Player vs Player: Ultimate Video Game Mayhem

Convention

"Did you hear this is the first year the competition involves 1v1 rounds?" Calvin started.

"Just means Thing 1 and Thing 2 won't be able to carry you to victory anymore." TJ retorted. 

"You watch, TJ. We've been practicing a new tactic. Even in 1v1 you guys don't have a prayer." Calvin responded, trying to regain control of the conversation.

"Yeah? Who'd you steal this one from?" TJ questioned sarcastically.

"We're looking forward to facing you in the virtual battlefield." Sean interjected, quickly stepped between the two.

Calvin glared at TJ for a moment before smiling calmly at Sean, "See you out there, Gents." he said, walking back to his team.

"God he's such an asshole." Ryan muttered through a forced smile.

"Every time I see him I just want to-" TJ grumbled, cut off by Sean patting his shoulder.

"Everyone does TJ. Literally everyone." he said, "Just don't feed into it."

"The voice of reason strikes again." Ryan commented. "Where would we be without you?"

"Dead, jail, or in an old dumpster outside Mexico." Sean replied.

The three friends laughed quietly.

Pretty soon spectators began filing into the auditorium, filling the seats rather quickly.

The other teams took their places, getting organized or going over gameplay plans.

Then came the monitor flicking on, displaying the Valence Electronics Logo beside the competition's title.

Finally, a shorter man wearing a black T-shirt with a Valence logo print in bright purple strolled out onto the stage, a microphone in hand.

Almost everyone knew who he was, the room filling with chatter. Valence Electronics often brought in popular gaming icons to host the Tournament, some even showed up on their own.

This year, YouTube Celebrity Markiplier was chosen to host the competition, gladly agreeing.

"Everyone ready?" he asked the Teams.

After an affirmative response from everyone, he turned to the crowd and held up the mic, switching it on.

"Hello everybody! My name is Markiplier, and welcome back to the 6th annual Gridlock Gaming Tournament!" he announced, getting the spectators roaring in excitement.

"Tonight is the close of the Semi Finals round, meaning the winning team here will be moving on to the final round of the competition!"

"First match up, Triple S vs the Legioneers, in a Black Ops Capture the Flag team match!" he explained, motioning to the trio and one of the other teams.

The entire competition seemed to fly by. The three, team name Triple S, breezed through the opposing team with their trademark tactic.

TJ kept a long distance and used a sniper rifle to pick off opponents, Sean defended their flag, and Ryan used shortcuts in the map to skirt their defenses and snatch the flag.

With TJ's cover fire, he was able to return the flag to their base three times in a row, and Sean ensured the Legioneers never even got close the their flag.

With that round over, it was turned to the Puppet Masters, Calvin's team, and the FireBurst Squad, who stood no chance in the Titanfall 2 death match.

Calvin always knew where the opponents were, and always lucked into the best weapons. No shock there.

Then it was on to the 1v1 rounds.

"First up is a challenge even the most talented of gamers find impossible. So we picked the most skilled members of the two teams here today." Mark announced.

"TJ and Calvin will be dueling in the Mechanical Boss challenge in Terraria! This means they'll be facing not one, not two, but all three Mechanical bosses, with PRE hardmode gear!"

This was too easy. TJ had played through Terraria several times over. Plus, the odds were level.

There was no way Calvin could cheat his way to victory.

TJ selected his gear carefully, then the round began. All three Mechanical Monsters appeared at once.

Within a minute the Destroyer was gone, another minute and the Twins were gone.

Calvin was progressing fast, but he was playing too aggressively. His health was draining fast.

TJ got three of the four arms off Skeletron Prime, Calvin had all four destroyed.

Suddenly, the Mechanical Skull dashed at Calvin, completely obliterating him.

Calvin jumped up from his chair, stunned by what had happened.

TJ finished up the battle, winning the victory point for his team.

"Things have taken a turn, the Puppet Masters have to win this next round, or they'll be eliminated from the tournament!" Mark explained.

TJ exchanged celebratory hi fives with his friends, smirking at Calvin.

The spoiled teen was on the verge of a meltdown, and it was glorious.

"The faint of heart out there may want to leave now, cause next up is Ryan vs Logan in a Dark Deception S Rank race." Mark announced.

"Perfect. I got this." Ryan assured his friends.

"Looks like the level chosen is... Deadly Decadence!" Mark continued.

"Shit..." Ryan's confidence faltered.

Even the most experienced Dark Deception players struggled to S rank Deadly Decadence.

Ryan took a second to mentally prepare, recounting his tactics and shortcuts.

The hedge maze was a breeze, all he had to do was keep moving and remember where the spike traps were.

He cleared the maze section with ease, almost forgetting to go back for the secret on the far side of the maze.

"Looks like both players have cleared the Hedge Maze, now into the Manor!" Mark commentated.

The manor was the tricky part. A few times he almost got nailed by a spike trap, once he barely cleared the swinging blades in time.

The pressure was getting to him, he was making risky moves.

"A close call on that one Ryan, but now both players have cleared the Manor. Its a race to the finish!" Mark exclaimed, barely audible over the excited chattering of the spectators.

Ryan and Logan charged through the Garden, back down the stairs, Ryan missing a Goldwatcher by mere pixels.

Both hit the exit portal nearly simultaneously. Ryan leaned back in his chair, watching the large monitor as both their results were displayed.

Logan's score came up.

S, S, S, B, S, S. Total, A.

"Oh! Looks like Logan missed the hidden secret on the outside of the Hedge Maze." Mark reported, "Let's see Ryan's score."

S, S, S...... S!!!!!

The room exploded in cheers and shouts of excitement and celebration. Ryan fell backwards out of his chair.

"With this victory, Triple S has secured their win! They'll be moving on to the finals next week!!!!" Mark confirmed.

"Which also means that for the first time in Gridlock history, the Puppet Masters have been eliminated!!" he added.

TJ and Sean pulled Ryan up from the floor, the three friends group hugging and jumping around.

Months of stressful work had paid off. The competition didn't even matter anymore.

They beat Calvin at his own game.