DEFEAT

  The disheartening message appeared on his s. It was a message that every pyer was familiar with, yet Cato found himself staring at it in disbelief as if it was some sort of alieure.

  That wasn't supposed to happen. Cato closed his eyes and opehem again, hoping it was all a dream. But no, this was reality. He lost to her than Fiona La, a fledging rookie.

  "Hahaha!" Karen's ughter only further mocked him. "Get dunked, boi!"

  "Karen, that is inappropriate," Fiona scolded.

  “Yeah, yeah, sorry, sis.” Karen barely held in her muffled ughter. “But real talk, you just wrecked the so-called ‘captain’ of the Leopards! That’s so awesome!”

  “Yes, that is quite the achievement indeed. It shows I am improving, slowly but surely.”

  I’m sure they’re ughing at me deep down. Cato grumped. And, I deserve all that mockery. To think that the captain of the Leopards would lose to some newbie like this. I know duels aren’t my expertise, but that still shouldn’t happen. Coach would’ve lectured me to death if this was an official game, haha...

  "That's some nice pys you had there," Cato said. "Did you prepare them just for me?"

  "Not quite," Fiona answered. "I researched situations such as these while learning Lionfolk's matchups."

  "Is that so.”

  Even though Fiona de, much of her research probably focused on tering Cato’s favorite csses. Sure, that still ted as "learning matchups", but she most likely prioritized certain matchups over others.

  Of course, learning how to defeat Vampire was always important due to the css’s popurity. So, Fiona really had a good excuse here. She was like "I did not prepare for this matchup to beat YOU in particur. Vampire is a on pick that I must know how to deal with."

  In short, Fiona exposed how big of an impression Cato’s Vampire left on her. She lost to it the st time they pyed, so she thhly researched the css sihen.

  But, in the end, she's still a greenhorn. Cato cracked his neck. Time to expose her for what she really is. I think I got a good uanding of the “solution” she came up with for this matchup, so I just have to adjust accly.

  Fiona’s strategy boiled down to preparing for the mid-game. She built power and cooldowion, but she didn’t take much advantage of them in the early-game. She carefully hoarded an arsenal of guns, waiting for the right moment to go in with her guns bzing.

  That approach was far more effective than trying to assault Cato at any good opportunity that preseself, which was Fiona’s game pn before that. It made seo assault him frequently due to his passive pystyle, but that’s exactly what he wanted his oppos to do~

  Cato's poking pystyle, the so-called "Esmeralda Strat", ecifically desigo ter aggressive oppos like that. Fiona always came swinging at him but he retreated and tered with a couple of jabs, slowly withering her down.

  It took multiple crushis, but it seemed Fiona learned her lesson that day.

  Or, maybe somebody gave her a few pointers. Cato thought. I see Coach, or even Esmeralda herself, advising Fiona to py like that against me. That's the kind of fast progress you make when you have a good tutor. I know that much from experience.

  As the chit-chat died out, it was time fame 2.

  "I believe giving you a one-game advantage will suffice." iled impishly. "From here on out, I'll e at you with everything I got."

  "Seriously?" Karen was the oo respond to that provocation. "You got royally mopped there, don't even dare to deny it. Sis is a million times better than you!"

  "I would not be so sure about that," Fiona objected. "I believe I caught him off-guard, but I'm sure he will adapt. It is after he adapts that he will pose the greatest threat."

  "So, you uand." iled fidently.

  Even fh-level petitive pyers, mistakes and blunders were unavoidable. They were only human, and humans erred every now and then. As such, Cato's defeat in Game 1 was just that, a mistake.

  What separated a casual from a petitive pyer was their ability to adapt to the unfolding situation. Instead of admitti, they sought solutions to the problems that stumped them. And, if they were profit enough at the game, they should be able to e up with some sort of answer.

  Her strategy is solid, but I know how to py around it. Cato already figured an answer. In fact, he found a couple of those and simply had to pick the most reliable one. Game 2 won’t be anything like Game 1, that’s for sure.

  And so, they pyed once more. This time, Cato ied more power in his build early on. This way, he secured a much better position for testing Fiona’s mid-game aggression.

  Normally, that wasn't his preferred way to build his character. As, faster development was necessary for situations like this.

  The same way he couldn't kick bad slowly develop his pawns in every chess match, he also couldn't take his sweet time building power in every duel. Sometimes, it was necessary to speed in order to match the oppo's pace.

  I got you this time. Cato pushed Fiona back, time and again. He didn’t give the lioness any ces to deliver strong attacks or to steal the power buff.

  On top of that, Cato built just enough power to make it risky for Fiona to directly front him. At the same time, he didn't o buy his favorite items, the ohat powered up via perma stacks earhroughout the game. Items like that always turremely powerful ie-game. That secured him a good position for the endgame.

  In short, Cato was dominating against the greenhorn on all fronts. As the veteran, the adjustments he made on the fly were far superior to his oppo's.

  Fiona tried as hard as she could to keep up with adjustments, but she was always a step or two behind. Even fenius, there was a limit to how much experience she could accumute in just half a year.

  VICTORY

  Cato secured the sed game, as well as the games that followed afterward. And so, the final result of the day was a 4-1 in his favor.

  In the end, his adaptation proved superior to Fiona’s. Though, that was to be expected from a veteran who spent the past two years training in the Leopards. Not to mention, he also received professional tut even before that.

  So, no matter how maors Fiona hires, she wouldn’t be able to catch up to Cato in just half a year. It was simply impossible.

  “Guuuuh!” Karen was the one who exhibited the most frustration at this turn of events. “Lemme py him, sis! I’ll avenge you real quick!”

  “I am sure you would.” Fiona nodded. “But, there is no point if I ot defeat him myself.”

  “You totally beat him! You’re way better than this nerd!”

  “I wish that was true, but it appears I still ck the necessary experieo match the level of the Leopards.” Fiona seemed to uand her shortings all too well from the few matches they pyed. “Fear not, I will be up to the challenge by the time the regionals e around. Let us topple the Leopards together.”

  “Yeah, we’ll do it!” Karen pumped a fist, then boldly poi Cato. “You better watch your back at the regionals! We’re ing for that ass!”

  “Karen, nguage.”

  “Whoopsie, hehe~”

  The two “sisters” exged fident smiles. Though their newly foueam had no records to speak of, Fiona and Karen alone were already a force to re with. So, if their team has are any other promising pyers, they MIGHT have a ce to bee a key pyer at the regionals this year. That’s a big if, though.

  “By the way,” Cato started. “Does your team already have an official name?”

  “Valkyries,” Fiona answered.

  “Hehe, pretty cool, isn’t it?” Karen snickered. “I helped sis e up with it.”

  “I suppose it’s fitting.” Cato nodded.

  As the name implied, Valkyries was an all-female team. However, unlike some other such teams that popped up in the past, this one wasn’t formed as a publicity stunt. Fiona definitely wasn’t trying to promote gender equality in gaming or anything of the sort.

  The team was formed this way out of y. After all, it was born within the suffog enviro known as St. Mary’s Junih for Ladies.

  I’m really curious how Fiona vinced a traditional school that esports is a fiivity for a “proper dy”, or whatever nonsehat school preaches. But, at the same time, I’m a little scared to ask.

  It robably all about money anyway. The La family has been making very generous donations to the school feions, apparently due to some ties to its foundation or such.

  So, evehe La Princess came forth with su “absurd” request, the school couldn’t turn her away. At least, that’s hoictured it going down.

  Ultimately, what mattered was the e: Fiona’s participation in this year’s Cssmancers regionals, alongside her “sister” and some other unknowns from a prestigious all-girls school. Sardless of whether the Valkyries will grow strong enough to rival powerhouses like the Leopards and StormBlitz, the freshly baked all-female team was bound to make waves in the se. For ohey’ll attract lots of media attention for sure.

  And, I’ll make sure to be there to watch them crash and burn~ iled impishly. He wished for Fiona’s success as much as he wished for her iable failure. As unlikely as it is, I sincerely hope she climbs all the way to the finals this year. Then, I’ll have the pleasure of tearing her apart in front of the greatest crowd~

  With that, the weekly meeting with the La Princess came to an end. The final score of their chess matches was as depressing as usual, but even in Cssmancers Cato found himself stumbling a couple of times today. Truly, what a long and exhausting day it was.

  "Karen, you please escort uest out?" Fiona requested.

  "Eeeeh?" Karen sulked.

  "I am sorry. This took a little lohan I expected, so I have to start getting ready for swimming practice."

  Is she still not done “practig” for today? ade a face. This girl is a mae.

  Before meeting up with Cato, Fiona arently taking piano lessons. After that, she pyed chess and Cssmancers, both on a fairly high level. And, , she’ll go swimming? Truly, there was for this superhuman.

  "Okay, gotcha." Karen saluted. "I'll escort this loser."

  "Thank you." Fiona smiled warmly and patted her sister's head.

  "Okay, let's get going!" Karehe way with great enthusiasm.

  My, wasn't she bummed out about this task just a moment ago? ade a face. It appears that when it's for the sake of her dear "sister", this brat is hyper-motivated to do absolutely anything. So simple-minded~ I'd even dare to call it cute.

  "You don't have to ese if you don't want to," Cato said. "I've been here enough times. I know where's the exit."

  "No do," Karen said. "Sis's orders are absolute. Well, I mean, I also think it’s kinda unnecessary, but I guess it's etiquette or whatever?"

  "How very noble of you." iled wryly. Even in this me, the La family cared a little too much about its noble image. Though Cato was a frequent guest, the household never cut any ers with hospitality... aside from Karen’s shenanigans, of course.

  "So, how was it?" Karen asked with a wide grin. "Sis is gettier aer, right? Right?"

  "Yes, she is. Frightenedly so," itted. "She felt like a pletely different pyer pared to the st time we pyed, and it wasn’t even that long ago."

  "Hehe~! Amazing, right?" Karen smiled proudly as if she was the one who deserved the achievement. "Looks like all the extra lessons paid off. And, of course, she had plenty of practice with yours truly."

  "I figured you spar a lot," Cato said. "Some of her pys reminded me of the tricks you pull. Though, too bad I'm used to them by now."

  "Hmph. You ain't used to shit, boy. , first-to-ten me once you get home! I'mma run all over you!"

  "Spare me, midy. I'm but a human, so I o rest sometimes." Cato sighed deeply.

  Today's schedule was so packed it sucked all his energy dry. He had the usual intense Cssmancers practice at the club, which was cut short for the sake of a far more tiring strategy meeting, which was followed by chess, and then followed by Cssmancers duels. There was for the wicked.

  "Hmph, weak. And you call yourself a boy?" Karen pced both hands on her waist. "Just so you know, sis practiced track after school, then piano, then she pyed you, and now she got swimming. AND, after all that, she gonna have a chess match against a grandmaster."

  "My, what a schedule. There’s no doubt in my mind she’s a mae.”

  "Sis is just that amazing~" Karen's eyes sparkled as she talked. She sounded like a fanatic worshipping a goddess.

  Well, it's not like I don't uand. Cato thought. Even he, who has known Fiona for years, felt a little bit of reveren Fiona's presehe La Princess was like a real royalty, with a majestic aura that submitted everybody around her.

  Karen tinued raving about her dear sister even as the two of them reached the gate.

  "It's fio worship your sister, but what about you?" Cato asked. "You got such a great enviro for developing yourself. Why don't you also practice track, piano, swimming, and especially chess?"

  "Are you implying I'm being zy?" Karen shot him a gre. "Just so you know, I join sis fs and swimming most of the time. Even now, I'd rather join the swimming lesson than escort some eyesore."

  "Is that so. What about chess, then?"

  "Dodge me with that shit. Some things are just too nerdy. And, piano isn't my thiher."

  "I hope you join her Mancers lessons, then."

  "You bet I do." Karen nodded. "Ruez is real good at teag, totally different from that weird witch. Like, she's sood at teag I guess, but that pystyle... ugh."

  "I get what you mean." iled meaningfully. "Esmeralda's pystyle is definitely an acquired taste. You need a really good uanding of the game to sider pying like that."

  "Nah, it's just me," Karen argued. "What's the point of pying like some wuss? It's just me. It's like yiving the oppohe upper hand for no reason. That shit is dumb."

  "It works for me."

  "Yeah, because you py like a pussy. Real talk, first-to-teer you get home. I'mma mop you ten times straight!"

  "If I feel like it." Cato ighe provocation. They've faced each other frequently enough for him to know their standings.

  Their BO10 tours usually ended with at least 6-4 in Cato's favor. Though retly, there has been a couple of 5-5s in the mix.

  Uhe "newbie" older sister, Karen yer with years of experiender her belt. And, when it came to barbaribat like the one promoted ihis girl had what it took to rival Cato.

  Karen and Fiona alone already make the Valkyries a dangerous team. That’s good, very good. The strohe enemy, the more satisfying it is to crush them to bits~

  "Well then." Cato passed through the gate. "I hope Fiona will get eveer by week."

  "Just you wait. Sis will kick your ass all the way to the moon by then! And, I'm ready to do the same right here and now, so stop running away and e BO10 me!"

  "My, do you really want to py with me so badly? I'm honored."

  "Hmph. Who'd want to py with a scrub like you?" Karen shoved her finger into Cato's face. "I just wanna avenge sis for today, that's all. I 't let you go to sleep thinking you won today, you know."

  "Heh, alright," Cato said. "I'll hit you up ter if I feel rested enough."

  "You better do, or I'll go over there and stab you in your dreams."

  “With the toy knife, I hope.”

  “Who knows~”

  "I'll report you to your dear sister."

  "Dead men tell no tales, biach."

  On that he two of them parted ways. It was the end of Cato’s busy schedule for the day... or, at least, that’s what some would think.

  In truth, with or without Karen's invitation, Cato inteo practice Cssmancers some more in the evening. The word “rest” ceased to exist from the moment he dohe mantle of the Leopards’ captain.

  From the moment school ended, it was all about Cssmancers, Cssmancers, and some more Cssmancers. And, occasionally, he mao slip in some chess into the mix.

  Perhaps, a mae like Fiona would merely s a schedule like this. But, for the average middle schooler, it was quite the job.

  With that said, Cato wasn't the only member of the Leopards with such a packed schedule. While he was busy pying against Fiona today, another member of the club artaking in an important battle elsewhere...

  He was the st member of the Leopards, the mysterious "Emperor" nobody outside the club has seen on stage so far. And, his oppos? her than the Sweepers, the region's C-League team starring familiar names such as Ignis and Esmeralda...

  DarkestCymore