The Gamer

Chapter 3 - Part One

Ashe’s POV

I had never done something like this just for a single person. It wasn't like me, but I wanted to do it and I wouldn't stop. I had given up on TV series and anime for the whole week. I kept the hours of sleep at 8 hours to have the maximum possible hours per day to play. By calculating meals and other things, I was able to play a little over 12 hours in one day. I was no longer questing with others, with the exception of my group of girls. When I was tired, I could not complete a quest by myself and preferred to have others lead me. They did all the work and I was getting exp for being in a group doing nothing. All this for a secret mission that only Janny knew.

When I told her what had happened, she had volunteered for the plan. We all wanted to know something about Samael and I couldn't miss this opportunity. Obviously, I would have reported everything to Janny and she was also interested in the matter.

So, after a week of hard training, I had passed the seventh and sixth in the ranking and now I was approaching the group of the fifth, fourth and third. The rumor of my climb had put the whole game in turmoil. Even in the Empire of Gods groups on social networks there was talk of my climb and everyone was waiting to see what it led to. A few hours before the event, I had become fifth in the ranking and I was close to overcoming fourth as well.

I took a break and packed my suitcase. Tomorrow I was supposed to go back to San Francisco for a couple of weeks. I hadn't given myself pleasure for a week and didn't even feel the need, I had become a war machine. Surely, in San Francisco I would have been locked in the house alone with my vibrator friends and I would have recovered. My parents worked all day and so it wouldn't change much from my ordinary routine. I was used to being alone, which was why I approached online games. I had started a family on the web to have that affection that I hadn't really had. I understood that my parents were ambitious and I too, in my own way, was, but a few times we had been a real family and I envied other people who instead behaved like a family every day. For this reason, I had never thought about the possibility of having children. In fact, I had not even thought about any possible relationship. I would stay in my virtual world until I changed my perspective or got too old to hold a controller. The last option seemed the most reasonable one.

I packed my favorite vibrator, some clothes and mentally prepared myself for the quest.

Within an hour of the event, there were still a few players and not even a top player.

I left Starlen on standby for a few minutes and made myself a quick dinner. I returned to the game when I heard the trill of a private message.

" Hey Star, ready? " Janny asked me.

All the top players today would have used the microphone, it was easier to work out a strategy.

" Yes, you? "

" It's not bad. You are very close to overtaking Chuck in the rankings. Do you want us to cripple him? " she asked, laughing.

Chuck was fourth in the rankings and the only human in the top 10. Even today, surely, he would have asked me out.

" There is no need. Today I overcame them all "

" You have to get to defeat the god, if you want to overcome someone " she replied.

There were several monsters with a lot of exp in special events, but whoever threw the last blow to the god took over a million exp points. If I took them, I would have become third in the ranking.

10 minutes from the start of the event, we were all on. As always, Samael was aloof and silent.

" Hey, we missed you last time " Chuck said.

During the events, we could use different group chat modes. The top 10 created the strategy that they sent like commands to the rest of the group. We used a chat just for the 10 of us.

" We won the quest without your dead weight " Destructor said.

I couldn't wait to beat that braggart.

" Somebody told me that you were a dead weight. Samael did everything last time " I replied, cynical.

" Guys, don’t fight right now. It is close to opening the portal. Let's decide, come on! " the number 9 in the ranking said.

The players in that game weren't all idiots like Destructor, there were also some quiet and sociable people.

" Since the last time Samael took the god, I should go this time " said Destructor.

" We do not know what god is, we should evaluate first " I said.

" What do you propose to do? " Chuck asked.

" We enter, we break through the defenses of the monsters and we head quickly to the lair of the god, while the rest of the players kill the monsters behind us. And whoever has the strongest element against the god kills him " I replied.

" Yes, somebody thinks it is a god of fire, the strongest element should be Samael's ice " replied player number 6.

" I do not want the funny guy to take the god again. I'll go against the boss, whatever element it is " Destructor replied.

I couldn't stand it at all. He was so arrogant.

I have already made my decision. The predictions weren't always right. I was a half demon of fire, against a god of the same element, I wouldn't have had much chance, but I’m the strongest against some other element.

It was less than 2 minutes before the portal opened and I walked slowly and cautiously near the entrance. I would have adopted Samael's technique from last time, even if mine was more a "Leeroy Jenkins", that is an emulation of that nice player who launched himself in a suicide attack against a boss in an old celebrated game. It would have been fun though. I sent a private message to Janny, informing her of my choice and I got ready to enter the event. In any case, no one would have noticed.

Today they were arguing more than usual. Surely Samael had thought of the same option as me and I should have been faster than him. Which was completely impossible because his speed levels were probably the highest in the game.

30 seconds before the portal opens. They have not yet decided on who will kill the boss. Samael is always in his usual corner; I am on the sidelines, a few meters from the door. Not even breathe and they seem to have forgotten my presence.

10 seconds. Damn, my euphoria is rising, I'm trembling with excitement. I can do it. They haven't decided yet. I turned off the microphone and started laughing like a mad hysterical woman.

" Don't do that " Chuck sent me a private message.

He understood everything, but obviously I would never have listened to him.

The portal opens. I sling in and start running.