Chapter 5

After Nathan and I woke up from last night, we decided to head for the nearest city or anyplace that had food. That old man was right, this place was more advanced than any VR game I played. The graphics were life-like, and those guards, seemed human. Even during the fight with DK, I was getting exhausted…and I felt real pain.

Wait, I wasn't supposed to feel real pain, this is only a game. Maybe exhaustion, but not pain, I hope this is as real as it gets, because if this is a REAL game, then I'm getting more than I bargained for.

"Hello, Tygh? You there?" Nathan asked.

"Huh, oh yeah sorry, I'm just thinking to myself." I answered.

"Well stop thinking we're approaching some kind of city."

Nathan was right, and it wasn't just any kind of city, it was an Arabian type of city. Caravans, camel like animals, traders, and terrible clothes. Mostly everyone wore dirty robes, but there was a few who had fancy garments. We even saw an exotic weapon shop, I wanted one of the lances badly but we had no money.

"Nathan, how are we going to get some money?" I asked like a little child.

"How am I supposed to know?"

"Unless we want to eat we'll need some money."

"Arg, fine. So how will we get money?" Nathan asked.

"…We enter a tournament." I said with a smile. I saw a sign that said (Warriors wanted to fight in the Coliseum. Winners Receive 10,000 Gold!)

"What are we waiting for, let's go!" And we ran off.

Once inside the coliseum, the host asked us to walk toward the center of the field. There were plenty of others there also, I hope we don't fight each other. Then some Caesar guy came from the fancy stands and started his announcement.

"Warrior I congratulated you bravery, but braveness won't save you today. If you survive my beasts, I shall award all of you handsomely!" There was plenty of talk but then Caesar Salad spoke again.

"Release the Goombas!" He announced. Goombas? Is this guy for real, Goombas are like babies. I can't believe were fighting the most pathetic creatures of the game. Though what I saw was no goomba, it was monster goombas. They were the size of rhinos, tusks like saber tooth tigers, and more muscular bodies.

"Nathan?" I asked.

"Yeah." He answered.

"I think we're in trouble?"

"Nonsense. Later." And he disappeared without a trace.

"Nathan!" I yelled for him but he was gone. I knew what his strategy was, he was going to stay hidden and let everyone else do the dirty work. I would agree to his strategy but I'm no coward. I summoned my sword and went into a battle stance.

"RWOOAARR!" The Monster Goombas yelled. I then charged for them with a Wizard Foot. Once inside the hoard of goombas I started hacking at them with my sword. They should've been easier to take out but because of their newfound strength it was more difficult.

All of the other warriors were having the same problems. Only difference was that they were being killed easier. To me, these things were like fighting dogs, but to the others they were like tigers and lions. After awhile there was only one goomba left, and then Nathan reappeared.

"This one's mine Tygh." Without a response he pulled out a Beam Sword and cut him in half. The goombas were defeated but the Caesar guy didn't seem too happy.

"Congratulations warriors. You have been deemed worthy of the prize, but you will not leave alive." He said in a cold tone.

"What's that supposed to mean. We fought and we won, give us our money and let us go!" I yelled.

"He won't let us go because of his plan." Nathan then said.

"Plan?" I asked.

"He wanted to kill all the strongest warriors here so that he could overthrow the town. Technically it's not his, and he wants slaves to build him a greater empire." Nathan said.

"And the warriors that would've been here could easily take over his army." I continued.

"No, but he would lose a lot of men, not enough to continue a slave drive." Nathan said.

"You are very bright. Unfortunately you will die! Soldiers exterminate them!" The Caesar said. Then armored men came with lances and swords. Well here's another fight. Then I saw Nathan pull out a bomb. He motioned me to back away, so I did.

3, 2, 1, and he threw the bomb. The explosion was humongous. Not many soldiers were left, but the ones who were still standing still ran forward.

"Let me handle this one." I asked.

I wanted to test out DQuake, and it finally looks like my chance has arrived. I mustered my strength, and plowed my fist into the ground. The earthquake was phenomenal, the whole stadium shook up. A gigantic crack formed from the ground where my fist was, up to the Caesars little room. The remaining soldiers either fell into the quake or started to run away from my sheer power. Nathan and I then jumped up to the Caesar's fancy room. He was scared beyond belief, but we wouldn't stop there.

"Stop stop, I'll give you the money! I'll even give you this fare maiden I captured for myself, but I'll let you have her in exchange for my life." He pleaded.

"Where's the dungeon at?" I questioned immediately.

"Go through that door." He pointed behind him. "Go down the stairwell until you reach the bottom. H-Here's the keys also, it's the large one. Now please let me live!" Caesar pleaded some more. I grabbed the keys and flew like the wind. I don't know why I wanted the fare maiden so bad, but I definitely don't agree with the fact that others should be locked up just to get wedded as soon as you get out.

Once I was in the dark damp cave, I searched for anyone in the cells. There was no one. Then I saw someone cowering in the corner.

"Hello? Hey, I'm gonna get you out of here." I said. As soon as I opened the door, the person lunged for me and I was slammed me to the ground, and I saw the face of my attacker.

"Amanda? Amanda is that you?" I asked.

"Tygh, oh my god am I ever so glad to see you!" She said embracing me tightly. I was a little embarrassed, but at the same time joyous.

"C'mon Amanda we gotta go." I said. And we left the holding cells with our hands as together. Once outside Nathan had bonded the Caesar guy to his glorious chair.

"Nathan." I said in an irritating voice.

"What, I couldn't let him escape without our payment." Nathan replied.

"Payment?" Amanda asked.

"I'll tell you later." I told Amanda.

Once we exited the coliseum with our rewards in hand, we left for the market place to buy some supplies.

"So you won that little skirmish and we're playing Super Smash Brothers?" Amanda asked.

"Right and we are going to spend our money on extravagant robes, and other useless junk!" Nathan exclaimed.

"No, we're going to buy supplies, weapons, and some type of transportation." I corrected.

"Fine, just make sure there's no making out on our journeys okay?" Nathan said. Amanda blushed, and I was too stupid to say any comeback. We finally reached the Market Place to buy our supplies. Food was easy enough to get, we just bought bread and other fruits. There was a weapon shop, but all the weapons were just daggers and swords, I'm not really comfortable around blades, so we passed it. We decided not to buy any type of transportation for the exercise.

"Hey guys, can I have a sec?" Nathan asked.

"Sure, what's up?" I asked.

"Is something wrong?" Amanda asked in concern.

"Well, I want to stay. This place really suits me, and I hate traveling." Nathan said.

"Are you sure Nathan, we could really use you." I said.

"Nah, go on you two, I'd be a third wheel, and I heard they needed a new king." Nathan said with interest.

"I guess this is goodbye, don't die now you here. I want to fight you myself to see how strong you are." I said.

"Don't you either, you're gonna die by my hands got it?"

"Whatever." I answered.

Amanda and I then just walked into the sunset.

(Okay not the most original idea but it works right?)