p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d01e900f0d53c1c6fe1db8d5e6b4570a"Zoey walked to school in a daze. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I know about the faux and akuma attacks./em Yesturday, she'd learnt her mother knew that many in school blamed her for several faux and akuma attacks. As a result, more people began avoiding her. There were even times where she'd been targeted by fauxs and akumas./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1f865c1b8c5624b72377a4ba28228dca""Zoey are you listening to me?" Chloe snapped./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3c82f9262393019cb92b630a4d024648""No." Zoey mummbled. She wasn't in the mood to deal with Chloe's princessness. Mother knew about everyone blaming or shunning her because of the attacks. Mother's concern was understandable. No one would want their child to be targeted by a faux or akuma. Still, Zoey couldn't afford to leave. She'd just found her father's jounral, a possblie clue./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="66a7561e7bed60f0ea31841726303975""Your being utterly rude!' Chloe blocked Zoey's path. "I get things aren't going well in class but that's no reason to ingore me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3381f3f70f67c6733c8a35aaed612f8c""Move Chloe, I don't have time for this." Zoey tried to move pass Chloe, but Sabrina stepped in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e497d0be135147f8e4f76baa7c00823a""You owe Chloe an aplozgoe." Sabrina crosses her arms. "She's having a hard time and you've been nothing but a brat to her."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="39272c4797f5934d0976030c01456154""I'm being a brat!" Zoey got in their faces. "She should apologize to me! Her big mouth told my mom everything! She had no right!" She snorted. "Queen Bee? More like Queen Big Mouth!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cc372ecb88556752fef60d84a33f8eed"Chloe glared at her cousin. "Your just jealous! Ladyblug chose me, while Blue Jay hasn't so much as given you a glance."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f2443c4c1b0531720a4c5857c6843164"Zoey let out a bitter laugh. "We all know Ladybug 'gave' you a miraculous by dropping it." She snorted. "Do us all a favor and stick to daydreaming that Adrien will give you the time of day." Zoey hadn't meant to snap at Chloe. The girl had a knack for appearing at the wrong time. Her talent for annoying people didn't help./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fa57f42278121c47b73820ae6f585ad2"To Chole's credit, she didn't whine. "Fine Zoey," Chloe took a deep breath. "don't come running to me once everyone turns their back on you. You'll be truly alone than." She didn't want to abandon her cousin. Zoey was her first friend and the only extended family member who didn't annoy her. They'd gotten along as kids, but after Zoey moved to Germany, they've drifted apart. Chloe had hoped Zoey's arrival back to Paris would bring them closer together./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="076ef4cca18286881d60f978810feacd"Sabrina watched a Chloe retreat towards the school. She hesitated for a moment, than followed Chloe. They walked pass Mara, Sylvie, and Illya. Mara was ranting about an upcoming competition./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cb7f2e31c8d92df948318a6598f3a4bc""Miracle Entertaiment will be hosting a competition for the next top talent." Mara gushed. "It's the same competition that discovered Noble!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b455fb9b8ff12956825dcf30a6b8b212"Sylive rolled her eyes, resigned to listen to Mara's rambling again. The official news about the competition hadn't been released yet. EU Games, the company Mara's father owned, often does joint projects with ME (Miracle Entertainment). ME's artist do the sound tracks for EU's games. EU will also participate in a round of judging. Being the owner's daughter, it wasn't surprising Mara knew about the competition./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="11d1d33ba7234f4d4ed5321043154011""You know you can't enter, right?" Illya asked. He remembered Liam mentioneding EU's partipiate in the competition. "Employees and their families aren't allowed to enter."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c0c9d1b51a721b50172411e60b70b86a""How do you know? Few people know about the competition." Mara questioned./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="92a22e0ebd22d671778ae6dd39f82de2"Illya silencely kicked himself. A slip up like this could expose him as Knight. "Weren't those srw part of the rules for the last competition? I don't think they'd change the rules that quickly." He hoped Mara believed him, he didn't have another excuse./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8b5452ecf2e5bbd272d9a02b3d3cb5bb""Let's discuss this later." Sylive got their attention. "School's about to start. Don't wanna get detention, we won't be able to make it to the dimustion."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9ae44bbe3f70aa5940f20a352656dc3d"EU was holding a live dimshtion of a new pro style semalaction game. In it's beginning statues, EU letting selected individuals to try different warriors, powers, and equipment. A vote will be held at the end of the even to determine what should be placed into the game or need changes. Mara had snagged tickets for her class./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a05c0515de90d46ce930dc403419d8de"They found Calex corncered by Alya. The blogger was questioning him about the La Vitesse attack. Alya had eft with Marinette juafter the race and just before the attack. Calex was with Devin when La Vitesse came after Devin. He the cloest to see the appearacne of Vectica. Vecita was the second hero to appear for Blue Jay and Panda Mime and overall fourth if you include Rena Rouge and Carapace. The ony info Alya had on Vectica was that it was a cheetah themed miraclous. It's powers and weapons were unknown. This was the scoop the Blue Jounral needed!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="401513d333b4022b730d9ac5e690b80a"People visited the site, but not as much as the Ladyblog. Part of it was becuse Alya palced more foucs on Ladybug and the Ladyblog. She wanted to look into Blue Jay, but didn't have the time. That's way Calex and Emi taking photos was important. They provided pictues for the Blue Jounral, she otherwise wouldnt be able to get./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9588059d0603218c8ed58a3812d5efb1""Come on Calex, I know you know sometihng." Alya eyed the teen. "Even the color of her hair. Something, anything I can use for the Blue Jounral."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c4186fe5e1006a0dce2ae5bc4598b62d"Truthfully, Calex knew slightly more than Alya. He could tell her about Vectica's powers and weapons. But than she'd question him on how he knew that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="88cb8e88581eaecf0a1ed62434abf20c""Couldn't her powers be speed based?" Calex framed it as a question. He prosped a thoery he hoped quelled a curious Alya. "Cheetah's are known for their speed. If animal themes related to a miracous power-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b686e820566760d628b7ecb7fc1843f8""Vectac's shouldn't be any differnt." Alya kept this thought throught the school day. Laybugy's were known for being lucky, Ladybug's power is Lucky Charm. While bacl cats are said to bring bad luck, hench Chat Noir's Catascylu. But could the same be said for Blue Jay and Panda Mine?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="652bd8097ba43617d5f162b9fe4f998f""Ready Alya?" Marineeted gathered her things. School was over and everyone was eager to go to EU's dimstion at the mall. While Mara had gotten passes for her class, Adrine got them as a gift from a photoshoot job. Since he couldn't attend the dimstion due to a photoshoot, he gave his passes to his friends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="36312bd6de03aac0355609e29b8851a1"Marinette wanted Adrien to go, but understood he had a busy schudle. Instead, she'd use the event for inspiration. Maybe create a video game inspired line? She had been thinking of asking Emi and Calex to do a photoshoot for her. There were several new designs that needed to be added to her digital profilo./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ddc99fdbe4b640a7f11a40e763148bcc""We're over here!" Alya shouted over the people crowding the enterance to the event. "Over here!" She frantically waved, while jumping up and down./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e5d34c7d8dc091cf6bb5eb891f5f79a5"The mall's basement doubled as an event center. EU had rented out the entire basement for the event. People had begun lining up two hours before the schulded start time. Some were already inside, while hopefuls waited in line. Out of seventy spots, forty of those had been given out as passes. These passes gurateed enterance to the event. That left only thirty open spots avabilie for people waiting in line./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d5e93b9a72904f777de44f79e609144c""Why were ya'll standing in line?" Alya asked once Calex and the others found them. "We have passes, we can walk right in."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8a67acec3979e4f90ecc0a16e48f058d""You blockhead!" Emi playfully shoved Calex. "You said we needed to get in line."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ab6464e3c8346ece670f821f66b6b026""Think, I said I think we need to get in line." Calex rubbed the back of his neck. In his rush to avoid Mara when leaving school, he'd ushered him and his friends to the wrong enterance.. Had Alya not called them over, they would've wasted time by being in the wrong place./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="71d87983ffbba0dfdc7cd409709cfdd5""Does it matter?" Aero yawned. He'd spent the night before creating patches for Void Quest. It would take all day for the patch to upload. He hoped to use it tonight. "We're here now, let's go inside."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="28509ce16699b2082f96d7aabad424d4"Alya agreed with Aero. They were lucky to get tickets to the limited event. EU Games held sneak-peeks and previews throughout the year. Today's event was different. Games currently in development were today's topic. EU Games rarely held these demonstrations, where they show games that were only half way finished. Guest would be providing feedback, which would be incorpated into the game./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e353bb5c1fc9f75aa2bfb197224ebe8e"Getting in was easy, once in the correct line they flashed their passes to the employes. Inside the event booths and giant montiors filled the room with people earger to watch and try the new games. Staff directed people like traffic officers, ensure everything moved orderly. Those who only wanted to watch other play the games were ushered over to a side viewing area. Others roamed the center taking in the sights of different games before settling on one to play./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ff2542c465183f383b7f98c36cef4dc9"The friends didn't stay together as a group for long. Alya was more insterested in doing interviews and getting information for her blog, while Marinette tagged along to view the different game and character designs. Marinette hoped to get inspiration for a new design line. Devin dragged Aero away once he found newest installment of their favorite fighting game series. Aero didn't seem earger to play his best friend. It was game Devin would lose in, as history often repeated itself when those two played. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1d140807456450c5580f72df647abf51"This left Emi and Calex to free to do as they pleased. Emi was more of a gamer than Calex, but less than Devin and Aero. Emi enjoyed video games, but wasn't emotional or disappointed when she lost. Devin on the other hand, the good sport, would practice and constantly request rematches. Aero was the competative one among the friends. He played to win and use very lost to improve himself. Emi wanted neither, perfering to relax with a good game. Although the real reason she played video games was for research to help her with the ones she serectly worked on. Under the name, Gamer Gal, Emi creates and manages several online games and apps./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="01744daf35f4880d93262693e8c8fbaf"Gamer Gal's games were popular and many people from school played them. It wasn't unusual to hear converstions about one of her games. Some, like Alya, were also interested in who Gamer Gal was. She never responsed to comments and posts on forums about her games. Yet, it was obvious she read them. When patches and updates were released, players noticed several suggestions from the forums had been included. It was Emi's way of letting everyone know she took their comments seriously. Sorting through the forums for for feedback was bad enough, it'd only get worst if people know Emi was Gamer Gal./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9bb6e2032a053754224c8d3da90ddee5""Plotting your next game or update?" Calex asked. He noticed Emi hadn't spoken since they entered the event. Emi tended to get lost in her thoughts when it came to photograhy and game design. He'd have to keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't wonder off...again. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b7cfbf2de34b85c684193722d792daf"Emi shook her head, "The lastest updates have made the games' response time lag. It'll need to be fixed in the next patch." She pointed to the booth across from them. "Let's check out this one." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fd32c60c6003fcfa5d3e072ec10403c5"Calex glanced over to where Emi pointed. The booth had a simple poster with the two title characters dressed in winter clothing, their pale features and platuim hair drawing attention to the top of the poster. 'Can you surive?', Calex read those words on the poster. Curious, he followed Emi over to watch the beta game play trailer. Point of view in the trailer switched between the two characters on the poster. The first showed the female harnessing the powers of ice and snow to battle a beast. Then it flipped to the male searching a frozen tundra while avoiding detection from the enemy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c586c893bd22155e7077ea7a087f31d4""It's ice and more ice. Do you really wanna play this?" Calex noticed most people left after seeing the trailer. Overall, the booth didn't have many people interested in the game. The poster was a great attention getter, but the trailer was lacking. Only ice powers and cold climate? Who'd want to play that?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9337a802f48339113aef47471fc20bad""Look closely Calex." Emi gestured to a girl testing the game. "The game play may not look execiting, but it's finely crafted. The female warrior is giving out attacks in rapid succession. Those kind of graphic aren't easy to get, espically that clearly and smoothly." Emi agreed the game itself wasn't impressive, but the coding and interworkings were. She'd played games where combos and rapid attacks were flashy and hard to follow, espcially in an open world game. Bright attacks were cool to watch, but differcult to see the enemy's next attack after the attack ended. This game's creator had all the flashyness with none of the confusion. Every moment was smooth, transition easy to follow. "The game's storyline second in thought to the game's mechanics."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c1f91a63eaa6fe8fc98f62811f833b13""Okay, nerd girl." Calex gave up understanding Emi went it came to tech speak. "I'll take your word for it. You gonna ask for advice on how to improve game play and lagging?" Perks of being best friends with a game designer, he got to beta test them before public release. Downside, lots of questions and concerns had to be answered. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a59b114d55c4d341c44e978c76926de5""Why let an opptunrity like this go to waste?" Unlike her friends, Emi hadn't oringally planned to attend the event. She wanted to spend time after school practicing the singing technquies Lady Xi taught her. The faux were getting stronger and they need to as well. Until Lady Xi finished decoding the Miracle Book, Panda Mime and her will have to rely on their wits and current powers. Jay Song being one of these powers. Lady Xi and the other heros were admit that Jay Song not be used. It was to be kept a serect until they knew more about it. Lady Xi seemed to know enough about the ability to give Emi singing lessons. Not teaching Emi more about the Blue Jay miraculous or how to use and control Jay Song, but singing lessons./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="27d75f7db0eeba7e86267caa6094d07c"Emi would've perfered something useful, but Echo and Lady Xi reassured her this would help with controling Jay Song. Not that she was to use it. The lessons were a 'pre-caustion' should the day come when Jay Song was needed. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="08aab3d6e3b68721de0db1ce7024087f""Might as well try it since we're already here." Calex got in line behind Emi. Other than the girl currently playing and them, there were five other people in line. They watched the girl's live game play while waiting. The female warrior accessed a teleporter to enter the final stage of the first area. Stepping inside the room, the warrior was defeated in less than a mintue. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef5c0c093930cae3aa4e255a29f39932""Can't believe there's someone who's worst than Mara at video games." Emi was amazed by the quick defeat. The girl lasted less than twenty seconds against the boss. Even Mara could go at least two minutes before losing. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fbb3f783cd0c3f97f427d50bd53e3051""Wonder who the noob is." Calex piered over Emi to see the girl taking off the VR headset. Blonde hair with pink highlights tumbled down the girl's back. Her clothes, from Gabriel Agreste's summer line, conveyed a rich background that matched her haughty attuide. One look at those periecing pink eyes showed her displeasure. A look Emi knew all to well. However, it wasn't until the girl spoke that Emi conformed her supsusion. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="eb6037aa002acf98920d3c68eb998340""Your game is defunctional and glitchy." Royal, the batty princess of Noble. A girl who tested even Illya's pateince and he's friends with Mara! "You'd have better chances of fixing computers at the local tech shop than producing a game." Royal shoved the VR helmet into the hands of the woman standing beside her. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a9124cb6cd672769401c651a9267982c""Ms. Royal, I assure you once you start from the beginning, you'll last longer in battle." The woman offered the helmet to Royal. "What you tried is a boss battle from the later half of the game. You weren't equiped to fight the boss since you didn't have experience playing the first portion of the game."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8065949df467ed853056ee4762855ae5"Royal's brow dipped. "So your saying it's my fault I lost?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b816789762b15c461970fd2e5e71d1cb""No, never!" The woman squeaked. "Anyone would have trouble fighting that boss without proir experence and knowledge of the game."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f423b069ffaa65a6e1e85e9bb2e5f1c0""Prove it!" Royal wasn't happy with the game's outcome. She's spent hours upon hours playing various games, honing her skills. She wouldn't be ranked number three in Gamer Gal's games without the pratice and skills she's gained. Staying in the top five ranking wasn't easy with the fluxuation of points and achevements. Thus Royal's constant place as third was a testment to her gaming skills. So there's no way she's lose so lamely to a boss in a game some newbie game developer created. "The next person will play using the same character, stats, and equipment to fight the same boss."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78919530f6faeb2235db67ea4ab442e6"The game had been her side project for many years. Working full time at EU Games and completing it in her spare time. Getting approval for beta testing at EU had been a process of several rejections. After two years and many rejections later, she'd been granted the chance to demo at this year's pre-gaming event. Enough popularity here would rocket her game to fast track production. Within a year the game could have an offical launch. She needed to get people interested in the game./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1c8c68003d1a5240fb5b2e6e550ca90b"Despite the poster attracting attention, few people reminded after watching either the trailer or others playing. She couldn't figure out what the disconnection was. What was it about the game that drove people away? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7e081eb55459e483307f1ec35aeacfbb""I'm sorry Ms. Royal, I can't assign someone the same gaming experince you had. The software for the demo is reset after each play. While players can select their character to play as, where the game starts is randomly determined each time." The idea had been to show off as much of the demo's game play as possblie. The game full would expand on the demo's basic play, drawing more people to want to play the completed verison. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="03ac3cbfe9c5594a0e0739673439cf0d""Can't or won't?" Royal questioned. Gamer Gal could make changes mid game play on a live server. Then surely console game could contain changes made before game play began. "I'm trying to help you. Do you want people to think something's wrong with your game?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="19929dc633b3c2c173966fe96740b246""Well..." She pondered Royal's statement. Having someone else play would confirm whether Royal's loss was do to her incompletion or a glitch. "Ok..okay." Forget about checking for issues those can be addressed later. Gaining attention is more important. Royal's a celebitry, her word could make or break the game's future. Royal must love the game! /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="23ec627771e046670e012f7107cbafda"She went over to the computer that controlled the game's software. "I can't assure the exect same game play, but I can assign a boss battle of a higher level." Overriding the demo's control system, she selected a boss that was twice as strong as the one Royal had fought. She than offered the VR helmet to Emi. "Enjoy the game."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e1f90be27c217b931237ad5129e93c8a"Calex started to protest the unfairness, but Emi silenced him with a look. Emi wasn't a gamer like Aero and Calex, but could adapt quickly once she understand the controls and game play. Calex used this knowledge to quill is anger. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="86ab33fb2264e73cd06c5b5ef4531269"Emi placed the VR helemt on her head. Senses of sight and sound were replaced by those of the wilderness. The male warrior stealthfully made his way through the baron icy landscape to the foot of a mountain. Three mammoths stood between the warrior and his path. Emi hestiated for a moment, letting the mammoths come to her. She played defense, getting an understanding of the bosses' attack pattern. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6ce3c503c188ee2edf6a0bc553c682ce"After a few mintues Emi realized attacking the mammoths on the left and right was pointless. She could take them down as much as she wanted, but the middle one who continue to heal, revive, and support the other two. To raise her chances of defeating the bosses, she'd need to aim her attention to the middle one./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="378957b18cdd6dfd4006de2a16cdb657" Royal's apperance didn't go unnoticed. A crowd gathered around the demo, drawn there by the solo female member of Noble. But it was Emi's game play that over took Royal's presence. Everyone could see the boss was of a high level, anyone would have trouble battling it. Emi wasn't winning, but she was putting up a fight. The calmness displayed after weapon broke and she used the last of her potions was enchating. She had no chance of winning, but wasn't going to give up. Emi pushed forward, using the last of the warrior's strength to deal a damaging blow to the middle mammoth. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1114d1ffeb713705a6f38b9d54babcc1""Well that's to be execpted." Royal gave a smug smirk. "I knew it wasn't my fault. This game is faulty." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="083d5bd05260cafd4a7bcd4abe46f09c"Emi took the VR helmet off and watch the replay of her last attack. It had dealt a massive amount of damage to the middle mammoth, but not enough to defeat it. The warrior went out like a true hero who fought to the very end./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9a98bbda976c234f3a31dedde7fd56b3""No Royal, it was you." Emi looked unaplgotically at the idol. "Yes the game is differcult, more so without prior experience. However, it's your fault you didn't even last a mintue." She spoke in a voice low enough for only her, Calex, and Royal to hear. Outing Royal's true bratiness would harm Knight and Ace as well. It wasn't her place to interfer in their business. That didn't mean she'd let Royal get away with being rude./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1f865c1b8c5624b72377a4ba28228dca""Zoey are you listening to me?" Chloe snapped./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3c82f9262393019cb92b630a4d024648""No." Zoey mummbled. She wasn't in the mood to deal with Chloe's princessness. Mother knew about everyone blaming or shunning her because of the attacks. Mother's concern was understandable. No one would want their child to be targeted by a faux or akuma. Still, Zoey couldn't afford to leave. She'd just found her father's jounral, a possblie clue./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="66a7561e7bed60f0ea31841726303975""Your being utterly rude!' Chloe blocked Zoey's path. "I get things aren't going well in class but that's no reason to ingore me."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3381f3f70f67c6733c8a35aaed612f8c""Move Chloe, I don't have time for this." Zoey tried to move pass Chloe, but Sabrina stepped in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e497d0be135147f8e4f76baa7c00823a""You owe Chloe an aplozgoe." Sabrina crosses her arms. "She's having a hard time and you've been nothing but a brat to her."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="39272c4797f5934d0976030c01456154""I'm being a brat!" Zoey got in their faces. "She should apologize to me! Her big mouth told my mom everything! She had no right!" She snorted. "Queen Bee? More like Queen Big Mouth!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cc372ecb88556752fef60d84a33f8eed"Chloe glared at her cousin. "Your just jealous! Ladyblug chose me, while Blue Jay hasn't so much as given you a glance."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f2443c4c1b0531720a4c5857c6843164"Zoey let out a bitter laugh. "We all know Ladybug 'gave' you a miraculous by dropping it." She snorted. "Do us all a favor and stick to daydreaming that Adrien will give you the time of day." Zoey hadn't meant to snap at Chloe. The girl had a knack for appearing at the wrong time. Her talent for annoying people didn't help./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fa57f42278121c47b73820ae6f585ad2"To Chole's credit, she didn't whine. "Fine Zoey," Chloe took a deep breath. "don't come running to me once everyone turns their back on you. You'll be truly alone than." She didn't want to abandon her cousin. Zoey was her first friend and the only extended family member who didn't annoy her. They'd gotten along as kids, but after Zoey moved to Germany, they've drifted apart. Chloe had hoped Zoey's arrival back to Paris would bring them closer together./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="076ef4cca18286881d60f978810feacd"Sabrina watched a Chloe retreat towards the school. She hesitated for a moment, than followed Chloe. They walked pass Mara, Sylvie, and Illya. Mara was ranting about an upcoming competition./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cb7f2e31c8d92df948318a6598f3a4bc""Miracle Entertaiment will be hosting a competition for the next top talent." Mara gushed. "It's the same competition that discovered Noble!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b455fb9b8ff12956825dcf30a6b8b212"Sylive rolled her eyes, resigned to listen to Mara's rambling again. The official news about the competition hadn't been released yet. EU Games, the company Mara's father owned, often does joint projects with ME (Miracle Entertainment). ME's artist do the sound tracks for EU's games. EU will also participate in a round of judging. Being the owner's daughter, it wasn't surprising Mara knew about the competition./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="11d1d33ba7234f4d4ed5321043154011""You know you can't enter, right?" Illya asked. He remembered Liam mentioneding EU's partipiate in the competition. "Employees and their families aren't allowed to enter."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c0c9d1b51a721b50172411e60b70b86a""How do you know? Few people know about the competition." Mara questioned./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="92a22e0ebd22d671778ae6dd39f82de2"Illya silencely kicked himself. A slip up like this could expose him as Knight. "Weren't those srw part of the rules for the last competition? I don't think they'd change the rules that quickly." He hoped Mara believed him, he didn't have another excuse./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8b5452ecf2e5bbd272d9a02b3d3cb5bb""Let's discuss this later." Sylive got their attention. "School's about to start. Don't wanna get detention, we won't be able to make it to the dimustion."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9ae44bbe3f70aa5940f20a352656dc3d"EU was holding a live dimshtion of a new pro style semalaction game. In it's beginning statues, EU letting selected individuals to try different warriors, powers, and equipment. A vote will be held at the end of the even to determine what should be placed into the game or need changes. Mara had snagged tickets for her class./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a05c0515de90d46ce930dc403419d8de"They found Calex corncered by Alya. The blogger was questioning him about the La Vitesse attack. Alya had eft with Marinette juafter the race and just before the attack. Calex was with Devin when La Vitesse came after Devin. He the cloest to see the appearacne of Vectica. Vecita was the second hero to appear for Blue Jay and Panda Mime and overall fourth if you include Rena Rouge and Carapace. The ony info Alya had on Vectica was that it was a cheetah themed miraclous. It's powers and weapons were unknown. This was the scoop the Blue Jounral needed!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="401513d333b4022b730d9ac5e690b80a"People visited the site, but not as much as the Ladyblog. Part of it was becuse Alya palced more foucs on Ladybug and the Ladyblog. She wanted to look into Blue Jay, but didn't have the time. That's way Calex and Emi taking photos was important. They provided pictues for the Blue Jounral, she otherwise wouldnt be able to get./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9588059d0603218c8ed58a3812d5efb1""Come on Calex, I know you know sometihng." Alya eyed the teen. "Even the color of her hair. Something, anything I can use for the Blue Jounral."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c4186fe5e1006a0dce2ae5bc4598b62d"Truthfully, Calex knew slightly more than Alya. He could tell her about Vectica's powers and weapons. But than she'd question him on how he knew that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="88cb8e88581eaecf0a1ed62434abf20c""Couldn't her powers be speed based?" Calex framed it as a question. He prosped a thoery he hoped quelled a curious Alya. "Cheetah's are known for their speed. If animal themes related to a miracous power-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b686e820566760d628b7ecb7fc1843f8""Vectac's shouldn't be any differnt." Alya kept this thought throught the school day. Laybugy's were known for being lucky, Ladybug's power is Lucky Charm. While bacl cats are said to bring bad luck, hench Chat Noir's Catascylu. But could the same be said for Blue Jay and Panda Mine?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="652bd8097ba43617d5f162b9fe4f998f""Ready Alya?" Marineeted gathered her things. School was over and everyone was eager to go to EU's dimstion at the mall. While Mara had gotten passes for her class, Adrine got them as a gift from a photoshoot job. Since he couldn't attend the dimstion due to a photoshoot, he gave his passes to his friends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="36312bd6de03aac0355609e29b8851a1"Marinette wanted Adrien to go, but understood he had a busy schudle. Instead, she'd use the event for inspiration. Maybe create a video game inspired line? She had been thinking of asking Emi and Calex to do a photoshoot for her. There were several new designs that needed to be added to her digital profilo./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ddc99fdbe4b640a7f11a40e763148bcc""We're over here!" Alya shouted over the people crowding the enterance to the event. "Over here!" She frantically waved, while jumping up and down./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e5d34c7d8dc091cf6bb5eb891f5f79a5"The mall's basement doubled as an event center. EU had rented out the entire basement for the event. People had begun lining up two hours before the schulded start time. Some were already inside, while hopefuls waited in line. Out of seventy spots, forty of those had been given out as passes. These passes gurateed enterance to the event. That left only thirty open spots avabilie for people waiting in line./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d5e93b9a72904f777de44f79e609144c""Why were ya'll standing in line?" Alya asked once Calex and the others found them. "We have passes, we can walk right in."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8a67acec3979e4f90ecc0a16e48f058d""You blockhead!" Emi playfully shoved Calex. "You said we needed to get in line."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ab6464e3c8346ece670f821f66b6b026""Think, I said I think we need to get in line." Calex rubbed the back of his neck. In his rush to avoid Mara when leaving school, he'd ushered him and his friends to the wrong enterance.. Had Alya not called them over, they would've wasted time by being in the wrong place./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="71d87983ffbba0dfdc7cd409709cfdd5""Does it matter?" Aero yawned. He'd spent the night before creating patches for Void Quest. It would take all day for the patch to upload. He hoped to use it tonight. "We're here now, let's go inside."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="28509ce16699b2082f96d7aabad424d4"Alya agreed with Aero. They were lucky to get tickets to the limited event. EU Games held sneak-peeks and previews throughout the year. Today's event was different. Games currently in development were today's topic. EU Games rarely held these demonstrations, where they show games that were only half way finished. Guest would be providing feedback, which would be incorpated into the game./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e353bb5c1fc9f75aa2bfb197224ebe8e"Getting in was easy, once in the correct line they flashed their passes to the employes. Inside the event booths and giant montiors filled the room with people earger to watch and try the new games. Staff directed people like traffic officers, ensure everything moved orderly. Those who only wanted to watch other play the games were ushered over to a side viewing area. Others roamed the center taking in the sights of different games before settling on one to play./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ff2542c465183f383b7f98c36cef4dc9"The friends didn't stay together as a group for long. Alya was more insterested in doing interviews and getting information for her blog, while Marinette tagged along to view the different game and character designs. Marinette hoped to get inspiration for a new design line. Devin dragged Aero away once he found newest installment of their favorite fighting game series. Aero didn't seem earger to play his best friend. It was game Devin would lose in, as history often repeated itself when those two played. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1d140807456450c5580f72df647abf51"This left Emi and Calex to free to do as they pleased. Emi was more of a gamer than Calex, but less than Devin and Aero. Emi enjoyed video games, but wasn't emotional or disappointed when she lost. Devin on the other hand, the good sport, would practice and constantly request rematches. Aero was the competative one among the friends. He played to win and use very lost to improve himself. Emi wanted neither, perfering to relax with a good game. Although the real reason she played video games was for research to help her with the ones she serectly worked on. Under the name, Gamer Gal, Emi creates and manages several online games and apps./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="01744daf35f4880d93262693e8c8fbaf"Gamer Gal's games were popular and many people from school played them. It wasn't unusual to hear converstions about one of her games. Some, like Alya, were also interested in who Gamer Gal was. She never responsed to comments and posts on forums about her games. Yet, it was obvious she read them. When patches and updates were released, players noticed several suggestions from the forums had been included. It was Emi's way of letting everyone know she took their comments seriously. Sorting through the forums for for feedback was bad enough, it'd only get worst if people know Emi was Gamer Gal./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9bb6e2032a053754224c8d3da90ddee5""Plotting your next game or update?" Calex asked. He noticed Emi hadn't spoken since they entered the event. Emi tended to get lost in her thoughts when it came to photograhy and game design. He'd have to keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't wonder off...again. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b7cfbf2de34b85c684193722d792daf"Emi shook her head, "The lastest updates have made the games' response time lag. It'll need to be fixed in the next patch." She pointed to the booth across from them. "Let's check out this one." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fd32c60c6003fcfa5d3e072ec10403c5"Calex glanced over to where Emi pointed. The booth had a simple poster with the two title characters dressed in winter clothing, their pale features and platuim hair drawing attention to the top of the poster. 'Can you surive?', Calex read those words on the poster. Curious, he followed Emi over to watch the beta game play trailer. Point of view in the trailer switched between the two characters on the poster. The first showed the female harnessing the powers of ice and snow to battle a beast. Then it flipped to the male searching a frozen tundra while avoiding detection from the enemy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c586c893bd22155e7077ea7a087f31d4""It's ice and more ice. Do you really wanna play this?" Calex noticed most people left after seeing the trailer. Overall, the booth didn't have many people interested in the game. The poster was a great attention getter, but the trailer was lacking. Only ice powers and cold climate? Who'd want to play that?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9337a802f48339113aef47471fc20bad""Look closely Calex." Emi gestured to a girl testing the game. "The game play may not look execiting, but it's finely crafted. The female warrior is giving out attacks in rapid succession. Those kind of graphic aren't easy to get, espically that clearly and smoothly." Emi agreed the game itself wasn't impressive, but the coding and interworkings were. She'd played games where combos and rapid attacks were flashy and hard to follow, espcially in an open world game. Bright attacks were cool to watch, but differcult to see the enemy's next attack after the attack ended. This game's creator had all the flashyness with none of the confusion. Every moment was smooth, transition easy to follow. "The game's storyline second in thought to the game's mechanics."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c1f91a63eaa6fe8fc98f62811f833b13""Okay, nerd girl." Calex gave up understanding Emi went it came to tech speak. "I'll take your word for it. You gonna ask for advice on how to improve game play and lagging?" Perks of being best friends with a game designer, he got to beta test them before public release. Downside, lots of questions and concerns had to be answered. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a59b114d55c4d341c44e978c76926de5""Why let an opptunrity like this go to waste?" Unlike her friends, Emi hadn't oringally planned to attend the event. She wanted to spend time after school practicing the singing technquies Lady Xi taught her. The faux were getting stronger and they need to as well. Until Lady Xi finished decoding the Miracle Book, Panda Mime and her will have to rely on their wits and current powers. Jay Song being one of these powers. Lady Xi and the other heros were admit that Jay Song not be used. It was to be kept a serect until they knew more about it. Lady Xi seemed to know enough about the ability to give Emi singing lessons. Not teaching Emi more about the Blue Jay miraculous or how to use and control Jay Song, but singing lessons./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="27d75f7db0eeba7e86267caa6094d07c"Emi would've perfered something useful, but Echo and Lady Xi reassured her this would help with controling Jay Song. Not that she was to use it. The lessons were a 'pre-caustion' should the day come when Jay Song was needed. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="08aab3d6e3b68721de0db1ce7024087f""Might as well try it since we're already here." Calex got in line behind Emi. Other than the girl currently playing and them, there were five other people in line. They watched the girl's live game play while waiting. The female warrior accessed a teleporter to enter the final stage of the first area. Stepping inside the room, the warrior was defeated in less than a mintue. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ef5c0c093930cae3aa4e255a29f39932""Can't believe there's someone who's worst than Mara at video games." Emi was amazed by the quick defeat. The girl lasted less than twenty seconds against the boss. Even Mara could go at least two minutes before losing. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fbb3f783cd0c3f97f427d50bd53e3051""Wonder who the noob is." Calex piered over Emi to see the girl taking off the VR headset. Blonde hair with pink highlights tumbled down the girl's back. Her clothes, from Gabriel Agreste's summer line, conveyed a rich background that matched her haughty attuide. One look at those periecing pink eyes showed her displeasure. A look Emi knew all to well. However, it wasn't until the girl spoke that Emi conformed her supsusion. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="eb6037aa002acf98920d3c68eb998340""Your game is defunctional and glitchy." Royal, the batty princess of Noble. A girl who tested even Illya's pateince and he's friends with Mara! "You'd have better chances of fixing computers at the local tech shop than producing a game." Royal shoved the VR helmet into the hands of the woman standing beside her. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a9124cb6cd672769401c651a9267982c""Ms. Royal, I assure you once you start from the beginning, you'll last longer in battle." The woman offered the helmet to Royal. "What you tried is a boss battle from the later half of the game. You weren't equiped to fight the boss since you didn't have experience playing the first portion of the game."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8065949df467ed853056ee4762855ae5"Royal's brow dipped. "So your saying it's my fault I lost?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b816789762b15c461970fd2e5e71d1cb""No, never!" The woman squeaked. "Anyone would have trouble fighting that boss without proir experence and knowledge of the game."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f423b069ffaa65a6e1e85e9bb2e5f1c0""Prove it!" Royal wasn't happy with the game's outcome. She's spent hours upon hours playing various games, honing her skills. She wouldn't be ranked number three in Gamer Gal's games without the pratice and skills she's gained. Staying in the top five ranking wasn't easy with the fluxuation of points and achevements. Thus Royal's constant place as third was a testment to her gaming skills. So there's no way she's lose so lamely to a boss in a game some newbie game developer created. "The next person will play using the same character, stats, and equipment to fight the same boss."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78919530f6faeb2235db67ea4ab442e6"The game had been her side project for many years. Working full time at EU Games and completing it in her spare time. Getting approval for beta testing at EU had been a process of several rejections. After two years and many rejections later, she'd been granted the chance to demo at this year's pre-gaming event. Enough popularity here would rocket her game to fast track production. Within a year the game could have an offical launch. She needed to get people interested in the game./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1c8c68003d1a5240fb5b2e6e550ca90b"Despite the poster attracting attention, few people reminded after watching either the trailer or others playing. She couldn't figure out what the disconnection was. What was it about the game that drove people away? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7e081eb55459e483307f1ec35aeacfbb""I'm sorry Ms. Royal, I can't assign someone the same gaming experince you had. The software for the demo is reset after each play. While players can select their character to play as, where the game starts is randomly determined each time." The idea had been to show off as much of the demo's game play as possblie. The game full would expand on the demo's basic play, drawing more people to want to play the completed verison. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="03ac3cbfe9c5594a0e0739673439cf0d""Can't or won't?" Royal questioned. Gamer Gal could make changes mid game play on a live server. Then surely console game could contain changes made before game play began. "I'm trying to help you. Do you want people to think something's wrong with your game?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="19929dc633b3c2c173966fe96740b246""Well..." She pondered Royal's statement. Having someone else play would confirm whether Royal's loss was do to her incompletion or a glitch. "Ok..okay." Forget about checking for issues those can be addressed later. Gaining attention is more important. Royal's a celebitry, her word could make or break the game's future. Royal must love the game! /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="23ec627771e046670e012f7107cbafda"She went over to the computer that controlled the game's software. "I can't assure the exect same game play, but I can assign a boss battle of a higher level." Overriding the demo's control system, she selected a boss that was twice as strong as the one Royal had fought. She than offered the VR helmet to Emi. "Enjoy the game."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e1f90be27c217b931237ad5129e93c8a"Calex started to protest the unfairness, but Emi silenced him with a look. Emi wasn't a gamer like Aero and Calex, but could adapt quickly once she understand the controls and game play. Calex used this knowledge to quill is anger. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="86ab33fb2264e73cd06c5b5ef4531269"Emi placed the VR helemt on her head. Senses of sight and sound were replaced by those of the wilderness. The male warrior stealthfully made his way through the baron icy landscape to the foot of a mountain. Three mammoths stood between the warrior and his path. Emi hestiated for a moment, letting the mammoths come to her. She played defense, getting an understanding of the bosses' attack pattern. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6ce3c503c188ee2edf6a0bc553c682ce"After a few mintues Emi realized attacking the mammoths on the left and right was pointless. She could take them down as much as she wanted, but the middle one who continue to heal, revive, and support the other two. To raise her chances of defeating the bosses, she'd need to aim her attention to the middle one./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="378957b18cdd6dfd4006de2a16cdb657" Royal's apperance didn't go unnoticed. A crowd gathered around the demo, drawn there by the solo female member of Noble. But it was Emi's game play that over took Royal's presence. Everyone could see the boss was of a high level, anyone would have trouble battling it. Emi wasn't winning, but she was putting up a fight. The calmness displayed after weapon broke and she used the last of her potions was enchating. She had no chance of winning, but wasn't going to give up. Emi pushed forward, using the last of the warrior's strength to deal a damaging blow to the middle mammoth. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1114d1ffeb713705a6f38b9d54babcc1""Well that's to be execpted." Royal gave a smug smirk. "I knew it wasn't my fault. This game is faulty." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="083d5bd05260cafd4a7bcd4abe46f09c"Emi took the VR helmet off and watch the replay of her last attack. It had dealt a massive amount of damage to the middle mammoth, but not enough to defeat it. The warrior went out like a true hero who fought to the very end./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9a98bbda976c234f3a31dedde7fd56b3""No Royal, it was you." Emi looked unaplgotically at the idol. "Yes the game is differcult, more so without prior experience. However, it's your fault you didn't even last a mintue." She spoke in a voice low enough for only her, Calex, and Royal to hear. Outing Royal's true bratiness would harm Knight and Ace as well. It wasn't her place to interfer in their business. That didn't mean she'd let Royal get away with being rude./p