After everyone was ready, Moon's phone rang with an alert:
To Moonlight squad
We hope you are all prepared, but since there are only four of you, we have prepared a fifth person for you: a VAIIYA Cyber Security Officer, Lights class. We hope this will be useful to your team.
From MultiCo
Then Seni and Big G went upstairs to get ready, leaving only Ares and Moon. Ares was about to walk to her room when Moon gently grabbed her arm and asked her something.
Moon : Are you sure you can handle it? You've already been through such a big thing. I don't want you to go through anything like that again.
Ares : You're talking as if I'm a little kid. I'm 23, not a child anymore. I can take care of myself.
Moon : That's exactly what I'm worried about. You're very important to me.
Then she stared at him, her face flushed from what he had said.
Ares: Y-you idiot! You talked as if I were your girlfriend or something! I'm not interested! -/////-
Moon : But there's still a chance, huh? ^_^
She didn't say anything and then ran away, still embarrassed. He just watched her go and chuckled slightly. After that, all four of them put on their VR headsets and entered the world of the Finals.
At SYS$HORIZON
Normally, contestant would go to the Backstage room to prepare, but this time, due to an emergency situation, the contestant will immediately appear on the field to await the countdown. During the prerace period, the contestant could prepare. Meanwhile, security personnel from VAIIYA were already waiting for them. He greeted the four of them.
Employee: Good morning, everyone. Today I'm here as the fifth representative to assist your teams.
Ares: Is that so? If I were to ask about the CNS, what do you know about them?
Employee: No, I can't disclose all the information about them. Let's just say they're an anonymous hacker group trying to hack the game. I only have information about the details of the Terminal Attack competition. Anything deeper than that, even if I knew, I couldn't reveal. It must remain confidential.
Moon: You're asking for help from others but acting so suspiciously, who would believe you? You only said that much?
Employee: We've been working hard to fix the system, to resolve issues we didn't even create. Please understand that. Now, let me explain the Terminal Attack.
Terminal Attack mode is a 5 vs 5 turn-based game where players attack and defend in turns. Players take turns sending decryption keys to the terminal. The attacking team's objective is to successfully decrypt the terminal, while the defending team must successfully defend it using any method possible. However, due to the current emergency situation, there will only be one round of competition. Our side will be the defender, and their side will be the attacker. Our side might be at a slight disadvantage due to the location, but I'm confident that everyone's skills will allow us to win.
Seni: To be honest, we know... (Then Big G covers her mouth)
Big G: Nothing. Please continue.
Moon: (Are you crazy, Seni? How can I tell them what we found? Ares will be in trouble!) //He whispers.
Seni: (That's right, I forgot!) //She whispers back.
Moon: Nothing. Then explain what we need to do next. (He smiles to cover his embarrassment.)
The employee just stared at them, narrowing his eyes as if questioning the three of them, but he didn't think much of it and continued explaining.
Employee: Okay, let's continue. Our group is a bit unlucky; we randomly got a new field that the CNS brought in. We haven't even explored it yet to see what it's like. Anyway, we'll have to go with the flow and use the techniques we have to defend ourselves.
Then the four of them met to prepare and discuss what to do next. Seni was choosing equipment, Big G was checking his Lewis gun, Moon was deciding whether to take a R.357 or Riot Shield and Ares could only watch, gripping her FCAR tightly.
Moon: Ares, are you alright? Still thinking about that?
Ares: A little, I guess. But don't worry about me. Worry about what's going to happen next.
Seni: But how are we going to defend against them? Even though we know the field somewhat, do we have a plan?
Ares: I have a plan.
The countdown was near. All five prepared themselves and stood on the ground floor of the gallery building. Then the countdown began: 5...4...3...2...1 Game start!!!!!
Without hesitation, the five rushed up according to the indicator displayed. Two points appeared, A and B; they had to choose which way to go. But Ares proposed a plan to them.
Ares: How about we split up? We don't know which way they'll come from. Three of you go to A, that's probably where bomb-planting gamers like to go. The other two go to B as a backup. If one side gets there first, we can report to each other. Okay, Big G, Seni, Moon go to position A, Me and the other person will go to B.
Moon: But won't you be alright?
Ares: I chose that so that when we reinforce, we can shoot them from behind in time.
Moon: Okay, but if anything happens, you have to tell us.
Ares: I know.
Then everyone followed her plan. The three of them went to point A, while Ares and the other employee went to point B. Upon reaching their locations, everyone began defending their bases. Big G threw a Goo Grenade to block the exit in the room with the strange statue in the center. Seni went up another floor to destroy the zip line that allowed access from the lower to the top floor. Moon set up a turret at the corner of the room.
On Ares' side, she chose to observe and placed proximity sensors at points where she thought the attackers would come, while instructing another person to go to a high vantage point to watch for anyone approaching. During this time, everything was silent, with only the sounds within the arena like computer noises and unintelligible whispers. Under pressure, Team Moonlight was no different from the other teams fighting; everyone's stakes were in this competition.