides stared at each other and smiled.
The battle was far from over.
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