The Experience

He checks the links in his armor, and the intricacies of his chain mail. His gloves fit snugly, his knuckles capped by iron protrusions. He grips his shield, feeling its weight and balance. No turning back now. The animal mustn’t get loose too soon, else the proverbial shit would hit the fan big time. He pulls the hunting knife out of its sheath, reveling in its metallic tang and incandescent shine. Now, it must taste blood. The blood of monsters. The gates open, and he steps into the light.

He approaches the animal, his heart pounding in its place. His temples his very own boom-box. The roar from the spectators suddenly breaks into his zone. He pauses, soaking in the atmosphere, relishing his moment in the spotlight. The smells around him full of dust and iron. He stares at his opponent in the eyes, and shouts, “RELEASE HIM!”

The 3-tonned beast, upon feeling the slack in his moorings, jerks forward and breaks the last screws holding him in his place. He instinctively knew that the creature before him has to die. He hasn’t been fed in days, and his bloodlust is strong. He rushes forth, his muscles rippling under his scaly skin. He retracts his spikes to make then stand on ends. He roars, instilling fear in the heart of his prey. If he could, he would have smiled.

The warrior stands his ground, analyzing the creature’s movements and approach. The rumbling mass thundering towards him was fluid and graceful for its size. This, finally, is a worthy opponent. The rage could be felt from across the arena. The crowd bursts into further ecstasy as they anticipate the action that is to occur. All he could focus on was the beast, and the Royal pit. The King, way past his heyday, looks on solemnly on the proceedings, having seen many before. Behind him, the princess looks on in admiration. “Time to put on a good show, I suppose.” The warrior says to himself. He nods and his face plate drops.

The beast reaches his prey with the full force and attempts to gore the pitiful two-legged freak in the torso with his jade tusk. The absence of resistance tells him he missed, and he trashes about immediately, instinct taking over. He sniffs and detects the being to his right, rolling in the sand. A hit. And now the kill.

The warrior moves with the momentum, spins and kicks himself up. A lucky shot, a smart beast, almost. Before the beast turns, he throws his shield to his right, and spins the knife in his hand, holding the blade and pulling back his arm. The beast’s focus follows the shield as it turns, exposing his side. The warrior aims, and fires the knife, hitting the beast squarely in the right eye. The crowd goes wild.

He walks to the beast, and leaps ever so easily onto its back. It lurches and attempts to throw the warrior off. It tries to maneuver its spikes to pierce his victim. In desperation, he too rolls in the dust. The warrior’s lightning quick reflexes prevents him from a crushing death as he leaps off the animal. He was finally feeling challenged. As he was about to land, a spike pierces his left shin, and goes right through the armor. He is stuck, and he is brought up into midair, like a prize for the beast. His invincibility falters as he is disgracefully paraded in the middle of the arena. The crowd boos, and his pride is smashed. He feels the beast beginning another roll……

“End program.”

He opens his eyes, a twisted knot on his forehead.
“I lost again,” he says to himself. He peels off the remote lenses from his cornea, and mentally commands the nanites to remove the skinsuit around him. He feels the particles fall to the ground, reabsorbed into his room-sphere.

He has been trying this scenario for the past week, unsuccessfully. He recalls the package he bought from the Immersion Engine, and the prize at the end. A violent treat, with experiences enough to tingle the most blaise senses. The goal of course was the clincher, a simulated night with the nymphet of a princess, based upon the form of the most celebrated inter-planetary idol this past fortnight.

Tomorrow, I shall purchase the psychic cheats. No way the beast would be able to beat it.