Friday 7 April 1997.
Zaboru was now inside the towering ZAGE headquarters, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. All around him, dozens of ZAGE employees were engrossed in LAN matches of Counter-Strike, and not just any mode—they were playing a custom game mode called "EXPANSION." This unique mode was created by Zaboru himself, designed as a massive-scale mod capable of hosting up to 70 players simultaneously. The maps were gigantic, filled with vast urban sprawl, dense forests, and complex industrial zones, pushing the limits of what multiplayer gaming could be in 1997. These maps were intentionally built to stress-test the LAN network capabilities of Counter-Strike, making the ZAGE Tower the only place currently able to run the EXPANSION mode effectively.
Each employee's workstation was outfitted with top-of-the-line PCs capable of running the mode at full performance. good monitors, good keyboards, good mice, and surround-sound headsets were standard issues. Despite the high-level gear and enthusiastic participation, no one could come close to challenging Zaboru's dominance in the game.
Zaboru himself was not just participating—he was dominating. Using the powerful Magnum sniper rifle, his aim was shockingly precise, his reaction time lightning-fast. In an eight-minute deathmatch round, he racked up an astonishing 80 kills while dying only twice. His movements were surgical, his map awareness next-level, and his adaptability with other weapons equally terrifying. Whether he switched to an SMG or a shotgun, he played with the same unreal precision. His positioning was masterful—always catching opponents off guard, always one step ahead. Even the most skilled ZAGE developers couldn't keep up.
Everyone in the room recognized that Zaboru wasn't just a visionary game developer; he was also a mechanical monster behind the keyboard. His reputation inside ZAGE as both the company's leader and its fiercest gamer had just reached mythical status.
Hideo Kojima let out a long sigh, leaning back in his chair. He wasn't doing terribly himself—he had racked up 22 kills and died 8 times—but compared to Zaboru's performance, it felt like a different league. With a shake of his head, he muttered, "Damn, as expected, our boss is insanely good."
Yugo, who had a higher kill count with 29 kills but also a higher death rate at 14, chimed in enthusiastically, "Obviously, our boss is on another level! I really want to see him play live again—it's like watching a damn legend." He had been completely mesmerized by Zaboru's sniper play—the rapid quick-scopes, the perfect headshots, and the seamless switch to a knife after headshot and repeat of its insane play. Inspired, Yugo had tried to mimic Zaboru's style, but found it frustratingly difficult to replicate. Still, he kept trying with relentless determination.
Nearby, Zanichi exhaled quietly and glanced at his stats. He had a modest 15 kills but only 5 deaths. With a wry smile, he muttered, "I'm too old for this kind of reflex-based chaos." Kojima grinned and replied with a lighthearted jab, "Don't say that, Zanichi-san! Your awareness is on another level—you've got the brain of a general."
Yugo, never one to hold back, added with a laugh, "Zanichi-san, you're playing way too safe! You're camping in corners like it's a survival game!"
Everyone burst into chuckles, the tension from the match melting into shared camaraderie. For a moment, it wasn't about the scoreboards or the kill counts—it was about the fun, the friendship, and the shared respect for how damn good their boss really was.
After the excitement of the match, Zaboru let out a hearty chuckle and walked over to the group still gathered around their PCs playing Counter-Strike. With a sly grin, he asked, "Ready your teams, guys?" He chuckled again, clearly energized by the atmosphere. Because yesterday he give bold announcement: Zaboru would organize a mini-tournament between five internal development squads within ZAGE. The teams were NOVA, IZAN, NIWA, Tempest, and Enigma. Of these, three teams were based in Japan and two came from ZAGE's US offices.
This wasn't just for fun—Zaboru also had another motive. He wanted to assess how well their systems could handle an international online tournament, using the LAN infrastructure and network technologies available in 1997. It was a test of both gameplay coordination and network capability
Yugo responded enthusiastically, "Yes, boss! We're ready! And we already have our five players lined up for Team NOVA!" He grinned and added, "It's me, Hideo, Zanichi-san, Yumiko Kojiyuki, and Daichi Sumeda."
Zaboru chuckled and nodded in approval. Team NOVA was looking strong—especially with Yumiko onboard. She wasn't just a talented developer; she was also a skilled gamer, well-known within ZAGE for her sharp reflexes and smart plays. Her presence on the team added another layer of respect and excitement.
Team IZAN let out a round of laughter, clearly enjoying the moment. Shigeru Miyamoto stepped forward with a humble smile and said, "Well, for Team IZAN, I won't be playing—I'm a terrible shot, boss—but these are our players: Satoru Iwata, Eiji Aonuma, Kushio Waku, Izuki Wataru, and Ushio Watanabe."
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully. This lineup had solid potential the team was bound to bring a strong strategic game to the field.
Then, representing Team NIWA, Shinji Mikami stepped forward and said, "Boss, for Team NIWA, it's me—Shinji Mikami—along with Shinji Owara, Shinji Suyoiko, Uwabara Togami, and Tatsu Oga."
Zaboru chuckled at the amusing coincidence. "Heh, triple Shinji? Interesting," he said with a grin, clearly entertained by the quirky lineup.
To finalize the U.S. teams, Zaboru made a quick call to Gabe Newell to confirm the rosters. For Team Tempest, the five members would be Gabe Newell, John Carmack, Peter Wayne, Samuel Nelson, and Lucian Fred. As for Team Enigma, the lineup would include John Romero, Sid Meier, Davide Santiago, Bryan Jackson, and Jack Wallace.
With the teams now locked in, Zaboru smiled, feeling the anticipation build. He laid out the rules for the upcoming tournament: each team would face one another in a Bomb Match format. Matches would consist of up to six rounds, and the team that won the most rounds would be declared the winner. In the event of a 3-3 tie, a final sudden-death round would decide the victor. The team matchups for the tournament were arranged as follows:
TEAM NOVA VS TEAM IZAN
TEAM NIWA VS TEAM TEMPEST
TEAM ENIGMA VS TEAM NOVA
TEAM IZAN VS TEAM NIWA
TEAM TEMPEST VS TEAM ENIGMA
TEAM NOVA VS TEAM NIWA
TEAM NIWA VS TEAM ENIGMA
TEAM TEMPEST VS TEAM IZAN
TEAM NOVA VS TEMPEST
TEAM ENIGMA VS TEAM IZAN
The tournament followed a league-based system: each win earned a team 1 point, while each loss subtracted a point. Since draws were not possible in the Bomb Match format, every round carried significant weight.
Zaboru grinned, energized by the competitive energy in the room. He addressed the entire office with a booming voice, "Any team that wins will receive generous rewards—seriously good stuff! And every player on the winning team will get their own special prize, too!"
He let out a hearty chuckle. The room erupted in cheers and murmurs of excitement. With anticipation at its peak, the tournament kicked off immediately.
The match between Team NOVA and Team IZAN officially kicked off, and anticipation was thick in the air. Zanichi stepped up as the leader for Team NOVA, taking charge of coordinating the team's efforts. For Team IZAN, Satoru Iwata was named captain, and his main role was to devise and deliver strategies to his teammates before the round began—just as Zaboru had instructed all the captains to do.
Zanichi let out a deep breath and addressed his team calmly. "Alright guys, we're starting as the Counter-Terrorists. That means our primary objective is to survive and defuse the bomb—but we can also win by eliminating the Terrorist team entirely. That second option is risky, so here's the plan: Hideo, Yumiko, and Daichi, you'll come with me. We'll move together as a unit, but keep a bit of distance between each other to avoid getting wiped out by grenades or surprise attacks."
He then turned toward Yugo with a slight grin. "Yugo, follow us at first, but if you see an opportunity to do your thing, go for it."
Zanichi understood Yugo's playstyle well—unpredictable, aggressive, and hard to pin down. Trying to force him into a structured plan would likely do more harm than good. It was better to let Yugo act as the team's wild card, causing chaos on his own terms. Zanichi's trust in that chaos could make all the difference.
The match began with Satoru Iwata implementing a classic 3-2 split strategy—dividing his team into two groups, one of three and one of two. The map selected for the match was Dust, a tight and tactical environment perfect for ambushes and flanking maneuvers. As the round progressed, Zanichi led Team NOVA forward with methodical caution, keeping everyone alert and in sync.
However, after a few tense minutes, Yugo began to peel away from the formation, wandering off on his own. True to his unpredictable style, he ventured into enemy territory solo—and unexpectedly ran into the group of three IZAN players. In a shocking burst of skill, Yugo managed to take down two of them before finally being eliminated. His sacrifice tilted the odds in NOVA's favor, shaking up Team IZAN's formation and giving his team a real shot at winning the round.
Now, with four players remaining on Team NOVA and only three on Team IZAN, Zanichi took command once more. "Alright, the three of you push forward and explore the area together. I'll stay back and hold this spot—just in case the bomb situation goes sideways," he instructed calmly. The NOVA players nodded in unison and began moving through the map as a unit.
Soon enough, the trio from Team NOVA encountered Team IZAN. A firefight erupted. In the chaos, Team NOVA lost all three of their advancing players. On the other side, Team IZAN lost two, leaving only their captain, Satoru Iwata, alive. Iwata took a deep breath, scanning the terrain carefully. "Where's the last one…?" he murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing.
Meanwhile, hidden near the bomb site, Zanichi remained perfectly still. He had anticipated Iwata's movement and set up a perfect ambush. As soon as Iwata stepped through the doorway—BAM! A single, sharp headshot rang out. Zanichi's timing was flawless. Team NOVA had just won the first round by the thinnest margin, thanks to pure calculation and patience.
The match continues in the end Team Nova are won 4-1 the only times he loses are because Yugo is messed up he quickly gets killed easily.
Team NOVA dominated impressively in their first two matches, crushing both Team IZAN and Team Enigma with identical scores of 4-1. Much of their success was credited to Yugo, whose aggressive and unpredictable playstyle overwhelmed the opposition. His individual performance carried the team through some tight rounds, turning the tide in their favor again and again.
However, just when it seemed like Team NOVA would sweep the tournament undefeated, a twist came in their final match against Team Tempest. In a surprising turn of events, Team NOVA suffered a loss, shattering their perfect record. Despite the setback, their previous victories secured them the top spot in the standings. When the points were tallied, Team NOVA finished the tournament with a total of 3 points, claiming first place overall.
Also overall are like this
TEAM NOVA VS TEAM IZAN (Nova Win)
TEAM NIWA VS TEAM TEMPEST (NIWA Win)
TEAM ENIGMA VS TEAM NOVA (Nova Win)
TEAM IZAN VS TEAM NIWA (Niwa Win)
TEAM TEMPEST VS TEAM ENIGMA (Enigma Win)
TEAM NOVA VS TEAM NIWA (Nova Win)
TEAM NIWA VS TEAM ENIGMA (Enigma Win)
TEAM TEMPEST VS TEAM IZAN (Izan Win)
TEAM NOVA VS TEMPEST (Tempest Win)
TEAM ENIGMA VS TEAM IZAN (Izan Wins)
And clasment are like this
Team Nova 3 points
Team Tempest 1 Points
Team NIWA 2 Points
Team Enigma 2 points
Team IZAN 2 Points.
Zaboru Yugo Kanai became the standout player of the entire mini-tournament, earning widespread recognition for his phenomenal performance. He racked up a staggering total of 52 kills while only dying 11 times—a ratio that stunned even the most seasoned players. But it wasn't just the numbers that made Yugo's performance legendary; it was the style and chaos he brought to every round. His solo plays became the talk of the tournament, especially one unforgettable moment captured in a montage where he single-handedly eliminated every member of the opposing team. That clip alone had players across ZAGE replaying it in awe, cementing his reputation as not just a top performer, but a true force of nature in the game.
Zaboru smiled warmly and stepped forward, handing Team NOVA a special gift—a free meal voucher for one visit to the ZAGE Tavern, with the entire menu available at no cost. The announcement sparked cheers not just from the team, but from employees across the room. The ZAGE Tavern was renowned for its top-tier cuisine and sky-high prices, making the free meal a highly coveted reward.
But Zaboru wasn't finished. With a proud nod, he also handed each member of Team NOVA a cash bonus of 20,000 yen. The players' eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. Then, turning to Yugo with a grin, Zaboru gave him an additional 5,000 yen, recognizing him as the tournament's best player. The room erupted in applause as Yugo humbly accepted the bonus, grinning ear to ear. The players were ecstatic, and the employees watching shared in the joy. It wasn't just about the money—it was about the recognition, the camaraderie, and the spirit of gaming that brought them all together.
Overall Counter Strike is able to host a proper tournament this year and ZAGE will be ready to host it.
Meanwhile after this events Zaboru is pissed with Sonaya for certain reasons.
To be continue
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