A group of people walked up to the entrance of a large dome that featured flashing lights and even some holograms depicting the tournament that was taking place in it.

"Well this is it"

Aiden said while everyone in the tall cats club stared at the large arena before them.

It truly was going to be "it" as Aiden had said. They were about to go into the last gaming tournament before the release of WOW, which Jason knew would bring the original gaming industry to its knees. In return though, it would birth a new era of gaming this world had never seen!

This was the NOU tournament, it was a large tournament that Luna and Masuda had dreamed of joining since they had started the club. This was their first goal and with new teammates and skills behind them helping and watching them. They were ready. It was like the finale on a tv show or something if the tall cats guild was the main characters. This was their big first step into the professional gaming industry.

'They aren't ready'

Jason thought when he looked at the skill levels of the players there.

[gaming level 7]

[gaming level 6]

[gaming level 8]

[gaming level 7]

'we are so screwed' Jason thought as he compared the tall cats with the rest of the players.

[Mika gaming level 5]

[Aiden gaming level 5]

[Masuda gaming level 7]

[Luna gaming level 6]

[Gabriel gaming level 6]

'well Jason looks like you'll have to carry them' Boops said

Jason checked his gaming level again to regain his confidence.

[Jason gaming level 10]

"well that was only because of the mission I did and the exp buffs I bought," he replied

Boops scoffed

'it doesn't matter, and I think you already know what to do.'

Jason sighed and answered

"Of course"

The tall cats then started to walk into the building for what may be their final hurrah.

[new mission]

[win the tournament]

[rewards: tall cats gratitude and admiration 1500 exp]

Inside the building was a giant arena, jam-packed with people. This tournament was very popular, unlike the ones they went to before. There were many people cheering for their teams the most noticeable and largest ones where the people dressed in white and blue shouting and cheering for the Ice wave and people wearing black and red shouting Fire Reapers.

Obviously those two teams were the biggest contenders for first place. And this NOU tournament was the battlefield for their rivalry. Little did they know that a few tall cats were going to shake their world.

The game they were playing, was a normal PVP skill-based game. Where everyone's characters were was equal in strength relied on skill. Surprisingly it was the game that Jason had played with Mika a few weeks ago.

The 6 of them sat in the waiting room trying to ready themselves for the tournament. Masuda and Luna were aiming for the top 10 as there were a total of 50 teams participating.

They watched as the Ice Waves and Fire Reapers tore through their opponents. The Ice waves specializing in sending in waves of gunfire that would threaten anyone that poked their head out. The Death Reapers in close combat and ambushes. Their specialties were fitting for their names and just like their names elements their leaders Rosa and Lewis were locked in a bitter rivalry.

One of the organizers of the event walked into the waiting room

"tall cats please head out to the arena"

They had checked the roster and they were against a team called the Kings, unlike the name they had always placed in the top 15 but never got to the top 5 in their gaming history.

the leader of the kings smiled as he looked at the roster.

"the tall cats huh, noobs from a high school gaming club eh, we can pull and easy win."

He paid no further attention to them and started to focus on the rest of the teams.

The 6 of them walked to the arena with polite applause coming from their tiny introduction.

Masuda whispered to everyone when they sat down

"Alright guys, same plan as usual"

This plan was simply Aiden and Mike attacking preemptively with Gabriel tanking while the rest provided support.

In Jason's opinion it was just a mediocre plan but with it they won a few tournaments just with their control skill, so Jason had no complaint.

The game started and everyone instantly knew something was wrong. The trio that was attacking was immediately interrupted by a grenade and lost a quarter of their health in the first few seconds.

They immediately scrambled when they saw another grenade coming for them.

With everyone scrambled and disorganized they were easily ambushed and almost wiped out. In fact Aiden and Gabriel got killed after moving a bit too far away from everyone else. Everyone was panicking and morale was dropping already. This all happened in the first few seconds of the round.

Jason thought to himself as chaotic gun fire and grenades sounded from his headphones

"guess it's my time to shine?"

Boops sighed and shouted in his head

'Yes dumb%^& go kick some butt already!!'