It was an impressive way of using one’s ability, Ren thought as he watched Diablo prepare for another attack. It was a first for him to dodge small flying rocks instead of boulders, punches, swords or daggers. Dodging was near impossible because of their small size but there was an easy trick to evade it. All Ren had to do was wait until he heard a gunshot-like sound which means that a rock has already been launched towards him. That is all the signal he needed to activate his [BLINK] ability randomly. It didn’t matter where he set his blink ability to as long as he is able to dodge the incoming projectiel. One can argue that he can dodge preemptively before the sound since Diablo’s pose gives away the fact that he is using the skill but this can be a trap since it would be very easy for his opponent to feint or redirect his aim on where he believes he would reappear. It is very important for him to dodge only when the projectile is already launched. Ren complimented himself silently while thinking how many steps he already is in strategy compared to his opponent.

Suddenly Ren’s vision flickered red for a second. His health bar was now lower than 25%. He looked upwards to his floating health bar which was indeed already red. He then hears the loud booming sound activate making him jump sideways by instinct but was shocked to see that Brian was already dashing towards him.

He just finished activating [STRONG PUNCH]. He should not have time to close the distance towards me…unless he was able to activate [STRONG KICK] and dash towards me at the same time as [STRONG PUNCH]. That’s impossible! Unless, there was a glitch in the system. Also, my health turned red before I heard the sound of his ability activating. It must be a glitch!

Ren started to question if it was possible that Brian could be hacking into the game allowing for the glitch to happen. But that isn’t possible since no one has been able to do that in the ten years of the game’s existence.

I need to make my move now. If this goes on I might be the one who is at a disadvantage if I keep fighting from a distance.

[BLINK]

[BLINK]

[BLINK]

Ren activated his teleporting skill three times upwards into the sky. Each time he activated the skill it placed him in a higher elevation than the previous one. He made sure that the sun was behind him so that Brian would be blinded if he looked upwards.

“Hah! If you’re in the air then you won’t be able to dodge anymore.” Brian declared as he activated Diablo’s ultimate ability.

[DAMNATION]

Just as I expected, Ren thought. He really believes that I have activated all of my abilities already. This is going to be your loss. There is a large chance that you might be the original Knuckle but don’t even think you can compare to modern pro gamers now.

During the fight when Ren heard Brian try to deduce all of his abilities he immediately told himself not to reveal the truth. What Brian thought about Ren’s [BLINK] ability was completely wrong. He believed them to be three separate abilities but the truth was it is a single ability that had a stacking mechanic. If the player didn’t use the [BLINK] ability for at least thirty seconds he is able to store one charge up to three times. This means if he didn’t use the ability for one minute and thirty seconds then he could use the ability three times.

Ren looked down on Brian who’s eyes started to glow purple. He knew that in a second a large purple blast would be shot at his direction. If the blast hit even just the tip of his hands or feet then it would inflict enough damage to kill him. Ren grinned knowing that he had already anticipated all of this.

“You really are a predictable old man.” Ren said as he activated a skill he has not yet used.

[RETRACT]

Ren’s body teleported back to where he originally was, back in the ground in front of Diablo who was frozen in place shooting lasers from his eyes upwards. Taking advantage of the fact that Diablo would be immobile while [DAMNATION] is activated he took this opportunity to activate his own ultimate skill.

[INJECT RICIN]

Ren manifested a needle the size of a thumb on his right hand and shoved it directly at his opponent’s heart. This ability would inflict poison damage to its target for sixty seconds but if his health is below 10% by the end of the duration then he would instantly die. The only way to counter this is if he has a healing ability which Ren knows Diablo doesn’t possess. There is nothing to do now but wait. He wanted to celebrate then when he felt a hand grab his right arm then the left. Ren turned towards Brian who was grinning at him, his ability had already finished and given him free movement again. His opponent then pushed his body towards him making both of them fall on the ground. Ren tried to get away but Brian had already pinned both of his arms and legs with his own.

“I finally got you.” Brian’s voice sounded triumphant but Ren didn’t care since he knew the match should already be in his favor.

“The match is already done. I have used my ultimate skill on you. In exactly forty more seconds you are going to die and since you are using your arms and legs to restrain me you don’t have any means of attacking me. Even [DAMNATION] isn’t an option for you since it has a three minute cooldown. This is what you get for assuming you have finally figured out all of my abilities.” Ren gloated to the demon grinning on top of him.

“You’re right. I was careless but the fight is not yet over. My health is still currently higher than yours so as long as my health bar is still there I am going to beat your ass.” Brian declared with a proud voice.

Ren felt annoyed at how his explanation didn’t seem to get through his opponent. Huh, I guess he doesn’t want to accept his defeat yet.

“What does health bars matter anymore to this situation? [INJECT RICIN] executes any opponent who’s health falls below 10% health. All I have to do now is wait.” Ren laughed but immediately stopped when he saw his opponent looking upwards into the sky. “Hey now, what are you doing?”

“STRONG HEADBUTT.” Brian screamed as he smashed his head downwards towards Ren, bringing both of their health down to 11% for Ren and Brian at 21%.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? YOU ARE JUST DAMAGING THE BOTH OF US!” Ren shouted, shocked by what Brian was doing.

Ren couldn’t do anything as he watched his opponent raise his head again into the sky. He looked at Brian’s health going down from 21% to 20% because of the poison but it didn’t seem to matter to Brian. Ren realized now that it was him who was in danger. He tried to activate [BLINK] but it didn’t activate because he was currently restrained.

“STRONG HEADBUTT.”

“That’s not even a skill! Don’t shout as if that is a real thing.” Ren shook his head sideways in an attempt to avoid the incoming attack from his opponent but it didn’t work. The attack reduced his health to 5% and Brian at 15%.

Brian’s health went down to 14% again from the poison but Ren knew it was not going to be fast enough to kill his opponent.

“One more time!” Brian shouted as he raised Diablo’s horns into the sky. Ren pleaded for him to stop but know that what is to come is inevitable. Brian smashed his head downwards and finally Ren’s vision turned black followed by the word he despised the most. Written in shining red and bold letters.

DEFEAT.