"God Noah, your team lost the final of the Warstar RPG champions league again for the second time in 5 years, what is your take on it?"
"Do you think the time of Cyber Squad at the top of England's Warstar RPG world is over?"
Noah simply threw a glance at the reporter without saying a word.
The losers were given the courtesy of retreating backstage while their rivals celebrated their victory, but the paparazzi didn't give them the same courtesy.
They were always at alert, snooping around during games like this to sniff out the losers and throw them off their guard with challenging questions from reporters, not caring about the mental health of the pro gamers.
Noah sighed helplessly. 'I hope Aria didn't get into a fight with them again'.
The reporters didn't give up due to his silence though as they continued, throwing stabbing questions his way and one of them especially stung Noah.
"During Warstar RPG's first 2 champions league finals, your character, Stinger of War managed to win in 3 vs 3 situations, singlehandedly bringing Cyber Squad's first 2 champions league trophies".
"Why can't you do it now? Are you really old now?"
Noah stopped in the crowd, turning to look at the reporter who asked the question.
The reporter didn't flinch at his stare though, rather, he signaled his partner to pay attention and record the facial expression of this famous pro player.
Noah ignored the cameraman, staring at her. "Who knows? Maybe I really am old now". He shrugged.
"Does that mean you will be considering retirement?"
"Most of your fans are too sentimental to say it to you, but there are rumors that Cyber Squad would be revitalized if you and your friends retire, giving space for talented new pro players to lead the club".
Hearing that, Noah spaced out a bit and the cameraman did well to capture it perfectly.
When he recovered, he looked at the reporter again. "Maybe you're right".
All of his teammates already left. Only Genevieve, the controller of the team's cleric stayed behind waiting for him, and now they left together.
Entering the last of team Cyber Squad's car, they rode off to the club building that was just about a dozen minutes' drive from Wembley Stadium.
As the car drove off, Noah could not help but look back. "Did you notice?"
"Huh?" Genevieve, the female pro player with beautiful silver hair and gentle-looking azure eyes looked at him.
Even with her glasses, Noah still felt calm looking at her gentle eyes.
Noah sighed. "We've lost before, lots of time even, but this is the first time that our fans didn't wait for us outside to sign autographs".
He chuckled mirthfully. "Maybe we really are past it".
As the car drove off, Noah had a lot of thoughts in his mind.
...
Team Cyber Squad's building was located at the heart of London.
When the car arrived, Noah and Genevieve walked into the team's training room only to find themselves walking into a tense situation.
Bam!
Aria slammed her hand on the desk before pointing a finger angrily at someone.
Her beautiful face was red and flushed in anger at this moment, her long brown hair falling disheveled down her shoulders.
Walking in, Noah noticed that she was facing team Cyber Squad's manager.
"You bastard!" Aria pointed an accusing finger at him. "How dare you force us to retire?"
"Did we say we're tired of the game?!"
"But you are old," the middle-aged manager looked at her coldly. "Your performances are dwindling, it's been 5 years since we last won the Warstar RPG trophy, the fans won't be patient for long".
"If you really love the club, retire now and let the club rebuild".
Aria got even angrier. "Y-y-you...!"
"Aria, calm down". Noah finally walked in with Genevieve.
His other teammates in the room inclined their head to look at him, different complicated emotions swirling in their eyes.
Noah faced the manager. "Are you forcing us to retire?"
In Noah's presence, much of the manager's confidence deflated but still, he stood up to him. "I respect you Noah, you've done a lot for the club but in every sport, there comes a time when even legends have to retire".
"You can't keep playing forever".
"What if I tell you to give us one last trial, that we'll definitely win the Warstar RPG trophy next season?"
The manager shook his head. "It won't work this time Noah, that's exactly what you told me last season".
Noah chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I thought you forgot".
"Lame". Benjamin trolled ruthlessly.
Benjamin was another pro star who was part of the OG Cyber Squad team though he was always a reserve player. He controlled an Elementalist, and he was the oldest pro player in the team, a year older than Noah.
By now, it was already clear what the intentions of the club were.
They've done their part for the club, making it the most famous club in England but now, they wanted them gone. Their time was over.
Though Noah tried to downplay the significance of this moment with his light-hearted chuckles, his close friends could tell that even he was not himself. Noah was sad, he just never loved showing emotions that made him seem weak.
At that moment, Marcus, the team's Mechanic controller stood up.
Marcus wore a simple corporate attire and he had glasses on, he walked up to Noah. "Captain, the manager is right, today made it clear that we're past our prime. It's only logical that they want us gone".
"Afterall, this is not the game anymore, but the Pro Alliance".
"It's not just about fun anymore," he looked at the manager. "These days, it's more about money, so let's leave them to make money".
Marcus took a deep breath. "I will retire".
"Finally," the manager smiled. "Someone speaking sense for once".
Noah looked at the manager. "What about our characters?"
"You signed a contract with Cyber Squad when you first entered the pro scene and then, we all agreed that the game characters belong to the club".
"That means we're leaving them behind". Noah commented.
"Of course".
"What?! Ridiculous!" Aria exploded again; Noah looked at her exasperatedly.
Marcus walked up to the manager and gave his game card to him; he looked at the manager with a serious face. "Take care of it, that's my sweat and blood".
With that, Marcus picked up his coat and took one last look at his teammates. "See you guys".
He left.
Silence, the mood in this training room changed.
It still felt surreal but with Marcus leaving, it finally dawned on the others, it was really happening.
Their time was really over.
Caleb, the team's Summoner stood up next. He didn't bother to be polite like Marcus, simply throwing his game card over to the manager.
Unlike his teammates who were clearly geeks, he didn't look the part at all. Rather, Caleb was muscular and had long brown dreadlocks like a street gangster instead.
Simply waving a hand at his teammates, he tucked both hands in his pant pockets and left the building.
Bam!
Aria slammed her game card on her desk the next moment.
This fiery woman did not even care to look at the manager one last time or wave goodbye at her teammates, she simply stormed off.
Watching her storm off, Noah could not help but chuckle helplessly.
Hearing him chuckle, she pointed the middle finger at him. "F*ck you!"
In the end, of the OG team Cyber Squad starting players, only 3 remained.
Noah looked at Benjamin.
The old geezer chuckled. "I guess you could say I'm finally Ben-jammin in the golden years".
"Manager, take". He threw his game card at the manager, hugged Noah, blew a silly kiss at Genevieve before trudging off the building with an exaggerated swagger in his steps.
Noah shook his head, and then he looked at Genevieve. "What of you?"
Genevieve adjusted her glasses. "I knew you would be last. I didn't feel good leaving you behind, so I decided to accompany you till you leave".
'You...,' Noah sighed. 'Always looking out for others'.
In the end, he took Genevieve's game card and his own before handing it over to the manager.
Noah nodded at him. "It was nice working with you".
"You too".
With that, they both left, their shoulders slightly slumped than usual.
...
"So, what will you do now?"
"Huh?"
Genevieve looked up at him as they walked through the streets of London, it was already dark. "What will you do now? You just lost your job". She repeated.
Noah shrugged. "I don't know. I only know how to play games, I'm a bum at pretty much everything else, maybe I'll visit an internet café or something".
Genevieve sighed and shook her head as if having expected such an answer.
She looked down. "You know, my dad has a tech company in Manchester. I can recommend for you to work there if you want".
"Nah, it's fine". Noah waved his hand dismissively. "I can take care of myself".
A few minutes later, they arrived before an internet café. Noah stopped, turning around to look at Genevieve. "So, what about you?"
"I'll go home," she said, spacing out a bit. "I've been away for so long; my mom has definitely missed me a lot".
"What of your family?"
Noah scratched the back of his head, chuckling. "I doubt they missed me at all. Rather, they're likely happy that my annoying face is not around, maybe".
Genevieve finally laughed, cutely covering her mouth. In the end, she hugged him. "Take care of yourself Noah, I'll miss you".
"You too". Noah patted her on the head.
With that, they parted ways.
As soon as she left, Noah looked at the snowing sky and brought out his cigarette pack, lighting up another one before checking his wallet to confirm that he still had some pocket money inside.
Only after that did he enter the internet café.
Noah Harrington casually walking into an internet café was definitely going to cause a lot of commotion, this was why he and Genevieve already took precautions ahead of time, wearing oversized hoodies and covering their faces.
This way, they didn't recognize him.
Casually walking up to a computer in the big internet café, Noah sat down to play but as soon as he did was when he remembered that he no longer had a game card. For a moment, he spaced out again.
'Sigh, I've been losing focus so much this past hour'. He thought.
Looking at the Warstar console though, he noticed that there was a game card on it. 'Did the person forget his/her game card?'
'Weird, besides, this internet café is scantier than normal. What happened?'
Since he didn't have a game card and was too lazy to stand up and go buy a new one now, he simply logged into the game with this game card.
As soon as he did, instead of the normal Warstar symbol showing, a line of text appeared on the monitor before him.
(Congratulations young warmonger! You have completed the requirements to become a true Warstar!)
(You will be transported inside the game in 5 seconds!)
(00:00:05)
(00:00:04)
(00:00:03)
Noah examined the console. "What is this? A glitch?"
He placed his cigarette on his lips again, about to take another whiff when suddenly something inexplicable happened.
BZZZ!
Noah suddenly felt weightless, like the fabric of reality was being torn apart as colors around him blended into a whirlpool of light.
And then..., he disappeared.
...
A boy rushed back into the internet café, quickly locating a desk. In one smooth motion, he retrieved his game card from the Warstar console.
"Hmmm," he looked around, perplexed. "I'd swear I saw someone enter here".
"Well, whatever". He left.