Top Ranked Player

The red-headed player paused mid-step and was now full on staring at Zero. Enough so that people were definitely taking notice. 

Kai looked down at him with a mix of confusion and seriousness, "Do you know her, Zero?"

"I don't know. Maybe? Something about her just seems so familiar." Also, I wish she would stop staring at me so hard, Zero thought.

She took a small step toward him. "Why are YOU here?" She said in a soft enough that Zero almost missed it. Before Zero could reply however, she promptly turned away and proceeded out of the arena. 

"You know Eva?" One of the citizens asked him.

Suddenly, Kai stepped in between them and blocked him from view. "Actually, we should get going, right Zero?" He said, giving Zero that 'nudge' of a look. Zero looked past him and saw that not only were the spectators from the city watching, but there were the eyes of players on him as well. None that appeared friendly.

"Y-yeah." Zero agreed. 

The two did a brisk walk out of the arena and deeper out into the city. As they exited, Zero could already see an employee hard at work etching Eva's name onto the new plaque.

***********

Kai decided to take Zero by the shop that he had bought the wraps from initially. It was on the other side of the city, so gave them a chance to create some distance between themselves and the arena. 

Zero trailed a few steps behind Kai as his thoughts continued to race the whole way over. 

"Eva..." He mumbled to himself, trying to remember any slight memory that she may be in. But he couldn't recollect anything about her. 

"So you really don't remember her?" Kai called behind him. 

"Nothing. But I really do have a sense we've met before. Before all this." That's when Zero remembered that there was a leaderboard. He swiped his hand to open up his HUD and maximized the leaderboard section - by default it goes straight to that player's position.

[ Rank 105::  Name: Zero Titles: 0 Rating: C ]

"Oh wow, 105 out of 150? Didn't think one win would take me that high." Zero said in surprise.

Zero leaned in and scrolled further to the bottom and it stopped at Rank 115. "That's why." Kai stated. "There's only 115 players left in the game." 

"You're kidding me...that many already?" Zero said, his eyes widened. 

"I suppose with people culling the new players so fast it can be somewhat expected. But that's also why you have to be careful about not attracting too much attention in the wrong places."

Zero scrolled further, MUCH further, up the leaderboard. "Well, she has to be a top player with that kind of skill." He said. He got past the twenties and he finally saw her name.

[ Rank 13:: Name: Eva Titles: #4 Best Offensive Player Rating: A ]

"An A-rank player." Kai said, sounding a bit shocked for the first time since they met. "She's now at the top of our 'do not fuck with' list for sure. At least for now."

She clearly remembers more about me than her, Zero thought. I kinda wish I could speak to her privately..

Kai waved open his HUD and went to the leaderboard as well. It went straight to his name and revealed his ranking:

[ Rank 82:: Name: Kai Titles: 0 Rating: C ]

"Not bad." Zero replied. He didn't doubt that Kai wouldn't be more than several spots ahead of him. However, it did raise a question he's been wondering about. "By the way Kai, how did you manage get this strong when you've spent your half your time just studying?"

Kai confidently smiled. "Simple. I got lucky."

"So lucky that you just stumbled into a well of strength??" Zero questioned.

Kai shook his head. "No. As in I've studied sword play for several years before I got sick. So I got lucky that I was offered a system that allowed me to create one."

Interesting, Zero thought. I've had to learn to cook for myself since I was little so I thought it was a little strange that I just so happened to be offered a cooking system when I got here...

"We're here!" Kai stated

Zero snapped back to reality and saw they had come upon a small enclave - whereas a lot of the stalls were right next to each other and looked similar in structure, this one was it's own hut with an entrance and all. 

'Zanzabar's Accessories and Things' read the sign outside.

They walked through the doorless entrance and found that the shop was surprisingly empty. Not just of people, but things too. There were no shelves with goods. Just a small table at the front where an older gentleman stood.

"You sure this is the place?" Zero whispered.

"Positive."

Kai led them up to the table. The shop owner had yet to even address them, but just stared at them through his shrewd eyes as if waiting for them to say the first word.

"Where's all the...everything?" Zero asked.

The shop owner obviously heard him and motioned his finger past the pair towards the entrance they just walked into.

"Get out." He spoke firmly.