LOVE 1.0

CHAPTER 5: Face-off Battle

Zach just ignored the nagging of Kelsey and headed to the dining area as well. "What favorite dish of mine did you cook, Ella?"

Geoff, Irvin and Nate chorused, "Seafood Risotto."

Nate then bragged, "Ella cooked my favorite Seafood Sinigang."

Irvin bragged as well, "And she prepared my all time favorite, Spicy Buffalo Wings."

Geoff exclaimed, "And I got my Spicy Chicken Adobo that you all like as well."

Nate asked, "Do we have lots of rice, Ella?"

Ella answered, "Yes. And I also prepared some side dishes," and then she asked Kelsey, "Would you want to join us, Miss Mariano?"

Kelsey responded, "Sorry but I do not eat food cooked by people that I barely know," then she addressed Zach, "I will go ahead now, Zach. Do not forget about my parents' wedding anniversary party."

Zach replied, "I might be late or probably might not be able to make it. I have a very important appointment tomorrow afternoon that might take long hours to finish. You may already leave as you please if you don't want to have dinner with us. We will still be doing lots of work afterwards."

Kelsey blurted, "She will be staying here with all of you?"

Irvin stated, "She is part of our team. She is also the resident artist of our firm."

Nate added, "She is Geoff's sister after all. So, she is also our sister. Whoever messes with her, messes with all of us as well."

Kelsey just said, "I see. Okay, got to go. Enjoy your dinner," and finally left.

In her mind – Zach did not even pay attention to me because of that girl. What is so special about her? Even if she's the youngest sister of one of them, why do they all treat her so nicely? Resident artist of the firm? She must really be very good for Zach to hire her. She even knows how to cook Zach's favorite dish. But she must know where she stands. Zach is mine!

Zach, Irvin, Nate, and Geoff had already made the necessary preparations for their absence at ZING Technology during the schedule of the games for the V+ Tech E-Sports Tournament. They had already hired additional support staff for their firm.

With Ella as an exemption, Zach had asked permission from his best friends to hire male employees only. That way, they could avoid any violent reaction again from Kelsey if she decided to visit their office. Since its establishment, Kelsey had already visited the firm twice. She had so many comments that did not sit well with Zach.

On her first visit, Kelsey questioned Zach, "Why did you settle for this kind of work, when a high position is waiting for you at BGC?"

Zach's calm response was, "This is just a temporary arrangement while we are in the initial stage of our operations."

Kelsey asked, "Why not go big right away? I am sure that your family can support you financially."

Zach icily said, "I am just using the money that I have saved. I am not receiving any allowance from my parents anymore. I am just receiving my compensation for the work that I am doing for the IT team of BGC."

On her second visit, Kelsey complained to Zach about their office space itself, "Why did you lease an office space in this building? There is not much parking space. You don't even have your own restroom in your office."

His stoic reply was, "You do not have to come here if the place is not up to your taste. This is a workplace, not a shopping mall or a disco bar. The lesser distractions, the better."

Kelsey then bragged, "Anyway, I brought some cakes and pastries for everyone."

He responded, still focused on his work, "Okay. Thanks."

She said, "Will you not even look at them and choose what you like?"

His no-looking reply was, "I do not eat many sweets except when I eat some fruit."

June 15, 2012. Friday. The opening ceremonies of the V+ Tech E-Sports Tournament started in all participating countries, where Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield were very popular.

In Filipinas, it was held at the V+ Tech Arena, which was originally the multipurpose hall of the company used for mass gatherings, like the launch of their products and general meetings. In other countries, the branch offices of V+ Tech Company had searched for indoor arenas and booked them in advance for all their game schedules. Game spectators would be required to pay for the admission ticket so they could watch the games live. Games would also have live steam on the official channel of V+ Tech Company on their very own online video-sharing platform, which was called V+ Tube. They also had a cooperation with Eagle Sports, the flagship 24-hour cable TV sports channel of Eagle Entertainment Corporation, for the exclusive live telecast of the games as well as its reruns.

There would be three modes in the face-off battles which would be electronically and randomly selected.

The first one is the 'Individual Battles' where each member of the team will have an opponent from the other team in random matching. The five individual battles will be played simultaneously and the team with more wins will be the winner.

The second one is the 'Group Battle' where all five members of the team will battle it out with the five members of the other team in just one group battle. The winner will be the team with the higher points or with the most survivors or with the one last warrior standing.

The third mode is the 'Survival of the Fittest', where one member of the team will have to battle it out, one member of the team after the other, until exterminated. After extermination, a new member will battle it out with the surviving members of the opposing team. Each team would have the chance to strategize on the order of fighting of their players. A team loses once all their members have already been exterminated. A team wins if they have one or more surviving members.

The Cyber War Games are scheduled every 9 AM to 12 NN on Fridays, 1 PM to 4 PM on Saturdays, and 4 PM to 7 PM on Sundays.

The Blitz are scheduled every 1 PM to 4 PM on Fridays, 4 PM to 7 PM on Saturdays, and 9 AM to 12 NN on Sundays.

The Battlefield Games are scheduled every 4 Pm to 7 PM on Fridays, 9 AM to 12 NN on Saturdays, and 1 PM to 4 PM on Sundays.

Not all online players can participate in the national tournament. A team to be eligible for registration should have: all members of ages from 18 years old to 30 years old and natural born or naturalized citizen of their country; all members with at least one government-issued ID; and at least one member included in the Top 100 of the National Ranking.

There were a total of 36 participating teams from Cyber Wars; 32 for Blitz; and 30 for Battlefield. Some of these teams were already formed from an existing E-Sports Organization, and some were just like D' ZINGERS which was just formed by five players who wanted to try their luck in the face-off battle.

The tournament will have four rounds: Elimination Round, Quarter-Final Round, Semi-Final Round, Championship Round.

For the Elimination Round, the Top 16 teams would be selected and could go on to the next round.

For the Quarter-Final Round, the Top 16 teams would battle it out for the Top 8 spots.

For the Semi-Final Round, the Top 8 teams would battle it out for the Top 4 spots.

For the Final Round, the Top 4 teams would battle it out for the position of the Champion, First Runner-Up, Second Runner-Up, and Third Runner-Up.

D' ZINGERS was the team that the participants, online games enthusiasts, spectators and analysts were most eager to know, given the fact that all of its players all belonged to the Top 10 of National Rankings and Top 50 of the World Rankings.

After the opening ceremonies from 8 AM to 9 AM, the games had already begun for Cyber Wars. Their first game was with Cyber Utopians with Ulysses, the Top 4 of the National Rankings in Cyber Wars, as their team captain. Nate had a personal war with Ulysses because Nate's ex-girlfriend cheated on him with Ulysses. Scarlet, Nate's ex-girlfriend, was a schoolmate of Ella. Scarlet had a personal grudge over Ella because Ella had beaten her in the online polls for the Most Beautiful Campus Girl. Scarlet was also a member of Cyber Utopians.

The mode of their game was Individual Battles, where Nate was randomly matched against Scarlet, and Ella was randomly matched against Ulysses. Everyone was so impressed with how easily and quick Ella had won over the Team Captain of Cyber Utopians. They just could not believe how an innocent-looking pretty girl with an all-pink gaming keyboard, mouse and headset with cat ears could be so smart, quick and focused in her game.

Some of the comments about her were –

Queen is so cute on those cat ears pink headset! But behind her cute demeanor is a very daunting game opponent.

Queen is definitely pretty but deadly! She had just easily beaten the captain of Cyber Utopians.

Queen is just so awesome! D' ZINGERS is definitely a strong team.

Queen is an angel in her appearance but one hell of a gamer!

Queen is as powerful and as quick as Liege!

Queen is one hell of a pretty beast gamer!

I am looking forward to her game for Blitz and Battlefield later on."

Nate had also easily won over his ex-girlfriend, while their other team mates had easily won over their opponents. Everyone in the arena was so impressed by the game skills and speed of D' ZINGERS especially that of their captain and their only female member. They had no doubt anymore why they hold the Top 2 spots in the National and World Rankings in all of the three games.

Nate was so happy, "Thank you for beating their captain for me, Ella. I will definitely buy you a new manga! And next time, I'll buy you another girlish set of those gaming keyboards, mouse and headset. We can go for lilac color next time."

Zach shared, "I just got a call from Dragon Technology. They wanted to sponsor Ella's fashionable gaming peripheral devices. I told them I had to ask Ella first."

Ella said, "They are known for their top of the line gaming peripheral devices. But I don't want to specifically endorse just one brand. It will still be best if we have the freedom to choose what brand we feel will suit us the best."

Irvin agreed, "She had a point!"

Zach mentioned, "They are offering a big endorsement fee. They are also willing to customize the peripherals to your comfort and preference, Ella. Even the fashionable aspect of it will be tailored to your liking."

Geoff stated, "You might reconsider it, sis. We can consult Irvin's lawyer-Dad, about the terms and conditions of their offer."

Ella reasoned out, "But I'm no model or whatever. If I agree with this endorsement, they might require pictorials or filming. You are all aware that I'm not up to those kinds of things."

Nate joined the discussion, "Perhaps they can also adjust to that, Ella. Don't reject it right away. Hear out the details of their offer first."

Ella uttered, "Okay."

After their game, they decided to hang out on the open field area of V+ Tech Company Compound, where the food van of Tita Gina was stationed. For all the scheduled dates of the games, V+ Tech Company had allowed entrepreneurs to sell their goods in that specific area, which was divided into business spaces. Some had set up tents to sell some merchandise. Others had their food vans or food trucks to sell food and other refreshments.

They had already changed into their spare clothes so their uniform wouldn't get sweaty or dirty. Ella even wore a face mask and a wool fedora hat to cover her upside-down double crown braided hair while the guys wore sunglasses and baseball caps, but there were still a lot of people who recognized them and asked for a photograph and an autograph. So, after getting the snacks that they had pre-ordered from the food van and eating them, they returned inside the arena.

In between game breaks, Ella had sketched in her notebook some interesting expressions of spectators and players. She was seated in between Zach and her brother, while Nate and Irvin were seated with Nikki and Irish at their backs. Nikki (Nate's sister), and Irish, (Irvin's sisters) were Ella's best friends and classmates from kindergarten to senior high school. Nikki would be taking up a pre-med degree at UF – Vienburg while Irish would be taking up a pre-law degree at Athenaeum de Missi University. So the three of them wouldn't be studying in the same school for their college educations. The two came late, so they were not able to see their first game live.

Then they all went back to the food van of Tita Gina, and laid down a picnic mat under the tree behind the food van so they could all have their meals privately. They talked while eating.

Nikki remarked, "We heard as we entered the arena that you beat down the arrogant Team Captain of Cyber Utopians so easily and quickly, Bri. It served him right. For sure, he had underestimated you for being a girl."

Nate affirmed, "I agree with you on that 100 %, Nik."

Irish shared, "I and Nik were already in the process of establishing an official fans' club for the team. Kuya Vin has already setup the website for our fans' club. Tita Gina will be the Honorary Chairwoman. Nik will be the President and I will be the Vice President. To raise funds to finance the website and the activities, Tita Gina will mass reproduce a fan version of your team uniform, just like the ones we are wearing, and other merchandise designed by Bri. Then we will sell them. We are already accepting new members through online registration. So far, the website has already crashed because we cannot handle the influx of your followers who want to join."

Zach told Irvin, "You need to solve this issue, Vin. I think it will be better for the server of ZING Technology to host their website. Just spend the funds you will be able to raise on hosting some activities for your members."

Irvin acknowledged it, "I will arrange it then. The website crashed because it was just in a trial stage. I haven't polished it yet. I didn't expect the high influx of visitors. I just used my personal home server for its hosting."

Geoff volunteered, "I will help you polish it then."

Nate seconded, "I will also help out."

After lunch, D' ZINGERS changed into their uniforms again, which they all neatly hung on the third row seat of Zach's SUV. They went back to the arena with Tita Gina, Nikki and Irish, who all had an official ID for free admission to the arena as their registered family members.

The mode of the battle for their Blitz game was 'Group Battle' and their opponent was D' Kings, a team formed by an e-sport organization with top rankings in other video games. Their all-men members currently hold the ranks of fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth and eleventh in the National Rankings. Their members were all veterans of e-sports battles.

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In the first few minutes of their battle, Bomb and Shark were exterminated immediately. So it was up to Liege, Queen, and Blaze to stay alive in the game.

Liege gave his instructions, "Queen, it's now time for our offense. Blaze and I will cover for you while doing defense."

Queen responded, "Aye, Captain!"

Queen immediately exterminated the Team Captain of D' Kings. The other members all fell in her hands one after the other. Everyone in the arena, as well as on their TV sets, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs watching the battle was extremely impressed with the display power, speed and teamwork by the three remaining members of D' ZINGERS in defending their National Rankings. D' ZINGERS was definitely a formidable opponent to beat. They were all just amazed that Queen had applied most of the famous offensive moves of Liege and Blaze. Little by little, their opponents were learning why Queen had quickly risen to the Top Rankings of Cyber Wars, Blitz, and Battlefield within just two months of playing the games online. As Blaze younger sister, it seemed that she had learned the game strategies and famous moves of her brother. With Liege as the Team Captain, it also seemed to them that Queen had learned her captain's killer instincts and famous offensive moves in playing the three games.

But their glory did not end there. Because in their game in Battlefield where the battle mode was 'Survival of the Fittest', Liege gave his teammates a breather and singlehandedly finished all the five members of their opposing team, one after the other, as the first warrior for the battle. He had shown everyone why he was the Top 1 Player in the National and World Rankings for Battlefield.

Ella had admired him even more for that. To her – You are a very good leader and Team Captain. No doubt why Kuya, Nate and Vin had great respect for you. You can be on support or lead just fine. You also know how to take good care of your friends, co-workers and friends. But I can also feel your sadness because you felt restrained by your elders. Even if you want to share with them your personal glory, it cannot be.