The air inside the restaurant had finally settled.
What had moments ago felt like the brink of violence now simmered into something heavier—curiosity, tension, and unspoken intent. Plates clinked softly. The low murmur of distant diners filled the space, but at their table, no one truly relaxed.
Ragna leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his armored chest, eyes sharp as he sized Blaze up. His grin was confident—too confident—but no longer reckless. It was the look of someone testing the depth of unfamiliar waters.
Blaze was the first to speak.
"Blaze," he said calmly. "SkyRealm."
Simple. Direct. No embellishment.
Ragna's grin widened. "Ragna. Eclipse Online. Cross player."
Blaze raised an eyebrow slightly. "Cross player?"
SK set her glass down gently before answering. "Cross players are individuals who transfer between different games. They retain fragments of their original fighting styles, instincts, or abilities when moving between worlds. They're extremely rare."
She paused, then added, "Ryze technically qualifies too. She originated from Countless Star. When she joined the Resistance, her skill set evolved beyond what her original game allowed."
Blaze glanced down briefly, absorbing that.
"Enough introductions," Ragna cut in, leaning forward. "Blaze. Tell me about your sword."
SK followed his gaze to the blade resting against the table leg. To her eyes, it looked… ordinary.
"It doesn't look special," she said. "Just a well-maintained sword."
Blaze exhaled slowly. "To be honest? I don't even know where I got it. If what you're saying is true—that a legendary player forged it—then… yeah. That's cool, I guess."
Ragna's chair screeched as he slammed both hands onto the table.
"Cool?" His voice rose. "COOL?! Cosmow's weapons are among the finest ever crafted across all VR systems! People cross entire worlds just to see one of his blades, let alone own it!"
SK frowned. "Then why are you so obsessed with getting one?"
Ragna's expression shifted—less excitement, more fire.
He began listing names, his tone heavy with reverence.
"Vaelric, the King of Cinder.Malachai, the Rivenheart.Lucilla, the Evermourne.Aethelred, the Unbroken Silence."
Blaze answered without thinking. "Bosses."
Ragna's eyes widened. "You know them?"
SK blinked. "I remember some of those names… vaguely. World bosses, right? Every player's dream at one point."
Ragna nodded. "They were bosses in SkyRealm and Eclipse Online. Beating them used to be the ultimate goal."
His jaw tightened.
"But when the Empire rose, everything changed. They revolutionized the mechanics—exploited bugs, abused systems. Boss hunting stopped being an adventure. Now they're just… farmed. Over and over. Automated kill cycles. Loot extraction."
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small knife, and flicked it.
The blade struck a wall poster behind the counter, embedding itself dead center.
"Carrion," Ragna said quietly.
SK nearly choked on her drink. "Carrion?! Are you insane?! That thing has a win rate of 4.32%. Even the Empire struggles to suppress it."
"And encountering it at all is nearly impossible," SK added. "Across SkyRealm, maybe three to ten players have ever faced it."
Blaze frowned slightly. "Carrion… you mean The Red Plague?"
SK stared at him. "Sir… you know about that boss?"
"Not much," Blaze said slowly. "Just… surprised to hear that name again."
SK leaned forward. "Wait—are you remembering something?"
"…A little," Blaze admitted.
Then his expression hardened.
"But with my experience? You don't stand a chance, Ragna. You'll just get yourself killed."
"That's exactly why I need one of Cosmow's blades," Ragna replied. "Adventuring still has meaning when the fight matters."
Blaze smiled faintly. "Yeah. Except this time—you don't respawn."
Ragna leaned forward. "Name your price. Let me buy your sword."
"Sorry," Blaze said without hesitation. "Not for sale."
Ragna sighed. "Figured."
"You gave up fast," SK noted.
"What? I'm not stupid enough to force him," Ragna shrugged.
Blaze tilted his head. "You've been to many games?"
"Of course," Ragna said proudly. "That's what cross players do."
"So players can just jump between games that easily?" Blaze asked.
SK's expression changed. "It's… not that simple, sir."
"How so?"
She hesitated, then asked, "Have you noticed how people treat Ryze?"
Blaze paused.
The stares. The distrust. The way soldiers watched her too closely.
"…I thought it was because she's Resistance."
SK shook her head. "Players don't like outsiders. Especially from other games. It's gatekeeping… fear… sometimes envy."
Blaze exhaled. "So it really isn't simple."
"And that's not the hardest part," Ragna added. "The real challenge is entering another game."
"What do you mean?"
"Games don't accept foreign players freely. You either enter officially… or break in. And even then, you usually need help."
He smirked. "Where do you think the Resistance gets their weapons?"
Blaze's eyes widened slightly.
"Not Dominion Frontline. The Empire controls all official weapon channels."
"…Other Games?," Blaze murmured.
"Exactly. Other games. or especially BattleNet."
Blaze remembered Ryze's story—BattleNet. FPS. Tanks. Aircraft. War simulations.
Blaze nodded. "What can you tell me about BattleNet?"
Ragna blinked. "BattleNet? Massive war ecosystem. Guns, tanks, planes. Why?"
"I think it'd be fun to visit."
Ragna laughed. "You want to become a cross player?"
SK stiffened. "Sir Blaze… BattleNet does not have a good relationship with the Empire."
Blaze looked down at his plate. "An old friend."
SK tilted her head. "Who?"
"Don't worry about it."
She sighed. "Of course…"
Ragna smirked. "Why not ask about the Empire's big players?"
"Big players?"
"The Grand Master."
Blaze blinked. "Grand Master?"
SK sighed. "One of the heads of the Empire. Identity unknown. Even officers can't access information."
"You've never met them?"
"No. Only commanders communicate directly."
Blaze narrowed his eyes. "Interesting."
Ragna leaned in. "If you want info… I can help."
"DON'T YOU EVEN—" SK snapped.
Ragna stood, slipping a folded note into Blaze's palm.
"Coordinates."
SK snatched it and tossed it away. "Sir, he's a scammer."
But Blaze had already memorized them.
Later…
Blaze stood. "We should go."
"Yes, sir."
They paid and disappeared into the crowd.
Behind the counter, Volt exhaled.
Finally.
Then he noticed the tip.
And beneath it—
A note.
Coordinates.
"…Oh no," Volt muttered.
"…This day just keeps getting worse."
And now, he had to report it.