Extra's Ascent

A well-earned break with the boys, wasn't that the plan?

Aldrich, Dante, and Trevor had finally stepped beyond the walls of the institute, away from the stifling routines, exams, and relentless pressure. Out here, surrounded by the buzzing city and the occasional scent of grilled street food, they sought liberation. And where had they ended up to get it?

An arcade.

Not exactly the wild expedition one might expect, but it was loud, chaotic, and bursting with life, a haven where fantasy reigned supreme and stress melted away in pixels and neon lights.

Games lined every wall, from simulators and shooters to sports and puzzles. They tackled it all, from the immersive football challenge to the intense racing duels. But no matter the game, the result remained painfully consistent.

Dante dominated.

He crushed the football section. Claimed victory in racing. Wiped the floor in every shooting booth. Reflex games? Done. Dance pads? Don't even ask.

"You cheat! You absolute, inhuman cheat!" Trevor blurted, his voice shrill with disbelief, eyes narrowed in exaggerated fury.

Trevor had drawn the short end of the stick. Their agreement was simple: the loser paid for the outing. And Trevor? He hadn't just lost, he had been obliterated. While Dante danced in first place across the board, Aldrich floated securely in second, leaving Trevor to wallow at the bottom.

Turning to Aldrich, Trevor pleaded with a look, hoping for shared indignation or at least a few words of consolation.

But Aldrich just sighed and gave him that pitiful, knowing glance between half sympathy, half resignation.

He already understood. Dante was simply built different, gifted. A natural in almost everything he touched. Aldrich had experienced the brunt of that talent firsthand, enough times to stop questioning it. Dante wasn't just good at games; he was exceptional. Always the brightest in the room, always the one who stood out, whether in combat drills, academics, or now... at the arcade.

Trevor, unfortunately, had never witnessed Dante's gaming prowess before today. So his disbelief, while comical, was understandable.

"What should we play next?!" Dante asked, brimming with excitement, his grin wide and sincere.

Aldrich shrugged. "You two dragged me out here, so I'm just along for the ride. You decide."

"In that case," Dante said, practically bouncing on his heels, "I propose a new challenge. We head to a sporting center. Same rule applies, loser foots the bill."

"No. Absolutely not." Trevor shut that down instantly, hands raised as if to ward off a demon.

He wasn't falling for that again. It was déjà vu, the same smooth suggestion, the same enthusiasm, the same disastrous result. Trevor had been duped once, and he wasn't about to make the same mistake twice. He prided himself on being a quick learner.

"You picked this place, so I get to choose the next activity. Fair's fair."

This time, Trevor intended to play it smart. He would steer Dante out of his comfort zone and into Trevor's own domain. Somewhere he held the upper hand. A chance to reclaim his pride and maybe even his wallet.

"Fine by me," Dante replied easily, not a trace of concern in his voice. "As long as it's fun."

That relaxed response immediately made Trevor suspicious. Was Dante playing some deeper game? Was he aware of Trevor's plan?

No matter. Trevor reassured himself 'This is my chance. I've got nothing left to lose.'

Wrong.

Trevor had been confident, no, certainthat chess would be his redemption. It was his game, his battlefield. He'd trained for it, spent years refining strategies and mastering patterns. He even envisioned himself finally getting one over Dante, picturing a triumphant grin as he announced checkmate.

But reality? It laughed in his face.

Dante not only won, he obliterated him.

Trevor didn't just lose, he was dismantled, move by move, reduced from master to amateur under Dante's relentless assault. It wasn't even close. And the worst part? Dante remained humble throughout, as if he hadn't just committed chess homicide in broad daylight.

Even Aldrich, who had long grown used to Dante's genius, was taken aback. Watching someone like Trevor, a practiced and passionate player be reduced to fumbling confusion in a matter of minutes made one thing brutally clear:

Dante was unfair.

A person like him, so effortlessly talented in everything he did, was a constant reminder of just how wide the gap could be between potential and perfection. And the more one tried to reach his level, the more glaringly obvious it became that he stood somewhere untouchable.

Though Trevor did manage to secure second place this time, edging out Aldrich, it didn't bring the satisfaction he'd hoped for. It felt hollow, like winning the silver medal in a race where the gold medalist finished ten laps ahead.

"What else is there to do?" Dante asked cheerfully, as if he hadn't just emotionally ruined Trevor for the second time in an hour.

The three of them now stood just outside the arcade, bathed in the golden glow of a waning sun. The city buzzed around them, but none of it reached the heavy silence between them as they contemplated the next move.

"If whatever we do next involves the loser paying again, count me out," Trevor declared dramatically, arms crossed. "With my full chest and oversized ego, I hereby remove myself from any such wager."

He'd reached his limit. No more games, no more bets. Dante's talent wasn't just unfair, it was demoralizing. And Trevor? He'd come to terms with the bitter truth. He simply couldn't win.

"How about archery?" Aldrich said suddenly, his voice calm but eyes sharp.

Trevor turned to him, puzzled. Dante raised a curious brow.

Aldrich had his reasons. He'd watched Dante excel time and time again, often without trying. But this, this was different. Archery was Aldrich's realm, in his past life, it was a skill he had honed with deliberate effort, blood, sweat, and countless hours of practice. It wasn't just a hobby, it was a craft he had grown into.

Now he wanted to see if effort could truly match or even surpass natural talent.

"Archery, huh?" Dante mused, a flicker of amusement dancing in his gaze. "Sure, I don't see why not?"

He smiled, showing an interest.