The train carriage had descended into chaos.
Passengers screamed.
Children cried.
Broken glass littered the floor.
Several seats had been destroyed by bullets.
The train itself continued racing toward the Inner Rim of Nendu at full speed, completely unaware that a battlefield had erupted inside one of its passenger cars.
Amidst the panic—
Rio calmly stood up.
Her silver hair swayed slightly as she surveyed the situation.
Her blue eyes moved across the carriage.
The broken ceiling.
The dead attackers.
The fleeing civilians.
The destroyed seats.
Then—
Her gaze landed on Sugolith.
The mercenary guild leader was still sitting exactly where he had been moments ago.
A paper bag of peanuts rested in his hand.
Crunch.
He casually tossed another peanut into his mouth.
Completely uninterested.
As if the entire attack had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Rio stared at him.
Sugolith noticed.
"...What?"
Rio narrowed her eyes.
"...Nothing."
Crunch.
Another peanut disappeared.
The man genuinely looked annoyed that his vacation had been interrupted.
Rio looked away.
Then immediately began issuing orders.
"Sayanaki."
The crimson-haired assassin was already standing.
Fenrir's Fang dripped fresh blood onto the train floor.
One of her summoned wolves was currently dragging a corpse away from the aisle.
The other was chewing on a broken sword.
Sayanaki looked over.
"What?"
Rio pointed toward the front of the train.
"Go protect the train operator."
The assassin blinked.
Rio continued.
"They might try to hold the staff hostage."
"If they take control of the train, things become complicated."
Sayanaki thought for a second.
Then nodded.
"Good point."
She immediately turned.
No hesitation.
No questions.
Just action.
The crimson-haired assassin walked toward the next carriage.
A masked attacker suddenly rushed her.
Sayanaki didn't even stop walking.
A crimson flash appeared.
The man's head separated from his shoulders.
His body collapsed.
Sayanaki continued forward.
Another attacker emerged.
Then another.
Then another.
Bodies began falling one after another as she disappeared into the next train car.
The passengers watching were completely horrified.
Rio honestly felt a little bad for the attackers.
A little.
Then she turned toward Hinabi.
"Hinabi."
The mage immediately looked up.
"Yeah?"
"You cover our rear."
Rio pointed toward the back of the train.
"Anyone suspicious."
"Anyone armed."
"Anyone approaching."
"Blast them."
Hinabi smiled.
A surprisingly dangerous smile.
"Gladly."
A magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
Blue mana gathered around her fingers.
Then she immediately moved toward the rear cars.
The moment she disappeared through the connecting door—
The temperature inside the carriage noticeably dropped.
Sugolith watched her leave.
"...That girl's scary."
Rio nodded.
"She is."
Then—
Ryota approached.
The white-haired boy adjusted his grip on his sword.
"What about us?"
Rio looked toward Ramos.
Then Silla.
Then Sugolith.
Then back toward Ryota.
"You and I stay here."
Ryota tilted his head.
"Guard duty?"
"Guard duty."
The boy sighed dramatically.
"I was hoping for something cooler."
Rio ignored him.
She looked toward Silla.
"Silla."
The young NPC immediately sat straighter.
"Y-Yes?"
Rio pointed toward Section 7A.
"The seat across from Ramos."
"Go sit there."
Silla hesitated.
Then nodded.
She quickly moved across the aisle and sat where Kiraya had been sitting earlier.
Now—
Ramos sat beside Sugolith.
Silla sat across from them.
And Rio immediately sat beside Silla.
The arrangement was intentional.
Very intentional.
Ryota remained standing.
Sword already drawn.
Watching every entrance.
Every window.
Every possible attack angle.
The atmosphere became tense.
Then Rio looked toward Ryota.
"If anyone comes through those doors."
She pointed toward both ends of the carriage.
"You fight them."
Ryota grinned.
"Now that's more like it."
Then Rio turned.
Her gaze landed on Sugolith again.
The mercenary sighed.
"...Again?"
Rio folded her arms.
Sugolith looked offended.
"You do realize I'm not behind this."
Rio nodded.
"I know."
Sugolith blinked.
"...You do?"
"Yes."
Crunch.
Another peanut vanished.
"Then why are you staring at me?"
Rio leaned back.
"Because even if you're not behind this."
She paused.
"...that doesn't mean you don't know who is."
For the first time—
Sugolith stopped chewing.
Interesting.
Rio continued.
"The attack earlier."
"Their movements."
"Their coordination."
"Their tactics."
"They aren't Phantom Menace."
Sugolith's eyes narrowed slightly.
Rio continued speaking.
"You specialize in coordinated ambushes."
"Stealth."
"Information gathering."
"Silent eliminations."
She pointed toward the destroyed ceiling.
"This?"
Her gaze moved across the corpses.
"Too loud."
"Too direct."
"Too reckless."
"The attackers weren't trying to quietly capture Silla."
"They were trying to overwhelm us through force."
Rio crossed her arms.
"Different philosophy."
"Different guild."
Silence filled the carriage.
Even Ramos stopped panicking long enough to listen.
Eventually—
Sugolith laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Not mocking.
Not sarcastic.
Just genuine amusement.
"Hahaha..."
He shook his head.
Then looked directly at Rio.
"I was right."
Rio raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
Sugolith smiled.
"You're a monster."
Meanwhile—
Above the train.
The wind howled violently.
The speeding train raced across elevated tracks leading toward the Inner Rim.
The roof shook beneath every movement.
And standing atop it—
Kiraya faced five opponents.
The former vice captain of Eternity Lions slowly lowered her stance.
Her custom gunsword Lionheart rested in her hands.
The weapon gleamed beneath the evening sky.
Five figures stood opposite her.
Three women.
Two men.
All wore black combat gear.
All wore masks.
All carried weapons.
And standing at the center—
A young woman with long yellow hair.
White eyes.
Black mask.
Calm posture.
Dangerous presence.
The moment Kiraya saw her—
She immediately recognized her.
The woman smiled.
"Kiraya."
The wind blew through her hair.
"The Lionheart Knight."
Her voice carried easily despite the train's speed.
"I was informed a silver-haired swordswoman would be protecting the targets."
"And a white-haired boy."
"And a crimson-haired assassin."
The woman's smile widened.
"But I never expected you to be here."
Kiraya's eyes narrowed.
The grip on her weapon tightened.
"And I never expected to see you either."
The yellow-haired woman laughed softly.
"Oh?"
Kiraya slowly raised her blade.
The train roared beneath them.
The sky above slowly darkened.
And for a brief moment—
Everything became still.
Then Kiraya spoke.
Clear.
Direct.
"And yet here you are."
She pointed her blade forward.
Straight at the woman.
"Epsilon Dawn's Guild Leader."
The smile on the woman's face remained unchanged.
Kiraya's voice became colder.
"Sarrow, The Golden Shredder."
The other four players immediately shifted into combat stances.
Weapons drawn.
Mana gathering.
Ready to move at any second.
Sarrow simply stood there.
Unmoving.
Watching.
Studying.
Evaluating.
The same way a predator observed another predator.
The wind continued howling around them.
Below—
The train thundered forward toward Nendu.
Above—
Two guild leaders prepared to clash.
And neither intended to back down.
Sarrow slowly lifted a hand.
The smile beneath her mask never disappeared.
"Take her out."
The order was simple.
Immediate.
The four players behind her moved at once.
They exploded forward across the roof of the speeding train.
The distance between them and Kiraya vanished in seconds.
The two female assassins reached her first.
Twin daggers flashed beneath the evening sky.
One attacked high.
The other low.
Perfect coordination.
Steel screamed.
Kiraya's Lionheart met both blades simultaneously.
Sparks erupted.
The impact slid her boots several inches across the metal roof.
Before she could recover—
The black-haired swordsman appeared above her.
His leap had been perfectly timed.
His sword descended like a guillotine.
Kiraya immediately shifted.
The blade slammed into the roof where she had been standing.
Metal exploded upward.
The train shook violently.
Passengers below screamed.
Kiraya used the opening to retreat.
But the fourth attacker was already moving.
The axe wielder.
A massive man carrying a chained battle axe.
He spun his body.
The chain extended.
The axe flew through the air.
The curved trajectory made the weapon difficult to predict.
Kiraya narrowed her eyes.
The axe sliced toward her neck.
She crouched.
The weapon passed mere inches above her head.
Wind from the swing brushed her hair.
The moment it missed—
The man pulled.
The chain snapped taut.
The axe reversed direction instantly.
Kiraya's eyes widened.
The return strike came faster than the first.
CLANG!
Lionheart intercepted the axe.
The collision sent sparks flying across the train roof.
The axe wielder grinned.
"Got you."
Kiraya smiled.
"No."
Click.
The trigger beneath Lionheart activated.
BOOM!
A concentrated blast erupted directly from the sword.
The explosion struck the axe wielder point blank.
His eyes widened.
The force launched him backward.
His feet left the train roof.
He rolled across the metal before desperately embedding his axe into the roof to stop himself from flying off.
The two assassins attacked again.
Their daggers flashed from opposite directions.
Kiraya stepped forward.
Not backward.
Forward.
The move completely disrupted their timing.
Both assassins froze for a fraction of a second.
That was enough.
Lionheart swept horizontally.
The two women immediately jumped away.
The attack missed.
But Kiraya never intended to hit them.
Because the black-haired swordsman had already reappeared.
Behind her.
Again.
His sword thrust toward the gap in her armor.
The strike was precise.
Fast.
Deadly.
Kiraya reacted instantly.
A blue magic circle appeared beneath her boots.
[Sword Skill: Freeze Point]
The temperature around her plummeted.
The swordsman's eyes widened.
Ice exploded across his body.
His sword froze.
His arms froze.
His entire body froze solid.
The momentum of his attack carried him forward.
Kiraya spun.
Her armored boot smashed into his chest.
CRACK!
The frozen player flew off the train.
His scream disappeared into the distance.
A splash echoed far below as the swordsman fell into the lake.
One down.
Three remaining.
The train continued racing toward Nendu.
The assassins immediately attacked again.
This time together.
The axe wielder joined them.
Three attacks.
Three angles.
No room to dodge.
Kiraya inhaled.
Then smiled.
Her grip tightened around Lionheart.
Mana surged.
Flames erupted from the blade.
The heat instantly overwhelmed the evening air.
Even Sarrow's expression changed slightly.
[Sword Skill: Lionheart Strike]
Fire exploded.
A massive pillar of flames engulfed the roof.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion shook the entire train.
Windows shattered.
Metal groaned.
Passengers below screamed.
Inside the carriage—
Ramos nearly jumped out of his seat.
"What was that?!"
The train shook again.
Silla grabbed her chair.
Even Rio felt the impact.
Ryota looked upward.
"Kiraya?"
Rio nodded.
"Most likely."
Across the aisle—
Sugolith slowly lowered his peanuts.
His eyes narrowed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"She's stronger than I thought."
Rio glanced at him.
"You know her?"
"Only by reputation."
Sugolith looked toward the ceiling.
His expression became thoughtful.
"I knew she was strong."
Crunch.
He tossed another peanut into his mouth.
"But not that strong."
Back atop the train—
Smoke slowly cleared.
The two assassins had been blown backward.
The axe wielder was kneeling.
Burn marks covered his armor.
Sarrow watched everything quietly.
Studying.
Calculating.
Observing.
Kiraya slowly stepped forward.
Lionheart still burning.
The flames danced across the blade.
Her blue eyes remained calm.
Focused.
Unwavering.
Sarrow finally spoke.
"You've gotten stronger."
Kiraya pointed Lionheart toward her.
"I could say the same."
Far ahead—
Sayanaki entered the next carriage.
The moment she stepped inside—
Her expression changed.
The atmosphere was wrong.
Very wrong.
Silence.
No screams.
No fighting.
No movement.
Only death.
Bodies covered the first-class carriage.
Players.
NPCs.
Train staff.
Passengers.
Blood stained the luxurious carpet.
Broken glass littered the floor.
Several corpses were still sitting upright in their seats.
Frozen in their final moments.
Even for Sayanaki—
The scene was excessive.
Then she saw him.
At the opposite end of the carriage.
A man sat casually atop a wounded Level 10 player.
The victim was still alive.
Barely.
Ropes bound his arms.
Blood covered his body.
Tears streamed down his face.
He looked up at Sayanaki.
"Help..."
The plea never finished.
CRACK.
The seated man casually snapped his neck.
The player's body went limp.
Dead.
Silence returned.
Sayanaki's crimson eyes narrowed.
The man slowly stood.
Long blue hair.
Pale skin.
A black crow mask.
A curved blade hanging at his waist.
The man tilted his head.
Then smiled beneath the mask.
Sayanaki could somehow tell.
He was smiling.
"Finally."
His voice was calm.
Pleasant.
Almost friendly.
"I was beginning to think nobody interesting would arrive."
The train rattled beneath them.
The crow-masked man slowly drew his blade.
Sayanaki responded by drawing Fenrir's Fang.
The two wolves beside her growled.
The man laughed.
"Good."
For the first time since the attack began—
Sayanaki smiled.
A dangerous smile.
One that usually appeared moments before someone died.
"Funny."
Her wolves bared their fangs.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Meanwhile—
Several carriages behind them—
Hinabi stepped into the storage compartment.
The heavy door slammed shut behind her.
Boxes.
Supplies.
Food crates.
Barrels.
The room was dimly lit.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Hinabi sighed.
"You can come out now."
Silence.
Then—
A massive figure stepped from behind the cargo.
Brown hair.
Towering muscles.
Heavy armor.
A giant hammer resting on his shoulder.
The man grinned.
"Hello there, Vice Captain."
Hinabi's expression immediately hardened.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"You don't get to call me that."
The man's grin widened.
"Oh?"
"You still angry about the hidden dungeon with Magumo?"
His laughter echoed throughout the compartment.
"Still upset somebody like our little group finally stabbed you?"
Hinabi's eyes narrowed.
Mana gathered around her fingertips.
The air around her began to glow.
"You betrayed me."
The smile disappeared from Clause's face.
"You betrayed Burning Pride."
Clause shrugged.
"Burning Pride doesn't exist anymore."
He raised the hammer.
"Eternity Lions."
"Epsilon Dawn."
"New guilds."
"New opportunities."
"That's how this game works."
Hinabi stared at him.
Then slowly raised her staff.
Blue mana surged around her.
The storage room trembled.
Clause's grin returned.
"Now that's the Vice Captain I remember."
Hinabi's voice became ice cold.
"No."
Magic circles illuminated the entire compartment.
"I'm Crowned Era now."
And the battle began.