As Nero’s psyche began to break down around the idea that his girlfriend and friend were murdered over a simple misconception, Rose slowly drew her sword as well once he had, preparing for a fight that wouldn’t go anywhere. If he really wanted to hurt them, why didn’t he try to take them to a danger zone? Nikolai placed his hand on her shoulder, reaffirming her need to stand fast – Nero most likely being the only player in the game capable of harming her in any case.

Flashes of white light began to appear around them as other players ported into the new town to check it out and prepare for their next party, which seemed like a daily routine by now. Only, they were each met with an odd sight upon reaching the town – Nero, the boy they’d heard of who was easily the richest of players and one of the few to own his own home by now, was currently charging at the Masked Man, Rose stepping forwards to take him on instead. As his sword came down, it collided with her own – before being thrust aside and away, her body moving inwards with a single step to stab the end of her blade at his stomach; blowing him back a few steps with the strike.

“It is time, Rose.” Nikolai spoke softly, crossing either arm over his chest and simply watching as she nodded in acknowledgment. She stood upright and raised her blade to call people’s attention, before directing it at the boy before her.

“This boy has just declared to us that he will stop us from freeing you all from this hell. He wants to personally damn you to this place for eternity out of his personal spite for losing his friends in the Red Guild. Is it not his fault for having dealings with those monsters?! Is it not his own undoing that he’s sewn?! Show him what happens to traitorous, dastardly, cold humans like him!” she announced loudly, people slowly moving forwards from the crowd. These were no ordinary players who now surrounded him; they were all devoted followers to the false prophet that was Rose, their minds already encapsulated by the idea that she was a Goddess sent from their world to free them. They would do anything for her at this point. 

Before he could react, they had tackled and grabbed at him – pinning him to the floor roughly before each grabbing different parts of his body to hoist him from the ground and begin dragging him away, the silver-haired boy kicking and screaming in defiance as they did so – barking obscenities at the duo as he trailed away into the distance, a thick group of devotees chattering amongst themselves over how to deal with him.

He was forced to his knees, three male players holding his arms and shoulders to keep him from defending himself whilst another stepped in front of him. A morning star raised high, the player checking with the others for confirmation on whether he should actually do it or not – that moment of hesitation enough for the first half of a blade to lurch from within his chest and stick outwards; its red, glowing hue slowly fading as the skill ended. The group flinched at the sight – the man who had been stabbed slowly falling to his knees as the pain sank in, revealing a head of blonde hair atop the attacker’s frame. A red cursor now stood above her, indicating her PK – the man before her slowly sputtering his confusion as his form collapsed to the ground and slowly dissipated into naught but particles of information. 

“And you shout at me for being stupid.” She sighed aloud, gazing down at his form with heavy hues. It was clear from the redness just beneath each eye that she’d been crying for some time, though had mustered her strength to attend the new town’s reveal. Indeed, she was a part of the crowd that had been surrounding the incident at the portal – but did not make her move in case the Masked Man had drawn attention to her as well to put her in a tight spot. Without a second’s more hesitation on her behalf, she swung her sword again; knocking two more away and continuing to another strike to further cut her way into the group of lower-leveled players. By this time they’d begun to defend themselves, but it was too late; another few members of her guild had shown up to aid her in the conflict – cutting down the devotees like they were nothing, but each slowly getting themselves a red icon over their heads to indicate their deeds. Before long, there were only one or two left – the ones that had been holding Nero down, which released him to take up arms and defend themselves against the coming attacks. Though they found that Alice and her Guild members did not attack again, instead helping Nero to his feet and silently allowing him to decide what to do with them. As he thought it over, he received a Guild invite from Alice – who was staring at him sternly; not through anger, fear or sadness – but with a determination to live that she had not shown before.