“Shadow Dash is not just an escape tool, or a gap-closer,” I explained to Neige’s livestream, while his guild mates scowled at me. “This little dash is the backbone of the assassin class. I say this to every assassin player watching—I want you to value Shadow Dash like it’s your life, because when used correctly, it really is a second life. And if any one of you activates Shadow Dash from the system skill menu, you're bad. Any system assistance at all will make the skill clunky.”

  I took a breath, making myself appear calm like some yoga instructor. “Imagine yourselves on a rollercoaster. You’re falling, you’re moving fast, and the G-forces are tossing your body around. Except, you decide where those G-forces take you.”

  I activated [Shadow Dash], and I really focused on the fundamentals I’d practiced for enough years that they’d all just become muscle-memory now. I imagined a rush of adrenaline hitting me, G-forces pushing me violently. My body turned to a shadow, and with that imagination of a violent rush of speed, I tossed myself around the room in a perfect circle, landing where I’d started.

  My body returned, and I faced the livestream again. “As an assassin, you won’t get anywhere by just being calculating or precise. Put your body into it. Imagine yourself flying. The game will take your imagination, and it will turn it into reality.”

  I spun my daggers. “And to the forums, I don’t give a damn if you call me a cheater. Feel free to send me as many death threats as you want. I won’t read them. But! If any one of you attempts to hunt Veyra, or ruin her dungeon hunts, I’ll be there to defend her, because she’s way too good of a person to be caught in this bullshit.”

  Neige frowned at that.

  What else, I thought. I really hadn’t come prepared for this. I kept spinning my daggers.

  Then I threw both daggers in the air, grabbing them as they fell, and I snapped into stance. “And now, I speak specifically to Annath, because I know she’s listening! I challenge you to a duel. Not in the Wilderness, but in Worlds. I’ll find a ticket, and we’ll duel on stage, in Sweden. Not only will I win, I’ll do it with official game pods that can’t be cheated. I’ll one-shot you with this exact technique.”

  I used [Shadow Dash] directly to Neige, which made his whole guild jump back simultaneously.

  “I’ll prove myself at Worlds,” I said. “That’s all I have to say. Thank you, and goodbye.”

  Neige, with his bow ready, kept staring at me. He stepped back. “Let’s go. We’re not winning against two cheaters.”

  His guild slowly backed off, Neige keeping his bow ready. They backed into the chokepoint of the doorway, holding it defensively. If we attacked, there was still a chance we’d lose.

  As annoying as he was, I knew Neige was genuinely a great archer, and he had support from two high level players. If we chased recklessly, a fight could still be close.

  Luxueux made an exit.

  And my heart immediately began racing. Holy fuck. What had I just done and said?

  I let out a laugh and turned to Veyra. “Uh, was that good?”

  Veyra let out a long sigh. She collapsed with her back against the wall, sitting. “Good? Goddammit with you, Aiden…”

  I paused.

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  She glared at me. “Are you really trying to tell people we’ll compete in Worlds?”

  “No, I specifically left you out? Since you said you don’t want to compete. I only said I’m competing.”

  “Yeah, and since we’re always together, you implied I’ll be competing as well,” Veyra said. “Everything you just said, people will expect the same from me. People will want me to show off and prove myself.”

  Annoyed, Veyra tapped the bottom of her staff at the spot where Fuhad had died. A few sparkles, like small spirits, remained there. The impact made them scatter like dust hitting the ground.

  “You told me you were fine never meeting in real life,” Veyra said, frowning at me. “Was that a lie? Did you just tell me you were fine dating online to make me happy, while really, how many times have you asked me to haul my ass to Sweden now?”

  I paused, taken aback.

  She kept eyeing me, upset, until she looked away.

  I stood there, unsure how to respond. Was I lying to myself? Was she right? Was I really just a liar?

  “To be honest…” I said. “Yeah. You might be right.”

  Her gaze flinched back to me.

  “I really do want to compete in Worlds with you,” I said. “I can’t deny that. But that’s not just because I’m crushing on you like crazy.”

  She kept eyeing me, waiting for me to speak my mind.

  “I mean, I am crushing on you, sure, but beyond that, I genuinely believe we’re good at the game. Like, we’re really good at killing things.”

  She said nothing, still listening.

  “So, uh, we’d probably win good money if we entered,” I said. “I do actually want to fly there to beat Annath. But… I know that if I go there alone now…”

  She tilted her head. “Yes?”

  “If I go to Worlds alone…”

  Winning just won't feel the same...

  “You’ll lose,” Veyra said. “You’ll lose in the group stage without me, and that big boast you just made will end up embarrassing you. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t know,” I said, and for a moment, I just stood there awkwardly.

  Was she still mad at me?

  “I don’t know,” I repeated, and I sat down next to her. “Sorry. This socializing stuff is way too complex.”

  She snorted, vaguely smiling while rubbing her finger back and forth on the ground. “I get that.”

  “I guess I’m just trying to say that, even though online dates are awesome,” I said, “I would love to compete with you in Worlds as well. So… Yeah, I guess I have lied to you a bit. Competing and meeting at Worlds would be genuinely awesome.”

  She let out a breath. “At least you’re honest.”

  My face felt hot, I realized. I tried to see her reaction from the side of my eye.

  Had I just ruined this completely and overstepped my bounds? This couldn’t be how things ended, right? Just because I wasn’t satisfied with what we had? I was really down to just date online as well. Really, we had still only known for two weeks.

  “Where will you get your ticket, though?” Veyra asked.

  My head perked up.

  “You just made a pretty big promise to go to Worlds,” Veyra said, speaking at the ceiling. “You’ll need a ticket. Or will you break a promise to the whole community?”

  “No, I’m for sure going,” I said. “I was thinking of entering the one versus one PvP tourney in New York.”

  “A local competition, huh?”

  “I was too underleveled to qualify last year. I should be let in now, and New York is big enough that they’re giving a ticket straight to Worlds to the winner.”

  “And you’re sure you’ll win that?”

  “Yeah,” I said without hesitation. “It’s New York. Of course I’m the best New Yorker.”

  Her cheek lines rose a little, and I saw something in her look as she eyed the ceiling. An anticipation.

  That only lasted for a few seconds. She stood up, straightening her robe. “I don’t know… I’ll need to sort out my thoughts. I probably can’t come. Like, I’ll have problems just physically getting to Sweden. But thanks for inviting me. I’ll think about it.”

  Wait, I thought. Is there actually a chance?

  I didn't push further, and just gave her a smile. She’d been so stressed out lately, arguing every now and then, but each time, I could see where she was coming from. She wasn’t unreasonable.

  Even if Veyra and I never met, she was still just so amazing to be around.

  “And sorry for being an asshole again,” she said. “I really just need to shut up sometimes, don’t I?”

  I let out an awkward laugh. “No, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be making promises to the forum trolls in your stead.”

  She opened her system menu, checking the time. “I’m already past my bedtime. I guess we won’t have time for a long boss hunt anyway, now that the dungeon was discovered. See you tomorrow. Congrats on winning the duel.”

  “See you,” I said, and she initiated the safe log-out.

  I watched her go and continued standing there, gathering my thoughts.

  So I really need a Worlds ticket now…

  20 chapters ahead on !