PvP

Haruki chose the same computer he used before. On the other hand, Daiki was still confused as to why he was being dragged along.

"Let's start the test. This time, I'm not losing to that Ice Dragon or any other boss! I'll take them all on if I have to!" Haruki declared.

"We don't have time for that. Besides, the test isn't PvE."

"Huh!?"

Akira told Daiki to turn on the usual computer he used. At first, Daiki thought Akira would be the one using it, but instead, Akira told him to sit in front of the computer.

"Why me?" Daiki asked, pointing to himself.

"Of course, you become his opponent. Didn't you see my hand?"

Daiki let out a long sigh. He thought this was such a hassle, but orders were orders. There was nothing he could do but obey.

"I've seen your skills against AI. Now, let's see how good you are against a real player."

As the name suggests, Player versus Player. Players battle each other on a designated map. In RRO, there are four game modes players can engage in. Two of them are traditional matches, TDM (Team Death Match) and Domination, and the rest are large-scale battles, Attrition and Conquest.

These modes are further divided into two categories: Ranked Match and Public Match. The sweaty players who crave competition and want to reach the top of the leaderboard will queue up for Ranked Match. On the other hand, those who want to casual play or experiment with builds will head to Public Match.

"I want you to beat that idiot," Akira said, pointing at Daiki with his thumb, "in a private TDM. If you lose, there won't be another chance for you."

Hearing the consequence, Haruki felt challenged. "Alright. I'll beat him."

"Hold on a second, boss," Daiki interrupted. "I don't mean to underestimate him, but isn't it a bit much to have him go up against me?"

Daiki was right

Even though Daiki seemed incompetent as his looks, he was still a pro player. He had participated in many prestigious tournaments, competing against well-known professional teams. His experience and knowledge of the game were unquestionable.

On the other hand, Haruki was just a player stuck in Silver rank. Even if he had excellent mechanical skills, that wouldn't be enough to compete with high-ranked play, where META and complex macro-play are the norms, let alone at a professional level.

Akira understood the skill gap between them. Pitting Haruki against Daiki was like asking Daiki to bully him. The outcome was clear even before the match began.

Therefore, Akira would set a rule to close the gap.

"We'll go with rules. You both use the same armor kit, weapons, and components."

Haruki and Daiki nodded at Akira's explanation.

If both sides used the same build, they would have the same strengths and weaknesses. The rest would depend on each player's mastery of the armor kit and their individual skills.

"Now, both of you log in. I'll decide what you'll use for your match."

Following orders, Haruki and Daiki launched RRO and entered the main menu. Akira had been playing with Daiki for a long time and knew everything his teammate had, so he only needed to check Haruki's account.

Akira's eyes widened when he saw Haruki's inventory. The kid got 10 billion gold, 500 million energy shards, and every module maxed out. Not to mention the Transcendent-tier items.

"Damn, you got a ton of resources and fully maxed modules. How come you didn't use them yesterday?" Akira asked, surprised.

"Well, I just got them yesterday."

"Ah, I see. The power of money."

Every item in RRO could only be obtained through farming. However, players could sell them on the community market if they had extra stock. In a way, RRO had its own functioning economy.

Some Transcendent or Epic-tier items were sold for at least 2,000 to 3,000 dollars, and Haruki had them all. The question was, how much money had he spent on the game?

"At least you didn't buy the battle pass," Akira muttered.

Akira then adjusted the build for both Haruki's and Daiki's characters.

[WEAPON - Volt AR Level MAX (Epic)]

[Module Slots: 3/10]

[Equipped Modules: Piercing Bullet Lv. MAX (Firepower ATK +32%), High-powered Bullet Lv. MAX (Firepower ATK +61%, Recoil +60%), Velocity Bullet Lv. MAX (Fire Rate +25%)]

[ARMOR KIT - Striker Lv. 40 (MAX)]

[Module Slots: 5/5]

[Equipped Modules: Strong Physique Lv. MAX (HP +200%), Thick Shield Lv. MAX (Shield +150%), Power UP Lv MAX (Ability Power +80%), Energy for Time Lv. MAX (Cooldown -35%, MP -15%), Indomitable Lv. MAX (DEF +160%)]

[COMPONENT]

[Reactor: Non-Attribute Lv. MAX (Epic)]

[Auxiliary Power: Killer Lv. MAX (Epic)]

[Processor: Killer Lv. MAX (Epic)]

[Sensor: Killer Lv. MAX (Epic)]

[Memory: Killer Lv. MAX (Epic)]

[Bonus component stats: HP +646, DEF +8000, Round Capacity +8%, Rounds per Magazine +9%, Skill Cost -15%, Ability Power +26%]

Once the preparations were done, Akira created a private room for Haruki and Daiki to battle in. The chosen arena map was Broken Moon.

"You guys ready?" Akira asked.

Both Daiki and Haruki nodded.

"You'd better give it everything you've got, Haruki. I won't hold back even if you're just a kid," Daiki taunted.

"Talk all you want. Just because you got carried by your team doesn't mean you're good."

"What did you say?"

Haruki laughed as his words successfully provoked Daiki. Meanwhile, Akira shook his head, wondering why Daiki had to be the one who stuck around on his team.

"You're an adult, Daiki. Don't get triggered by a kid. He's not even 18 yet."

Daiki didn't say anything, only gritting his teeth. This made him even more serious to take the match.

The screens on Haruki and Daiki's computers went black. After the loading screen ended, they entered the match.

[lowfie6666 (Haruki) VS Ganbate-ne (Daiki)]

[0 - 0]

[First to 100 points wins.]

Broken Moon was an arena set in a destroyed lunar settlement. The map was filled with abandoned futuristic houses and creeping vines. The sky was blue as if the moon had an atmosphere. At first glance, it was like any typical fictional planet. However, the floating debris of the moon made it different.

"Yosh! Let's get started!" Haruki shouted with excitement.

But suddenly, a rocket hit his character out of the blue. His full shield was drained in an instant.

"Hey!! That's cheating! I wasn't ready!" Haruki yelled.

Daiki chuckled. "What are you talking about? The game's already started."

Before Haruki could respond, bombs began to rain down around his character, exploding into thick clouds of smoke, leaving him blinded by the white haze on his screen. Haruki didn't have much time to panic, so he quickly got his character out of the surrounding smoke.

However, just as Haruki's character broke free from the smoke, another rocket struck him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

His HP dropped to half. Haruki panicked, frantically moving his mouse to find where the attack came from. When he finally spotted Daiki, a barrage of bullets assaulted him.

BBBBBRRRR!!

In a matter of milliseconds, his HP dropped to zero. At the same time, the game's scoreboard was changed.

[lowfie6666 (Haruki) VS Ganbate-ne (Daiki)]

[0 - 10]