"Oh my god! The lowest enhancement level is +18! These are divine artifacts—super divine gear!"
Everyone from the Titan's Hand guild was drooling, even Rosalia herself. The pile of equipment on the ground glowed with a unified violet-red brilliance, stirring their most primal greed.
Thud! Silica was thrown to the ground by Rosalia. The guild master's eyes gleamed with nothing but hunger for the loot.
"Madoka... I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Silica staggered to her feet and ignored the equipment entirely. She threw herself into Madoka's arms, sobbing and apologizing over and over again.
"Hahaha... You're both useless now!" one of the orange-named players laughed maniacally, raising his sword as he lunged at the two girls huddled together.
"Silica!" Madoka cried in fear, squeezing her eyes shut, her small body trembling uncontrollably.
"I knew it... They really can't be trusted. I'm sorry, Madoka. I dragged you into this," Silica whispered softly, a peaceful smile spreading on her face. Maybe this was an acceptable ending after all.
Slash! The blade pierced through—but neither Silica nor Madoka were harmed. Instead, the attacking orange-named player froze, eyes wide with shock, before his HP dropped to zero. His body shattered into glowing fragments.
"Huh?!" Seeing his fallen comrade, the burly man nearby instinctively stepped forward. Silica pulled Madoka close and backed away. Her instincts screamed that things were about to go downhill fast.
"What are you doing?! Why did you kill him?!" the other orange players roared, their eyes blazing with fury as they drew their swords, glaring at the burly man.
"Why? Don't you think the loot will be split between too many people otherwise?" the man said with a sneer, ignoring them and turning to Rosalia instead. His grin was twisted and ugly. "C'mon, Guild Master. Let's work together. You and me—we're the strongest. Two people sharing this gear sounds better than splitting it among everyone, doesn't it?"
"...Hahaha..." His laughter suddenly faltered. His expression changed drastically as his legs gave out beneath him. A wave of dizziness hit him hard, and his vision began to blur. His head felt unbearably heavy, like he could fall asleep at any moment.
"This... This is... a stun potion..." he gasped weakly, forcing his head up—only to see Rosalia smiling calmly down at him. Terror filled his eyes.
Thud, thud, thud... One by one, the other players collapsed too, falling into a deep, motionless sleep. In the game, stun potions were considered nearly useless. They took thirty minutes to take effect, making them impractical in battle. But right now, that useless potion had become the deadliest poison.
"Hahaha... idiots! A bunch of idiots!" Dark and Bloodmoon emerged from hiding, laughing hysterically. Dark kicked the unconscious man viciously. "Knew you were the strongest, so we added a little extra to your dose."
"Heh heh... Guild Master, looks like all the equipment belongs to us now!" Bloodmoon said smugly, walking up to Rosalia with an ugly, self-satisfied grin.
"Wait... Why is the Guild Master smiling?" Dark suddenly froze, his pupils shrinking as he shouted, "Move! The Guild Master drank the same potion—but she's not asleep!"
Too late.
With a calm, wicked smile, Rosalia swung her sword. Three swift strikes—and Bloodmoon shattered into fragments before he could even scream.
"Didn't I tell you? Everything is under my control," Rosalia said with a sultry smile, walking slowly toward Dark.
"Why..." Dark stumbled back, his face pale with terror. He knew full well that he couldn't win—her level advantage alone made it hopeless.
"That stun potion? It just needs time to wear off," Rosalia said smoothly as she stepped over the fallen bodies. She stopped in front of the burly man and drove her sword into his chest without hesitation.
"But still, I should thank you. You helped me take care of my biggest problems," she said, her smile turning ever more wicked as she went around finishing off the unconscious players one by one. Her player indicator shifted from green to orange... and finally to blood-red.
"The Guild Master planned to take everything from the start..." Dark's pupils dilated as realization hit. He dropped to his knees and pleaded, "Guild Master, please! Spare me! I was just being foolish! I swear, it won't happen again!"
"Hehe..." Rosalia smiled as she calmly approached him, her expression cold and composed.
"Die!" At that moment, Dark suddenly sprang from his knees, lunging forward with his sword aimed straight at Rosalia's chest. But Rosalia was faster. Her blade swept across in a flash—Dark's head flew into the air, his body shattering into fragments moments later.
Titan's Hand was finished. The entire orange-named guild had annihilated itself, leaving only Rosalia—the last standing blood-red player.
It was almost unthinkable. The infamous Titan's Hand, torn apart by its own greed.
"Hah! Dogs biting dogs—it's all the same!" Silica spat, holding a trembling Madoka close. The sight was both grotesque and laughable. These murderers and thieves never imagined they'd die at the hands of their own leader.
"No need to rush. It's your turn next." Rosalia's composed smile didn't waver as she began equipping each piece of divine gear from the pile on the ground.
"You'll be the first sacrifices to my god-tier armor! I'll rule this game. I'll be its queen!" As she equipped piece after piece, her smile grew more unhinged, her laughter more manic.
"Hahaha! Everyone will become my slaves!" Her expression twisted with arrogance and madness, her laughter echoing through the forest.
"Wait! Red-named players can't wear that pair of shoes!" Madoka suddenly cried out timidly, her small voice filled with both fear and inexplicable courage.
"The Saint's Shoes +22. You still care about them? Sorry, but they're mine now. Nothing can stop me from becoming queen!" Rosalia said, laughing maniacally as she selected the item. A blinding white light flashed—then she vanished. On the ground, the pile of red-tinted divine equipment remained.
"Uh..." Silica stood frozen for a moment, then led Madoka over to the pile. She tapped the shoes to check their stats.
"Saint's Shoes +22. Divine enhancement. Increases movement speed by 70% when equipped by a green-named player. If equipped by a red-named player: removes all equipped items and forcibly teleports the user to prison for one in-game year."
"How ironic... Madoka was only trying to help. But blinded by greed, none of them could see the truth anymore," Silica said with a faint, bitter smile as she helped Madoka put her divine gear back on.
"Eh? Sister's gifts came back to Madoka! I guess they missed me," Madoka said with a dazed but bright smile. Her wine-red eyes were crystal clear, her innocent grin utterly disarming.
"Ah... Madoka, you really are the kindest of them all. Anyone who tries to hurt you will always be punished," Silica whispered, hugging her tightly. But the delayed shock hit her at last—her legs gave out, and she collapsed weakly into Madoka's arms, trembling all over.
"Uuuu... so scary... so scary... so scary..." Silica sobbed uncontrollably.
"Um... what happened here?" A gentle, feminine voice suddenly spoke nearby—soft and warm, yet laced with deep confusion.
Silica turned her head. A stunning young woman stood beside them, dressed in a blue uniform skirt, her long golden hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders. Her beautiful face was filled with bewilderment.
"Y-you're... Asuna, from the Crystal Guild?!" Silica stammered, eyes wide with excitement. An idol—no, the idol. Everyone in the Crystal Guild was famous, but Kimi-nee was the ultimate idol among them.
"Ah... yes, that's me," Asuna replied with a slightly troubled smile. She had only come because of a message from Kimi-nee: eight simple words—"Emergency situation. Get here fast and smooth things over."
The message had been strange, and even now, standing here, Asuna had no idea what was going on. Where's Kimi-nee? What exactly am I supposed to fix?
"Sister! You came to take Madoka home! Madoka's so happy!" A small figure suddenly threw herself into Asuna's arms, hugging her tightly.
"Wha—?!" Asuna froze, her graceful face filled with shock. Since when did I have a little sister?
"Wait... this scent... it's so sweet... and familiar. It smells just like Kimi-nee..." Asuna thought, blinking in confusion as she looked down at the cheerful, smiling girl hugging her tightly.
"Who is this mysterious girl...? Kimi-nee's sister, maybe?" she wondered.
Then Madoka smiled brightly and brushed aside the long hair covering half her face—revealing a second, golden clock-like eye.
In an instant, chills shot through Asuna's entire body. Her legs nearly gave out. This wasn't just some random girl—this was Kimi-nee's true form: Kurumi Tokisaki. Kimi-nee, what are you doing?!
"So amazing! Madoka's sister is actually the Flash—Asuna, the fifth-strongest player in the entire game! No wonder Madoka has such god-tier equipment!" Silica said in awe, her eyes sparkling.
"Madoka...?" A bead of cold sweat rolled down Asuna's temple.
"Yep! Madoka's sister is the best!" Madoka said proudly, holding Asuna's hand affectionately, her tone natural and innocent.
"Kimi-nee... this is terrifying... so terrifying..." Asuna's smile stiffened visibly.
"Um! I have a request—can I join the Crystal Guild? It's my dream! Please!" Silica bowed deeply, her face full of nervous anticipation.
"Sister! Please say yes! Silica's my friend—please let her join!" Madoka said, her eyes glimmering like jewels as she clasped Asuna's hands, shaking them gently while speaking in the sweetest, most adorable voice possible.
Beep... Asuna's entire body jolted as if struck by lightning. A wave of dread crawled from her toes to the back of her skull.
"Uuuu! So scary! Kimi-nee, you're terrifying!" Asuna's face contorted in horror, tears threatening to spill. Inside, she was crying in despair.
"Pretty please~?" Madoka's sugary-sweet tone, her pleading smile, and her innocent eyes—Asuna was completely overwhelmed.
She was hit—not by affection, but by sheer, soul-freezing terror. Her spirit practically floated out of her mouth as she went blank.
"Kimi-nee is a demon... a demon!!!"
"Yay! Sister nodded!" Madoka's cheerful voice rang out with pure delight.
"R-really?!" Silica's eyes lit up. But when she turned, Asuna looked completely lifeless—her expression frozen like a zombie. Silica nearly jumped in fright.
"Asuna-senpai, are you okay? You don't look so good..." she asked worriedly. She already thought of herself as a new Crystal Guild member, so the honorific slipped out naturally.
"It's fine! Sister just zones out sometimes. She'll be okay soon!" Madoka said brightly, pushing gently at Asuna's back. Asuna stiffly turned around and began walking forward in slow, mechanical steps.
"Is she really okay...? She's walking so weirdly..." Silica asked, her face full of concern.
"That's just how she gets when she's spacing out—it'll pass soon!" Madoka replied with a pure, innocent smile, reaching out naturally to hold Asuna's hand.
The instant their hands touched, Asuna's entire body jerked as if electrocuted. Her face turned pale with terror. This is a threat. This has to be a threat, right?! Kimi-nee, please spare me!
"See? Sister's fine now!" Madoka said happily, her sweet smile returning as Asuna began walking more normally.
"Mhm!" Silica nodded energetically. "Madoka, when we get to the Crystal Guild, do you think we'll meet Kimi-nee? I love Kimi-nee so much!"
"Kimi-nee?" Madoka tilted her head, her face full of innocent confusion.
"Oh, no no! I mean—back then! I used to love Kimi-nee! But now I like someone else even more!" Silica waved her hands frantically, blushing hard.
"Someone you like?" Madoka pressed her finger to her chin, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"It's you, Madoka! I like you the most!" Silica said with a bright red face.
"Really?! Madoka's so happy!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up with a dazzling smile.
"Pffft—!" Asuna suddenly burst out laughing... then tears streamed down her face. "Uuuu... Kimi-nee, you're terrifying! Please, spare me! You're a demon! A demon!!!"
Asuna wept pitifully as she trudged toward the Crystal Guild, her legs trembling the whole way. Uuuu... Kimi-nee is a demon... a real demon...