The morning sunlight filtered through the blinds, carving alternating bands of light and shadow across the wooden floor.
Kiriya sat at the simple dining table, quietly enjoying his breakfast—a cup of black coffee and two slices of toasted bread.
Outside, the noise of the city waking up drifted in, yet compared to yesterday's earth-shaking events in the game world, this everyday life felt especially tranquil, even somewhat… bland.
Unlike the phantom swordsman who danced on the edge of blades within the game, the real Kiriya carried an air of languid ease, his lips always curved in a faint, almost absent smile.
"Honestly… life in the game is so thrilling, but reality is this dull." He chuckled softly to himself, his fingertips tapping unconsciously against the table, as though savoring the lingering feel of the Obsidian Sword.
After quickly clearing away the dishes, he glanced at the clock. 9:40. Twenty minutes earlier than agreed.
He picked up the sleek EAO VR headset from beside his bed, drew a deep breath, and slipped it on.
A faint sensation of neural connection brushed against him, then his vision was replaced by the familiar azure glow of the login interface.
[Identity verification successful…]
[Neural link stable…]
[Welcome back, Kiriya. Connecting to "The World"…]
After a brief darkness and a moment of weightlessness, the scenery before him shifted in an instant.
The grand teleportation plaza of Dawn City surged into view.
More vivid than when he first arrived yesterday—soaring mage towers pierced the skies, their spires encircled by eternal arcs of arcane radiance; in the distance, the bustle of the commercial district mingled with the chatter of players and the clamor of armored NPC guards on patrol, filling the air with a vibrant, orderly rhythm.
Instinctively, he clenched his fist. The [Obsidian Sword] hung steadily at his waist, radiating a comforting weight and faint warmth.
His gaze swept around. Beneath the colossal statue of the Goddess of Dawn, the agreed meeting place was empty. Only a few unfamiliar players hurried past or stood waiting for others.
He remained in the center of the plaza, his black attire a sharp contrast to the ornate architecture surrounding him.
At his waist, the Obsidian Sword shimmered with dark crimson veins beneath the morning light, harmonizing perfectly with his dark-toned gear.
"Guess I'm early." He mused inwardly, unsurprised. As was his habit, he drifted toward the base of the statue, leaning casually into the shadow, arms folded as he waited.
Minute by minute ticked away. Just before ten o'clock, still no sign of Lina, Mira, or Violet.
"Something must have delayed them," he frowned slightly, about to open his friends list to check their status.
Suddenly, the faintest trace of footsteps brushed the air directly behind him. So subtle it was nearly drowned by the ambient noise, yet close—deliberately controlled, probing… playful.
Kiriya's body tensed at once. Almost by muscle memory, his hand darted toward the hilt of his sword.
But quicker still was the cold, rigid press of metal against his back. The sharp tip of steel. At the same time, a scent drifted near—cool, tinged faintly with the fragrance of silverleaf blossoms. Familiar.
A voice, lowered on purpose yet betraying its original timbre, carrying a teasing lilt, brushed his ear.
"Guess who I am?" The cool voice came from behind, the sword tip applying just the right amount of pressure.
The tension running through Kiriya's body quietly eased. Yet he didn't release his grip on the hilt at once. Instead, his fingers tapped lightly against it—two deliberate knocks—as though in thought, before he finally withdrew his hand with lazy nonchalance.
Tilting his head slightly, his voice drawled in mock leisure, the tone almost exaggerated:
"Hmm? Let me guess… this faint, subtle scent of silverleaf flowers… Who else could it be but our ever-perfect Miss Lina?"
Turning slowly, his movements casual with a touch of elegance, his gaze fell on the jagged scrap of metal in Lina's hand. His brow arched with playful mischief:
"With this? Next time you want to scare me, at least use a proper dagger, my knightly lady. Otherwise, it doesn't quite suit your station."
Lina released the shard. It dissolved into motes of light midair and vanished. Her clear features showed little expression, yet within those blue eyes flickered the faintest, nearly imperceptible smile—like a breeze skimming the surface of a frozen lake.
"I didn't expect you to say something like that."
Her voice was steady, carrying her signature calm—not icy, but with a composed distance.
"It seems catching you off guard is impossible."
The morning sun traced the lines of her tall, poised figure. The lighter armor she wore flowed with sleek elegance—less of the heavy oppression of the battlefield, more of the sharp, gallant grace of an elite knight.
Her white hair was not carelessly loose, but bound neatly at the back, with a few strands falling gently against her neck, softening her presence.
Kiriya studied her, the curve of amusement at his lips deepening.
"You look beautiful today." He paused, then shifted his gaze naturally past her, toward the space behind.
"But… what about the other two ladies? Don't tell me they overslept?"
At the mention of business, Lina's demeanor grew more focused. She shook her head lightly."It's Mira. She stumbled onto a stroke of fortune—a rare, time-limited hidden quest. Something about deciphering an ancient rune, requiring the aid of both a mage and someone with pure energy."
She paused, then calmly recounted:"When she contacted me, she was excited, said: 'This is a rare opportunity, it'd be a shame to miss it. Let me bring Violet to help right away. As for you two combat experts—find somewhere to train yourselves.'"
Kiriya gave a soft chuckle and shook his head."Sounds exactly like her. So, it's just the two of us—the 'abandoned duo,' hm?" He spread his hands in feigned helplessness, though his eyes shone as they lingered on Lina, clearly waiting for her plan.
"I don't intend to waste time." Lina's voice remained cool and pragmatic, as always."Yesterday at the Adventurers' Guild, I noticed an investigation request. The graveyard district in the west of the city reported unusual activity. Night watchmen claimed to have witnessed unnatural phenomena and inexplicable magical surges. The reward from the guild is decent, yet hardly anyone has taken it."
She paused ever so slightly, studying his reaction."They say… the atmosphere is rather 'eerie.' Connected to the undead. Interested?"
Not a trace of fear showed on Kiriya's face; instead, his playful interest grew stronger. A gleam of excitement flashed in his eyes.
"The undead? Sounds much more interesting than boring grinding. At least... the environment is quieter, suitable for..." He deliberately dragged out the words, glancing at Lina.
Lina merely pressed her lips together slightly at his obvious teasing, as if fighting back a smile, but ultimately maintained her cool, composed demeanor.
"Your focus is always so... unique," she commented flatly, turning toward the western direction. Sunlight flowed over her silvery shoulder guards.
"So then… shall we go?"
"Of course," Kiriya responded briskly, naturally falling into step beside her.
"Your flower-protecting chief swordsman is at your service, my lady knight."