"Zelkish, you say, what kind of Ranker is he?"
'Such an unsettling name is enough to make anyone quit before it began.'
Onilia turned toward him, her expression unusually serious.
"During the Tutorial, the system asks every player to choose a name they wish to be registered with." Onilia explained.
'I don't recall such a thing happening to me, could it be due to the unknown interference overwriting my status?'
"The system gives a time duration of which all players are to select their name." She spoke, bringing him back from his train of thoughts.
"If you don't pick a name, the system analyzes your traits—your skills, your nature, your potential—and then assigns a name that fits. Most people pick something cool or personal before that timer runs out. But some don't bother to."
Zane tilted his head. "So… what does that have to do with Zelkish?"
Onilia's gaze darkened. She folded her arms and stared out the window for a moment, as if trying to piece together the right words.
"My opponent didn't choose a name," she said.
"The system chose one for him."
She turned back to Zane. "The Destroyer."
The room seemed to quiet even more at that name.
Zane never cared how the world treated him, he found it amusing sometimes, and other times, he didn't. But now, the world was no longer limited to Earth. When he thinks about having to face off against otherworldly monsters with cursed names, suddenly, the world wasn't as fascinating anymore.
Onilia took a deep breath as she paced slowly, her voice quieter now.
"Every Ranking Competition he's entered, he's won. Every opponent? Crushed. Every world he's challenged, he's conquered."
Zane's fists clenched slightly.
"So he's also… Apex-ranked?"
Onilia hesitated. Her lips parted, then closed again. Finally, she spoke.
"He is. People whisper and call him a walking apocalypse. And now… he's my opponent."
Zane stared at her, completely stunned. He could barely process it.
Onilia looked down at her hand, curling her fingers into a fist.
"I'm not doing this just to save myself. I'm doing it for my people. My home. If I lose this fight… my entire world is gone. My family will be sold into chains."
She met his eyes again, her voice steady—but behind it was a quiet pain.
'Hey, why don't you grab your family and ditch that planet?' He wanted to ask, but from everything she had said, it was clear she was someone who loves her home.
Zane wasn't the kind of person who cared much about his world. Honestly, if everything burned to the ground tomorrow, he wouldn't flinch—so long as Ariel was safe. 'If it was me, I'd just grab Ariel and haul ass out of there.'
But seeing Onilia now, standing tall with the weight of her entire planet on her shoulders? That did something to him.
She wasn't just fighting for herself. She was walking headfirst into hell, not for glory, not for pride—but for her people.
Zane didn't even know what to feel anymore. Admiration? Pity? Maybe a bit of both. Her will was like iron. Strong and steady, even in the face of certain death.
'Damn... she's really something. An idiot maybe, why fight for people when you're strong enough to survive on your own?' This was something Zane couldn't comprehend. He was someone who always did something for his own gain. If he were to do something for free, it would be for Ariel.
He leaned back slightly, folding his arms as he watched her. There was a short pause. He asked, quietly, "Is there a chance you could win?"
Onilia's eyes didn't waver. "No," she said bluntly. "Not yet, at least."
The certainty in her voice was clear. A cold, honest truth.
She stepped forward and placed a hand on her hip.
"I came here to find allies," she continued. "If I can gather strong enough people to fight by my side, maybe we'll stand a chance."
Zane blinked, thinking that over. Then he asked, "Is that even allowed? I mean… getting help from other world?"
Onilia gave a small nod. "Yes. It's allowed—as long as the person isn't forced. The system considers it a partnership. If both sides agree willingly, then it's legal."
She moved over to the table and picked up a small glass of water, taking a slow sip before continuing. "But there's a catch. A big one."
Zane raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. If you lose… it affects your allies too?"
"Exactly," she said, setting the glass down. "When one side loses, everyone on that side suffers the consequences. Including those who joined from other worlds. That's why people avoid these kinds of partnerships. No one wants to be dragged down with someone else's war."
Zane let out a soft whistle. "Harsh."
Then he tilted his head, eyeing her with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Okay, but if you can get outside help… why the hell are you wasting time with me? Shouldn't you be hanging out with Nenis and the other Apex-ranked monsters? You know—the ones with actual power?"
Onilia gave him a faint smirk.
"Follow me," Onilia said, her voice calm but firm, as she led Zane down the winding stairs and out into the open air.
They stepped into their private training ground. It was wide, with faint scars from past trainees marking the stone floors like old wounds.
"Hey, you still haven't answered my question," Zane called, following close behind her, his steps echoing slightly.
Onilia paused for a second but didn't look back.
The truth was… she didn't really have an answer.
Why had she chosen him?
She wasn't sure herself. She could've picked any of the stronger ones. People who had reached heights Zane hadn't even glimpsed yet. But instead… she stayed with him.
Back when she first arrived on Planet Zoic, her mind had been focused. She was here for one reason: to take part in the Master's brutal training, to grow stronger for the Interplanetary Awakened Tournament. No distractions. No nonsense.
She had stood among the crowd of hopefuls, most of them from powerful worlds, each of them brimming with potential. She waited silently with the others, all eager for the Master to arrive.
Then, a portal opened.
And out stepped a boy.
Pale skin. Messy brown hair, wounded, and wearing blood-smeared tattered uniform. He was missing an arm and had a body so skinny he looked like he hadn't eaten in weeks. He stumbled through the portal—and died before he even hit the ground.
Onilia remembered the disgust that curled in her chest. What an idiot, she thought at the time. Does he think the Master's training is a joke?
To her, Zane had looked like a walking corpse. Weak. Fragile. Completely out of her league. And in that moment, she found his presence almost offensive. She was here to sharpen herself for war with her world at stake—and here was this clueless fool who couldn't even stand.
But then… something strange happened.
He came back, his wounds healed.
He died again.
And came back.
And again.
And every time he revived, he didn't complain. He didn't cry out or ask for help. He just struggled to stand on his own feet, shaky and broken, but still trying.
He kept watching others. Learning. Copying. Adjusting.
Slowly, he began to move.
And then, when the others sprinted toward the mountain, he crawled. While they leapt and soared, he dragged his body through the dirt, inch by inch.
He was weak, Onilia remembered thinking. But he was relentless.
She might be facing off against a monster, but at least she was a monster herself. She didn't know who or what Zane was up against, and even though he was weak, he never gave up or made excuses.
That changed something inside her. If someone like him could keep pushing, if he could survive with nothing but grit, then what excuse did she have?
As one of the strongest on her planet, how could she run away from her own destiny… when even the weakest person refused to back down?
So she started watching him. Closely.
And somewhere along the way, she decided not just to watch—but to help.
She finally turned to him now, meeting his eyes.
"Nanaly has a bit of a history. As such I can guarantee that no one would be willing to help me, lest they risked their own world. Facing a hurdle bigger than me with no backing, I felt the urge to help you."
She took closer steps, her gaze never leaving his.
"Through the short time I've known you, I can say that you are not the type to put your faith in another person, but that's totally fine. You asked why I was helping you?" She took a deep breath.
"I don't have any friends, and I'm not sure about winning the tournament. My race is precious to the tower so I can say that my family won't be massacred. At least not all of them."
"What are you getting at, Onilia?"
Zane walked towards the rack filled with weapons at the far end.
"If you grow strong enough, I want you to help free my family."
'I see. Insurance, she's been treating me as an insurance. That would explain he needless generousity.'
"I'm sorry, Onilia, but I can't promise you that. If even you don't have the means to protect your family, then it's safe to assume that I don't either. However, I will repay your help someday, that I can promise."
"I suppose that's fair enough. Don't let my problems bother you, Zane."
"Don't worry, it never did."
Zane traced his fingers over the weapons.
"That's good to hear. Well then, let's begin."
"Begin? There's nothing to begin. I'm exhausted and need to sleep."
"I woke you earlier because you don't have the luxury of sleeping like everyone else. Every second matters for you. You don't have time to waste."
She walked a few steps ahead, then turned slightly over her shoulder.
"I'll help you train," she said. "I won't hold back. I'll push you until your bones ache and your spirit cracks. Don't bother to protest, you don't have a say."