Miade her choices in the game. Like Roselle did, she decided to go with a hero’s side. She chose one character that closely resembled her and her martial arts background.

  With her hero selected, Michigo also chose the hero side, aligning herself with the forces of good in the game. It was a decision that just felt right for her.

  Her character materialized otlefield, ready to face off against Alex's Dark Knight. She repared to prove that choosing a hero was not a sign of weakness.

  “Let me show you what a hero’s made of, Alex,” Michigo shouted.

  Alex, ever the taunter, couldn't resist poking fun at Michigo's choice. With a sly grin, he remarked, "A martial artist hero? Just like Roselle's choice. Are y to mimic her strategy, Michigo?"

  Michigo didn't let Alex's words faze her. “Nah. Roselle didn’t pick the Martial artist hero did she? I've got my own style, so just shut your damn mouth."

  The battle music began to py. The Forest battlefield came to life with its lush greenery and t trees. The atmosphere was filled with the serene sounds of nature, but it was about to be disrupted by the csh of two powerful characters.

  Miartial Artist stood poised, her movements refleg her real-world martial arts skills. Her character was ready to face the challenges of the forest with grad agility.

  On the opposite side of the battlefield, Alex's Dark Knight exuded an aura of foreboding power, the dark and sinister presence seemingly out of p the serene forest setting. He repared to use the enviroo his advantage.

  The battle enced with a flurry of strikes and spells. Miartial Artist dispyed her swift and precise movements, dang through the forest terrain. She utilized the trees and natural cover to her advantage, making it difficult for the Dark Knight to nd a hit.

  Alex's Dark Knight, unfazed by the forest surroundings, summoned dark magic to his aid. Shadows seemed to verge around him as he unched powerful spells and attacks. His character's brute strength and calcuted tactics made him a formidable oppo.

  Alex fidently summoned his minions to the Forest battlefield, he couldn't help but smirk, vihat Michigo would make the same strategic move. However, his fideuro fusion when he saw Michigo with her eyes tightly closed when he was about to gloat.

  "What are you doing, Michigo? This is no time to take a nap. I'm waiting for your move,” Alex said with a gre.

  Miained focused. She could hear the sounds of the minions emerging from Alex's base, but her tration was elsewhere. Roselle and Angie exged puzzled gnces, unsure of what Michigo had in mind.

  Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Michigo opened her eyes, revealing a burning fire within them. In an instant, she issued a and to her Martial Artist, who leaped into a.

  Michigo's character dashed forward, avoiding the attacks of Alex's minions with unparalleled precision. She moved gracefully, almost as if she could anticipate every move her oppos made.

  Alex, taken aback by Michigo's ued tactic, struggled to rea time. His minions, uo keep up with Michigo's agile Martial Artist, found themselves overwhelmed.

  In a daring move, Michigo's character delivered a series of rapid strikes and precise blows to Alex's minions, one by ohe Forest battlefield echoed with the sounds of bat. Minions were defeated and vanished in fshes of light.

  Alex's Dark Knight, realizing the threat that Miartial Artist posed, charged forward with a renewed sense of purpose. The dark and imposing character moved swiftly through the forest, closing the distaween himself and his agile oppo.

  Their characters cshed in a battle of skill and strategy, Miartial Artist dispyed a level of proficy that surprised even Alex. Her movements were fluid, arikes were precise, making it difficult for the Dark Knight to nd a blow.

  Alex shouted angrily, “I 't believe i'm being pushed by another person attempting a one man army strategy!"

  Miartial Artist moved with agility and precision, keeping the Dark Knight at bay with her rapid strikes and evasive maneuvers.

  However, the turning point of the battle came when Alex's on Girl made her ued entrahe meized character emerged from his base and, with ruthless efficy, unched a powerful le attack. The bst erfectly timed, catg Miartial Artist off-guard. It struck her character with devastating force, causing her health bar to plummet.

  Michigo's face torted with frustration. With a heavy heart, Michigo issued the and for her Martial Artist to retreat. Her character retreated to a safe distance, gasping for breath and severely weakehe forest battlefield was marred by the explosion and the aftermath of the attack.

  Alex, with a triumphant grin, seized the opportunity. "Looks like the tides have turned, Michigo. Your one-man army strategy had its moments, but in the end, you couldn't withstand the power of my on Girl."

  Michigo realized that she was at a disadvantage. Her Martial Artist had suffered critical damage, and Alex still had the upper hand. She had to make a critical decision: tihe battle with her weakened character or accept defeat.

  Michigo turo Roselle and Angie momentarily with frustration. "I 't give up just yet. I've got o move that might turables!”

  Michigo tightened her red headband and activated her character's ultimate ability, Final Will, a surge of power coursed through her Martial Artist. She had made a bold move, and her character radiated an aura of strength. Her martial artist was now a force to be reed with.

  With fidence, Michigo's character dashed forward to front the on Girl, who had unleashed the devastating attaents earlier.The enhanced Martial Artist dispyed incredible resilience, her movements infused with agility and power. She nimbly dodged the on Girl's projectiles and swiftly closed the distaween them. Each strike from the Martial Artist carried the force of accumuted damage, makitacks devastating.

  The battle raged on, and Miartial Artist seemed invincible, withstanding the on Girl's attacks with ease. Ached in awe as Michigo's character tio fight despite the odds. She shouted,"Go, Michigo! Show him what you're made of!"

  In a desperate move, Alex summoned more minions from his base, attempting to overwhelm Michigo's character with sheer numbers. But Miartial Artist, empowered by Final Will, remained resolute, tinuing to strike down the minions one by one.

  Miartial Artist went in for the final blow, she poured all her energy and willpower into the strike. The on Girl was on the brink of defeat, and Michigo could taste victory. But her character's enhanced form, Final Will, reached its limit, a sudden exhaustion overcame her.

  With a gasp, Miartial Artist automatically reverted to her standard state with her health bar plummeting to a mere 1 HP. Michigo's eyes widened in horror.

  “N-NOOO! DON’T GIVE UP ON ME NOW! YOU STILL--”

  Alex, seizing the opportunity, wasted no time. With a triumphant grin, he ahe on Girl to unch a final, devastating attack. The bst struck Michigo's character with brutal force, and with just 1 HP remaining, the Martial Artist couldn't withstand the attack.

  The forest battlefield erupted in a blinding explosion with the on Girl's attack eg. Michigo's character was overwhelmed by the force. The game zoomed in on the impad repyed it three times.

  Alex smirked. "Well pyed, Michigo. You put up a good fight, but in the end, my strategy prevailed. It seems the one-man army approach only get you so far."

  Michigo's shoulders slumped. Her hands trembled slightly while staring at the s. The words "Game Over" fshed.

  Roselle, sitting beside her, leaned over and pced a hand on Michigo’s shoulder. "Hey, Michigo, you were amazing out there. You did a lot better than I ever did against Alex. You almost had him!"

  Michigo shook her head. A heavy sigh escaped from her lips. "But I let you down, Roselle. That’s uable. I promised to protect you, to be your shield. And I failed."

  Angie chimed in from nearby. "Michigo, you 't bme yourself for this. You fought with everything you had. Sometimes, things just don’t go our way, even when we give it our all."

  Alex chuckled. "Looks like I've won both the game and my prizes. You'll be seeing me soon to fulfill those favors, Roselle."

  The students surrounding them, who had beeors to the intense gaming battle, began to murmur and share their thoughts.

  "I 't believe Miost pulled it off. She had him on the ropes for a while there."

  "Alex is seriously good at this game. He knows all the tricks and strategies."

  "Two favors? What's Alex going to ask for, I wonder?"

  Alex stood up, gesturing for Roselle to follow him. Suddenly, Aepped in front of him, her gaze unwavering. She locked eyes with Alex.

  "Alex," Angie began, "I hope you're proud of beating up two newers to the game aing two favors from them."

  Alex raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Angie, I know Roselle and Michigo arely your close friends, so I'm not sure why you're so ied in this. You have no reason to stand in my way."

  Angie's response was firm. Roselle and Michigo are still learning the game, ahey did have a fair shot, but if you keep taking on challengers like this, it's not going to be fun for anyone else."

  Alex smirked . "Ahey challenged me. They khe risks of going up against me. What makes me the bad guy here?"

  "Taking advantage of them," Angie shot back. "I know what yoing to do, Alex. You o challenge someone in your league."

  Alex's eyes narrowed with a glint of i. "Is that a challenge, Angie?"

  Angie hesitated for a moment. She didn't quite know why she was getting involved, but it was too te for her to shut her mouth now. She squared her shoulders and decred, "Yes, Alex. I challenge you."

  A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Alex's smirk widened. "Alright then, Angie. But let's up the stakes. If you win, I'll drop all cims to those favors. If I win, I get one more favor from you."

  Angie looked at Roselle, who seemed worried. Her eyes themselves were pleading fie to resider. She then turo Michigo, who had gritted teeth, trying to keep herself posed despite her frustration and disappoi. Angie’s face hardened. She pulled out a lollipop from her school pocket and popped it into her mouth. Her face went dark while she spoke around the lollipop.

  "When you said upping the stakes, I thought you really would do more than that," she said while taking steps closer to Alex. "Here's the deal. If you win, you get three favors—from me, Michigo, and Roselle. But if I win, I get three favors—from you, Roselle, and Michigo."

  The croed. The stakes were higher than anyone had anticipated. Roselle and Miouth’s dropped to the ground.

  Alex's eyes widened. His shock soon turned into ughter. "Holy shit! That is the mother of all deals! Angie, you must be the true vilin here. You know what’s gonna happen to you and those girls when you lose, but hey, this is your funeral. “He extended his hand to seal the deal with a wide and fident grin. “Let’s make it official."

  Angie shook his hand firmly, her eyes locked onto his. "Let's."

  The challenge had bee, and the room buzzed with anticipation. All eyes were on Angie and Alex.

  "Why would Angie do that?" Roselle whispered to Michigo with .

  Michigo, still grittieeth, shook her head. "Angie isly our friend, so we 't really know what she's thinking. But either way, we'll owe favors to one of the winners."

  Roselle bit her lip. "Do you think Angie might have something pnned for us?"

  Michigo g Angie. "I don't think Angie's a bad person," she said slowly, "but you never knardless, we've got to root for her. It's our best bet to not be under Alex’s thumb."