My sword hit the ground beside me with a clatter, and I let my whole spine melt. The smell of burning wood still lingered from where the Titan had cracked open its own glowing veins.

My throat felt like sandpaper. Not because of the Titan, not because of the panic sprints, but because I'd been screaming at ten sweaty nerds in a forest for what felt like five years straight.

We'd done it, Phase One down.

I believe the "Phase" system existed to make sure that everyone can participate, even the ones that couldn't get online this morning.

It's usually around 3 phases, morning, evening, and midnight, you know, accommodation for foreign players, too.

Around me, the Lion's Parade started to loosen up too. Tanks rolled their shoulders, supports sat their butts on the ground like they'd just run a marathon. damage dealers literally collapsed onto each other. Even Jack "Mr. Paladin Posture" Kendrick exhaled like someone had finally let him leave Sunday church.

For a second, nobody spoke. We all just let the forest breathe.

Then Jack's voice cut through:

"Good job, but…" He looked at the empty gap where PyroPuff's name used to be on the party's player count. "We lost one of our best today."

"Amen to that." Thornhand spoke.

The weight of it landed harder than the Titan's fists ever had for these poor souls that probably treated her like a part of the family, and now she gotta re-grind back to their level which might take a week or two at high level camps.

PyroPuff, the name said it all, a pyro mage, how ironic, these dudes be identifying themselves, then just be gone, poof in one messy tree-fall.

I chewed my lip and stared up at the canopy.

"She was always a good addition to the party," Buster2k muttered from the back, his shield already holstered. "Doesn't feel right not hearing her yell at me for standing in AoEs."

LyraBell sniffed, the girl's eyeliner smudged and I can see the highlight popping through the reflected sunlight.

Jack bowed his head, voice low. "Let's honor her by not wasting this victory."

… I stared at them, feeling an intense amount of cringe.

She didn't actually… Die in real life, y'know? She just have to create another account, and maybe reuse the same name if no one squatted it during the time she died.

These guys be getting too seriously deep in their roleplaying sometimes… But, these are not the worst cases I've seen.

Me? I raised my hand like a brat in homeroom, trying to humor them for this second.

"Okay, yes, respect to Puff. May her flames roast many angels in MMO heaven. But, can we also admit she was never built for climbing trees? Gravity straight-up crit her for ten thousand, I'm calling it: The MVP for that raid was Newton."

A ripple of awkward chuckle and intense staring cracked through the gloom before Jack turned his glare on me. That man's glare could slice plate armor.

I only shrugged, hands behind my head. "What? She would've flamed me for it herself, I'm just… roleplaying her spirit. Y'know, keeping the vibes alive. Albeit, I only met her today."

For a second, I swore even Jack fought a smile, just a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Good enough, the mood seemingly lightened after that.

But that was when I remembered… celebration meant contact. And I wasn't leaving without wringing every ounce of awkward physical affection out of these strangers.

"Alright… I guess this is it, I'm off soon." I said.

I pushed myself up, brushed leaves off my knees, and went straight for the nearest player, female player only, of course, who the fuck do you think I am?

"Daps, bro," I said, slapping palms, snapping fingers, and bumping fists in a single smooth combo with Feral_Moon, she blinked like I'd just stolen her wallet.

Next was hugs, I didn't even ask. I just spread my arms like a deranged scarecrow and steamrolled LyraBell, she squeaked but hugged back, all stiff at first, then warmer.

"You smell like daisies," she whispered, probably a random scent that the VR version gave me because trust me, I DO NOT smell like daisies in real life lmao.

"Better than bark dust," I grinned. "Now Emberline~ C'mere."

"I'll past." The archer gal said, shaking me away.

I pouted, but then felt my shoulder getting weighted. J97 placed his gauntleted hand on my shoulder.

His voice went serious-paladin again as he spoke my username "CJS69."

"Gross, don't call me that," I said, wiggle lightly to get his palm off me.

"You're actually him, I mean, her, sorry, I always assumed you're a guy because… Your activity in the community… Ahem, anyways." he continued, arms crossed, "I'll forgive the… team wipe incident, if…"

His gaze sharpened. "If you join Lion's Parade as my third-in-command."

The others actually gasped, like he'd just knighted me, one clapped, someone even whistled.

Me? I decided to do the major and reasonable thing.

I tugged down my eyebags with both fingers until I looked like a half-melted corpse, stuck my tongue out, and mock him, "Blehh, yeah, no. Hard pass, you're still a pedestrian in my eyes, big guy. And if I see you in the field farming where I wanted to farm, the it's hands on gloves on."

That earned a roar of laughter from the team. Jack only sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like I was a migraine incarnate.

And then, because I couldn't leave without one final war crime, I did it.

I spun, and slapped Emberline's ass with a loud impact sound of flesh bouncing, before bolting for the treeline like the devil himself was on my heels.

Her scream cracked through the forest. "WHAT THE HELL? YOU PERVERT!"

"Can't catch meee!" I cackled, legs pumping with godspeed, twigs snapping underfoot, my laughter echoed like a banshee.

The whole raid party shouted after me, half furious, half wheezing.

[You have left the party: Lion's Parade Raid Team 1]

Then I logged out mid-sprint, leaving their outrage frozen in the pixels of the forest. I couldn't stop grinning even as reality swallowed me back up.

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