Page 5 of Claws and Controllers

“They will,” Noa said firmly. “And even if they don’t, screw ‘em. You’ve already proven how resilient you are. After everything that happened with that rat bastard ex of yours...”

The mention of her ex-husband sent a jolt of anger through Ellie’s system. The betrayal still stung even after all this time. He hadn’t just stolen her ideas and passed them off as his own; he’d tried to destroy her reputation in the process, using their very public divorce to paint her as unstable and unreliable.

Noa must have seen the storm clouds gathering in Ellie’s eyes because she quickly backtracked. “Hey, no. None of that. That’s ancient history. You bounced back, bigger and better than ever. This game? This is all you. He can’t touch this.”

Ellie took a deep breath, pushing the memories aside. Noa was right. She had survived that ordeal and had come out stronger for it. Today wasn’t about the past. It was about the future she was building for herself.

Frankie returned, slipping her phone back into her pocket. “That was Dad,” she said, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. “He wanted me to remind you that the family will be watching your presentation online. No pressure or anything.”

Ellie laughed, the sound only slightly strained. “Great. Because I wasn’t nervous enough already.”

“Hey,” Frankie said, her tone softening. “You’ve got this, little sister. Mom and Dad are already proud of you, you know that, right? This is just icing on the cake.”

Before Ellie could respond, a commotion near the entrance caught their attention. The doors were opening and earlyattendees began to trickle in. The quiet of the morning was giving way to the excited buzz of the convention.

Noa clapped her hands together. “Okay, ladies. Huddle up. It’s game time.”

Ellie found herself sandwiched between her best friend and her sister, their arms wrapped around her in a tight circle.

“You are Ellie freaking Madden,” Noa said fiercely. “Creator of worlds, conqueror of code, and all-around badass. You’re going to go out there and blow their minds.”

“And if anyone gives you any trouble,” Frankie added with a mischievous glint in her eye, “just remember, I know at least three ways to crash their systems without leaving a trace.”

Ellie laughed, feeling the last of her nerves melt away, replaced by a surge of excitement and determination. “I love you guys,” she said, squeezing them both.

As they broke apart, Ellie straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. She could see the first group of attendees approaching her booth, their eyes curious and interested.

“Show time,” she murmured to herself, stepping forward with a warm smile. “Welcome to Infinite Odyssey,” she began, her voice clear and confident. “Are you ready to experience the future of gaming?”

As she launched into her presentation, a thrill ran through her. This was what she was born to do. Creating worlds, telling stories, and pushing the boundaries of what was possible in the digital realm. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever critics or competitors she might face, in this moment, she was exactly where she was meant to be.

The convention center buzzed with energy as more people filtered in, drawn to the vibrant displays and the promise of new gaming experiences. Ellie found herself in her element, explaining the intricacies of Infinite Odyssey to an ever-growingcrowd. Her nervousness had transformed into pure enthusiasm, her passion for the game evident in every word and gesture.

“So, as you can see,” Ellie said, guiding a group through a video of the game’s character creation system, “Infinite Odyssey allows for an unprecedented level of customization. It’s not just about appearance, though we’ve certainly pushed the boundaries there. It’s about creating a character with a unique set of skills and abilities that will evolve based on your choices and interactions within the game world.”

A young woman with vibrant blue hair raised her hand. “This is incredible,” she said, her eyes wide with excitement. “But how do you balance this level of customization with maintaining game balance, especially in multiplayer scenarios?”

Ellie grinned, always excited to dive into the technical aspects of her creation. “Excellent question. We’ve implemented a dynamic balancing system that...” She launched into an explanation, describing the complex algorithms at work behind the scenes.

As she spoke, Ellie caught sight of Noa giving her a thumbs up from the edge of the crowd. Her friend’s unwavering support had been a constant throughout this journey, from the late-night coding sessions fueled by energy drinks and determination to the moments of doubt when Ellie had questioned whether she could really pull this off.

A memory surfaced. It was from the darkest period after her divorce when the gaming community had been abuzz with her ex-husband’s stolen project. Ellie had been holed up in her apartment, blinds drawn, ignoring calls and messages. Noa had shown up, armed with ice cream and a stack of their favorite anime DVDs.

“You’re Ellie Madden,” Noa had said fiercely, pulling Ellie into a hug. “You’re the girl who coded her first game at twelve, who graduated top of our class, who sees possibilities whereothers see limitations. This isn’t the end of your story. It’s just the beginning of your comeback.”

Those words had been the spark Ellie needed, the push to get back on her feet and start dreaming again. Infinite Odyssey had been born from that moment, a phoenix rising from the ashes of betrayal and disappointment.

Ellie blinked, bringing herself back to the present. The crowd around her booth had grown even larger, people craning their necks to get a better view of the game screens.

“Now, let me show you how the social interaction mechanics work in tandem with our unique quest system,” Ellie said, her voice strong and clear. She pulled up a new screen, showcasing a bustling virtual marketplace. “In Infinite Odyssey, every NPC has the potential to offer a quest or provide crucial information. But here’s the twist – how they interact with you depends on your reputation, your past choices, and even the time of day in the game world.”

As she guided an avatar through the marketplace, demonstrating how different choices led to different outcomes, Ellie felt a surge of pride. This was more than just a game. It was a living, breathing world that would continue to grow and evolve long after today’s presentation.

From the corner of her eye, Ellie spotted Frankie deep in conversation with a man in a crisp business suit. Her sister caught her gaze and gave a subtle nod. Potential investor, Ellie realized. The stakes of today’s presentation suddenly felt even higher.

But instead of anxiety, Ellie felt a rush of excitement. She was ready for this. She had poured her heart and soul into Infinite Odyssey and weathered setbacks and sleepless nights. Now it was time to show the world what she was capable of.

As the demo concluded, a round of applause broke out. Ellie beamed, riding the wave of positive energy. “Thank you all foryour interest,” she said. “I’ll be here all day to answer any questions and let you get hands-on with Infinite Odyssey. Who’s ready to step into a new reality?”

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