A second challenge

Curiosity stirred within Yuriy about the identity of the girl. Her slender figure, quite distinct from that of a soldier, ruled out any affiliation with the military. Her appearance seemed reminiscent of a princess from ancient tales, igniting his fascination with her true identity and her purpose within the military compound. There was something different about her that caught Yuriy's attention for the first time.

Suddenly, a voice called out to Yuriy, prompting him to lift his head and follow the sound. It turned out to be Vladyslav, summoning him from a room adjacent to his. Yuriy's eyes widened with surprise as he exclaimed, "It's Vladyslav! Don't tell me... you'll be living nearby?" Vladyslav responded with a smile, saying, "Yes! Can you come up here?"

Yuriy complied with Vladyslav's request and ascended immediately to his room, using the same staircase that led to his quarters. As he reached the door, he knocked, but no one seemed to hear due to the boisterous noise emanating from within. Perhaps the raucous clamor made his knock inaudible. Without hesitation, he decided to open the door, offering an apology in advance, "I'm sorry, I'm coming in."

As soon as Yuriy opened the door, he was greeted by a flying cushion to his face, courtesy of the person who was shouting in jubilation over his repeated victory in his favorite game. It was Vasyl, who had completely dominated Vladyslav in a car racing game.

"Ha! No one can beat me in this game, no matter how hard they try. I've been playing it for ages," Vasyl boasted with a tone of mockery and exaggerated pride.

Yuriy was taken aback as he entered Vladyslav's room. It wasn't just an ordinary room; it looked like a time capsule from the 1980s. Posters of rock musicians adorned the walls, and there was a guitar resting near the bed. Shelves were brimming with comics and even famous manga series. On the right side, there was a shelf specifically for hard drives with names of various games from the '80s, '90s, 2000s, and so on. At the very least, their capacity was listed as 100 Zettabytes.

Yuriy stepped inside and gazed at the console they were playing on, then asked, "Where did you guys get this?"

The two of them exchanged a knowing glance and then answered with a smile, "It's our time-travel device." Yuriy looked surprised and exclaimed, "You said a time-travel device? How does that work?" Vladyslav began to explain with the confident pride of someone who knows their stuff, "Well, as you can see, humanity has reached the pinnacle of advancement, including video games, of course. But that's led to games becoming incredibly dull due to authors' inability to bring anything new. So, we rely on artificial intelligence to revive old games."

He went on to elaborate that their technology harnessed the immense power of AI to simulate and create new experiences based on classic games. It was an attempt to breathe new life into the world of gaming, to let players relive the thrill of the past with a fresh twist.

However, Vladyslav was right, and it was time to shed some light on the state of the world back then. In the year 2037, humanity was basking in the peak of its advancements, especially after the surge in artificial intelligence. People felt that there was no more room for progress, which led to an entirely new way of life. The mindset of trends faded away, as humans no longer believed in the cyclical nature of fads. The mentality of discarding the old for the new vanished, because there was no "new" anymore. The era of overhype ceased to exist, as they no longer needed to convince themselves that the new was amazing, even if it was often borrowed or repackaged from previous works. Consequently, humans created an entirely new lifestyle to avoid exaggeration and to make their feelings towards things feel natural.

Indeed, you could now see people donning clothing from the 80s, residing in vintage-style homes, or even engaging in games from the early 2000s. Yet, there was a subtle difference that tipped the scales and made everything feel natural: contemporization instead of adherence to the old. This was known as the "modern touch." Everyone lived their lives based on artificial intelligence, which comprehensively scanned the online realm to gauge what currently attracted people and identified what was contemporary to them. In a matter of seconds, it seamlessly integrated old styles with a light, contemporary touch that didn't alter the essence of the old, making the ancient appear modern. This concept spanned all domains, including the world of gaming.

Yuriy drew closer to the two, his curiosity piqued. "What exactly are you two up to?" he asked. Vladyslav responded with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I'm suggesting a game from the early 2000s." Yuriy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Hmm, perhaps the racing game 'Rumb'? It was my father's favorite game, but why?"

Vasyl burst out, his excitement palpable, "Oh, I can't believe you mentioned that game! Despite its age, I can't get enough of it. I still play it to this day." Yuriy chuckled, "Well then, should I pick another game?" Vladyslav answered with a smile, "No worries, let's proceed."

Vladyslav fetched his laptop and opened an unfamiliar program that appeared to require a prepayment before use. He typed a single line that read: "Convert the old 'Rumb' game into a contemporary version." As the progress bar completed in minutes, the game transformed from a 500-megabyte relic to a 100-gigabyte masterpiece. "The game is ready," Vladyslav declared, and Vasyl exclaimed enthusiastically, "Alright, let's give it a try."

As both Vasyl and Yuriy settled in front of the console, Vasyl's usual mischievous grin appeared. "Ahahaha, the moment of revenge has come, Yuriy. Don't think I'll let your victory in the previous challenge slide without consequences. This is the moment I've been waiting for," he declared with a sinister chuckle. Yuriy's face displayed a mix of resignation, and he thought to himself, "Ah, so that's why he wanted to play with me." The two took hold of the gamepads. Yuriy took some time to read the instructions, much to Vasyl's growing annoyance. Then, with a triumphant press of the start button by Vasyl, who was player 1, the race began.

The cars appeared on the screen, showcasing a significant graphical improvement in both the vehicles and the environment. The graphics had been modernized despite the game's age. The race commenced as the starting whistle blew. Vasyl's face contorted with the eager anticipation of what would happen next. Yuriy noticed Vasyl's expression and felt a shiver run down his spine.

The race started, and Vasyl's car shot off with an unusual speed, his aim to get back at Yuriy, who had crushed him mercilessly in their last challenge. Yuriy struggled to keep up with the swift pace of his car as the race began. "W-What? How did you do that?" he exclaimed in bewilderment. Vasyl responded with a wicked grin, "Hahaha, that's because I'm more skilled and experienced." Vasyl's joy was short-lived when he saw Yuriy replicate his action. He was left stunned in his tracks. Yuriy firmly explained, "Well, all I did was, when the race starts, you have a nitro bottle. You just used it at the beginning of the race." The faces of both Yuriy and Vasyl displayed a familiar expression of despair, reacting to Vasyl's foolishness.

The race continued with Vasyl leading the pack, his malevolent laughter echoing through the air. Meanwhile, Yuriy was absorbed in understanding the game, attempting to grasp its mechanics and nuances. He thought to himself, "How can I possibly outpace him when our cars move at the same speed? Simply choosing the same car as his might not be enough, as this guy clearly knows the game inside out."

Yuriy's eyes widened as realization dawned upon him. He muttered to himself, "Oh, I think I've got it..." An idea suddenly crossed his mind, one that could potentially give his car an edge in acceleration. As he began to implement the strategy, he noticed his car inching closer to Vasyl's, feeling a surge of confidence that he was on the right track. Vasyl, sensing the shift, shouted in disbelief, "How are you doing that? I'm the best player in the neighborhood. I'll show you!"

In an instant, Vasyl pressed a button on his gamepad, triggering a peculiar reaction in his opponent’s car. Yuriy's vehicle began to skid, losing control as Vasyl's laughter erupted, filled with a triumphant malice. His eyes gleamed with confidence as he proclaimed, "You'll never defeat me!"

Suddenly, Yuriy regained control of his car, exclaiming, "How could you do that?" Then, he continued to muse to himself, "Creating a tighter distance from my opponent relies on mastering the art of drifting and utilizing the right angles during turns. This way, I can shorten the longer stretches and get closer to the finish line." Vasyl observed Yuriy inching closer, which only added to his unease. He was baffled by how Yuriy managed to accelerate like that. What puzzled him more was how Yuriy adapted to that speed.

Yuriy's car approached Vasyl's, steadily narrowing the gap between them. Vasyl felt a surge of tension, repeating, "Come on, come on!" He had staked his pride on this match, and losing it would make him feel like a true failure. As the two cars found themselves on the same straightaway, the finish line within reach, Yuriy's car suddenly swerved off course, sealing Vasyl's assured victory.

Vasyl's ear-piercing victory cries echoed through the room of Vladyslav, a celebration that seemed almost excessive for his achievement. The sound reverberated in such a way that it was hard to believe he had actually managed to defeat Yuyiy's big brain. In a strange twist, this victory seemed to elevate Vasyl in his own eyes, making him feel like he was finally a worthy adversary, someone intelligent enough to challenge.

Vasyl couldn't contain his elation. He leaped around the room with unbridled energy, engaging in an impromptu dance of triumph. However, his celebration was short-lived. Exhausted from his long day, he suddenly succumbed to a deep slumber.

Vladyslav and Yuri exchanged knowing looks, their expressions filled with a mixture of annoyance and disdain. Finally breaking the silence, Vladyslav directed his question at Yuri, "Why did you let him win?" Yuri's gaze held a thoughtful intensity as he answered, "Well, I'm not one to pursue victories that hold no substantial value. But how did you realize I intentionally dialed back during the match?"

Vladyslav responded with a knowing smile, "Well, I can pick up on the rhythm of things as they shift. Your attempt to conceal the change in your gameplay was doomed to fail. Despite your efforts to make Vasyl believe it, I managed to sense the alteration. After all, I'll be the one responsible for devising strategies for our team. Yes, I'll be the strategist. Analysis is my forte." Yuri's response was one of astonishment, "So, that's why you'll be in charge of our team's plans. You seem incredibly intelligent." Vladyslav bashfully rubbed his head and said, "Oh, don't embarrass me with your words, please."

In the midst of this intimate exchange between the two, a loud voice suddenly erupted from Vasyl, who had previously been deep in a dream-filled slumber. He exclaimed, "Don't scold me, Mom! It makes me cry. I love you, Mom, please!" The sound reached the ears of both Yuri and Vladyslav, causing them to burst into fits of laughter at the continuing series of Vasyl’s absurdities.

It was heartening to witness Yuri adapting to his new life, forming friendships that helped him forget the trials he had faced.