The Supreme Monarch of Continuum

Klaus stepped off the stage, the heat from the battle still clinging to his skin like sweat. Behind him, the medics were already working on Bradley, whose body now resembled a war-torn relic more than a man. Steam still hissed from parts of his armor, his muscles twitching from lingering shock damage, and his breathing came in shallow, pained gulps. Klaus didn't spare him more than a glance.

Level disparity meant little when you understood the gears turning beneath the system. Klaus didn't just fight—he played the code like a harp, twisted mechanics to his favor, and exploited weaknesses with mathematical precision. That was the real reason for his dominance. Not brute strength. Not level. But system fluency.

As he walked, a digital shimmer passed over his vision.

---

[System Notification]:

You have gained 4 Skill Points.

Mana Efficiency has increased by 2%.

---

Klaus made a mental note to dump the points into his mana pool, later. For now, he was basking in the subtle glow of recognition. Around him, whispers grew louder. Words like "Who is that guy?" and "Did you see that dodge?" floated past his ears. A few even clapped him on the back, others offered fist bumps or nods of respect. The duel had catapulted him from stranger to semi-legend overnight.

And then he saw her.

Emily.

At first, he did a double-take. The hair had changed, from its usual silver-blonde cascade to a sharp, raven-black curtain that framed her face in an almost villainous allure. His brain short-circuited. Her already lethal beauty had somehow evolved. His eyes narrowed slightly, almost suspiciously.

She caught his gaze, lips twitching up into a smirk.

Of course she knew what she was doing, Klaus thought.

His mini-Klaus stirred in rebellion but was sealed away with an iron will and a quick mental slap. Not now. We are in public, you perverted tyrant.

Still, he couldn't hide the grin forming on his face. 

he made his way through the crowd, exchanging casual fist bumps and half-smirks, until he stood beside her. Without a word, they bumped fists, her fingers small but taut with restrained energy, and she turned, leading him toward the elevators. 

It was quiet inside the lift, except for the soft hum of motion. She didn't speak. Neither did he. But their silence wasn't awkward; it was heavy with understanding. 

When the elevator doors slid open, Klaus followed her across a plush corridor and into a large office at the end. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the room in natural light. A massive desk sat near the glass, and behind it, a man sat with his back turned, watching the skyline with the casual authority of someone who owned everything he saw. 

Klaus didn't need to ask who this was. He already knew. Sitting at the top floor of the building, in such a lavish office, with a expensive, sturdy chair, that looked exactly like the one that Ghanost would sit on. He knew who this was. 

Guildmaster 

The man spoke, his voice a contrast of power and polish, low but warm: "You know, Klaus... I've never, and I mean never, heard Emily praise someone as much as she has you." He turned slightly in the chair, just enough to reveal sharp blue eyes and a smile that didn't quite reach them. "So, I'm curious. What's so special about you?"

Klaus titled his head, a cocky grin slowly spreading across his lips. "Would you prefer the humble answer, the accurate answer, or the version that makes me sound more interesting than I actually am?"

The Guildmaster chuckled, tapping his fingers against the desk in rhythm. "Dealer's choice."

Klaus nodded once. "I'm special because I know how not to lose. I don't need to overpower someone; I just need to understand how they function. Once I do, the rest is just algebra."

The Guildmaster raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You think in code?"

"I think in consequences," Klaus replied, deadpan. "And most people don't like being reduced to equations. But unfortunately, that's exactly what a system does to you."

There was a pause.

Then a low whistle from the Guildmaster. "Well damn, Emily wasn't exaggerating." He leaned back, lacing his fingers together. "I like you. You've got a sharp tongue, a dangerous brain, and a solid right hook. Welcome to the American Guild."

Klaus blinked. "That's it? I'm in?"

Emily, who had been leaning against the wall with arms crossed, interjected, "You just defeated one of our top bruisers in front of half the building. Most people need six months of probation and a contract review to even try what you just pulled off."

Klaus scratched the back of his neck. "Then I accept. You pay for dental?"

The Guildmaster laughed. "Yes, we do. Welcome aboard."

Emily pushed off the wall, walking past Klaus, her shoulder brushing his slightly. "Come on. Let's get you your ID."

As she walked ahead, Klaus followed, glancing back at the Guildmaster.

"Oh, and one more thing," the man added just before Klaus exited.

"Yes?"

"Try not to break any more egos on the first day. We're running low on adult diapers."

Klaus grinned and left.

The elevator's hum vibrated softly, a mechanical heartbeat as Klaus and Emily descended through Neon Shroud's steel veins. The air felt lighter, the earlier chaos of blood and circuitry fading into a comfortable silence.

Klaus leaned against the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets, his eyes catching the faint recoil of Emily's hip. He shot her a sidelong glance, lips curling into a playful smirk. "You know, if guild life always includes elevator rides with a woman like you, I might've signed up centuries ago."

Emily's eyebrow arched, her gaze fixed on the flickering floor indicator, unruffled. "Flattery's cute, but it won't get you bonus points," she said, her voice cool but laced with amusement. She finally turned, her dark hair catching the light, her presence commanding despite the casual tilt of her head. "Besides, you're not that smooth."

Klaus grinned, undeterred, leaning closer as the elevator dinged softly. "Facts aren't flattery. You're a walking legend, dark hair, killer aura, power levels that could crash a server. You're the mythic card every guild hunts for." His tone was light, but his eyes held a flicker of genuine awe, his human side grappling with the warmth creeping into his chest.

Emily's lips twitched into a sly smile, her dominance softened by a spark of warmth. "And you're the glitchy NPC who thinks he's the protagonist," she fired back, her voice sharp but playful. She stepped closer, her gaze locking with his, the air between them crackling with unspoken tension. "Keep dreaming, Klaus."

He clutched his chest, staggering back in mock agony. "Damn, that's cold. My ego's in shreds." His laugh broke the moment, but the glance they shared lingered, respect, flirtation, and something deeper, earned in the quiet hum of the descent.

The elevator dinged, doors sliding open to reveal the guild hall's bustling lobby. Klaus stepped first, his boots echoing on the floor, Emily trailing close behind. He flashed her a grin, adjusting his jacket as they approached to pick up Klaus's ID, at the ID station. The station was a sleek terminal manned by a bored clerk with augmented eyes. 

"Time to make me official, Em," Klaus said, his voice carrying a playful edge, though his fingers twitched with nervousness, as he hadn't asked for permission before calling Emily by a nickname. 

The clerk scanned his retina, handed him a glowing guild ID chip, and waved them off with a grunt.

Emily led the way toward the glass doors, her stride confident, her dark hair catching the lobby's neon sheen. She didn't mind Klaus calling her "Em." If anything, she quite enjoyed it. 

Klaus matched her pace, slipping the ID chip into his pocket, his mind half on her and half on the weight of his new reality. 

"So, what's next? You gonna babysit me through my first mission, or am I free to screw it up solo?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes searching hers for a reaction.

Emily's steps faltered just outside the doors, her hand brushing the frame as she froze. Why does it feel wrong to just... let him leave, even for a second? I haven't felt like this, ever, so why now? I feel as if I want to grab him and just be by his side. He is funny, charming, and handsome, as if straight out of some movie. Why do I...? Her thoughts spiraled, a rare crack in her composed facade, her heart racing as she pictured him vanishing into the city's underbelly. 

She turned sharply, grabbing his arm. Her voice was firm, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of panic, her usual dominance undercut by something raw: "Klaus, wait."

Klaus pivoted, his posture easy yet commanding, like a hero in an old holo-vid turning back for one last line. His brow quirked, a half-smile playing on his lips, but his gaze softened, sensing her shift. 

"What's up, Em? Forgot to assign me homework?" he teased, though his tone carried a quiet respect, waiting for her to speak.

Emily's mind churned: I can't just leave him, I should give him my number. She fumbled in her jacket, pulling out a slim comm device, her fingers trembling slightly. "Take this," she said, shoving it toward him, her voice steady despite the chaos in her chest. "My number's in there. Don't make me regret it." 

Klaus took it, his fingers brushing hers, a spark of connection lingering as he nodded, his smile now softer, more genuine. He turned, sliding into the waiting black SUV, the door hissing shut as the vehicle pulled into the neon-lit night, leaving Emily alone with her racing thoughts.