For a second Novis froze in place as he heard the number. He looked over to his right, and down at Dan's wristwatch and sure enough on his watch was the same number that was displayed on the TV. Number 83.

"Damn it, I thought we would have been able to go to Titan together all three of us." Novis thought. "Who am I meant to root for now, why did things turn out like this?"

"Number 83, Are you there!" Biden shouted, "Is there no number 83."

"I'm here," Dan said as he walked forward. Even Dan was surprised by what happened. When Dan reached the box him, and Lucas looked at each other for a few moments.

"What's wrong you two, hurry up and get into your positions," Biden asked.

"I'm sorry but, are we able to switch opponents, the two of us are friends I don't think I will be able to perform my best if going up against my friend," Lucas said.

"I see," Biden said with a smile on his face. "Well if you two are really friends, then I guess it's okay if I disqualify you both together."

"Wait!" Dan said. "We'll fight against each other."

Dan then walked over to the white box and got himself ready in his standard fighting position. At the end of the day. Dan didn't really know Lucas that well. They were only mutual friends through Novis.

And the one thing running through Dan's head right now was, at least he wasn't going up against Novis. If that situation ever did occur, he would have forfeited the match straight away and allowed Novis to go through.

It was only because of him in the first place that he came to enjoy and find out about the game. But Lucas was a different story. Right now, he was an enemy stopping him from playing on the same team as one of his best friends.

As Novis watched the two of his friends get ready to face off, he didn't know how to feel. There was no cheering and no favouritism on Novis side. He had played with Dan for longer and felt closer, but it was because of Lucas that Novis even had a goal in the first place.

Lucas went and grabbed a digital handle, there was no scythe for him to use, but even if there was, it wasn't the weapon he was going to select for something like this. In the end, he chose a katana digital blade. The same type of weapon he used to play with. One that focused on speed.

"Looks like you're not holding back," Dan said. "Good that's exactly how it should be!"

"Begin."

With the sword held by his waist, it took Lucas less than a second to do a fast draw. He cut his opponent and withdrew his weapon back in place. Dan hadn't even seen a single thing.

*Beep

"Point contestant number 56."

"Whoa did you see that?"

"The quick draw was like a professional swordsman."

"Yeah, it was almost exactly like the skill from the warrior Mu Samu in the game, a picture-perfect replica."

Of course, Lucas had played with the warrior Mu Samu his whole life. He knew every one of the warrior's skills and could perform each one of them in the real world, not only at the same level but even better. However, his skills were never able to match up to his father's power and speed.

As the two changed positions, Dan kept his head down to the ground. He had never faced Lucas before, and for the first time when fighting against an opponent, he felt like he had no chance of winning. He never realised how strong Lucas was until this moment.

"I see," Dan said, looking at Novis. "So this is why you left the team a year ago. No wonder. We simply just weren't good enough for you."

Dan looked at the weapons on the floor, but he knew just using his fists wouldn't work. The range was too small. Even if he didn't know how to use a weapon, he would be better at using one.

But as he looked at them, he had no clue what to choose.

Then he noticed a hand was in front of him with one of the hilts.

"Use this one." Novis said, "Oh Dan, don't give up. I want to play with you too."

Dan took the digital hilt and walked over to his position. Novis words had lit a fire on his belly. "I was a fool, did I really give up that easily. If Tony was here, he would tell me off."

Dan activated the digital sword, and it was a long sword similar to the one Arthur used. The difference between the digital swords and real swords was in the game they had a weight behind them. While here, they did not.

A spear would be a bit too awkward to use, so he decided to give him a basic sword with the longest reach.

"Begin!"

Dan charged forward with the sword held in his hand. He kept going forward as if he was going to barge into Lucas, but if Dan stepped into the white box, then he too would lose a point.

"Where is he going to attack from. Above, the side, across." Lucas thought.

Then just before his toes had reached the white Box, Dan was able to use his legs to stop in an instant and throw a slash upward. Lucas was surprised as he was sure Dan would slow down his momentum. Lucas lent back to avoid the strike, which he managed to do successfully.

"I've won!" He said.

"Point, Contestant number 83."

"Huh?" As Lucas looked down on the ground, he noticed that his heel had just reached the outside of the white box by an inch.

It was time for the two of them to swap positions once again.

"All this tension isn't good for my heart," Novis said.

"Your friend is strong." George said, "Unlike you and Lucas, who had the guidance of a spirit, good or bad, Dan has come a long way through his hard work and natural talent. I would have loved to see him grow under a good teacher."

"He had a good teacher," Novis said thinking about Tony

"This match is getting intense."

"Who do you think is going to win?"

"It has to be the samurai kid, but still the guts on the other guy. When watching him, I can't help but route for the underdog."

The crowd was excited seeing two powerful contestants against each other. Once again, it was Lucas's turn.

He got into the same position as before, and this time Dan paid all his attention on Lucas's hand by his side. He was ready for the attack no matter what.

"Begin."

The match had started and once again, Lucas preformed a quick draw while Dan stood there motionless.

*Beep

"Contestant 56 point."

Even though he knew where the attack was coming from, when it would come, Dan was still unable to see the attack.

The two swapped places and Dan had decided to go with the long sword Novis had handed him once again.

"If it worked last time, let's try it again!" Dan said as he rushed forward.

This time Lucas made sure his feet were planted within the box. Dan came rushing forward and stopped at the last second, this time attacking from above. Using his whole body weight but without lifting his feet off the ground. Lucas twisted and shifted around to the side, completely avoiding the blow.

"Winner contestant number 56."

In the end, Lucas was just better than Dan.

"Dan, I'm…" Novis tried to say something, but Dan stopped him.

He took off his watch and gave it back to one of the staff members.

"You don't have to apologise for anything. I knew you two were special when I first met you. Especially you, Novis. You know I wasn't even sure if VSW was for me, this was my last shot at trying out the game as a professional."

"What do you mean!" Novis asked.

"It's clear after watching you two, you have what it takes to become a professional, I just don't, my place is somewhere else. I think I'm going to join that Maui thai club, I got offered to become a member around a year ago. Don't worry, Novis, this doesn't mean we will never play again."

"Dan, the next time we meet, you better be the champion."

"Same to you Novis. I know you're going to make it." Dan said as he walked off and away from the school.

As he watched Dan walk-off, Novis too felt like Dan was a special person. HE knew he was going to make it in whatever he did.

Lucas then placed his hand on top of Novis shoulder.

"Novis we have to get into Titan, especially now, there's only one more test to go."

"Only one more test, huh, let's do this."