Chapter 181: Oopsie. The Plan Backfired!
Hugo's hands were clammy, the controller slick with sweat as he stared at the screen with wide, disbelieving eyes.
His whole body was tense, and his heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest.
The score on the screen was a cruel mockery of his efforts: 3-2, and not in his favor. He was losing.
'Fifty mastery points!' he screamed internally. 'I spent fifty mastery points! That's like… a fortune in gaming terms! And I'm still losing?!'
His teeth ground together as he stared at Loli, who sat serenely on the couch, her legs tucked under her, looking like a gaming goddess descended to punish mere mortals.
'No, she's not human,' Hugo decided, his thoughts spiraling. 'She's a reincarnated gaming god, summoned to this earth to humble fools like me! I mean, who else can pull off these moves?!'
He shivered at the memory of her last goal, where she'd practically broken the laws of physics to make the shot.
"Half-time," Loli said, setting down her controller and grabbing a bottle of water. She took a long sip, then looked at him with a sly smile.
"You're pretty good, Hugo. You actually made me sweat."
Hugo froze, staring at her like she'd grown a second head. 'Made her sweat?' he thought bitterly.
'What kind of hellish skill level does she have if this is her sweating?' But he managed a weak smile and nodded, his ego too bruised to respond with anything snarky.
Grabbing a pack of cookies, he tore it open like a man possessed and stuffed one into his mouth.
The sugary sweetness was the only thing keeping him from screaming. "Where's the bathroom?" he asked through a mouthful of crumbs.
"Down the hall, first door on the left," Loli replied, raising an eyebrow at his sudden urgency.
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Hugo bolted.
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In the bathroom, Hugo turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on his face. He gripped the edges of the sink and stared at his dripping reflection in the mirror, his mind a whirlwind of frustration and panic.
"I can't lose," he muttered, glaring at himself. "I absolutely cannot lose! Why did I make that stupid bet?! 'Oh, let's have a dare, Loli! If I lose, I'll wear a tutu!' What was I thinking?! I don't even own a tutu!" He slapped his forehead and groaned.
Then Sanchez's voice echoed in his mind, the annoying voice of reason. 'A man keeps his promises, Hugo. Especially to a woman. You break your word, you lose respect. Forever.'
"Damn you, Sanchez!" Hugo whispered fiercely, shaking his fist at the air.
"Why'd you have to be right?! If I lose, I'll have to wear that stupid tutu. In public! Oh, the horror!"
His mind flashed to an image of himself prancing down the street in a bright pink tutu while everyone pointed and laughed.
Hugo's expression twisted into something crazed. "This is all her fault!" he hissed, his eyes narrowing.
"She's forced my hand. I didn't want to do this, but now…" He straightened up, determination blazing in his eyes. "System! Use 20 more mastery points to raise my gaming mastery to 70!"
He had decided. He was pulling out the big guns! He couldn't afford to take an L at this time!
The surge of knowledge hit him like a freight train. His vision blurred, and his head throbbed with unbearable pain as wave after wave of gaming expertise poured into his brain.
Every trick, every strategy, every cheat code—it was all burned into his mind in an instant. His fingers twitched involuntarily, and he slumped against the sink, panting heavily.
When the pain finally subsided, Hugo straightened up, his breathing slow and steady.
He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through him. The power of knowledge. "Let's do this," he muttered, walking out of the bathroom like a man on a mission.
---
Back in the living room, Loli was lounging on the couch, nibbling on a chocolate bar. She looked up as Hugo walked in, her gaze curious. "Took you long enough," she teased.
Hugo smiled—a slow, confident smile that sent a shiver down her spine. He sauntered over, his movements deliberate, activating his aura of alpha.
His demeanor became more confident, exuding an absurd amount of masculinity and finesse.
As he reached her, he leaned down, his face inches from hers.
"W-What are you doing?" Loli stammered, her cheeks turning pink as she leaned back instinctively.
Hugo's smirk deepened, and he leaned even closer, their lips almost touching. Loli froze, her breath hitching. Her warm breath brushed against his lips and his eyes started directly into hers.
But just as their lips were about to meet, Hugo shifted slightly and leaned into her neck.
His lips brushed her skin, and he suckled gently, sending an electric jolt through her body. Loli gasped, trembling under his touch.
Then Hugo pulled back, licking his lips with a satisfied smirk. "You had a bit of chocolate right there," he said casually.
Did she really?
Bah! Of course not! Who cared if she did! She couldn't see her neck now, could she?
Loli stared at him, her eyes wide and her face flushed. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Her body still tingled from the unexpected sensation.
Hugo straightened up, his evil smile growing. 'Two can play at the distraction game, Loli,' he thought smugly. 'It's not only you who can mess with someone's head.'
If he can make her enter a flustered state, her mind would be split and her performance would take a hit. He was playing dirty here, but he didn't care.
But his victory was short lived.
Loli's eyes narrowed, and she gave him a sharp look. "You dare to tease me?" she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I was planning to go easy on you, but now… now I'm going all out!"
Hugo's confident smirk vanished in an instant. 'Oh no,' he thought, his stomach dropping. 'Oopsie. The plan backfired!'
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Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!