Player vs Player

Both stood unmoving, yet the air itself trembled under their power.

Ren's black aura coiled like a storm, heavy and destructive, while her crimson aura blazed, fierce and wild, painting the night in blood-red light. The ground cracked, winds howled-an unmeasurable pressure weighed on everything around them.

And then, as their eyes met, a transparent screen appeared between them.

【Player vs Player】

Ren’s eyes narrowed and silently said. “ Really…”

Suddenly a crimson beam tore through the night, searing the air. Ren twisted his body and narrowly dodged, the heat brushing against his cheek. His eyes flicked upward just in time to see the girl raise her hands, crimson light gathering at her fingertips.

Mana rose sharply, shaping into countless blood-like bubbles that floated for an instant-then shot forward like bullets.

‘Fast…’ Ren thought, crossing his arms.

One by one, the red blood attacks landed into him, exploding against his body in a torrent of piercing, searing blows. Even though the ground beneath his feet cracked and dust rose with each blow, Ren remained unflinching and kept his eyes fixed on his opponent.

“Hm... you're strong,” the red-haired girl said, her eyes narrowing.

Ren let out a small sigh. "First, let's talk-"

But before his words finished, she vanished from sight. In the next instant, she was right in front of him, her fist cutting through the air.

Ren is barely dodging. The ground cracked where her punch impacted. Without wasting a beat, he countered with a quick strike of his own, but she leapt back with sharp agility.

"First, listen to my words!" Ren shouted.

She ignored him completely. In a blur, her body moved again, fists and kicks raining down with unstoppable speed. Ren's arms blocked and deflected, sparks of force bursting with each clash.

Her attacks weren't slowing-she wanted a fight, no matter what.

Ren quickly pulled out a  scroll. The parchment burned in his hand, and in the next second his body vanished into light.

He reappeared high above the clouds. The crimson moon shone brighter than ever, the air was cold and clear, and the sky seemed to go on forever. Ren just stood there staring at the blood-red light for a moment.

‘If I hold back in this fight, things will only get more troublesome…’ he thought, his expression hardening.

But a familiar presence rushed in. From the horizon, the red-haired girl appeared once again, her eyes sharp.

"So you used an item to escape," she said without giving any emotions. "But don't think distance matters -I can sense your blood from miles away!”

Her mana rises up violently, condensing into a blazing sphere. With a sharp motion, she hurled a mana blast straight toward him.

Ren didn't move. The attack slammed into his chest, exploding with crushing force. His body trembled from the impact, but instead of fleeing, he closed his eyes briefly and thought.

‘I'm not running... just taking a short break.’

His form fell from the clouds, tearing through the atmosphere, and he hit the ground with a loud thud, causing dust to fly everywhere.

The earth trembled as Ren landed, scattering stone and dust and creating a deep hole. His figure was hidden by smoke curling upward. With sharp eyes, the red-haired girl gazed above, sure that her blast had put an end to it.

But then-footsteps echoed. Slow. Calm. From within the crater, Ren walked out, his clothes torn but his body almost untouched. His black aura seeped from his skin like rising smoke, spreading an oppressive weight across the land.

"So this is your strength?" Ren's voice was cold, almost bored. He brushed the dirt from his shoulder. "If that's all, then you'll never make me kneel.”

The girl calmly said, “ I show you… what I can do.” and her crimson aura flaring brighter, sparks of red lightning dancing around her.

Ren raised his hand, summoning dense mana that pulsed like a heartbeat. The ground trembled. The true clash between them was only about to begin.

The battle turned into a haze of movement. Her fists exploded with force as she made the first strike. Ren moved to the side and calmly and precisely parried her blows. He countered quickly, but she flipped to avoid it. Dodge after dodge, blow after blow—neither letting an inch slip.

At last, they broke apart, breaths sharp, eyes locked. Sparks of rivalry lit the air between them.

Her hands crackled with energy, arcs of raw electricity dancing across her crimson aura. With a sharp thrust, she hurled the current directly at Ren. The blast struck him head-on-yet when the smoke cleared, he stood unharmed, his expression unshaken.

"What...?" she whispered, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Ignoring her shock, Ren simply stared back.

Furious, she rose into the sky, mana gathering like a storm around her body.Crimson energy flared, shaping itself into a monstrous beam with wings-like a blood-red bat screaming through the heavens.

Ren didn't hesitate. Black aura swirled around his arm as he raised his hand. Mana into a bow, sleek and ominous, its string pulled tight. A single arrow of pure darkness formed-its shape twisting into the head of a dragon.

Both attacks unleashed at once.

The black dragon roared as it charged forward, and the crimson bat shouted as it ripped through the air. When their powers clashed, the sky turned red and black, and the shockwave shook the ground below.

Crimson and black light consumed everything as the clash split the skies apart. Both stood, wounded but unyielding, as shockwaves and dust rolled across the ruins and the cloud of smoke disappeared.

She lifted her hand again, mana already gathering for another strike. But before she could release it, Ren's calm voice cut through the chaos.

"It's over."

The ground rumbled. A crushing weight descended, an invisible force pinning her where she floated. Her body stiffened, her limbs refusing to obey. It was as if the very air itself had turned to stone around her. Gravity itself had betrayed her.

"W-what is this...?" she said ,struggling in moving, but she didn't move an inch.

Ren slowly walked toward her, his tone calm but edged with disappointment. "Why didn't you listen to me? We're from the same class, Shiori."

Her eyes widened in shock. "We are in the same class? The screen showed your name as Isro. That's your in-game name... Then... who are you really?”

For a moment, silence lingered. Then Ren eased his power, and the crushing gravity dissipated. She dropped to the ground, catching her breath.

Ren stepped past her, his voice steady, almost distant. "I'm Ren. Your classmate. The one sitting right beside your class."

Shiori froze, unable to hide her disbelief, as Ren walked on without looking back.

Shiori lowered her eyes. Her voice trembled softly.

"...Are you really Ren? I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to attack you.”

Ren's gaze remained steady, unreadable.

"Then tell me, Shiori. Why would you strike at another player without reason?"

She bit her lip, hesitation flickering across her face before she finally spoke.

"After the meeting... I overheard students from another school. They were planning to form a guild, kill others npc or players, and gain experience. They want to be the strongest... to claim the right to return home. So I ran from that place.”

Her fists tightened as she continued, her voice strained.

"But then... I sensed a bloody aura. When I followed it, I saw the ground littered with corpses, monsters torn apart. And then... I saw you. Your presence... It was too similar to them. So I attacked first.”

Ren's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained calm. "You sensed my aura... when no one else could? How?"

Shiori lifted her crimson eyes, her voice firm but quiet. "...Because my character is a vampire. Unlike normal types, I can sense aura from far away. That's my ability.”

Ren thought to himself, So it's starting... Everyone's already forming guilds. But a guild isn't limitless-only seven can join. The slots aren't equal either; some characters take one space, others take four, depending on their strength. It's the system's way of keeping balance.

Behind him, Shiori shifted uneasily. Her movements were small, almost timid, as if struggling against her own hesitation. Finally, she gathered all her courage, her voice soft but resolute.

"Ren... why don't we create a guild together?”

Shiori lowered her gaze, her crimson hair swaying slightly as she fidgeted with her fingers. Her voice came out hesitant, almost like a whisper.

"For safety purposes... if you want to?"

Ren paused, weighing Shiori's words carefully, torn between trust and caution, silently thinking her guild proposal.