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Mankind had come far in the last century and a half. Relative peace had reigned, but now the gods had gone to war.
YouDontSeeMeOoO has slain you!
A flat tone rung out as Klein’s character exploded on his screen, a low groan escaping his lips as he opened his mic, “Oh come on! We agreed on not using our authorities in game!”
A soft laugh was followed by a challenge, “Get good, Fool.”
“I know you’re cheating, I just can’t prove it,” he grumbled, squinting at his screen, attempting to see through any concealments his opponent had placed.
This was the new Battlefield of the Gods: an online game that re-imagined the gods themselves as powerhouses players could use to wreck each other’s faces. Blasphemy had never been so fun! The direction of technology and popular culture was owed in part to Mr Fool’s fond memories.
You have slain YoinkThatsMine!
“Not today, Amon!” Klein crowed at the screen.
YoinkThatsMine23 has slain YouDontSeeMeOoO!
“He found me, but you couldn’t?”Evernight laughed.
SteamedMachineBuns has slain YoinkThatsMine57!
“Amon, how many avatars do you have in game right now?” the former god of Steam and Machinery, now god of Technology and Wifi, demanded over the voice channel.
No less than three Amons answered at once, “Wouldn’t you like to know, steam boy?”
“Actually, I have a question,” one of the Amons spoke up, “why is Mr. Fool a Storm Lord main?”
“They fucked me over last patch,” Klein grumbled, “did you SEE what they did to my kit?”
“You needed a nerf, the world finals last year was just a team of all you’s and one Earth Mother for the healing,” Evernight was trying to be pragmatic.
“Whatever, Storm Lord’s also imbalanced, just look at this!” Running through the arena, Klein started spamming lightning storms. One struck Evernight, her character stuttering across the screen with the slowing effect. Amon’s 14th account promptly stole the kill.
“Ah, speaking of…” an Amon said, “Mr Fool, would you like to play a game?”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing right now?”
A chorus of chuckles in the voice channel agreed with him.
Equally amused, the Amon chuckled as well, “Wouldn’t you like to join me? I asked you once if you’d be my blessed, but now I ask you this: will you join my esports team?”
The voice coms went silent.
“I… what?” Klein finally said, hands falling away from his controls.
YoinkThatsMine12 has slain you!
YoinkThatsMine has slain YoinkThatsMine12!
“I’m trying to speak with the man!” Amon snapped to his avatar.
Klein was just shaking his head at the screen, character idling at the spawn point, “Explain what you want.”
Amon was delighted to, “Evernight and Steam Boy are invited too,” he said, “let’s start an anonymous esports team and enter the world championships. Let’s see if anyone figures out who we really are!”
“That would be amusing,” Evernight grudgingly agreed.
“If everyone on my short list accepts, we’d only be one short,” Amon added, “but I figure someone from your little Tarot Club would happily follow you, wouldn’t they? It would be funny to see their reaction if they figure out who the rest of the team are.”
Mr Fool was silent for only a second before he sighed, “Alger would be perfect, he’s stayed on top of technology and he’d make a good team captain. …and he’d have the funniest reactions.”
A chorus of thoughtful and excited voices joined the chatter and by the end of it, the plan was set. Klein was confident Alger wouldn’t turn down the offer to game with Mr Fool and his mysterious online friends.