[Psyche:

  74% → 73%]

  [Active Buff: Melo’s Anchor]

  [+5% Resistance to

  Psychic Degradation]

  [Psyche: 73% → 74%]

  Ah.

  He was compensating. Again. Always.

  VoodUwU!_Kawa?

  approached them with a skip—literally skipping like an overexcited

  child—and stopped in front of Vincent with a wide grin.

  — Waaah

  ~ You’re EchoZero-kun, right? You’re like a super cool werewolf,

  nyaa ~ ?

  Vincent

  wanted to reply. The three black holes on his mask seemed to drift

  randomly.

  I

  can’t. How am I supposed to

  respond to that?

  Melo

  stepped in, his smile still in place.

  — Hello,

  VoodUwU. I am Melo, the group’s support. It’s a pleasure to meet

  you.

  VoodUwU

  clapped her hands.

  — Kyaaa

  ~ A healer-kun! So sweet ~ We’re going to have so much fun

  together, ne? ?

  She

  turned toward her stream, her voice rising another octave.

  — Minna,

  look! I have a super cute healer on my team now ~ The bosses are

  going to go night-night forever, ahaha ~ ?

  The

  Twitch chat was scrolling at a hallucinatory speed. Vincent caught

  glimpses of messages like "KAWAII OVERLOAD," "PROTECC

  VOODUWU," and "HEALER-KUN BEST BOY."

  I’m

  going to puke.

  [Psyche:

  74% → 72%]

  [Active Buff: Melo’s Anchor — Reinforced]

  [Psyche:

  72% → 73%]

  Nova

  said nothing. Her violet eyes were fixed on the leeches, then on

  VoodUwU’s health bar visible in the temporary group interface.

  

[VoodUwU!_Kawa?]

  HP: 1847 / 1847

  Mana: 0 / 0

  Hematic Pressure: (24%) ????????

  Nova

  noticed three things immediately:

  

  
1. Her
   
     HP pool was massive. Larger than his own in human form. Almost as
   
     large as his Phase 4 Wolf form.
   
     
2. Her
   
     mana was at zero. Exactly as Nova had predicted.
   
     
3. Her
   
     Hematic Pressure was already active. This meant she had DoTs (Damage
   
     over Time) running somewhere.
   
     

  — Do

  you already have spells active? Nova asked, his voice flat.

  VoodUwU

  blinked—wide, bright, falsely innocent eyes.

  — Huh?

  Ah!! The leeches? Yesiiir, I put some on some little mobs before

  coming to test them hihi~ But I think they’re still over there so

  they aren't doing anything here! ?

  Nova

  narrowed her eyes.

  — You

  left them active.

  — Well,

  yeah! I didn't think they'd stay for so long lol (????)

  Vincent

  exchanged a look with Nova.

  She’s

  lying.

  Nova

  took a step forward, her right hand resting casually on the pommel of

  her rapier.

  — Before

  we go any further, she said, her voice sharp as glass, I have a

  proposal.

  Vincent

  turned to her.

  — What

  proposal?

  Nova

  didn't take her eyes off VoodUwU.

  — I

  want to test her myself. In a duel.

  VoodUwU

  blinked.

  — Huh?

  But... why? (?﹏?)

  — Because,

  Nova replied, you’re playing a character. And I want to know who

  you really are under the kawaii mask.

  VoodUwU’s

  smile didn't waver.

  — But

  I’m not playing a character! I’m really like this hihi~ ?

  Nova

  smiled. But it wasn't a friendly smile.

  — Then

  prove it. Fight me. If you’re really a clumsy beginner, it will

  show.

  Vincent

  frowned.

  — Nova,

  maybe that’s a bit—

  — No,

  Nova cut him off. It’s necessary. We’re going to be bound to her.

  Locked. Until death. I want to know exactly who we’re chaining

  ourselves to.

  Melo

  hesitated.

  — She

  just got here, maybe we should let her—

  — No,

  Nova repeated, more firmly. Now.

  VoodUwU

  stood still for a few seconds, her smile intact. Then she tilted her

  head.

  — Okay

  then ~ ! I’ll try not to die too fast (?ω??)

  Nova

  drew her rapier in one fluid motion.

  — We’ll see.

  [Duel:

  Nova_Strider vs VoodUwU!_Kawa?]

  They

  took their positions fifteen meters apart.

  Nova,

  a silhouette as thin and taut as a bow, rapier in her right hand,

  parrying dagger in her left. Her two runic blunderbuss pistols

  remained holstered at her hips—one engraved with orange-red fire

  runes, the other with blue-white ice runes.

  VoodUwU

  stood motionless, hands folded in front of her, smile still there.

  — Rules?

  VoodUwU asked softly.

  — No

  permanent death, Nova replied. First to drop below 15% HP loses. No

  outside interference.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  VoodUwU

  nodded.

  — Okie-dokie

  ~ ?

  Nova

  inhaled. Then she vanished.

  [Elite

  Hunter — Technique: Phantom Stride]

  Nova

  teleported instantaneously behind VoodUwU, rapier raised, aiming for

  the kidneys. VoodUwU didn't turn around. She simply raised her left

  hand.

  [Hirudic

  Swarm — Defensive Deployment]

  Three

  leeches erupted from her aura, forming a living shield between her

  and the blade. Nova’s rapier skewered the first leech.

  [Leech

  destroyed]

  But

  the other two coiled around the blade, slowing it down. Nova grunted,

  yanked her rapier back with a sharp jerk, and immediately followed up

  with her left hand—a low thrust aimed at the thigh.

  VoodUwU

  shifted. Just... enough. The blade cut through the air, missing by

  five centimeters.

  Nova

  narrowed her eyes.

  She

  leaped back, creating distance. Then she drew her fire pistol.

  [Runic

  Blunderbuss — Element: FIRE]

  She

  fired.

  [BOOM]

  An

  explosion of flames roared toward VoodUwU, forming an eight-meter

  cone. VoodUwU raised both hands.

  [Hematic

  Extraction — Preventive Activation]

  A

  translucent red veil unfurled before her, absorbing part of the

  impact.

  [VoodUwU!_Kawa?:

  1847 → 1621 HP]

  [-226 HP]

  [Effect: Burn applied — 15 HP/sec for

  10 seconds]

  But

  she didn't fall. She didn't even step back. She stood there, smile

  intact, flames licking at her red veil.

  — Waaah

  ~ The flames are so pretty ?

  Nova

  didn't smile. She teleported again.

  [Phantom

  Stride — Right Flank]

  She

  reappeared at the side, rapier already in motion, aiming for the

  shoulder. VoodUwU turned her head—just her head—and said:

  — Peek-a-boo

  ~ ?

  And

  she raised her hand.

  [Parasitic

  Link — Activation]

  A

  translucent red thread shot from her palm, coiling around Nova’s

  rapier, crawling up the blade, the wrist, the forearm. Nova felt

  something connect to her.

  [Effect:

  Parasitic Link applied]

  [All damage dealt to VoodUwU will be

  converted into a HoT for VoodUwU (50% efficiency)]

  Nova’s

  eyes widened.

  She

  immediately teleported backward, snapping the link.

  [Parasitic

  Link — Broken]

  But

  VoodUwU was still smiling.

  — You’re

  really fast ~ ! I can’t even keep up (????)

  Nova

  ground her teeth.

  She

  drew her second pistol—ice.

  [Runic

  Blunderbuss — Element: ICE]

  She

  fired.

  [CRACK]

  An

  explosive jet of frost slammed into VoodUwU full force, freezing the

  ground around her.

  [VoodUwU_Kawa?:

  1621 → 1389 HP]

  [-232 HP]

  [Effect: Slow — 40% for 8 seconds]

  VoodUwU

  stumbled, feet frozen to the ground. Nova teleported once more.

  [Phantom

  Stride — Frontal]

  She

  reappeared directly in front of VoodUwU, rapier raised, aiming for

  the heart. And there, she saw VoodUwU’s eyes.

  No

  panic. No fear. Only calculation.

  VoodUwU

  raised her right hand.

  [Sanguine

  Conversion — Activation]

  [VoodUwU_Kawa?: 1389 → 1042 HP]

  [-347

  HP sacrificed]

  [Mana: 0 → 395]

  [Effect: Internal DoT — 18 HP/sec

  for 15 seconds]

  With

  that mana, she instantly cast:

  [Continuous

  Drain — Activation]

  A

  massive red tether shot from her palm, wrapping around Nova—her

  rapier, her arms, her torso. Nova felt something draining out of her.

  [Nova_Strider:

  980 → 958 HP]

  [Mana: 540 → 512]

  [Effect: Drain — 8 HP/sec + 10

  Mana/sec]

  And

  simultaneously:

  [VoodUwU_Kawa?:

  Mana 395 → 405]

  [HP: 1042 → 1050] (Regeneration via Drain)

  Nova

  pulled at the tether, trying to break it. It held. She immediately

  activated:

  [Elite

  Hunter — Technique: Shadow Clone]

  Two

  perfect copies of Nova appeared on either side, identical in every

  way. The three Novas dispersed simultaneously, forming a triangle

  around VoodUwU.

  VoodUwU

  stood still, lazily following the movements with her gaze.

  — Waaah

  ~ There are three of you now! That’s so cute ~ ?

  The

  three Novas charged at once. Rapiers raised. Different angles.

  Impossible to dodge them all.

  VoodUwU

  closed her eyes. And she whispered:

  [Hirudic

  Swarm — Total Saturation]

  The

  leeches exploded from her aura. Not ten. Not twenty. Forty. They

  deployed in a spiral, forming a living wall—pulsing, swarming.

  The

  three Novas slammed into the wall. Their rapiers pierced several

  leeches.

  [Leeches

  destroyed ×12]

  But

  the remaining leeches clung on. To the blades. The arms. The legs.

  The torsos.

  [Effect:

  Hirudic DoT applied ×3]

  [Nova_Strider (Real): -12 HP/sec]

  [Clone 1:

  Dissipated]

  [Clone 2: Dissipated]

  The

  clones vanished instantly, unable to withstand the DoTs. Nova,

  however, teleported back.

  [Phantom

  Stride — Maximum Distance]

  She

  reappeared twenty meters away, panting.

  [Nova_Strider:

  958 → 934 HP]

  [Active DoT: -12 HP/sec]

  She

  looked at VoodUwU. VoodUwU looked back. Smile intact.

  But

  her eyes... Her eyes were no longer those of an idiot. They were the

  eyes of someone who had just read the entire fight. Someone who knew

  exactly how much mana Nova had left. How many teleports she could

  still perform. How much time before the DoTs forced her to retreat.

  Nova

  inhaled. And she understood.

  I

  can’t win this. She turns every attack

  into a resource. Every damage point into a heal. Every movement into

  a trap.

  She

  lowered her rapier.

  — Stop.

  VoodUwU

  blinked.

  — Huh?

  Already? (?﹏?)

  Nova

  wiped a drop of virtual sweat from her forehead.

  — Yeah.

  You won.

  VoodUwU

  tilted her head.

  — But...

  you still have tons of life! And I went down to... — she checked

  her interface — ...1050 HP! You’re the winner, right? ?

  Nova

  shook her head slowly.

  — No.

  If I keep going, I lose. You drain me. You exhaust me. You heal

  yourself by letting me attack you. And in the end... you’ll still

  be standing. I won't.

  VoodUwU

  remained silent for a moment. Then she smiled—differently this

  time. Smaller. More sincere.

  — You’re

  really strong, Nova ~ ?

  Nova

  looked at her.

  — You

  too. Too strong to be a beginner.

  VoodUwU

  shrugged, her kawaii smile back in place.

  — Well...

  I just got lucky hihi (????)

  Nova

  didn't answer. But Vincent saw something pass through her gaze.

  Respect. And mistrust. In equal measure.

  Melo

  approached, hesitating.

  — So...

  Nova? Do you validate her?

  Nova

  stayed silent for ten seconds. Then:

  — Yeah.

  She’s in.

  VoodUwU

  clapped her hands.

  — Yaaay!!

  Thank you, Nova ~ ???

  Nova

  sheathed her rapier.

  — But,

  she added, her voice cold, if I find out you’re hiding anything

  critical from us, I’ll find a way to kick you out. Locked group or

  not.

  VoodUwU

  blinked, head tilted.

  — Why

  would I hide stuff? I’m just a normal player hihi~ ?

  Nova

  stared at her. Long. Then she turned away.

  — We’ll see.

  

[Elite

  Group — 4/5 members]

  

EchoZero

  Melodream

  Nova_Strider

  VoodUwU!_Kawa?

  [EMPTY]

  Vincent

  looked at the platinum group frame.

  — One

  more. One last one.

  Melo

  nodded.

  — Should

  we look tomorrow?

  — Yeah.

  Nova

  walked away without a word, disappearing among the skin-trees.

  VoodUwU watched her go, smile intact.

  — She’s

  a bit serious, isn’t she? (?ω?)

  Vincent

  looked at her.

  — She

  has every reason to be.

  VoodUwU

  tilted her head.

  — Why

  do you say that? o.o

  Vincent

  didn't answer. He just stared at her.

  Because

  you’re dangerous. And you know it.

  [Psyche:

  73% → 72%]

  He

  turned away.

  — We

  meet in 3 hours. For the group PvE test.

  VoodUwU

  smiled.

  — Okie-dokie

  ~ See ya later ?

  She

  logged off.

  Vincent

  and Melo were left alone. Melo turned to Vincent.

  — What

  do you think of her?

  Vincent

  remained silent for a long time. Then:

  — I

  think Nova is right. She’s playing a character. And under that

  character... — he paused — ...is someone much more competent than

  all of us combined.

  Melo

  swallowed.

  — That’s

  creepy.

  Vincent

  nodded.

  — Yeah.

  

[Psyche:

  72%]

  [Group Buff: Elite Harmony — Adjusted]

  [+6% to all stats]

  (Drop due to 4 members)

  [+2% Psyche regeneration (passive)] (Drop due

  to 4 members)

  Dammit.

  The buffs are diluting. The more of us there are, the less effective

  Melo is individually.

  They

  stood there in the grey silence of TRAUM_a. And for the first time,

  Vincent wondered if they had made the right choice.