The Price of Clarity

Keiji stared at Haruka as if he were witnessing the birth of a god.

His friend was still kneeling, arms scorched and smoking, gasping for breath. Thin streaks of electricity continued to dance across his skin, as if the power within him was refusing to fade.

— “You… destroyed it.”

Haruka slowly stood up, wavering. His body screamed in protest—every muscle taut and aching beyond measure. Yet inside his chest, something new had ignited.

It wasn’t pride. It wasn’t arrogance.

It was clarity.

He had just understood what he had become.

📢 [Current Status – Haruka Amemiya]
• Level: 5
• Main Ability: Lightning Manipulation – “Raiken”
• Secondary Ability: Flash Strike – Rank C
• Passive Talent: Elemental Resistance I
• Physical Condition: Weakened – 31% Energy Remaining

Keiji stepped closer, unsure.

— “Are you… going to survive?”

Haruka nodded.

— “Yes. But I need time. And you— you need to level up. You can’t afford to stay behind.”*

— “Easy for you to say… I’m still level 1! And all I’ve got is a damn iron bar!”

Haruka gave him a cold, unflinching look.

— “Then find something to kill. Or someone. This world won’t give us the luxury of peace.”

Before Keiji could reply, the sound of rapid footsteps interrupted them.

From the shadows of the forest, five figures emerged—teenagers, armed and cautious. Their gear was rugged: patched leather armor, worn capes, one of them even carried a crude rifle.

At the center stood a boy with snow-white hair. Calm. Silent.

And yet, everything about him screamed authority.

— “Impressive,” he said. “You took down a class-B golem on your own.”

Haruka immediately straightened, ready for combat.

— “And you are?”

— “Ryosuke.”

Just one name—but one already known and feared.

Keiji paled.

— “That guy from the North… the one who levels up by killing other players…”

Ryosuke smiled faintly.

— “Rumors. The weak need stories to justify their failures.”

He stepped forward, eyes fixed on Haruka.

— “You interest me. You don’t hesitate to use your power—even if it burns you alive. And you’re already level 5. At this rate, you might just… survive.”

Haruka remained silent.

— “I’ve been watching you for two days now,” Ryosuke continued. “Kaëron has his eye on you, clearly. But where he watches for fun—I watch to choose.”

— “Choose what?”

— “My next ally.”

The guards around him subtly tensed. Some bore ritualistic marks on their faces, others had the glassy stares of fanatics.

Haruka looked into Ryosuke’s eyes.

And what he saw there chilled him to the bone.

There was nothing. No fear. No anger. Not even hate. Only a kind of ruthless, mechanical logic.

— “You want us to join your group?” Haruka asked cautiously.

— “No,” Ryosuke answered. “I want you to join my Circle. The elite. You’re not like the rest. You’ve killed. You’ve survived. And more importantly… you’re starting to realize this world doesn’t reward morality.”

Keiji stepped forward, furious.

— “He’s not going anywhere with you psychos!”

Ryosuke didn’t even glance at him.

— “He’ll die soon. He’s weak. You know that, Haruka. He’s going to slow you down.”

Haruka felt sparks surge through his fingertips.

— “You want to know what I think?” he said calmly.

Ryosuke smirked.

— “Tell me.”

— “I think you’re dangerous. And you’ll end up alone. Because even the monsters in this world have limits. You don’t.”

The smirk vanished.

— “That’s your answer?”

— “Final.”

Ryosuke gestured. Instantly, his group drew their weapons. Haruka braced for a fight… but Ryosuke raised a hand to stop them.

— “No. Not now. Not today.”

He stepped forward slowly. Haruka didn’t move.

— “You’ve rejected my offer. That’s your right. But don’t ever forget this: I could have killed you today. And the next time we meet… you’ll remember that.”

He placed something in Haruka’s hand.

A small medallion—etched with a blood-red eye, encircled by lightning bolts.

— “Keep it. The day you change your mind, just break it.”

Then he turned and walked away. His followers fell in line behind him, silent, like wolves trailing their alpha.

Keiji let out a shaky breath, hands trembling.

— “Damn… I thought he was going to kill us. You should’ve accepted—just to survive…”

Haruka looked at the medallion in his palm.

Then clenched it.

And crushed it.

📢 [Unique Item Destroyed: “Pact Medallion”]
📢 [⚠ Alignment Sealed: Unaffiliated]
📢 [WARNING: You are now marked as a priority target by the “Circle of Ryosuke”]
📢 [Bonus Unlocked: +2% EXP Gain vs. Hostile Players]

Keiji’s eyes widened.

— “You’re insane!”

— “No,” Haruka murmured. “I just chose my enemy.”
A real one.

He turned to the forest.

The world was larger than they thought. Crueler. More structured.

And from now on, it was no longer about survival.

It was about domination.

📢 [NEW OBJECTIVE UNLOCKED: “The War of the Chosen” – Week 1]
• Objective: Survive an ambush / Eliminate at least one player from the Circle of Ryosuke
• Reward: Random Rank B Ability
• Time Remaining: 4 days, 18 hours