RLRD Chapter 14

It was currently 6 p.m., and without even realizing it, Kyro had been playing the game for a full three hours. Time had flown by. The sun was just beginning to set, painting the sky in warm hues, but Kyro was still buzzing with excitement. He couldn’t stop thinking about the game, his mind replaying every moment on a loop.

As he walked down the street, he threw a punch into the air, trying to mimic the lightning strike move he had used earlier. Nothing happened.

‘Looks like we can only do those things inside the game, huh? Including you connecting with me?’ Kyro asked.

‘I can connect with you now,’ Slith replied. ‘But the connection is much stronger in the game. I’m not sure we’d be able to use skills like before. And even if we could, the time I’d be able to stay linked to you would definitely be limited.’

The more Kyro thought about it, the heavier his mood became. The VR club was right there, at his school, yet for some reason, Alex had told him not to come back.

If he couldn’t join the club… then what was he supposed to do?

In the middle of his thoughts, Kyro pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to his parents, just to let them know he’d be home a little later and that he was okay. There was still one more thing he needed to take care of today.

A haircut.

His hair had grown noticeably long since he got out of the hospital. Long enough that he could hear kids whispering and pointing at him in the halls. They weren’t teasing him, not exactly, but he was definitely drawing attention, and not the kind he liked.

Thankfully, his family had anticipated this. Even with money being tight, they’d given him a small amount, just enough for a simple cut. It was a gesture Kyro didn’t take lightly.

Walking down the high street, he eventually found the cheapest barbershop around. It looked a little old, a little worn, but clean enough. Inside, the place wasn’t too busy, which was perfect. He wouldn’t have to wait long.

Sliding into the chair, he glanced at his reflection as the barber approached.

“First time I’ve seen someone like you in here,” the man said casually, flicking his scissors open and testing his clippers with a sharp buzz.

“Yeah, I moved here recently,” Kyro replied, settling in.

“So, what are you thinking today?” the barber asked, leaning forward with a friendly look.

Kyro had no idea what to say.

He dreaded this part, sitting in the chair, forced to make small talk with a stranger. It wasn’t that he cared about his hairstyle. He just needed it gone. In a desperate move, he pointed toward one of the hairstyle posters on the wall.

“That one… Give me that one, like in the photo,” Kyro said quickly.

“Alright,” the barber replied, wasting no time as he got to work.

‘During my time, we used the bones of other beasts to cut our hair,’ Slith suddenly commented.

‘You’re a dragon! What hair were you cutting? And with what bones?’ Kyro shot back, mentally rolling his eyes.

Slith didn’t get the chance to reply. The sound from the TV in the corner of the barbershop grabbed both of their attention.

“Today’s PvP match is one that will go down in the history books!” the commentator shouted, his voice filled with energy.

The screen changed to reveal the battlefield, a dry, silent desert, littered with jagged mountain rocks. A moment later, flashes of light and bursts of power tore across the screen. One fighter wielded a glowing sword, while the other unleashed roaring flames.

Kyro’s eyes narrowed. Instantly, both he and Slith recognized what they were watching. This wasn’t just any fight. This was a battle between Purgers.

And judging by the sheer intensity of the attacks, these weren’t low-tier fighters. These were top-tier, high-ranking Purgers going all out.

A massive fireball was being conjured, floating above the caster’s head like a blazing sun. It was enormous, easily the size of three houses stacked together. With a single motion, it was hurled across the battlefield, tearing through the air with explosive force. Every rock in its path was instantly consumed, reduced to ash and rubble.

But standing still, completely unshaken, was a lone man. His sword remained sheathed at his side. Calm. Unbothered. He didn’t move until the fireball was nearly upon him. Then, with a single slash, he drew and swung his blade, cutting the fireball clean in half.

The two blazing halves veered off course, crashing into the surrounding terrain and obliterating the desert landscape, but the man remained untouched.

A moment later, the caster, the Purger who had launched the devastating spell, was split in two. His body disintegrated into particles, fading from existence.

“The outcome of the match declares Donathan Briggs as Champion, allowing him to keep and retain his number one ranking on the Purger charts,” the commentator announced.

The name Donathan Briggs was one even Kyro recognized. In all his research about Shira, that name had been impossible to avoid. He was ranked number one in the entire world.

Countless news articles featured him. He was a legend. And during all the time Kyro had spent in the hospital, the rankings had never changed, not once.

‘I wonder… if I’ll ever be able to get that strong,’ Kyro thought.

‘I doubt it,’ Slith replied bluntly.

‘Thanks for the support. Really inspiring. I can see how much faith you have in me,’ Kyro replied sarcastically.

‘It’s not about that,’ Slith said. ‘That Purger… he was alive during my time as well. He was strong back then, not as strong as he is now, but the growth he’s shown since is incredible. His talent… it’s rare. I doubt there are many like him in this era or any other.’

Lately, Kyro had started to take Slith’s words more seriously. Especially now that he was experiencing things firsthand, learning what he could actually do. It made Donathan seem like an even more impressive figure than Kyro had originally believed.

And there was something else. Donathan’s age.

Purgers changed so drastically over time that their bodies became something beyond human, practically immortal. Their evolution took them to places no regular person could reach.

Back then, when Purgers had first emerged, there hadn’t even been that many with unique skills. And just because someone came from the early days didn’t mean they were powerful. New abilities and evolutions were still being discovered all the time.

But for someone that powerful to have come from that time?

That was something special.

‘So, from what you’re saying, you two know each other? Maybe if I ever met him, I could ask him a few questions… though I doubt we’ll ever cross paths, at least not anytime soon,’ Kyro thought.

“Alright, kid, you’re done!” the barber called out.

Looking into the mirror, Kyro was genuinely surprised by how much a simple haircut could change someone’s appearance. He barely recognized himself, and he was really pleased with the result. Ready to hop up and pay, he reached for his wallet, but the barber raised a hand and shook his head.

“First one’s free. It’s your first time, right? That’s called loyalty,” the barber said with a grin. “So pay me back by coming again, and recommending all your friends!”

Kyro didn’t wait for the man to change his mind. He quickly thanked him and bolted out the door. Still, a small pang of guilt tugged at him. He didn’t have any friends to recommend.

‘When I get rich, I’ll come back and repay you,’ Kyro promised silently.

As he continued walking down the street, glimpses of Shira-related news flashed across storefront screens. The game, the world, everything was still so fresh in his mind that it was almost impossible to think of anything else.

That’s when he happened to stop, right in front of a particular shop.

“Is this what I think it is?!” Kyro exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.

“It is,” Slith replied calmly.

“It’s a VR gaming center… for Shira Online!” Kyro said, practically bouncing with excitement.

But in his excitement, Kyro missed the smaller text printed just beneath the glowing shop sign.

“PvP Only.”