Chapter 92: Goodwill Practice
"Feels odd," QJ admitted to the person walking with him. There were only two entries from GnG into the grappling competition: himself and Maya Scasa.
"I'm sure," Maya agreed. QJ had attended TAP academy for three years; this would be the first time he entered with a GnG avatar. "Can't beat this view."
Transparent walls bordered the central portal into TAP Academy on three sides. The pair paused to take in the spectacular view. They wore loose-fitting athletic clothes and had large gym bags slung over one shoulder. The female's blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail; nothing was breathtaking about her, but she gave off a quiet confidence. The male was slightly taller, with sky-blue eyes and a rangy build.
They approached the front gate where a single High Elf guard was standing. He carried a halberd and wore light chainmail that bore the sigil of a rising sun, the House of Daybreaker symbol.
"Young Miss," the High Elf deliberately avoided QJ's glance. "You sure you want to be seen with this lot?"
The blonde tried to keep a serious face but failed miserably. Maya's dimpled smile transformed her face into something beautiful. Maya occasionally accompanied Kora for grappling practice since her mother was head of the Martial Arts department.
"Rift!" Maya giggled when the guard swept her up in a hug.
QJ shrugged helplessly. "Where's my hug?"
Rift cleared his throat. "I have to maintain my professionalism."
QJ didn't comment. Rift was an old friend and a notoriously lousy poker player. "Nice to see you again. How's the latest crop of students?"
"The new group is nothing special," Rift declared. "I expect you to show them what's what."
"That's the plan," QJ agreed. "Let's get the boys together soon. It's been a while since we had a poker night."
Rift nodded. "I'll set something up and let you know."
After entering through the front entrance, QJ and Maya walked side by side through the central courtyard, past Admissions, and the Aquatic Center.
Maya smiled in appreciation. "I'll say this for the TAP Academy, it's gorgeous."
QJ secretly agreed. With gold-veined marble sidewalks, four-story glass buildings, the fabulous Aquatic Center, and the training grounds, there was a reason for the three-year waiting list. "Unlike the other Exodus Academies, over three-quarters of the students are NPCs."
"True... But the players that come through TAP are outstanding." Maya offered a polite smile, "Present company included."
A few minutes later, Maya and QJ found an empty mat on the south wall and started warming up. A familiar figure approached while they were stretching.
"My kids!" Kora tossed an arm around the shoulders of the pair. "Here for grappling practice?"
Maya nodded. "Any advice, Mom?"
Kora sighed heavily, running slim fingers through her spiked blond hair. "You know I can't say anything. I've recused myself from the competition since the two of you have joined."
"Doesn't matter," QJ admitted. He knew everyone because he had been Kora's TA until a few months ago. Unlike his instructor, he had no qualms about using that in competition. "Evolve or get smoked."
Kora nodded. It was one of her sayings. "Evolve or get smoked," she repeated.
QJ waited until Kora left before taking a seat on the mat. "Your mom must have mentioned the TAP grapplers."
"Just the basic stuff. According to Mom, Tito Rosales is the best in the male division, but you'll submit him in the first round." Maya paused in case QJ wanted to deny the prediction, but he didn't.
"Did she mention the female division?" QJ asked.
"The same, just briefly," Maya replied. "A player named Yamica Li is the person to beat."
QJ raised an eyebrow. "What kind of chance did she give you?"
Maya touched her pointer and thumb together. "Zero."
"I disagree," QJ stated. "She's good at everything she does. Her opponents know what she will do but can't stop her."
"So I'm toast?" Maya asked.
"There's always a way." QJ shrugged. "I'm going to be Yamalee. I'll adjust my strength and speed accordingly."
"Yamalee?" Maya asked.
"That's what her friends call her. I was the TA in this department." QJ reminded her. "Yamalee hasn't evolved in three years. She's gotten better at everything she does, but it's still the same stuff."
Maya climbed to her feet. "What do you want me to do?"
"We'll simulate a match. I'll do what Yamalee does, and you try and respond."
Maya nodded and squared off. "She uses a lot of Judo throws and trips?'
"Almost exclusively, until you hit the ground, then she uses wrestling and ju-jitsu to gain top control and start her submission game. Her submission game from the bottom is her biggest weakness. She'll always try to reverse position if she's on her back."
The next thirty minutes saw Maya being taken to the ground repeatedly. Her frustration was beginning to show. "Is she really this strong?"
QJ nodded. "She is, but you're strong too. Take a seat; we'll discuss what just happened."
Maya shook her head, pushing a stray wisp of blond hair that worked its way loose. "I'm getting my butt kicked... short discussion."
QJ held up his hand with his thumb tucked into his palm. "I want you to focus on four basic things: push, pull, push-force, and pull-force."
"I know the first two terms," Maya took a long drink from her water bottle before offering QJ some.
"Right, I push you for a heel-hook trip. You try to defend, but since I'm stronger than you, it results in a takedown."
Maya wiped her face with a towel. "You pull me for the hip toss; it's Judo 101."
QJ touched the tip of his nose. "Boom. You'll get tossed around if you defend by resisting her strength."
Maya muttered a curse. "Makes sense."
"This is where push-force and pull-force come into play." QJ stood up and offered Maya a hand. "Square up and pause."
QJ moved forward and locked arms with Maya. "The mistake people make with Yamalee is they try to use defense to counter her movement."
"Right. No one wants to get tossed around," Maya replied.
"Instead of defending her offensive, I want you to counterattack."
"How?" Maya asked.
"When she pulls for a hip-toss, you push and step in for a trip," QJ explained. "She's already applying force in the direction you want to go. The sum of pushing and pulling in the same direction is called push-force."
"Aren't I walking into her trap by moving in the direction she wants to go?"
"Technically, but she's expecting resistance. This throws off her timing and forces her to defend. Let's walk through a couple of hip-tosses. This time, counterattack."
After another ten minutes, the look of frustration was replaced with focus. QJ paused after she managed a perfect step-in heel trip.
"Very good," QJ patted her head, making the 3rd year laugh. "Kora always did that to me when she was happy."
Maya laughed, "Me too."
"When Yamalee pulls, you push." QJ summed up their counterattack. "When she pushes for a trip, what's your response?"
"I pull?" Maya considered the question. "For a hip-toss... That's pull-force?"
"Use pull-force to counterattack a trip." QJ glanced at the clock; they had already eaten up their mat time.
"Guess it's time to quit?' Maya asked.
QJ shook his head. "I have small-arms range after this. I can skip it; I shoot all the time."
"Thanks, QJ."
"No worries," QJ replied. "We'll spend another hour working on counterattacking her takedown game; then we'll set up your trap."
"I have a trap?" Maya's face split into a wide smile. "Awesome sauce, let's go."
QJ brought up his hud and played a video feed from an MMA match; neither fighter was known for their grappling.
"MMA match?" Maya asked. "Looks like an old one."
QJ nodded. "Almost thirty years. The guy in red is better at striking. The blue fighter is fighting defensively; watch what he does. He'll jab to maintain distance and use a basic kick on the red fighter's hip when they get close."
They watched the first round; it is evident that the red fighter won the round. The second round was a carbon copy of the first.
"What did you see?" QJ asked.
"The red fighter is starting to limp from getting kicked in the same spot a dozen times. Is this my trap?"
QJ shook his head. "This is the setup. The blue fighter is down two rounds, but the hay is already in the barn."
Maya chuckled at the expression. "The hay is where?"
"Watch the third round," QJ played the feed, stopping it with about a minute left. "What's going to happen?"
"The red fighter is blocking that sidekick now; he's about to win."
QJ hit play. The blue fighter went for the same kick but aimed for the head instead of the side this time, scoring an instant knockout.
"Dang..." Maya shook her head slightly; the red fighter was face down on the mat.
"The blue fighter spent the whole fight setting up that head kick. His opponent dropped his arms to block a kick in the side that never came."
"Lights out!" Maya clapped excitedly. "I'm gonna kick her in the head?"
"HAHAHA," QJ laughed when Maya suddenly tried to tackle him. "You can't kick in the head during a grappling match!"
Maya gave up after a few seconds. "Fine... Let's keep going."
The grappling session extended through QJ's equestrian practice; he only had time for a quick sandwich before it was time to assemble for the Venture raid.
[Welcome to Guns and Gore, the Phoenix Server.]
Location: One Problem Keep
Time: 1655 hours
Server Population: 113,005 Your current level is 55.
QJ stepped into OP Keep. The City Fort was packed with NPCs and players alike in preparation for the next day's House Auction.
[Guild MOTD]
Three hundred and fifty houses will be available in tomorrow's auction. OP members must only sign up and pay in GCP to reserve their homes.
[Premium Home: 100 units/ 10k GCP] Four bedrooms, four baths with a private courtyard, and buggy service to the town gate.
[Standard Home: 70 units/ 7k GCP] Two bedrooms, two baths with shared courtyard, and buggy service to the town gate.
[Luxury Duplex: 30 units/ 5k GCP] One bedroom and one loft with full bath. Remember, you share the building with whoever owns the other side.
[Phoenix Highrise Apartments: 50 units/ 3k GCP] Two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths.
[Maelstrom Highrise Apartments: 50 units/ 3k GCP] Two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths.
[Skyridge Loft Apartments: 50 units/ 1.5k GCP] One bedroom loft with one bath.
[OP: QJ] That's a long gmotd.
[OP: Enju] Right? Any recommendations?
[OP: QJ] The duplex is nice inside. You could find a partner who wants the other half and buy it together.
QJ entered the OP auditorium; a glance told him everyone was present. He headed to the podium after stopping in the aisle long enough to grab a pastry.
[OP: Ringo] QJ already posted the standard Venture Quest. You should have received an altered version of that earlier. I'll repost the original and our version now.
[Venture Quest parts I, II, and III.]
A maximum of 30 people board the train in Banshee Flats; they ride the Alto line to the Jordan Springs station. At Jordan Springs, you'll be attacked as soon as you disembark. Survive and spend the night. The following day, board the train to Dusky Ravine via the Goshi Line.
The strategy on the second day mirrors that of the first. Kill the mobs at the Dusky Ravine station until the Sation Boss spawns, and then board the Charo line the following day to Lucan Falls.
The last leg is defense-oriented. The train will be attacked randomly throughout the day. Make it to the end of the line, and we'll be able to activate the portal. It stays active for one hour.
[End]
QJ opened one of two large boxes and pulled out a large black disc from inside. He then opened the second box and fished out a long canvas strap with clips on either side. After attaching them, he put them aside and began repeating the process.
[OP: Ringo] Questions?
[OP: Enju] The portal is only active for an hour. Does that mean we are heading to Vavri after that?
[OP: Ringo] No. We can activate the portal anytime we want. We should receive a schedule from the Velez Affiliate after we finish today's quest.
[OP: QJ] Everyone come up and grab a belt magnet.
[Altered Venture Quest]
Train One= T1, Train Two=T2, Train Three=T3.
Bridge location= Alpha, Tunnel location=Bravo.
T1 and T2 cross Alpha at different times, with T1 about an hour prior. We hijack T1 and stop at Alpha, where we jump to T2.
T2 and T3 enter Bravo at different times, with T2 trailing by approximately 30 minutes. We hijack T2 and speed it up to stop it at Bravo before T3 arrives.
After boarding T3, we defend until we reach our final destination.
[End]
Ringo grinned at the blank faces of her guild. They weren't expecting this sort of strategy.
[OP: Ringo] Questions!
[OP: Breeze] We're taking over the trains? And then jumping from one to another?
[OP: QJ] Yes. If the quest doesn't advance to stage two after the first jump, we'll scrap the idea and go at it another day.
QJ clipped the free clip to his belt and held the magnet in both hands. "Run across the stationary train, jump to the moving one, and try to seat your magnet correctly."
[OP: Sato] I'm going to get run over by a train...
[OP: Breeze] You'll undoubtedly be roadkill, but I can make that.
[OP: QJ] We'll take T1 first, then go over the jump in detail after we stop.
[OP: Ringo] Let's get started. Take the OP gate to Banshee Flats.
[OP: QJ] Wu will be online with us once we start. We are streaming this live to the GnG forums.
[OP: Sato] Oh god... Please, no. Please?
[OP: Lotte] Go big or go home.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
BotwaCazador
BotwaCazador Thanks for reading.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone