What's cheap and annoying?
[Beehive Bomb - $1.99]
Summons angry hornets to attack enemies.
He tossed it outside the cave. A hive materialized in a tree, exploding as the leader hacked at the thorns. A swarm poured out, stinging her armored form. She stumbled back, swatting wildly.
Remaining Balance: $1,018.23
"Yes! Buy time, buy time—"
Aiko huddled in the tent's corner. "What… what's happening?"
Michael couldn't answer. The game only gave him symbols: [Shield], [Run], [Hide]. He mashed [Shield], and a glowing barrier flickered around the tent.
Cost: $4.99.
Remaining Balance: $1,013.24
The masked leader finally tore through the thorns, her demon mask scorched and cracked. She glared at the shimmering shield, drew a jagged dagger, and stabbed.
CLANG!
The shield held, but cracks spiderwebbed across it.
Aiko scrambled back. "Who are you?!"
The leader laughed—a raspy, metallic sound amplified by the mask. "You don't recognize your old teacher, Aiko-sama?"
Michael froze. Teacher?
Aiko's face paled. "N-no… It can't be—"
The leader ripped off her mask.
The woman beneath was mid-40s, with a scar slashing from eyebrow to chin—a wound Aiko had seen years ago, during a bandit raid.
"Captain Yuriko?" Aiko whispered.
Michael frantically tapped [Yuriko] on the screen.
[Yuriko Hattori - Former Captain of the Minamoto House Guard]
[Additional Intel: $4.99]
He paid, gritting his teeth.
Remaining Balance: $1,008.25
[BACKGROUND:]
Yuriko served Lord Ryota for 20 years. Taught Aiko swordsmanship. Disgraced after failing to protect Ryota during Aiko's alleged assassination attempt. Himari offered her redemption in exchange for hunting Aiko.
"You're supposed to be on my side," Aiko breathed, backing against the tent wall.
Yuriko smirked, slamming her dagger against the weakening shield. "Lady Himari values loyalty. Unlike you."
The shield's health bar dipped to 15%.
Crap. Michael bought [Reinforcement Patch - $0.99], slowing the decay.
Remaining Balance: $1,007.26
"Your god can't save you." Yuriko pointed her dagger at Aiko. "I'll drag you back to the Teahouse myself. Himari wants you broken before you die."
Aiko's hands shook, but she raised the tiny knife. "I won't… I won't go back!"
She can't fight her!
Michael scanned the store for anything useful.
[Paralysis Dust - $3.99]? Too risky. Aiko'd inhale it too.
Yuriko leaned closer, her breath fogging the shield.
"Remember our lessons? 'A warrior's greatest weapon is their mind.' You failed that one too."
Aiko flinched.
"Your father cried when you stabbed him," Yuriko hissed. "Begged you to stop. But you laughed—"
"Lies!" Aiko's voice cracked. "I'd never hurt him!"
"Everyone saw it. I saw it." Yuriko's grin widened. "You're a monster, Aiko. Your existence shames the clan."
Aiko's psyche was crumbling—[Morale: 30%]. If it hit zero, she'd stop resisting.
"SHE'S LYING. YOU'RE INNOCENT. FIGHT!" Michael's chest tightened as he futilly shouted to his phone.
The shield glitched. Cracks spread like spiderwebs across Michael's phone screen. Yuriko's dagger gleamed in the dying light as she reared back for another strike.
"No, no, NO!" Michael's thumb jabbed the in-game store.
Emergency Items:
[Iron Cage Trap - $19.99]
Instantly encase enemy in unbreakable metal bars!
He smashed [BUY].
Remaining Balance: $987.27
A cage materialized around Yuriko with a deafening clang. She staggered, momentarily trapped.
"Got you!" Michael let out a shaky breath.
But Yuriko just smirked. She sheathed her dagger… and punched the cage's lock.
CRUNCH.
The bars bent like tinfoil.
Alert!
[Iron Cage Trap Destroyed!]
Michael's jaw dropped. "What the hell stats does this lady have?!"
He tapped Yuriko's pixelated avatar, praying for weakness to exploit.
[Yuriko Hattori - Level 25]
[Strength: 65]
[Agility: 72]
[Endurance: 58]
[Passive Skill: Shatter - Breaks through defensive items 300% faster]
"She's a freaking tank!" Michael groaned.
Aiko pressed against the tent wall, knife trembling. "Captain… please. You know me. I didn't attack Father!"
Yuriko ripped the last cage bar free. "Save your lies for the brothel."
Michael scrolled the store again. He needed a distraction, not defense.
[Flashbang Grenade - $4.99]
Blinds and disorients enemies for 30 seconds.
Purchase Confirmed!
He dropped it at Yuriko's feet.
FZZT—BOOM!
White light flooded the cave. Yuriko howled, clawing at her eyes.
"Run, Aiko!" Michael shouted uselessly, spamming the [Tree] symbol to create a glowing exit path.
Aiko stumbled past the blinded Yuriko, gasping as she followed the lights into the forest. Branches lashed her face, her cursed body screaming with every step.
Yuriko's roar echoed behind them. "You can't hide forever, traitor!"
Environmental Scan showed her red dot pursuing at alarming speed.
Michael's hands shook.
$982.28 left as he browsed Cheap Tricks Section:
[Banana Peel - $0.99]
[Whoopee Cushion− $0.99]
[Slippery Oil - $1.99]
"Are you kidding me?!" Michael growled. But he bought all three, flinging them onto the path.
Aiko skidded around a tree just as Yuriko stepped on the oil slick.
THUD.
The ex-captain face-planted into mud.
"Ha!" Michael allowed himself a half-second of triumph… until Yuriko lunged forward on her elbows, dagger slicing Aiko's ankle.
Aiko cried out, blood soaking her torn sock.
Alert!
[Aiko's Health: 85%]
"You fight dirty now, my lady?" Yuriko sneered, wiping muck from her face. "Where's your noble honor?"
Aiko limped behind a boulder, tears mixing with sweat. "Kami-sama… help me…"
Michael's throat tightened. He'd reduced her to this—a hunted animal begging a silent god.
Store Recommendations:
[Smoke Screen - 2.99]
[Stamina Potion−7.99]
He bought both.
Remaining Balance: $969.79
Smoke erupted around Aiko as she gulped the glowing potion. Her stamina bar refilled slightly, but her speed stayed pathetic—[Agility: 1].
Yuriko charged through the smoke, slashing blindly.
SWISH.
Aiko's sleeve ripped open.
"Coward!" Yuriko hissed. "Your 'god' is weak! He can't even speak!"
I'm trying, he wanted to scream. I'm right here!
But the game gave him no voice. Only symbols.
[Fire][Shield][Sword]
He slammed [Fire].
A burning branch fell from a tree ahead. Yuriko barely dodged, her braid catching flame.
"Agh!" She smothered the fire with mud, rage twisting her face. "Enough games!"
Yuriko threw her dagger.
Aiko ducked, but the blade grazed her shoulder.
Michael's vision blurred—panic or exhaustion, he couldn't tell.