The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

[“Last time, I grew up too quickly, so it was awkward for a while. Now, we’re finally at the same age.”]

Nahean continued, but Akata was left speechless, unable to comprehend his words.

[“…You wanted to see my face? Are you willing to use the vice leader of the subordinates group, me, as a sacrificial pawn for such a reason?”]

[“Ifrea doesn’t question my decisions. It’s convenient that way.”]

Before the third quarter began, when Agasa’s subordinates group was integrated into the Ice Castle’s subordinates, the vice guild master and strategist, Ifrea, took a decisive action:

“The subordinates from Agasa will be separated into the second squad. It’s better to have Nahean lead them and let them operate independently.”

Although Ifrea might not have been entirely satisfied with Nahean’s leadership, she respected him and treated him courteously as the leader. She did not force the new subordinates to merge with the existing ones to foster friendliness.

“They already have their bonds. Forcing a merge might backfire. Additionally, they have strong loyalty to their former guild master, so they might resent the new leadership. It’s best not to give them orders, despite their lower ranks. Just share goals to maintain a cooperative partnership.”

As Ifrea had stated, she never gave specific orders on how to handle Akata.

All of this was Nahean’s independent decision.

The weapon Nahean had thrown was far from his reach, almost closer to Akata. Unafraid, he sat down on the ground.

Akata narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Nahean’s actions.

[“I don’t know who you are. Whatever connection we had in the past is meaningless now. Don’t look for the past in me.”]

Akata’s tone had become defensive. However, Nahean showed no disappointment at Akata’s cold gaze.

[“I know. I understand.”]

[“Don’t act kindly. We are enemies. I need to kill you and return to the field to fight.”]

[“Do as you wish.”]

Nahean nodded calmly, spreading his arms as if he were willingly binding himself.

[“If you kill me, you can leave here quickly. I’ve hindered you, so I’ll accept it humbly.”]

Akata’s killing intent was moderate. He could commit murder if necessary.

Even as a boy, he had not hesitated to injure enemies.

Yet, no white flames emerged from Akata’s fingertips. He clenched his lips for a moment.

[“You wear that expression, and you say I can kill you?”]

Nahean’s resolve finally wavered, his eyes flickering.

[“If you die by my hand, it will hurt you more than anyone.”]

Akata turned his head away, refusing to look at Nahean again.

‘Akata cares about me… No, no. Don’t expect anything. You’ll only be disappointed later. He couldn’t bear to burn someone who had surrendered.’

Akata, realizing he was wasting time, furrowed his eyes slightly. He, too, slumped down on the ground.

With no fighting taking place, the five minutes in the black space turned into an awkward period of rest with their backs to each other. Silence prevailed. As soon as the black space lost its hold, Akata vanished like a flash of light.

During that time, Nahean remained completely unscathed.

* * *

After the incident between Nahean and Akata, viewers began to redefine the Target Setting function.

“At this point, isn’t the Target function just a date request?”

“? LOL”

If one didn’t consider combat, the Target function seemed like a feature allowing you to spend five minutes alone with your chosen person.

[Abandoned City – School]

A male character who, whenever he appeared, drew significant attention from the viewers.

[“It’s heavy…”]

He defeated those enveloped in unique abilities with his bare hands, then sat on the bodies of his fallen enemies as if they were chairs.

Every time he reappeared, his slightly sunken cheeks and the dark circles under his eyes seemed to grow darker. His lemon-colored hair glowed even more brilliantly against the artificial turf of the schoolyard.

“You know what?”

“Zaet hasn’t yawned in 20 minutes. That’s a record.”

Despite his sleepy appearance, Zaet was intently staring at a status screen in front of him. Specifically, it was the additional function screen for the round, visible to the viewers as well.

* * *

Target a player’s name.

*Akata*

*Already targeted by someone else.*

Being mentioned as the next top ranker, Akata was unintentionally the most popular target. He was already targeted by other players.

Zaet’s sleepy eyes grew darker with the deepening dark circles as he began to write another name.

*Shemar…*

He quickly hit ‘back’ and erased it.

The enemy he’d been sitting on had already returned to the stronghold. Zaet closed the window and laid down leisurely on the turf.

“What was that?”

“What did he just do?”

Zaet had no idea that thousands of viewers had just witnessed his actions. Such was the limitation of a character he couldn’t control.

“Holy crap…”

“The fan cafe is going to explode today.”

* * *

[Abandoned City – Plaza]

When her opponent vanished before her eyes, Tian retrieved her lightning with her gleaming silver sword and clicked her tongue in annoyance.

‘…Even if the difference was apparent from the first clash.’

Tian, who had planted her sword in the ground, tied up her disheveled hair once more, her eyes glinting with determination.

‘When my opponent reappears, I will strike without hesitation.’

This resolve mirrored the awakening speech that had once imprinted her in everyone’s minds during the selection tournament.

[“I will rise until my body can no longer move. My soul is one with my sword, and as long as I hold it, I will not fall.”]

Tian opened the ‘Target Setting’ window, wrote the name, and pursed her lips when she saw that her target, having a higher ranking, approved the setting.

At that moment, her status screen vibrated.

[“Tian! Where have you gone? Come back! You can’t possibly be-.”]

-Click.

However, Tian abruptly cut off the guild master’s communication.

Akata.

* * *

You have been targeted!

Her body was immediately transported.

Appearing in the black space, she found Akata, who had just been released from Nahean, now frowning at being pulled back in.

Without delay, Tian slashed at him with her sword.

Screech!

Simultaneously, the white phoenix slashed through the darkness. The black space was flooded with energy so intense that it turned completely white.

“Ugh! Ha, ha.”

In the fierce melee, Tian’s hair came undone, flying wildly. Some strands were scorched by the white phoenix, leaving charred marks.

Despite the chaos, Akata’s eyes never lost their focus, pressuring her with every move.

Seeing this, Tian felt a surge of frustration. Yet, her steps remained resolute.

‘…It’s infuriating. The boy I once defeated in the duel is now driving me back.’

It wasn’t just about pride. Her eyes, red with effort, revealed a deeper resentment.

‘I worked harder to become stronger—’

Clang!

The phoenix’s beak crushed Tian’s right hand, sending her sword flying.

Just then, the time for the target space expired, and they were returned to the plaza. Tian lay collapsed by the dried-up fountain.

She looked up at the man approaching her with heavy steps.

She wondered if the words she had vowed during the duel still lingered in his heart.

[“I just marked Tian. I will get her back, no matter what.”]

Though she could hardly move, Tian struggled to lift her arm.

[“…Tian!!!”]

A shout interrupted them.

A shadow fell over Tian as someone embraced her. She flinched.

With difficulty, she spoke through her barely moving lips.

[“Move, Runehan. This is my fight. The defeat is mine alone.”]

[“No!!”]

Runehan did not move aside from Tian. From his hands, dazzling lightning erupted. He had copied Tian’s ability. Despite the high difficulty and S-grade level, Runehan replicated Tian’s lightning perfectly.

Bang!

The lightning Runehan conjured was so powerful that Akata hesitated and stepped back slightly.

At that moment, a lasso flew from somewhere, binding Akata’s arms.

Akata looked up to see the ‘Meadow’ guild. The half-masked man, Garam, manipulated Akata’s consciousness, preventing him from avoiding the lasso.

Below, Junias, transformed into a lion, growled. The lasso had been thrown by another guild member at the right moment.

All the guild members had come to rescue the one who had acted independently.

Realizing this, Tian half-closed her eyes.

[“Why did you go to fight Akata alone when I told you not to? You said you hated my orders, and I’m sorry for that! But it was obvious you’d get hurt-!”]

Finding him too loud, Tian weakly raised her arm to cover Runehan’s mouth.

In that instant, her haggard face struck him more profoundly than ever.

[“I wanted to bring you the first rank.”]

Just as Gio had done for Rudel in the past.

Runehan, I hated that you couldn’t shine as brightly because of your feelings for Rudel.

[“And if I lost, I didn’t want it to be called your loss.”]

He’s often annoying, loud, and unnecessarily sentimental.

…But truthfully, Tian liked hearing his voice.

[“So I went alone. If I troubled you, I apologize-.”]

Before she could finish, something muffled her words.

Tian blinked twice in shock.

Looking up slightly, she saw Runehan’s face incredibly close, his eyes closed.