Later that night.
Minutes before opening, Ren felt the vibration of excitement in the air. Even though he was alone inside his house and pod, the atmosphere felt crowded—like the breath of millions pressing against the glass.
The countdown bled away, digit by digit. 00:00:05. 00:00:04. 00:00:03.
The pod screen bloomed to life.
Welcome to COVENANT.
Update announcements scrolled in crisp lines. He skimmed the four-hour real-time limit per day, the guild establishment flow, the conversion rules for in-game currency—and then his gaze snagged on the PvP section. He slowed down, reading every word twice.
Ren's forehead creased. From now on, PvP would trigger the instant another player initiated an attack. No confirmation window. No polite [ACCEPT] or [DECLINE]. The moment steel touched air with intent, the system considered it consent.
He leaned back in the pod, silent.
