The Immortal Player

Press Conference Area B

Team Fuji Post Match Interview…

Cameras flashed non-stop as Kazuto Kageyama, together with Ryu, entered the huge hall filled with reporters and cameramen.

A few seconds later, the two players sat in their respective seats—ready for their post-match interview. At the same time, an event staff stood and raised the microphone in his hand.

The event staff faked a cough before saying, "Everyone… We would like to kindly request all of you to turn off the flash of your cameras—for the convenience of the players. Also… May we request all the reporters to take a seat so that we could proceed with the Post-Match Interview. Thanks!"

In compliance with the request of the event staff, the cameramen turned off the flash on their cameras while the reporters sat in their respective seats.

A minute later, everyone was settled, thus, the event staff stood once more and said, "Before we begin the interview, I would like to remind everyone that each of you could only ask two questions at most so that all of you would be given a chance to ask questions to our guests. Thank you for your cooperation... Now… Without further ado, let's start the Post-Match Interview with Team Fuji!"

"With us, is Team Fuji's Captain—Mister Kazuto Kageyama, and Team Fuji's Ace—Mister Ryu Taro!" The event staff introduced the two players to the reporters. Then, the event staff glanced to the reporter nearest to him and said, "And to start… Reporter Amberson from SNeN News, you may now ask your question to our guests."

The huge man with a snow-white skin nodded in response to the even staff before standing from his seat and raising the microphone in his hands.

He said, "Greetings to Mister Kazuto Kageyama and Mister Ryu Taro! I am Robert Amberson from SNeN News North America! To start… I would like to ask you—players from Team Fuji, if you guys have any ideas, by now, to defeat the seemingly undefeatable team of Team ARES? I mean… This is just the first 'friendly' competition held for Bearth Online? And considering the popularity of the game, the professional competition is probably soon to happen. By then... There's a huge possibility that you would face Team ARES once again!"

Kazuto Kageyama smiled in response. Then, he said, "To be honest… That's a difficult question to answer!"

Kazuto Kageyama laughed and was followed by Reporter Amberson and everyone else.

A few seconds later, Kazuto Kageyama calmed down and said, "But in my perspective as a player, and a leader of a Team, I would like to simply say that nothing is impossible."

Kazuto Kageyama smiled with confidence, making some reporters and viewers gasp in astonishment.

They thought that Kazuto Kageyama would have no answer to such questions since Team Fuji just recently got "Bullied" by Team ARES in the first-ever competitive match in Bearth Online.

That said, the Bearth Online players knew that the Main Game itself provides a lot of opportunities that can make them strong enough to be able to compete against the current strongest players and teams all over the world.

That is why what Kazuto Kageyama said was not just an act nor any kind of bluff to somehow show to the world that Team Fuji was hopeless at this point in the game.

In fact, Kageyama was saying, in an indirect way, that any player of Bearth Online can potentially defeat Team ARES and other strong teams in the world. And true enough, there are a lot of opportunities unexplored in Bearth Online.

Reporter Amberson smiled in response to Kazuto Kageyama. Then, he said, "Moving into my last question… How terrifying is Team ARES?"

Everyone could not help but gasp and stare at the two players right in front of them. They were quietly waiting for their response.

The reason behind this was that watching is different from experiencing the battle by themselves. It was easier to watch players of different games battle each other, but it was obviously a lot more difficult being in the shoes of the players.

So, if Team ARES' performance was so terrifying to watch, it was really intriguing to know, how terrifying they were as an opponent.

Kazuto Kageyama simply raised his brows and said, "If you are referring to their individual strength… Yes, they are extremely terrifying human beings!"

"But earlier, as their opponent, I did not think that much of it… Whether they were terrifying or not… Because it would just affect our morale, our focus in executing our plans and winning the match." He added.

Then, Kazuto Kageyama glanced back to the reporter and said, "And if you want to know, specifically, how strong they are… I suggest that you try fighting them instead!"

…

At this moment…

Inside the Press Conference Area N…

The cameras flashed as if they were machine guns shooting towards Pedro and everyone else.

"Darn!" Talia cursed. "The flashes are hurting my eyes!"

Lony could only force out a smile in response. Then, he and Talia glanced towards Pedro—wanting to know his reactions.

However… To their surprise… Pedro had his eyes closed from the start—as if he was able to anticipate what was happening.

"Darn, Expert Bro!" Talia cursed once again. Then, she also started walking with her eyes closed before saying, "You got us on that one!"

Pedro simply chuckled in response and said, "Got on what? Sorry, but I have my eyes closed at the moment!"

"Tch! The blinding flashes! The blinding flashes!" Talia grumbled. "It's painful in the eyes!"

Pedro laughed before saying, "Ah, that! Forgive me little Talia… I thought you like the flashes and stuff."

"I do!" Talia grumbled. "But not to the point that it hurts my precious eyes!"

Lony simply smirked while Pedro laughed out loud in response.

At this moment, Lony, Talia, and Pedro sat in their seats, at random, with their eyes closed.

It was nothing special for them. But for the viewers, especially on the televisions and other platforms, it was a spectacular scene to witness.

It was three people casually walking and finding a random vacant seat with their eyes closed.

And obviously, this awed everyone—which was accompanied with a closely similar, sudden thought in their minds.

'Was this the effect of playing Bearth Online?'

Bearth Online was undoubtedly one of the most realistic VR games ever made.

And… Being seen as one of the powerful players at this moment, it was only to be expected that Team ARES's players, specifically Pedro, Lony, and Talia, were seen as terrifying human beings capable of even fighting against elite soldiers in hand to hand combat.

That is why, not only were the audience amazed by their actions, their hearts were also filled with the desire to be as strong as them.

To become a freak of nature when it comes to combat.

To become someone who can do anything even with their eyes closed!

Thus, this made the hearts of the audience race, while their anticipation and excitement for the Press Conference grows at its peak.

In fact, some of the audience were even informing their acquaintances about the Press Conference and the previous match of Team ARES, and were even encouraging them to watch the said coverage.

And in that instant… Team ARES' Post Match Press Conference became the number one topic in the world.

"Can you guys start asking questions? I still have training to do!"  Talia shouted, instantly silencing the noise inside the Press Conference Area.

Everyone could only force out a smile as the atmosphere inside the hall becomes awkward.

Fortunately, it was broken by someone—who tapped Talia's shoulder.

"You are seating on my seat, sis…" A girl calmly said behind Talia.

Talia could not help but to glance behind her, to see who tapped her shoulder and, basically, told her to change seats at that moment.

It was no other than Sabrina, who had her eyes covered with one of her hands.

"I am seated next to Peds…" Sabrina explained.

Talia stole a glance at the names in front of them and saw that she was really seating on Sabrina's seat. She can't help but force out a smile before standing and saying, "Oh, Oh! Sorry elder sis! I wasn't able to notice the arrangement because I had my eyes closed when I sat."

"No problem…" Sabrina said as she sat beside Pedro. Then, she said to Talia, "You can just cover your eyes with your hands next time… Don't follow what these weirdos do! They just want to look cool in front of everyone."

"Ahehehe… No worries, elder sis! I'll keep that in mind! I was just distracted earlier by the flashes of the cameras, so I just reactively imitated what Expert Bro was doing!" Talia said whilst she was sitting down.

"At least… We looked cool earlier!" Pedro interjected before chuckling in response.

Sabrina simply ignored what he said. Then, she simply faked a cough before saying, "Shall we start the Press Conference?"