A PITCHER’S DELIVERY

A crowd of humans and other creatures from Night Sky and Faceless Army clans, joined by a few solo players, waited for the famous rogue on the lakeshore.

The leaked video showing Raven’s location had brought both risk-takers and those who had a plan here. The Rollin’ Dice group, who had lost to Raven, was also there. The vengeful monk had come up with a way to punish Raven so as to avoid getting in trouble with Mollie.

Twenty-four hours had passed, but no one left — quite the opposite. More people were coming. Someone started to accept bets on Raven’s victory or death.

After Raven had vanished without hearing anyone, all players who had witnessed his visit had just one question: Why was his appearance so weird?

The group of five led by the bespectacled youngster waited patiently for the rogue to enter the game. In the meantime, they had spotted many familiar faces around. Even two Fortuna players were here.

Everyone realized there would be blood. Mr. X, the one who had challenged Raven during a live broadcast, was also among those waiting. Seizing the opportunity of meeting his opponent on the third floor, Raven player came rushing here, not caring about losing the time he could’ve used for levelling up.

Mr. X was confident in his strength. A stellar newbie breaking into the ranks of the world’s five hundred best virtual reality gamers last year, he played a Dalikin race member: a mountain-dwelling creature with extremely hard and sturdy body, with small wings on the shoulders allowing for farther and higher jumps. His class was warrior, his preferred weapon a spear. Mr. X was full of anticipation at showing that upstart his rightful place.

Those present weren’t starting any conflicts with each other so, when the space on the rogue’s leave spot wavered, and his figure started to form in the air, everyone paid heed instantly. Hundreds of faces turned to Raven. Gordon smirked. How do you like surprises, you fucking bastard?

The rogue formed fully. As he glanced around, everyone could see his thin metal hair falling down to the small of his back. With their ends rising slightly, these metal snakes seemed to be examining the area, serving their master as an extra pair of eyes. His real eyes were covered in tiny, golden scales and had vertical pupils, and their piercing stare reaching the bottom of everyone’s soul. Whatever specialization he had got, it didn’t seem to match his rogue class.

Mr. X stepped ahead, shouldering his spear. “Hi, White Raven. How about holding our duel right now?”

“Oops. Your great plan failed again, sis.”

“Whom are you talking to?” Like many men, Mr. X hated the very idea of being addressed as “sis.” He’d rather have Raven say it was because he was speaking to someone else.

“Never mind, spearhead. Your sudden arrival is out of step with my sister’s plan, but not really by much. The third floor is so small. Who would’ve thunk?”

“A face-to-face duel. Now. Do you agree?”

“Before we start, I want to ask you one question, and I want everyone to hear your answer. Do you really want to fight a player twenty-eight levels above you?”

Mr. X smirked with contempt. “By asking this question, you’re proving your incompetence. Again. Ascension is no level game, you moron. Sure I want to fight. Use whatever weapon you like. Just don’t die too quickly, little raven.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

***

Listening to this talk, a young man playing a ranger asked his teammate: “What’s he talking about, Oz?”

“Suller. Where’ve you been? Didn’t you get it while playing?”

“What did I have to get?” The youngster frowned, realizing he had said a stupid thing, but he was still clueless about why it was stupid.

“I can’t believe I really have to explain that... Just as he said, Ascension isn’t like any other game. It was even mentioned by the devs. Your level isn’t really important here — if it’s important at all. You must look beyond numbers. In the very first month of playing, many started to notice that their real-world experience, speed of thought, and even their physical appearance had a great influence on their character’s development. With a lot of gaming experience, tactical intuition, mastery of skills, and knowledge of your enemy’s weak spots, you can possibly kill one like Raven even if you are just level twenty.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy crap...”

“But... not in this case.”

“Huh?”

“If Raven, at his current level, had standard or even rare skills, a pro gamer at a much lower level could kill him. But this isn’t the only unique thing about Ascension. It has a fuckton of skills. There are so many that some believe that new ones are created for any player who did something special. I think that makes sense. Just look at our top hundred. Do you know how many skills all of them share?”

“No idea. How many?” The ranger swallowed, waiting for a response.

“Excluding all the standard skills coming with a particular class or race, we only get... twenty.”

“So few?” the boy screamed in shock.

“Yeah. So look at Raven again and think: is he as simple as he looks?”

In the meantime, the conversation of the two top players encircled by the crowd took a completely different direction.

“Are you crazy?!” Tilting his head to the side, Mr. X tried to understand how they had come to be discussing the price of their duel instead of fighting it.

“Listen to me, spearboy. You’re wasting my time. You want me to please you by engaging in a dick measuring competition any normal person would avoid. Why should I do that with no gain for myself? If you win — and by your face I can tell you strongly believe in that — you’ll get your fame. But I’ll get none by defeating an opponent so badly outclassed. So: pay or leave.”

“Are you that petty? Do you doubt that I have the money?”

“Less talking, more doing.”

Everyone was so busy listening to their every word that no one spotted a blue imp appear in the air over the rogue’s head.

“That’s ridiculous, Raven. But I’m in. Three hundred gold. Hope you won’t run away once you get it.” Laughing, he tossed a coin purse, then took a batter’s stance using the spear butt to deliver it to his opponent. Sitting on the snow, Raven shot a hand aside to catch it. Touching his fingers, the purse vanished.

“It’s a deal. Time to complete it.” Raven stood up, dusting the snow off his pants. “When do we start? Shall we count to three or wait for a gong strike?”

“My partner will count to one. That’ll be the signal.”

“So sweet.” The rogue smiled broadly. “Start counting, girl.”

“Huh?! I’m no girl!” Mr. X’s partner was deeply offended.

“Count, Cindy.”

“Sorry, babe.” Smiling to Mr. X, she counted: “Three... two... one!”

Most of the crowd expected a show.

Many expected Raven’s fall.

Some wanted a demonstration of his skills to learn more about them.

But all were disappointed.

There was a flash of bright blue across the glade, and the spearman sank slowly to the snowy ground. Before anyone could ask what had happened, a big hole appeared in Mr. X’s chest.

“Looks like this is yours.” The cold, emotionless voice came through the howling northern wind. It was the rogue speaking. He stood in a pitcher’s position as if to catch the purse that had been batted at him a moment before. But in his hand, he had his opponent’s heart.

He threw it. Flying a short distance and bouncing on the ground, the heart landed next to the player’s disappearing body.

“Impossible...” Gordon gaped at Raven, at the body, and then at their group leader, Oz, who was just as bewildered by what had just happened. It had certainly been that brief flash crossing the glade like a horizontal lightning, but the wizard had no idea if it was a skill or something else.

Whatever skills Raven had, they were one up on everyone present.

“Three hundred gold in no time. Yum! I love this side job.”