Chapter 144: The Ghost Swallowing Coins
I found myself in this place unexpectedly...
Thanks to Yuki and Gunpei, it feels more like a public execution than a demonstration of Psych Force.
I glanced across, and the faces of the demonstrators who were just exchanging Laon Limited Edition items with me were now ablaze with excitement.
As I turned my head slightly, I observed them nodding to each other, unified after understanding the Psych Force system while waiting in the green room.
"This turned into a complete 6:2 handicap match! I spun the lever lightly a few times, taking a deep breath. After going through countless test plays, I can't afford to lose to beginners who've had a bit of practice. I gazed at the screen with a strange tension, softly smiling."
"Alright! With all the demonstrators ready, the broadcast for the first 8-player battle in Psych Force is about to begin."
"Wow!"
"Please, let's start quickly! I'm getting dizzy!"
Suddenly, people gathered around the demonstration board, leaning in and craning their necks. At that moment, the camera behind me swiveled, projecting the screen onto the projector hanging from the ceiling.
As the game screen appeared on the projector screen, everyone's gaze shifted upward.
"It's like a complete public execution..."
I chuckled lightly. Gunpei, who was watching me, shouted through the mic, "Oh, Kang Junhyuk seems to be showing a relaxed smile. It's like an invitation to come at him if you dare!"
"...,"
Darn it, I can't even smile freely.
I sighed softly and pressed the start button. Instantly, the 8 players seated all hit the start button simultaneously, connecting to the game.
"Well, I didn't explain the details of the event. Well, the format is simple. Among the players participating in the demonstration, the first to defeat either Mr. Ishikawa or Mr. Kang Junhyuk's characters will receive a one-year subscription to FammiCom."
"Wow, a subscription! But compared to the Pentagon, the prize seems a bit lackluster?"
To the users' mixed reactions, Gunpei approached me and asked, "Hey, what are you giving?"
"You, seriously, you make me look like this and now you're eyeing the prize too!?"
"Think of it as a favor. I'll write a good article. Thanks to this, the atmosphere is much livelier than a regular demonstration."
"Yeah, might as well take advantage of this situation."
I pondered briefly about the prize and whispered to Gunpei's ear. He gulped dryly, glancing at where the prizes were.
"Are... are you sure about this?"
"Of course. Do you think I'll lose?"
"... To others, maybe, but I'll definitely take you down, so hang in there until then."
"Sure, whatever."
Gunpei raised one corner of his mouth, tapping my shoulder and then shouted towards the crowd.
"Alright! Just now, Director Junhyuk offered a new gift to the demonstrators.
The prize for defeating him is...!!!!"
As the crowd's expectant eyes turned to him, Gunpei pointed towards a corner of the demonstration area where a Psych Force diorama was placed.
"Inside there, you can choose one character figure you desire!"
"Wowww!!!!!"
"Where's that? Let me join too!!!"
"Me too! Please, let me!!!"
"Ugh, jealous! I'm already envious of the Laon Limited Edition, and now figures if we take down the developer!!"
Gosh, using 'take down' sounds a bit extreme, doesn't it? But this should draw the aggro of the remaining 6.
I used the mirror on the wall again to look at the opposite side. They all wore excited expressions.
"Alright, the prize is set. It seems like everyone's targeting Junhyuk, from the start?"
"Yeah, intentionally went big for that."
Nodding at Yuki's question, I selected a character resembling Ryu Hwayoung named "Hwin."
She had complex controls but possessed the most diverse combo skills using elemental bullets.
Yuki chose the character among the 8 with the highest health, a muscular man named "Potenking."
The opening sequence transitioned, displaying Hwin mounting a motorcycle for deployment.
The camera angles highlighting her firm thighs through animation made the audience gasp when it panned around her 360 degrees.
"Wow... the quality is amazing!"
As Hwin was speeding through the city, a crimson laser shot from somewhere. She propelled her motorcycle, leaping up, kicking off a lamppost on the roadside, and soared into the sky.
And at that moment, right in front of Hwin, the character boasting the fastest speed among the characters, Sakura the female ninja, appeared.
"Yuki's Potenking, and this one is my opponent!"
Without any hesitation, I pushed the lever forward twice, dashing towards Sakura.
"Wait, is that the actual gameplay screen? It's like a complete animation!"
The audience marveled at the smooth motions of Hwin, imbued with the soul of Morita, the dot art craftsman.
Sure, I'll assist with that! Here's the revised chapter:
---
Suddenly finding myself in this situation...
Thanks to Yuki and Gunpei, it feels more like a public execution than a Psych Force demonstration!
Glancing to the other side, where moments ago we were happily exchanging Laon Limited Editions, flames flickered in the eyes of the demonstrators.
During the event, as they familiarized themselves with the Psych Force system in the green room, they silently nodded in unison, all facing each other with a shared determination.
"This turned into a 6:2 handicap match! I rotated the lever lightly a few times, taking a deep breath. After testing the gameplay thoroughly, I can't afford to lose to beginners I've practiced against. I gazed at the screen with a strange tension, smiling softly.
"Alright! With all the demonstrators' preparations complete, the live broadcast for the first 8-player duel in Psych Force will now begin!"
"Wowww!"
"Can we proceed faster? I'm getting dizzy!"
Suddenly, the crowd gathered around the demonstration board was pressing closer, craning their necks toward it. At that moment, the camera behind me swiveled, projecting the screen onto the projector hanging from the ceiling.
As the game screen appeared on the projector screen hanging from the ceiling, everyone's attention shot upwards.
"It's like a complete public execution..."
As I chuckled softly, Gunpei, watching me, shouted through the mic, "Ah, Kang Junhyuk is showing a relaxed smile. Looks like an invitation to challenge him!"
"... "
Darn it, can't even laugh on my own terms...
I sighed softly and pressed the start button. Simultaneously, the eight players seated all hit the start button, logging into the game.
"Well, I forgot to explain the detailed event content. Well, the format is simple. Among the players participating in the demonstration, the first to defeat either Mr. Ishikawa or Mr. Kang Junhyuk's character will receive a one-year subscription to FamiCom Communication."
"Wow~ A subscription! But compared to the Pentagon, the prize seems a bit lackluster, doesn't it?"
At the users' lukewarm reactions, Gunpei approached me and asked, "Hey, not giving anything?"
"You, really, trying to take gifts after putting me in this state!?"
"Think of it as a service. I'll write a good article about it. Thanks to this, the atmosphere is way more exciting than a regular demo."
"Yeah. Since it's turned out like this, might as well dive in and stir things up."
As I briefly mulled over the prize, I whispered to Gunpei's ear, prompting him to glance subtly towards where the prizes were.
"Is... is it okay?"
"Of course. Do you think I'd lose?"
"... Other people might not know, but I'll definitely get rid of you, so stay alive until then..."
"Sure thing."
Gunpei raised one side of his mouth, patting my shoulder and then loudly addressing the crowd.
"Well~ Just now, Director Junhyuk offered a new gift to the demonstrators!
The prize for defeating him is...!!"
As the audience's expectant eyes turned towards him, Gunpei pointed towards the Psych Force diorama in one corner of the exhibition hall.
"Inside there, you can pick any character figure you want!!"
"Wowwww!"
"Wow!! Where is that? Let me join too!!!"
"Me too!! Please, me too~!!!"
"Sob, I envy you! I envy even the Laon Limited Edition, but now figures if we defeat developers!!"
Phew... Even though it sounds weird to say 'defeat', it should lure the remaining six to target me properly, right?
Glancing again at the opposite side through the mirror hung on the wall, everyone wore expressions brimming with excitement.
"Alright, the prize is decided. The player who defeats Junhyuk will get the Psych Force figure, and the one who defeats Yuki will get FamiCom's subscription."
"Somehow feels like everyone's going to aim for Junhyuk from the start?"
"Yeah. That's why we purposely offered a big prize."
Answering Yuki's question, I nodded while selecting a character resembling Ryu Hwayoung from the character selection screen—'Whirlwind.'
Although she's tricky to maneuver, she possesses the most diverse combo skills using elemental bullets.
Yuki chose a muscular man with the most health among the eight characters.
Potenking, showcasing his powerful strength by single-handedly supporting collapsing buildings in the opening video, reminded one of a heavy armored vehicle.
"Does Yuki secretly have a macho preference?"
Soon after everyone finished choosing their characters, the screen transitioned to an action video of Whirlwind mounting a motorbike.
As the camera angle showcased her sturdy thighs using animation, the crowd watching couldn't help but exclaim in awe when it panned around her 360 degrees.
"Wow... The quality is amazing, isn't it?"
Gradually, as Whirlwind dashed through the city, a crimson laser shot toward her from somewhere. Leaping off the motorcycle, she propelled herself up by kicking off a street lamp, soaring into the sky.
And at that moment, just smoothly blending into the cityscape, appeared Sakura, the fastest among the characters, displaying her skill as a female ninja.
'Since Yuki chose Potenking, this one's an opponent!'
Instantly, without hesitation, I pushed the lever forward twice to execute a dash toward Sakura.
"What's that? Is that the actual gameplay? It's like a full animation!"
The crowd marveled at the fluid motion of Whirlwind, a character crafted with the soul of dot art master Morita.
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