The machine came to life and the walls around changed into a display to mimic the interior of what I assume to be an Exo-Knight’s cockpit.

Alright, while the thing is booting up, let’s try and see what controls I’m dealing with.

Two joysticks at my hands... Which I assume would control the arms of the Exo-Knight... Which kind of confused me a little since it should be easy to understand right?

And looking at my feet, I can see two pedals for my left and right foot respectively which I can only assume was for the leg controls?

There’s also buttons located on the joysticks which I wasn’t sure what they did and trigger buttons near where my index fingers were which I assume was to control the weapons.

I’m pretty sure if any gamer was placed in this seat, they should be able to figure this out pretty easily right? That guy made it sound like I would be looking at some supercomputer controls or something but this is pretty simple isn’t it?

Now I’m wondering what an actual Exo-Knight cockpit looks like if this wasn’t the standard look.

The screen completed its boot up sequence and I found myself looking at what looked like the remains of a ruined city with empty buildings and collapsed rubble.

Looks like it’s going to be a ground based battle royale instead of one that was set in space then.

A screen then popped up in front of me which revealed itself to be a countdown timer that started from five before slowly counting down to zero.

Woah, we’re really just jumping in with no tutorial I see?

Wouldn’t be the first time I started a game while ignoring the tutorial then.

The moment the ’game’ started, I tried out the controls, moving the joysticks to confirm that it does indeed control the arms of the Exo-Knight.

And sure enough, I could see on my screen that the arms of the Exo-Knight were moving in congruent to how I was moving the joysticks.

I then tried to step on the pedals and yep... This basically mimicked the leg movements like I was cycling a bike.

And if I were to lean to the side when I’m ’cycling’, the Exo-Knight would step to the side as well.

I then started fiddling with all the buttons on the joystick and the first one I found was to switch my weapons which included what appeared to be a ballistic autocannon which should be effective for mid range combat and a short energy blade which I guess was for close combat.

Ok, I can work with this.

As for the other buttons... There’s one that activates the thrusters on my back which gives me a speed boost so I guess I can--

BOOM!

I felt my entire cockpit shake as something hit me from the side, my shields taking the hit for me as it dropped a few percent on my screen.

My instincts went into overdrive as I spun out of the way, avoiding the next few ballistic rounds that passed through the space that I had been in a moment ago.

Really? What is this spawn point? There’s already someone so close to me and they already figured out how to use their Exo-Knight in the first few moments?!

I looked in the direction of where the attack came from and sure enough, there was an Exo-Knight literally rushing towards me while firing his autocannon from the hip.

I ran behind a building for cover, aiming to attack him when he needed to reload.

If he was a competent pilot, he should also be looking for his own cover but... The stomping of his footsteps just kept getting closer and closer.

Was he thinking that I didn’t know how to pilot this and thought he could just rush me and finish me off.

I pulled out the energy blade and prepared to attack him as soon as he turned around the corner.

The sound of his footsteps got louder and louder until he reached me and...

He continued running past.

I blinked as I saw the Exo-Knight rush past me, still firing his autocannon at an empty spot ahead.

Err... Did he not see me turn around this corner?

My question was answered when he ran straight into the wall and still didn’t stop running, his gun now literally shooting the wall uselessly.

Ah... He actually doesn’t know how to pilot it... He’s just stuck running forward and shooting straight and I just happened to be standing in his way...

Seriously... Are there really people who can’t figure out the controls here? And these guys are supposed to be Mercs?

Oh well... Free points for me then.

I got out of cover and switched to the autocannon, firing into his back until his shields were completely destroyed and I finished him off with a few more back shots.

Not that kind of back shots, shut up.

The Exo-Knight exploded before it collapsed to turn into wreckage, its smoldering remains letting out a plume of black smoke that drifted into the air.

In the corner of my screen, I noted that the number ten just appeared, indicating I received ten points from that kill.

Well... That was easy.

Wait... That gives me an idea... Doesn’t that mean that there’s many other people who are still struggling with their Exo-Knight controls right now?

That means... Free points!

I reloaded my autocannon and started running towards where this Exo-Knight came from.

If this simulation is set that you respawn at a set location... I might be able to catch him again and get more points.

Even if it wasn’t, I believe that there should be more spawn points around that area so I just need to find them!

But just as I was patting myself on my back for coming up with such a plan, I heard a loud boom coming from the side and I skidded to a stop, my Exo-Knight leaving cracks in the ground of the road that I had been running on.

I turned in the direction of the noise just in time to see a building in the midst of falling over.

Is there another fight there?

I rushed over there and got my gun ready to shoot at whoever was fighting there, but when I reached the collapsed building, I realised it was just another Exo-Knight who was struggling to stand up after crashing into the building.

Guess this guy couldn’t even make it walk properly...

I feel a little bad for this but... I took out the energy blade and went right up to him to stab through the Exo-Knight’s torso, bypassing its shield.

This should be an instant kill as that spot would have been where the pilot’s seat was.

The machine immediately went limp and I got another ten points added to my score.

I then continued running and the next Exo-Knight I found was basically flailing its arms in the air while walking around in a circle.

I didn’t really fancy trying to try and get close to that one so I shot at it from a distance until it was destroyed.

This basically went on for the next few minutes where I would find some poor guy who clearly did not know how to use the Exo-Knight flail around and kill them for points.

I’ve not even encountered a single one that could shoot at me accurately before I beat them.

And the ones that actually could shoot couldn’t even aim properly or didn’t know how to move and shoot at the same time.

Whoever these Mercs are, they should try and play some games because this is really embarrassing.

Well... Because everything had been going so smoothly, I was not prepared for a sudden beam of energy to be shot my way.

I only managed to react to it when I saw a glint of light in the distance which, if you played shooter games, was an indication of a sniper’s scope aimed at you.

The beam immediately depleted my shields but I managed to avoid it in time before my shield completely broke by quickly sidestepping behind a building.

Shit... Why does that person get to start with a beam sniper? This is so unfair!

Right as I was trying to look for a way out, stomping noises came from my left and I looked to see an Exo-Knight running towards me with his gun raised.

I immediately started firing almost at the same time it did, both of us trading blows as he got closer and closer to me.

I was prepared for a trade kill but the moment I managed to break his shield, a beam came the side and pierced through its torso, the Exo-Knight exploding and crumbling to the floor.

My eyes immediately went up to look at my points, only to realise that it had not changed.

...

Hey you! How dare you steal my kill!! Just you wait!!