The deafening roar of the crowd crashed against the arena walls like a rising tide.
Kiriya and Lina made their way through the throng of excited players, countless gazes locking onto them—some filled with awe, some with admiration, others with curiosity… and just a faint hint of envy.
"That was amazing! How did you even pull that off?"
"Phantom Swordsman? I've never even heard of that class!"
"Hey, think we could talk sometime?"
"Bro, can I add you as a friend?"
Surrounded by greetings and questions, Kiriya kept his expression calm, but his slightly quickened pace betrayed a hint of unease.
He had never been good at dealing with situations where all eyes were on him.
Just as a player was about to crowd into his path, he almost instinctively reached out and gently took hold of Lina's wrist.
"Excuse us, we have to leave now," he said under his breath, voice carrying a touch of urgency.
Lina barely had time to react before he was already guiding her forward, slipping through the crowd.
His movements were never rough—just firm, assured, and skillful—using subtle shifts of his body and the light pull of his grip to clear a path for her.
It wasn't until they had completely left the arena's grounds, the roaring cheers fading into the distant sound of wind over the plains, that Kiriya seemed to realize what he was doing.
He quickly let go and slowed his steps.
"Sorry," he muttered, clearing his throat, his gaze sliding away a little too quickly. The tips of his ears flushed red. "There were… too many people back there."
Lina felt her cheeks warm as well. The ghost of that brief, dry warmth still lingered faintly on her wrist.
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear to hide her own fluster, forcing her voice to remain calm and even.
"It's fine. Walking faster was probably for the best anyway." She kept her gaze fixed somewhere off in the distance, avoiding his eyes.
A short silence stretched between them, tinged with an awkward yet strangely pleasant tension.
In the end, Lina was the first to break it. She let out a quiet breath, her usual cool tone carrying a faint trace of teasing.
"Looks like you've made a name for yourself. How does it feel—being the center of everyone's attention?"
Kiriya relaxed a little, letting out a sheepish smile.
"A bit too much attention for my taste, honestly. I'm not really used to it."
He paused, then his expression softened into something bright and sincere.
"But… it felt good. Facing an opponent like that. The fight was… exhilarating."
Lina nodded in understanding.
"It was an incredible match. The timing and control of that last [Phantom Resonance]—it was almost flawless." Her words carried genuine praise.
"Her [Shadow step] had a slightly longer cooldown than my [Blink Step]," Kiriya replied, slipping into analysis almost by habit.
His voice was calm, more at ease now that he had found a familiar topic.
"The moment her [Dark Barrier] shattered—that was the opening. I just took it."
He said it lightly, but the precision of his judgment spoke volumes.
"It wasn't just timing," Lina countered, shaking her head, ice-blue eyes glinting with respect.
"The pressure you exerted, that relentless rhythm—you can't achieve that with calculations alone."
Kiriya thought for a moment, then admitted honestly,
"Yeah… there was some instinct in it too. Predicting her movement wasn't something I could explain—it was more like a feeling."
That was his style of fighting—logic and intuition, working side by side.
They kept walking, their earlier awkwardness melting away as the conversation turned to battle.
Yet, somehow, the invisible thread between them felt a little tighter than before.
The arena soon disappeared far behind them.
The eastern plains opened wide before them, and in the distance, the jagged cliffs marking the entrance to Silent Gorge rose like the fangs of some colossal beast.
And then, a calm, steady voice called out from behind them.
"Excuse me—pardon the interruption. Could the two of you stop for a moment?"
Kiriya and Lina both halted and turned politely.
The newcomer was a male player clad in well-fitted leather light armor, a silver guild emblem pinned to his chest—the design a pair of crossed swords and staff.
His aura was composed, his level not low, and a friendly smile rested on his face.
"May we help you?" Lina asked, her voice cool but courteous. Her sharp gaze had already taken note of the guild insignia.
The man stopped a few paces away and gave a small bow.
"Forgive the intrusion. I am Bryce, a recruitment officer of the guild Silver Wardens. I had the honor of witnessing your performance earlier—especially yours, sir Swordsman—and I must say, it left quite an impression."
His tone was sincere as he continued:
"Our guild is one of the major factions in Dawn City. We strive to provide a good environment and ample resources for our members. Would you have any interest in joining us? With your strength, you would no doubt thrive among us."
Kiriya listened quietly, then gave a polite but firm shake of the head.
"Thank you for the offer—but I prefer to operate freely for now. I'm not ready to join a guild just yet."
His refusal was clean and honest, without offense.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Bryce's face, but he quickly recovered, his smile easy.
"I see. I understand—players of your caliber often value the freedom of the open road."His gaze shifted to Lina.
"And this lady must be your regular partner, yes? You two seem to work together flawlessly."
Lina inclined her head slightly.
"We work well enough," she replied simply, her tone neutral but clear.
Seeing that neither seemed inclined to join, Bryce didn't press further.
Instead, he drew out a beautifully crafted calling card—an in-game item—and held it out.
"In that case, I won't trouble you further. This is our guild's contact token. Should you ever change your mind—or if you need any assistance—don't hesitate to reach out.
The Silver Wardens always welcome true strength."
This time, Kiriya accepted the card with a nod.
"Thank you. We'll keep it in mind."
"I look forward to the possibility of working together someday," Bryce said with one last polite bow before turning and taking his leave.
...
As his figure receded into the distance, Lina's voice came softly, tinged with understanding.
"The big guilds sure move fast."
"Yeah." Kiriya tucked the card away, sounding a little resigned.
"Didn't expect to draw this much attention."
"It was inevitable," Lina replied evenly, her eyes scanning the surroundings, noting the subtle gazes of other onlookers.
"You not only defeated the notorious 'Sorceress,' but revealed an unknown hidden class. More people will notice you from now on."
There was no fear in her tone—if anything, there was a quiet anticipation beneath her calm.
"It's fine," Kiriya said, voice level but resolute. He turned to meet her gaze, trust shining clear in his eyes.
"We'll deal with whatever comes. And besides…"
He allowed himself a faint, confident smile.
"I'm not alone."
Lina's lips curved into a small, warm smile of her own.
"Exactly. Whether it's curious onlookers or would-be challengers, they'll just be more sparring partners for us. Good practice for the road ahead."