"He was interesting."
The girl licked the last traces of blood from her fingertips, letting the metallic tang linger on her tongue. Her glowing red eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the boy disappear from her sight. Humans usually screamed. Ran. Cried. Begged When they encountered her. But he… he only stared.
No disgust. No fear. Just that cold, unreadable gaze, as if she were nothing more than a stray dog gnawing on a bone. How peculiar.
Maybe he is just acting calm,
She tilted her head, running a hand through the strands of her white hair. "Ah I really like his attitude." She whispered to herself.
Her fingers trailed down to the fabric of her dress, where the blood had already dried into dark crimson stains. What a pity. She had liked this one.
Still…
She smirked, stepping under the streetlights. The chill of the air barely touched her, but the night was alive with sounds, faint murmurs from alleyways, the distant wail of a siren, and the rhythmic hum of the city. All so fragile. So fleeting.
And yet, in that little convenience store, standing across from her, was someone who didn't flinch. Someone who looked at death and dared to name its price.
"Oh, Mister Cashier," she whispered, licking her lips. "I really, really hope you don't die too soon."
"Lady Velora."
The voice slipped from the shadows, low and smooth, like silk over steel. A figure emerged from the shadows, her skin was dark as the abyss, clad in black, eyes glowing an eerie blue. She moved with quiet grace, bowing her head as the pale girl turned to her.
The girl with white hair, Velora Noctis tilted her head, amusement flickering in her crimson gaze. "Ah, what is it?"
The shadowed woman hesitated. "Why didn't you kill that human?"
Velora's lips curled into a smirk. A slow, musical giggle followed, light yet unsettling. "Who knows?" She ran a bloodstained fingertip along her collarbone. "Maybe I like him."
The other girl's eyes flickered, but she said nothing.
"And the task I gave you?" Velora's voice was softer now, almost lazy, but the weight behind it pressed like an invisible hand against the woman's throat. "Did you find him?"
A pause. Then, the girl lowered her head again. "I am sorry. That human… Azrael arrived. I had to retreat."
The air grew colder. Velora let out a slow breath, watching the other girl through half-lidded eyes.
Then, she smiled. "Azrael, huh? How troublesome."
"He's not the only one," the shadowed girl murmured. "I also sensed the Black Jailer's aura here."
Velora Noctis stilled.
For the first time, her amusement faded. It's not the surprise; it's the fear, a rare, unfamiliar thing creeping through her veins like ice. Of all the beings in existence, there was one she never wanted to cross paths with.
The Black Jailer.
Her crimson eyes darkened. "Impossible. He should still be inside the Tower. What's he doing here… in a mere city?"
Azrael was a nuisance for sure. He is strong but predictable. A big fish in a small pond, barking like he owned the depths. But the Black Jailer? He wasn't a fish. He was the abyss itself.
Velora exhaled, shoving her unease down. "Let's retreat for today," she said, casting one last look at the empty city streets. Then, without another word, she disappeared into the shadows.
__________________________
The night sky over Shinjuku was painted in hellish shades of crimson and black. The city lights flickered as if trembling at the monster's presence outside its borders. Towering as large as a truck, a demon loomed over the deserted highway, its body pulsing with deep, unnatural energy. A low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat before it exhaled, a concentrated pink beam of destruction searing through the asphalt, leaving molten scars in its wake.
"It's so damn quite." Someone said as he saw the destruction that demon made. No matter how powerful it looks, its attacks were really quiet.
"Thank god Mr. Yanagin is here now, no need to worry." Others said.
Someone with a long black ponytail, Yanagin Kuro stood in the path of the demon, breathing slowly and steadily.
Why is an A Rank demon here in the world? That calls for an S Rank player or at least three A Rank players. But Kuro was the only A Rank player at that time.
The strongest in Shinjuku, that's what people called him. But even he felt the weight of this fight. His glowing yellow thread, thin as a hair but sharp enough to slice through steel, coiled around his fingers like a living thing. This was his weapon, his lifeline.
But seriously, this demon, an A Rank?
He muttered something to himself that no one heard.
And,
CRASH!
The demon charged, the ground shaking beneath its monstrous weight. Its claws, jagged and too long for its hands, slashed through the air, aiming to carve Yanagin apart. He sidestepped, fast, too fast for normal eyes to follow. The thread in his grasp shimmered as he lashed it forward, aiming for the creature's throat.
"Gotcha"
A sharp whip! a clean cut but no blood. Instead, the demon's wound pulsed, sealing itself almost instantly. It turned its glowing eyes on Yanagin and let out a deafening screech. Then, the pink light gathered in its throat again.
Damn it.
Yanagin bolted just as the beam fired, the heat of it scorching his coat as he landed in a crouch on the cracked pavement. The demon was fast, but not just in movement. It was adapting. Healing. Learning.
He clenched his teeth.
A second laser erupted from the demon's mouth, cutting too close. Yanagin barely rolled aside before the heat grazed his arm, burning through the fabric and biting into flesh. He hissed but didn't slow. Pain meant nothing now. He flicked his wrist, and his glowing thread expanded, twisting midair like a serpent. He lunged, the thread wrapping around the demon's arm. With a single pull
SLASH!
The limb was severed.
A victory?
No. The severed arm twitched, then regrew. Faster this time. And the demon laughed. Or at least it seems like a laugh.
Yanagin's eyes narrowed. A fight against raw power wouldn't work. He had to find the core, its true weakness. Every demon had one.
The monster lunged again, its new claws razor-sharp, dripping with acid. He barely dodged, the sting of the air itself burning his skin. His mind raced.
Where? Where is it hiding the core?
Then he saw it. A flicker, a subtle lag in the healing process. The demon's chest. Just below the ribs, where the pink light pulsed strongest.
Yanagin inhaled. This was it.
He dashed forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. The demon reacted, swiping wildly, but he was already within its reach. His thread wrapped around his arm, hardening, glowing brighter. One chance. One strike.
He plunged his arm into the demon's chest, the glowing thread piercing through muscle, bone, and something deeper, something that pulsed with life. The demon's eyes widened. It shrieked, not in rage, but in fear.
RIPPED!
Yanagin clenched his fist and ripped the core out.
The demon convulsed, its body crumbling from within. No time to move. The collapsing weight of the monster buried him under its melting flesh.
God damn it!
For a moment, silence. The smell of burnt asphalt. The sting of blood in the air.
"Oh no! Mr. Yanagin!!!"
"Kuro! Oiiii!"
"Mr. Yanagin!"
Then, a hand burst from the corpse, gripping the night.
Yanagin pulled himself free, breathing heavily. He looked at the still-glowing core remnants in his palm before crushing them between his fingers. The light flickered, then died.
"Wait! No!"
Someone screamed, but Yanagin had already destroyed the core. He turned around, blinking at the new guy with a dumb look.
Huh? Why not?
The newcomer was decked out in body-fit silver armor, a sleek helmet with silver threads flowing like a ponytail. Wavy brown hair peeked out, and his long brown eyes gleamed with frustration.
Kuro squinted at him.
Wait a sec… He knew this guy. He is that idol… What was his name again? Azil? Azel? Azrael?
Ah, whatever. Azrael or something. Why was this dude acting like a police officer, showing up right when the job was done?
"Do you have any idea how much that A Rank core was worth?!" Azrael practically sobbed, staring at the dead fortune in Kuro's hand. After a long, tragic sigh, he finally looked up. "I never expected an S Rank player to be here."
Kuro tilted his head, completely unfazed. "I'm just an A Rank."
"Hah???" Azrael's face twisted. "You're telling me some mere A Rank took out that damn demon in minutes?"
Kuro's dumb look returned.
Is this guy deaf?
"Yeah."
Azrael's gaze turned cold. "What's your player name?" His tone sharpened, like he was checking to make sure Kuro wasn't some disguised demon.
"Kuro," Kuro said flatly.
"Just that?"
"Just that."
For some reason, Azrael's face looked even dumber than Kuro's.
Who in the world just used a plain name like that? It was like naming a cat.
I mean, most normal guys would at least add something cooler.
"I've never heard of a player named Kuro before," Azrael muttered, narrowing his eyes. He had rushed to Shinjuku the moment he heard about an A Rank demon wreaking havoc. But by the time he got here, someone had already cleaned up the mess.
"There's no way just an A Rank could take down an A Rank demon in mere minutes," he said, arms crossed in suspicion.
Kuro raised his right hand like a student asking to speak. "Ahm. That demon just now was actually a C Rank."
Silence.
Azrael blinked. The other players standing nearby stiffened. The entire atmosphere froze, thick with disbelief.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"WHO THE HECK DID THE RANK CALCULATIONS?!!"
__________________________
After everything had finally calmed down, Ren made his way to Lira's home, the cup of ramen still in his grip. The sky was beginning to lighten telling him the morning was near.
He sighed. That white-haired girl… just thinking about her sent a chill down his spine. Yeah, he'd planned to fight outside, to start leveling up, but after that encounter? Forget it. There was a right time for everything, and getting himself killed wasn't part of the plan.
As he walked, he passed groups of players returning from battle. Some were wounded, some barely standing, some… not moving at all. A chaotic mess of victory and failure. His eyes scanned the crowd for Kuro Yanagin.
Nothing.
Kuro's probably fine, right?
Without another thought, Ren shoved open Lira's door like he owned the place. Inside, she sat in the dimly lit café, hands wrapped around a cup as if she'd been waiting.
"Thank god you're alright," she said the moment she saw him.
…Had she been waiting for him?
For the first time, Ren offered her a small, comforted smile.
Thank god I didn't eat this ramen alone.
"Here." He held out the bag. "Put some water in it."
Lira took the ramen but didn't move immediately. "Why'd you bring it here? Wait… don't tell me you haven't eaten anything this whole time."
She knew the price of ramen. She knew that a newbie like her Mr. Sho, who only started with 100 spirit coins only afford a single cup of ramen. But for the surprise, there is a packet of sausage too.
Ren didn't answer.
With a quiet sigh, Lira poured boiling water into the cup and set it aside to wait while putting the sausage packet into the microwave. "I heard a demon led the attack last night."
Ren stepped further inside, shutting the café door behind him. Without a second thought, he dropped onto the nearest pile of clothes.
…Hadn't he just cleaned these a few hours ago?
Damn it.
"What's the difference between demons and monsters? Aren't they the same?" Ren asked, his mind drifting back to that eerie white-haired girl.
Lira sighed. "Monsters are just pawns, mindless beasts. Demons, on the other hand, are their leaders. The strong ones." She leaned back against the counter. "They have ranks too. And from what I heard, a high-ranking demon led last night's attack. Probably an A-rank."
Ren shut his eyes. "I see."
Lira scoffed. "How can you see when your eyes are closed? Are you an idiot?" She burst into laughter.
Ren exhaled sharply. "Just shut up."
Lira grinned, but then her gaze landed on his jacket, the dark stain spreading across the fabric. "Are you hurt, Mr. Sho?" Ren glanced down, then shook his head. "Nope. Not my blood."
"It's ready now. You can eat," Lira said, checking the ramen cup.
Ren grabbed a couple of beers from her fridge and two pairs of chopsticks from the kitchen. Without looking, he tossed one toward Lira. "Here, eat some. Beer alone isn't a meal."
He got a bowl of kimchi, tossing some into the ramen, along with a few sausages. The rich scent filled the air.
Lira accepted the chopsticks, blinking in surprise. It had been a while since anyone treated her with this kind of casual kindness.
"Neh, Mr. Sho," she murmured after a few bites, her voice softer than usual. "Why don't you just live here with me? Let's run this café together."
Ren glanced at her. She was smiling, eyes glowing like stars.
He scoffed, lips curling into a grin. "Says the person who's always trying to scam me and didn't even reveal her real name."
"Aww, don't be like that." Lira pouted playfully, then smirked. "Aren't you the same? Sho Ryuunosuke, that's not your real name, is it?"
Ren's grin lingered, but there was something skeptical in his eyes. "I've always wondered, Miss Lira... I'm a total stranger, aren't I? Why did you take me in the first place? Weren't you afraid?"
Lira paused, thinking for a moment before answering with a shrug. "Well, I can protect myself. I have a skill, you know?" She smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I brought you here to scam you, obviously. Bad luck for me, though, you ran into Mr. Yanagin."
Ren blinked, ".....???"
Is she serious now?
Lira's casual tone only made his confusion grow. He leaned forward, with furrowing his brows. "So... what's your skill?" he asked, pouting a little like a child asking for candy.
Lira tilted her head, her lips curled into a teasing smile. "It's called Word Enchant. I can sweet-talk anyone into doing what I want. But only those weaker than me, of course."
Ren stood up instantly. His voice is rising in disbelief. "Don't tell me you used it on me too!"
Lira burst into laughter, holding her stomach. "Of course, I did! Why else would you walk back into a scammer's house, huh?" She laughed so hard that she nearly knocked over her beer.
God damn it. Thank god no one knows he is the legendary white reaper. If anyone is to know about this disgrace, he didn't know how to face it.
"But I meant it when I asked you to stay," Lira said, putting away her mischievous grin. "I'm not just messing around. That's why I told you about my skill."
There was a brief of silence.
"You said Lira isn't my real name," she continued, her voice softer now. "But to me, Lira is my real name. If you are asking about my given name... I left it behind. It's just a dark memory now. Do you think Lira sounds beautiful?" she asked, her eyes searching his.
Ren thought for a moment. "Yeah, it is."
Lira's face beamed with a smile. "So, I'm beautiful?"
Ren couldn't help but roll his eyes and correct her immediately. "Not you, just your name."
Lira pouted playfully but didn't press the matter. "I see how it is," she teased. Then, her tone shifted a little more serious. "But Mr. Sho, I'm serious. You don't always have to be alone, you know?"
Ren looked down at the ramen cup, the steam rising from it. The warmth was comforting, but it wasn't enough to make him forget about the tower, his goal. He let out a sigh. "Sorry, Miss Lira. I have to climb the tower. I've got a prize to win. There is something I still have to do.""
Lira watched him for a second, her gaze thoughtful. "I know," she whispered. "But just remember, even if you're climbing that tower. you don't have to do it alone. There'll be people who care about you."
Ren looked at her, surprised at the sincerity in her voice. His lips twitched into a faint smile. "I'll keep that in mind," he muttered.
Lira smiled back, her usual playful grin returning. "Good. And who knows, maybe I'll be there cheering you on from the sidelines."
"Who, you? Trying to rope me into your scam again?"
Lira chuckled, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Maybe," she teased. "But, seriously... if you're ever tired of fighting alone, you know where to find me. I don't mind being your... sidekick."
Ren couldn't help but laugh, despite himself. "Sidekick, huh? I can already see the headlines: 'The Legendary zero stat and His... Scammy Sidekick.'" He chuckled at the absurdity of it.
Lira grinned, picking up her chopsticks again. "Well, if it means more ramen and less solitude, I'd take the title with pride."
They both laughed, and for a moment, Ren's laughter melted into a gentle smile. "Well, as a matter of fact, I should be thanking you, Miss Lira," he said, leaning back slightly. "And. I would not mind remaining here for a little while. Hah, you see, I've gotta raise my stats."
Lira, chewing on the last sausage from her ramen, gazed at him with a raised eyebrow. "Stats, yeah?" she mused, swallowing the mouthful. "Well, I can kinda help you with that. Why don't you home exercise? It's not much, but it will boost your stats. Especially for level 1 newbies like you. Try it out.'
Ren blinked, a little taken aback. "Home exercising? What is that going to do?"
Lira grinned. "You'd be surprised. It's simple stuff, push-ups, sit-ups, even a bit of light stretching. It sounds ridiculous, I know, but it builds you basic strength and endurance. Just don't expect to have a six-pack in one night."
Ren couldn't help but chuckle. "You're serious, right?"
"Dead serious," she grinned, tapping her fingers on the table. "It'll work. And to top it all, you don't really have much to do but train anyway. Might as well increase those stats while you're at it."
Ren scratched the back of his head, still unsure but willing to give it a shot. "Alright, alright. I'll try it."
Lira laughed, her smile wide. "Don't worry, you've got plenty of time. And I'll be here to make sure you don't slack off."
Ren grinned back, feeling a little lighter. "Yeah Yeah whatever."
Ren knew he had to train again in his killing skills, to be exact. Ever since that white-haired girl from last night, something about her stayed with him. The way she casually said, "I will visit you again," had shaken him more than he cared to admit. It wasn't just a threat; it felt like a promise. And he couldn't shake the feeling that she would come back.
He couldn't explain it, but the thought wouldn't leave him. He started to suspect she wasn't even human. After everything Lira had said about the A Rank demon leading the attack, Ren was almost certain. That white-haired girl, she had to be the one.
She is the high-rank demon.
Last night, he had felt her presence, a cold, eerie chill creeping up the convenience store door. He knew it, deep down, but didn't want to admit it to himself. She was not a player. She wasn't even close.
And the thing is, Velora Noctis wasn't just wandering aimlessly. She was searching for someone. A demon, a player... maybe someone's successor.
Lira laughed, her smile wide. "Don't worry, you've got plenty of time. And I'll be here to make sure you don't slack off."
Ren grinned back, feeling a little lighter. "Yeah Yeah whatever."
Ren knew he had to train again in his killing skills, to be exact. Ever since that white-haired girl from last night, something about her stayed with him. The way she casually said, "I will visit you again," had shaken him more than he cared to admit. It wasn't just a threat; it felt like a promise. And he couldn't shake the feeling that she would come back.
He couldn't explain it, but the thought wouldn't leave him. He started to suspect she wasn't even human. After everything Lira had said about the A Rank demon leading the attack, Ren was almost certain. That white-haired girl, she had to be the one.
She is the high-rank demon.
Last night, he had felt her presence, a cold, eerie chill creeping up the convenience store door. He knew it, deep down, but didn't want to admit it to himself. She was not a player. She wasn't even close.
And the thing is, Velora Noctis wasn't just wandering aimlessly. She was searching for someone. A demon, a player... maybe someone's successor.