Elysia Nai

The two looked back to see a Vulpi girl pushing people out of her way, threatening them with her machine pistols. Once she stood against Shien and Phoenicia, she placed her guns back onto her belt's holsters over her light brown shorts. It was Elysia.

She pulled back her white hair while her Vulpi ears twitched. Elysia wore a dark blue crop top with a large holster on her back that held a tungsten machete. The Vulpi girl walked towards the two as she closed a tab, allowing her brass knuckles to materialize on her hands as she walked. The crowd again lowered their bustling to witness yet another potential commotion.

"I believe those credits belong to me," The Vulpi hissed. "So you two better hand over that cash before I get mad!"

Shien was about to say something, but Phoenicia stepped in front.

"Excuse me, young lady," Phoenicia reasoned. "Shien and I defeated the cyber bandit together. Therefore, we're the ones who truly receive rewards according to the standard mechanics of Syanic Earth. So, find your cyber bandit next time."

"Hey, you're that NPC droid guide, huh?" Elysia growled. "What do you think you're doing hanging out with another player? You're just a stupid, programmed robot with no feelings! Go back to your job being a guide dog where you belong! You're just a dumb fabrication!"

Phoenicia was stunned at her offensive statement. Shien moved the android girl's arm away and placed his arm around Phoenicia, who cried. She wanted people to recognize her as more than just an NPC. Shien and his friends were the only players who devoted their time to befriending her.

"Hey! That wasn't nice!" Shien shouted. "Say you're sorry! Phoenicia is a person too! She feels like we do!"

"Who cares about her, shortie?" Elysia questioned. "She's just a program. An NPC! She's not even close to being a person! She and the Shin-Kaminari droids are no different!"

"She's nothing like the Machine Queen!"

Elysia never liked droids, distrusting them as much as humans. Elysia hated the Shin-Kaminari droid army, which the Global Federation controlled. Elysia hated SANDRA, the Machine Queen of the droids.

"And by the way, you jerk, my friend's name is Phoenicia! She has a name too!" Shien hissed at Elysia. "Apologize to her!"

Elysia rolled her eyes, not having time for such a deep conversation, especially with a human shorter than her.

"Look, you little human. I don't give a damn about that walking automation you call a person. Just hand over the netium, and I will let you two go," Elysia proposed.

"You want the credits, idiot?" Shien glared.

"Hey! Who're you calling an idiot?"

"You, stupid! If you think it's okay to steal something that doesn't belong to you, then let's duel!"

Shien swiped a tab that requested Elysia's acceptance for a duel.

"If you win, you get the credits, but if I win, you're going to apologize to my friend!" Shien stated.

"Hmph!" The easily irritated Elysia grumbled, accepting the duel. "There's no way this shortie's going to win."

"Phoenicia," Shien comforted his android guide. "It's going to be okay. Let me handle this."

The crowd stepped further back as another skirmish was about to begin. A large ten-second timer appeared. In duel mode, there were two ways to win. Killing the opponent or having higher health than your opponent after five minutes.

The timer ticked as Elysia stomped toward Shien. Phoenicia wiped her tears, watching the two titans about to make the heavens crumble.

Elysia Nai

Level 52

HP:[35,750/35,750]

Trait 1: Metallic Toxoid

Trait 2: Restock Caliber

[???]

Level [???]

HP: [???]

Trait 1: Contour Haze

Trait 2: [???]

What? Elysia saw Shien's profile. Contour Haze?

She looks puzzled. Phoenicia observed Elysia. Shien's Contour Haze prevents his profile from being visible to others except for friends. I'm afraid Elysia has no idea who she's fighting.

As the crowd murmured about Shien's shrouded profile, the two combatants looked each other in the eyes. Elysia looked down at Shien while he looked up at her, for she was six inches taller. She growled at Shien, who wasn't bothered by the height difference. The Vulpi girl had no idea who he was, the son of Isrina and Jinhai Niang, grandmasters of martial arts.

I don't care if I can't see his profile. Elysia was eager to crush Shien. I will send this shortie flying so high that he will cry like the baby he already is!

When the timer began the five minutes of the duel, she threw a preemptive punch at his face with her right knuckle. Shien ducked right and slid his left palm onto her right elbow before snaking the palm at her neck.

As Elysia choked in response to the uncomfortable positioning, Shien punched her in the stomach. "Avian Form: Shoebill Thunderforce!"

The Vulpi girl coughed blood while Shien pummeled her with rolling punches. Elysia growled, throwing brass-knuckled punches back.

Shien stood on his hand, flailing his curled legs to repel Elysia's attacks. "Avian Form: Cardinal's Talon!"

I'm losing HP fast! Elysia blocked Shien's punches with her brass knuckles. Only two minutes. Not good. Who is this toddler? This shortie's got me mad!

Elysia kicked Shien away, drawing her machine pistols to fire at him.

Elysia has a deadly trait. Phoenicia analyzed the duel. Her Metallic Toxoid grants her metal weapons and ammo a 20% chance per attack to inflict Metal Poisoning Status on her opponent. Take caution, Shien.

Shien backflipped away from the barrage of poisonous bullets. The Vulpi girl then checked her health gauge briefly to find herself in the red zone.

It's my chance to heal. Elysia forced Shien away with the oppressive fire.

Shien cartwheeled backward and smoothly landed on a bench with his legs crossed. Elysia swiped a tab to select the well-known Eonspace Brew from her items storage. The Eonspace Brew was a full HP healing potion that cures most status effects. They were expensive, but Elysia had about 30 if she ran into a tight spot.

She's attempting to heal herself, Phoenicia observed. Elysia's Restock Caliber allows her to gain triple item rewards and a 25% chance to regain a used item when using it, including bullets. It's a shame that Eonspace Brew will be obsolete.

I can fight you all day, shortie. Elysia grinned. You thought you had me? I have an infinite amount of Eonspace Brews because of my Restock Caliber!

Elysia took the bottle from the tab and drank it.

She looked at her HP in dismay that it didn't change. "Wait, what just happened? I should've healed! You! What did you do, short stack?"

"Look carefully at your profile," Phoenicia crossed her arms.

Elysia Nai

Level 52

HP:[9,941/35,750]

-Antijuvenoid Prozosis-

"Anti what?" Elysia's Vulpi ears drooped.

"Antijuvenoid Prozosis. You cannot heal for one minute," Phoenicia confirmed. "My friend possesses the Plasmodium Phalanxes trait. His martial art moves have a random chance to inflict such a deadly status."

"A minute?" Elysia saw the duel timer with only a minute left. "You're kidding, right?"

"I'm not. As an android guide, I must be truthful to guide players the best I can."

Elysia drew her tungsten machete, charging at Shien. He responded with a blinding kick at her hand, disarming her. With only 30 seconds left, Shien stood on his hands to swing another Cardinal's Talon kick at Elysia. He coiled his legs around her neck as Elysia choked.

Shien landed on his hands and released his legs to launch Elysia sky-high with his legs like a trebuchet. "Avian Form: Osprey's Hook!"

Elysia fell facedown on the ground. The timer rang while a tab declared Shien's victory and displayed the results of the battle. Shien gave a thumbs-up to Phoenicia as the crowd applauded before the DJs turned their booming Synthwave music back on.

"Quite impressive, Shien," She walked to him.

He then looked at the crying Elysia.

"Maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on her," Shien scratched his head.

"What do you propose we do?" Phoenicia asked him.

"Hmm, I have an idea!" Shien proposed, whispering to the android girl.

"I'm a strong person!" Elysia covered her face. "I am not supposed to be weak!"

She then saw a tab emerge in front of her.

Accept Transfer from Unknown Player?

Netium Value: 166,000

EXP: 12,916

"What's this?" Elysia examined the tab as she wiped her tears.

Shien walked towards her. "That's about a third of the cyber bandit's netium and experience plus half of my gained experience from our duel."

"But why?"

"It was a good duel, Elysia. I'm sorry I was tough on you, but you put up a good fight nonetheless. I didn't know you used three different types of weapons!"

"A good fight? I lost!"

"It doesn't matter, does it? It's good sportsmanship. Losing is nothing to be afraid of. It's how you get back up after that makes you stronger."

Elysia's Vulpi ears twitched. "I never thought of it that way."

"By the way, I think we should properly introduce ourselves," Shien offered a hand to pick Elysia up.

"Introduce?"

"Yeah!"

She felt reluctant to accept his hand. "Why are you being nice to me?"

"Why not?" Shien smiled. "Who wouldn't want to make a new friend?"

"Y-you want to be friends with me?

"Of course!"

"But I'm a Vulpi."

"So? Humans and Vulpi can be friends, right? I have a friend who is a Vulpi! Just like Phoenicia and I, I'm a human player while she's an android NPC. That doesn't stop us from being friends, right?"

"Th-that's sweet of you," Elysia then took Shien's hand as he pulled her back up.

"My name's Shien."

"Elysia. Nice to meet you. Thank you for the transfer."

She then accepted the transfer, closing the tab.

"Oh, and don't forget," Shien clapped his hands. "You and Phoenicia should make up. After all, I won, right?"

Elysia's Vulpi ears went up. She completely forgot about that. She said many mean things to Phoenicia. After all, Shien did win, and the Vulpi girl wanted to honor his condition.

"Hey, I want to say that I'm sorry for all I said. I just had a rough experience with droids."

"Understood, Elysia," Phoenicia shook her hand. "No need to explain yourself. It's a pleasure to be acquainted with you!"

"L-likewise," Elysia felt unaccustomed to Shien and Phoenicia's sincerity. "B-by the way, I think your name is beautiful."

"Aww, how kind of you!"

"By the way, Elysia," Shien snapped his finger. "Would you like to join us at Enshiron's Kyrrhim Bistro? It's only a few blocks away."

Elysia was shocked at the sudden offer. "I-I guess it wouldn't hurt."

"Awesome! And here," Shien tossed her an Eonspace Brew.

"Oh! Thanks," Elysia drank the item, restoring all of her health.

"Yay!" Shien jumped. "Let's go see Enshiron!"

Elysia smiled as she walked with her two new friends toward the heart of the booming city of Tetrachrome. Maybe having friends again won't be so bad.