"So, what are you planning? Rob me or seduce me?"

I pressed one hand on her swaying shoulders, my tone weary.

Still, letting her act a little spoiled was fine. We were bros, after all. And seeing her always brought back memories of old comrades—comrades I’d never see again.

"What’s wrong? Why’d you go quiet all of a sudden?"

NinthMoon leaned sideways, peering up at me from below, blinking.

"Nothing. Just remembered some old stuff."

I reached out and stroked her hair. It was silky smooth—like petting a cat, impossible to stop.

"Don’t head-pat me! I’m not a kid."

"To me, you’re still a kid."

"Hmph! You’ll regret treating me like one someday."

NinthMoon stepped back two paces, both hands outstretched, grinning as she pointed at me.

"So? You sober now?"

"Ugh, my head’s spinning. Can’t walk. My legs feel frozen solid."

"Frozen? Are you made of water?"

I walked forward with a bitter smile. The wind howled, rustling tree branches.

"I don’t care! You’ve got two choices: one, princess carry; two, princess carry; three, princess carry!"

"Didn’t you say two choices? How’d you get three? And they’re all the same!"

"So you agree! Hurry up! At school, I’m always carrying others. I wanna try it once."

NinthMoon stood stiffly straight, hands clasped behind her back, like a store mannequin.

"Mm."

"Yikes!"

I scooped NinthMoon up horizontally. She was surprisingly light.

"Ugh, you could’ve hesitated a little! This kills the mood!"

Puffing her cheeks, NinthMoon glared at me, arms crossed. After a long pause, she still didn’t wrap them around my neck.

"Idiot."

"You’re the idiot!"

Walking down the empty path, we exchanged a smile. Her personality really reminded me of my old comrades.

"Hey, you never answered my question. Is it weird to chase bonds in a game world?"

"Not at all. It’s more real. In reality, we’ve lost that youthful fire. Rules and limits grind us down. But in games? We break free. Do what we want. Seek what we crave. It feeds our vanity and fulfills childhood dreams. Who hasn’t dreamed of becoming an Emperor?"

"Mm. Thanks."

NinthMoon lowered her head, pulling her hood over her face.

"For what? We’re bros, right?"

Just speaking my heart. But suddenly, "bros" felt like a magic word.

"I’ve decided! I’ll become the strongest—a legend everyone worships in-game."

"And then?"

"Then? Share my joy with my best friends—you and Xue Xue—when my guild becomes the ‘Emperor’."

She lifted her head, a blush on her cheeks. Adorably cute, with a hint of womanly charm.

"Then chase that goal."

"Hmph. Just wait and see."

Humming a tune, she smiled.

On the way home, ten figures suddenly blocked the street corner, weapons in hand.

I tried to slip past, but they kept cutting me off. I sighed.

"Gentlemen, looking for me?"

"Heh, kid. Forgot the bar incident?"

A man in shiny plastic clothes stepped forward, his pompadour gleaming under the streetlight.

"Bar?"

I racked my brain. Didn’t recall causing trouble.

Curled in my arms, NinthMoon whispered in my ear to put her down.

"Stay. Safer here."

"Damn, flirting now? Bros, move! Cripple him, grab her. Quick—this ain’t a black zone. Wrap it up and bail!"

"Really okay to brawl openly? I could call the cops."

They weren’t gangsters—just clueless punks.

"Cops? Hahaha! Bros, he’ll call cops! Go on, try it!"

They all laughed.

Four kept watch. Six crept closer with pipes, bats, and knives, smirking like I was an idiot.

"Okay? Should I get down?"

"Nope."

A dark smile spread on my lips. Venting on these weaklings sounded fun.

"Against trash like you, losing a pair of hands means nothing."

"You’re dead!"

I sidestepped the bat swing, driving my knee into his gut.

No mercy. The impact sent him flying five meters, crashing under a streetlight, motionless.

"Is he dead?"

NinthMoon’s voice trembled.

"Probably paralyzed for life."

As I answered, I dodged a pipe’s tip. Lunged forward. My knee slammed into the next chest.

Bone cracks echoed sharply in the silent night.

Two lay unconscious in seconds. The rest shrank back, hesitant.

This wasn’t a fight—it was a death match.

They’d just wanted to blow off steam. Never expected a monster.

"Attack!"

Pompadour’s voice shook. One buddy had bent a streetlight; another’s ribs were shattered.

"Not coming?"

I set NinthMoon down and stretched lazily.

"My turn."

I cracked my knuckles. Rare fight. Couldn’t skip warming up.

They flinched back, spooked by the sound.

"Before I kill you all—why pick a fight with me?"

My icy glare, sharp as a blade, made Pompadour’s legs quake.

"A-at the bar... you protected that woman. Pissed us off."

"I see. So you came to kill me for revenge?"

My eyes darkened with crimson. A savage aura surged through me.

Heh heh heh. My laugh sent chills down their spines.

"No! No! Just wanted to scare you! Teach you a lesson!"

Pompadour panicked. The others retreated.

Only now did they feel it—the heart-stopping aura radiating from me.

Was this even human? He’d changed completely.

"What a pity."

As I spoke, I’d already chosen my target. Before he reacted, I grabbed his neck and lifted him high.

"Last words?"

"Mmmph!"

"None? Rest in peace."