Cradle of the Valiant (Duyan ng Magiting)

CH 8 - THE GAME

Zone stretched his limbs and glanced at the counter of the internet cafe. The store clerk was busy talking to a tall, bald guy.

The guy drew his attention for a while because he looked so intimidating with his tattoos and piercings.

He obviously wore that tank top to show off his physical assets. The clerk appeared to be agitated by something but Zone could not quite hear what they were talking about.

Grace, the clerk was gesturing with her arms towards the rest of the cafe.

Zone followed her gaze and looked at the mostly deserted cafe except for a few customers. They were all absorbed in whatever virtual world they are in right now.

These are all the rage now: VR games that offer almost anything and can take you to whatever place you wanted.

There are normal units that only have the simplest interface: the goggles and the tactile gloves but the most expensive ones are even tapped into your neural signals and have omnidirectional floors.

Games that utilize these technologies are insanely popular and so are the kinds that simulate intimate physical interactions. You can now VR call somebody and can interact with them as if they are really there.

He looked back at the two people at the counter but they are now nowhere to be seen.

He wanted coffee and maybe a sandwich. He has been playing for 5 hours now and his stomach feels like there is a war going on.

He imagined his stomach as a mini warzone and he giggled to himself.

He is really starving. He got up.

Maybe there is another clerk he can order from.

The server corner had no one. He tried peering over the counter.

Behind it was a small desk with some papers and pens and beside it is a VR machine. The top of the line.

He was tempted to go around and try it but that could definitely get him arrested.

Sure, he knows the store clerk/manager but not that well.

He saw a closed room near the counter. It said: 'private' and his curiosity got the better of him.

There are muffled sounds coming from there and he could make out one familiar voice.

He leaned towards the door to listen.

"We are still within acceptable numbers..." That was Grace, the clerk.

"Acceptable is not acceptable..." countered a gruff male voice. Must be 'Tattoos'.

He smiled at the absurdity of that last statement.

"There is no reason for us to unnecessarily push our sales, is there? These are 'hot' items and the police are always poking their noses," the female voice argued reasonably.

Zone got away from the door as if it suddenly grew hot.

'Police' is not a word he associates with fun times. Quite the opposite actually.

He slowly backed away and decided to look for the restroom.

He splashed water on his face and that refreshed him a lot. His hunger was still there but the lethargy within his mind is gone.

At least for a while.

He stared at his image on the mirror and grimaced as he saw the bloodshot eyes and the unkempt hair.

He tried to smoothen out the hair. He can't do anything about the eyes.

The game is new but he is already addicted. He sometimes spends more than 12 hours everyday just grinding away and admiring the scenery.