It was now three weeks since Miko has been a proxy. Over that period he has trained himself from the basics to make up for the years he’s slacked off. He was currently reviewing the basics of magic with Momo.

“There are two ways to use magic; through spells and through raw power.”

Momo said.

“When you use magic via spells you’ll need to create a magic circle to activate it. The magic circle can be a physical one that is drawn on objects and areas….”

Momo sat down and quickly drew a simple looking magic circle on the ground. When she was finished, it lit up and a clay doll appeared out of nowhere.

“You can also create a projection of one, using your mana.”

Momo stretched her hand out and a magic circle was projected in front of her and a lump of iron appeared in front of it.

“Physical magic circles last longer than projections made with mana, thus having longer lasting spells.”

After she said that, the lump of iron turned into light particles and disappeared, while the clay doll remained.

“However, physical magic circles take time to draw, especially for a novice, hence isn’t practical in the heat of battle. It’s best to use them to enchant items, or lay traps that you want to use multiple times.”

She explained.

“As for magic circle projections, these are only used by Spell Masters like myself, because it requires you to picture every detail of the magic circle for every spell you want to use in a flash. In fact, using spells requires memorizing countless magic circles, which only gets more complicated the more powerful a spell is.”

“Hence, most people use magic in its rawest form.”

Miko said.

Momo nodded.

“The other way to use magic is to grasp the mana in your body and around you, and forcibly create a phenomenon without the conversion that spells do.”

She said.

“However, this wastes a lot of the mana you gather because it wasn’t converted to the fullest. This is why spells are stronger and more flexible, but like I said earlier they’re too hard to use. So unless you want to become a Spell Master, you shouldn’t focus on them too much.”

“But it would help to have a few spells in my arsenal, right?”

Momo nodded.

“Well, you’ve already mastered the basics of magic, so I don’t really need to teach you these things. You should’ve also memorized a few spells.”

Miko nodded.

“What I really want to do is to practice using weapons.”

“Well, that’s not my forte. Wasn’t Christian the one who was in charge of your weapons training?”

“Yeah, but he’s at the annual meeting with the others. So I have to learn by myself.”

Miko then yawned.

“But I’m too lazy to pick up a sword and swung it 1000 times, or do 1000 thrusts with a lance and stuff like that.”

“You’re really lazy aren’t you? Normally people in your position would try the riskiest things just to get a bit stronger.”

“Those people are fools.”

Miko answered.

“I’ll only do something like that if the chances are in my favor. Only an idiot would leave everything to fate.”

He said.

“But isn’t there any way to get familiar with weapons and using them without the tedious and cliché training?”

He asked with a whining voice.

“I think live battle with weapons would do the trick….”

He paused for a bit before saying-

“Maybe I should try being a serial killer for a little bit?”

“Don’t even joke about that.”

Momo replied.

“I mean, think about it. I’ll get lots of experience using weapons and will also get a knack at killing people with weapons.”

Miko said.

“Not happening.”

Momo immediately shut him down.

“Besides, you need to value human life more.”

She said.

“I heard your worries and have come to answer them.”

Tia suddenly appeared from a flash of light and said. She then took something out of her clothes and threw it at Miko.

“What’s this?”

Miko unfolded the paper and saw that it was a flyer.

“Battalion Arcade ?”

He read.

“Why do you have a flyer for a game arcade?”

He asked Tia.

“Because that’s where I spent my afternoons.”

Tia said proudly.

“So that’s where she went.”

Momo mumbled.

“Wait, isn’t Battalion Arcade that military style arcade?”

She asked.

Tia nodded.

“It is.”

“Military Style Arcade? What’s that?”

Miko asked.

“Its an arcade that provides the common civilian with military experience and insight through the use of games.”

Momo replied.

“There was such a place here?”

Miko asked in surprised.

“Not only here, it’s a popular method used in many countries. Miko, have you’ve ever heard the name Gamestar before?”

“I think it’s the same of a gaming brand. But I didn’t really get the chance to play games when I was a kid with everything going on, so I never got into them. Naturally, I don’t really know much about them.”

Miko replied.

“The Gamestar corporation is the leading gaming company in the world. Hand consoles, Mobile games, Virtual reality games, RPG, MMORPG, etc. They dominate them all. Not only that, they also created Dimension Drive, a console that sends your body to another dimension to play the game; as well as Dream Scape, a console that allows you to play games in your dreams.”

Momo explained.

“I see. So I can use one of these consoles to get familiar with using weapons?”

Tia nodded a bit excitedly.

“That’s right. Battalion Arcade has both the Dimension Drive and the Dream Scape. We can use one of them and train you.”

Momo nodded after a bit of thinking.

“We can do that. But only the Dream Scape, so that he won’t get hurt if he loses.”

She said.

“Sounds fun.”

Miko agreed with the girls.

“Let’s go and check it out.”

The three of them went to the arcade that was located in the capital city. When they entered the arcade, Miko couldn't help but be a bit surprised.

Normally, an arcade would be filled with children and teens, but this one was different. There were adults everywhere.

Some were rough looking, while others looked like the intellectual type. There was a wide variety of people.

Of course there were children, but they were in the minority.

“Surprised? I told you this place thought people the art of war; there are a lot of games here that doesn't just teach you modern warfare, but also corporate warfare. The game machines have a special mechanism that can expand the players knowledge using subliminal teachings.”

Momo said.

Miko looked around at the different machines, all having the letter G on them. The G was inside a six pointed silver star. He figured that this was the logo of the Gamestar Cooperation.

“The owners of Gamestar must be filthy rich.”

“Yes. The Gamestar family are history's greatest gamers, they singlehandedly change the definition of a gaming. They're also heaven-shaking geniuses. It's too bad that they were almost wiped out a few years ago.”

“They almost got wiped out?”

“Yeah. I don't know the details, but I heard that the main family, except for the family head, was brutally massacred by unknown assailants. They shut down for a while after that; but eventually came back on track after nearly 5 years, with a new leader.”

“I see. Such a waste of potential.”

Miko replied.

“So, Tia. There’s a lot of games here, which one would be the best for me to mess around….I mean train?”

Tia smiled and then pointed at to a large machine in the back of the arcade. It had eight large capsules that were over 6 ft each, a large monitor in the middle, and a lot of weird looking wires and pipes connected to it.

“That is a Dream Scape that’s connected to a game called Gangster’s Paradise. It’s popular among local thugs and criminals because it grants them the experience and insight they would need to survive in the crime world.”

She explained.

“So, I go in with seven others and fighting them?”

Miko asked.

Tia shook her head.

“The Dream Scape is connected to a global network called Dream Sphere. On there, players from all over the world can compete against each other in various games. So it won’t just be 8 of you, there will countless people competing at the same time.”

“Oh? Then that means that I can face all kinds of people and steal….learn from them?”

Miko suddenly looked quite excited.

“Let’s do it. My mind will mature through the games, and then I’ll practice what I learned in real life to keep a balance.”

Momo nodded.

“That’s what I was going to tell you to do. You can’t rely on this game alone to get stronger. Even if your brain and senses become sharper, it will be useless if your body can’t keep up with it.”

She said.

“Also, these type of games are dangerous if you staying too long. There’s a chance that you’ll lose touch with reality and won’t be able to differentiate the game from real life. So you can only use it 4 hours a day just to be safe.”

“I have no problem with that.”

Miko said.

“Alright! Let’s play!”

Tia said.

“You’re playing too?”

Momo asked.

“Of course. The reason I even brought this up is because I wanted people to play with.”

Tia said.

“So we were tricked?”

Momo sighed.

“What’s the big deal? I get to enjoy myself, while you guys get to train in a fun way. It’s win win.”

Tia said.

“Who said I was playing?”

Momo asked.

“So you aren’t playing?”

“Of course, I’m playing. This looks too fun to be left out.”

Momo headed towards the capsules while Tia and Miko followed behind her.

“So what kind of game is this anyway?”

Momo asked.

“It’s kinda like a RPG, but far more violent.”

Tia answered.

“It’s set in a lawless world where gangsters fight over territory, all while completing heinous quests like assassination, robbery, kidnapping, all the works. There’s no safe zone, so you can be killed anywhere at anytime. However, if you acquire territory you can form your own gang with other players and NPCs and create your own gangster’s paradise.”

“Sounds like the perfect place to train.”

Miko said. The three of them entered a capsule where they each had their bodies scanned and was put to sleep by nonlethal gas. The moment they closed their eyes, they could feel the sensation of having their minds dragged towards somewhere far away.

“This must be the work of some spell. They incorporated spells into machinery. Impressive.”

Miko said before falling asleep fully.

“………”

When he opened his eyes he was standing in front of some kind of interface, which asked for his name.

“A name huh? Then let’s go with Logan.”

The moment he said that, the name Logan appeared approve his head.

“Customize your character?”

He got a different instruction from the interface.

“Hmm….Since I’m here to train, I think it’s best to be as realistic as possible. But I should also make it that people don’t recognize me.”

Miko then made his avatar to match his body type perfectly, but changed the hair and eyes to black, and put on a face tattoo. He dressed his avatar in full black with red gloves and boots.

“Now I get to choose a weapon?”

Miko saw endless weapons in front of him.

“For starters, lets' go with a sword. This way I can train my swordsmanship, which I haven’t done in years.”

He picked a huge broadsword and equipped it to his avatar. After that, he was sent to towards a bright light.

“Woah.”

Before he knew it, Miko was in a barren wasteland with no one in sight, only dead trees and charred grounds.

“A city?”

He looked around and saw what seemed to be a city in the distance.

“I wonder if I should go there?”

He asked himself.

(Miko, do you hear me?)

He suddenly heard a voice in his ear.

“Momo? Where are you?”

(I’m in a city. Tia said that since we came through the same console, we should be near each other. Do you see a city near you?)

Momo asked.

“Since when is Tia a game expert?”

Miko mumbled.

“Yeah, I see the city. I’m heading near there now.”

(According to Tia, this city is where she hangs out the most and since we came in with her while being newbies, we’ll appear either in it or near it. I’m in it, so I’ll wait for you at the entrance.)

Momo said.

“Stay hidden. We can be killed anywhere remember.”

(I will. Be careful.)

Momo answered. He headed towards the city just like he said he would. He kept a close watch of his surroundings as he walked.

“Looks like magic and Vita isn’t allowed here.”

He said after realizing he couldn’t use his normal skills.

“Looks like I really have to rely on weapons, skills, and instinct to survive here.”

He said.

He soon made it to the city that he saw from afar. It was pitch black, gloomy, and looked like it could fall apart any second.

“This place really gives off that apocalyptic feeling.”

He said. He stopped at the entrance and began to look around.

“Miko, I’m here.”

He suddenly saw momo appear from behind a rock that was near the entrance. The reason why he knew it was her was because other than her clothes, she looked the same.

“Wouldn’t your adult form work better here?”

Miko asked her.

“With this form people will underestimate me and try to attack me. When that happens, we can slaughter them without mercy.”

Momo laughed evilly.

“I see that you’re getting into it.”

Miko said and looked around.

“Tia?”

“She said she had something to take care of, but she’ll be here pretty soon.”

Momo answered.

“Oh? What’s this?”

At that moment, the two saw some group of thugs appear from inside the city. They all looked intimidating, and were dressed quite ruggedly. They all also had powerful looking guns and launchers.

“These two smell like fresh meat.”

Said the one at the front.

“You smell that boys? We got a couple of virgins here.”

“Hahahaha! Virgins can’t enter this unholy city.”

“Should we do them a favor and deflower them? With bullets of course.”

“Hey, that’s sounds great!”

“Let’s use our biggest bullets just to make sure.”

“And our knives too.”

The man all spoke vulgarly with smirks on their faces, matching their looks.

“Looks like we ran into to some wild dogs.”

Momo said with a grin.

“I know that it’s just a game, but I don’t like their tone.”

Miko pulled his gigantic sword and glared at the men.

“I don’t care what they say about me, but anyone that talks about you in such a vulgar manner must die.”

He pointed his sword at them.

“Oh, Boss. Looks like they want to fight.”

“Hahaha! Fools. Teach them a listen boys!”

“Yes!”

The men all pointed their weapons at Momo and Miko with savages expressions.

“Die!”

“What is going on here?”

Before the men could speak, they heard a rough and deep voice and halted. They all quickly turned around a saw a huge muscular middle aged man dressed in a red three piece suit with two gigantic machine guns strapped to his back and cigar in his mouth. He had gold eyes, black hair that was swept back, had a thin beard.

“City Don?!”

All the men looked scared when they saw the man. The man remained nonchalant towards their fearful expressions and took the cigar from his mouth, and blew out some smoke.

“You little bitches have some nerve, trying to act important at the gate of my front yard.”

The man said.

“We didn’t mean any disrespect! We were just messing around!”

“Yeah! Some harmless fun!”

*Bam!*

At that moment the two who spoke had their heads blow off. The one who did it was of course the city, who drew a handgun from inside his jacket.

“I didn’t ask for an explanation. I have eyes, I could see that you were messing around, idiot.”

He put away the gun.

“Don’t insult my intelligence.”

“We’re sorry!”

All the men bow and apologized.

“I see. So you’re sorry?”

The men all nodded desperately.

“I see.”

He then put back the cigar in his mouth while taking something from inside his jacket.

“Here’s what I think your apology.”

He threw something which the men caught. When they looked, they saw that it was a bomb.

*Boom!*

The bomb exploded and killed all the men. The man walked past their blown up bodies and took a puff of his cigar.

“Apology accepted.”

He said while approaching Miko and Momo.

“You guys sure picked some boring avatars. Momo and Miko.”

He said.

“…….Wait, it can’t be…”

Momo couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Tia?!”

The man took out his cigar and smiled.

“In here it’s Jack Matters, Don of this city. Nice to meet you.”