Chapter 13 Making The Wrong Move
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She was just about to snap back at Jesse, ready to accuse her of being a fan of the rival team who’d sat there on purpose to mess with Mike’s momentum.
But the starting bell cut her short.
The drones shot into the air, engines buzzing like angry hornets, and the crowd erupted with cheers.
At the control station, Mike stood ramrod straight, eyes locked on the arena.
His jaw tightened, every muscle sharp with determination. He wanted Jesse to see it—wanted her to know the team didn’t need her.
“Flank left! Cut straight in!” His voice rang out, clipped and commanding.
Their drone swooped through the air in a clean arc, slicing toward the opposing formation.
From the stands, Jesse leaned forward, gaze keen. Her lips curved slightly when she noticed Taylor’s drone–a faint red light blinked on the battery meter.
Low power.
Nobody else caught it.
“Boom!” Jesse muttered under her breath with a little smirk.
The girl seated next to her gave her a weird look, but Jesse didn’t explain.
“Taylor, watch your drone!” Corey called out suddenly.
However, Taylor wasn’t listening. Her attention was fixed on Jesse, desperate to flaunt her skills and impress Mike.
“Boom!”
This time, the sound wasn’t Jesse’s teasing–it came from the crash itself.
Taylor’s drone jolted midair, spun wildly, and smashed into the edge of the safety net.
The crowd gasped.
She panicked, jamming the controls, but the harder she pressed, the deeper the machine tangled in the net.
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Chapter 13 Making The Wrong Move
“Mike…” Her voice broke, eyes wide and glassy.
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Mike’s heart clenched at her pitiful look. With a frustrated sigh, he jerked his joystick, his own drone wheeling around and racing toward her trapped one.
“Mike, don’t go after her!” Corey barked from the back, urgency clear in his tone.
But it was already too late.
The rival team had been waiting for this exact moment–they swarmed in on Mike’s drone from every angle. Their formation was sharp, disciplined, almost like they had studied every move he’d ever made. No gaps, no escape.
From the stands, Jesse stayed composed, watching the chaos with clear eyes. So, it’s happening again, she thought.
Memories from her past life overlapped with the present–Taylor’s crash, her pitiful tears, Mike’s desperate rescue, the whole team dragged down.
Back then, Jesse had rushed in, grabbed the controller, and forced a miracle win with the last sliver of battery.
Now, history was repeating itself.
Mike was completely locked in. The rest of his squad scrambled, but without real coordination, they were being picked apart.
“What’s happening with Mike’s team?” the announcer called out, baffled. “Their rhythm’s completely gone!”
In the crowd, Isadora tried to smother a laugh. She leaned toward her friend, whispering gleefully, “They’re finished.”
Jesse stayed calm, watching Taylor thrash helplessly in the net, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. The power issue was about to show itself.
The other team pressed harder, their offense ruthless. Corey and two others were barely hanging on, while Mike struggled to break free–every move he made was instantly countered.
“Only three drones left on Mike’s side that can still fight!” The announcer’s voice rang with
tension.
Taylor’s tears streamed unchecked as she stood at the edge. She risked a glance at Jesse in the stands, only to meet that cold, unyielding stare.
“Mike, I’m sorry…” she whimpered.
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Chapter 13 Making The Wrong Move
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Mike didn’t respond. His whole focus was locked on the match, searching desperately for a gap, but the rivals‘ formation was airtight–there was no opening, no chance to turn things around.
The crowd buzzed louder, some even cheering for the other side. Mike’s fans clenched their fists, refusing to accept the collapse.
“If only Jesse were here…” one teammate muttered under his breath.
The words hit Mike like a blow. His face darkened. He didn’t need Jesse. He could win on his own, but reality hit back hard, and the attacks just kept coming.
Mike glared at the rival drones, eyes burning. In a sudden burst of resolve, he shoved the joystick hard, sending his drone veering at a wild angle toward the safety net.
The propellers roared at full throttle, slicing through the air. The crowd gasped–some covered their eyes, others leapt up in excitement.
“Unbelievable! Mike’s pulling off a genius move!” the announcer shouted.
With a snap, the net tore apart, and Taylor’s drone finally broke free. However, the small victory was short–lived–the battery light flickered once more and went dark.
“No!” Taylor shrieked as her drone dropped like a stone, crashing straight to the ground.
Mike froze, blindsided. That moment’s hesitation was all the rivals needed.
An opposing drone slammed into his, shattering the propellers. Mike’s drone spiraled out of control before smashing into the floor.
From the stands, Jesse sat motionless, her face unreadable.
In her last life, Taylor had bungled the same way, and Jesse had grabbed the controller at the last second, using the dying battery to claw out a win.
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