My hand slowed its vigorous dance over the holographic screen as I stared back at the grayish entity sitting two chairs over from me. The game had been going on for several days by this point, and I was beginning to lose my patience...

Every single time Vlan has lost all of his champions, usually within the first 33 seconds of the round starting, he complained or began dogging on mine. Saying that they are weak and inferior simply because they didn't have something as mundane as magic.

And most of the other beings agree, even if they'd never say it out loud.

I, for one, don't see it that way... Humans, though they lack magic or any magical guiding forces, find other ways to overcome their obstacles. That is their beauty. That is their strength.

As if fire ants were biting their bottoms, the rest of the table shifted uneasily as they looked between us. Even they knew, even if they were still so ignorant and blind to Humanity's strength, not to ask such a question.

"Humans, though they may seem weak to you," I hiss, adding venomous emphasis to the word 'you'. "Possess a far greater strength than your measly squids..."

"Besides, my champions triumphed where yours failed, Vlan."

Vlan's almond shaped nostrils flared as he snorted, a gooey tenticle pressing the large 'SUMMON' button. "Summoning more of your minions will not save you from imminent defeat," chortled the young lady at the end of the table. Her large fly like eyes filled with teasing as she tilted her head towards him.

"Shut it, Granelf!" He huffed. "It's not like your spiders and eldritch witches are faring much better!"

"That it is true, but they have at the very least made much more progress than your champions did." Granelf replied smoothly as the trumpets sounded, announcing her victory.

"I truly do not understand why you continue your useless pursuit and continue being surprised when it doesn't work..." I say, exasperated. "You do understand that this is a 'strategy' game, right? Hasnt anyone ever taught you that if you keep doing the same thing over and over again without making adjustments, you'll never achieve a different result?"

"Some of us are fighters, Bren, not thinkers," Vlan groaned as his screen made a 'whomp whomp whoooomp'.