(The first fight scene! It's a bit short, in my opinion. I really liked writing this scene, though!)

The world disappeared around me and my body was transforming. The world came back and I was in an urban area. Mostly everything was destroyed and rubble. I looked at the top of my HUD and saw my opponent's name, Magenta Disc. I looked for this Magenta Disc and found him or her standing in front of me. He or she had a slender body, and was a pinkish red, as implied by the name. He or she had a gun in their hand, pointed directly at my head. The large 'FIGHT' message appeared and burned away. My opponent shot and I dodged the bullet with enough time to pull out my blade and lunge at them. I slashed thin air, as my opponent jumped right as I moved forward.

This guy's fast!

I looked up and noticed that my opponent looked slightly confused, since I was using a close quarters weapon while being red. I had no time to explain, as more bullets started flying towards me. I jumped back and barely dodged the rain of bullets. The enemy switched from a pistol to an assault rifle and started shooting more bullets. I ran as fast as I could, trying to avoid all the bullets. One hit me in the leg and I tripped, thus causing more bullets to shower into me. I felt an immense amount of pain all over my body. It looks like this game imitated pain better than other VR games.

As the enemy started to reload, I got up and charged them with all my might. I landed a punch to the stomach. The enemy was shocked at how I was able to lunge at them with such speed. I immediately slashed them as much as I could with my laser sword. Their HP gauge went down drastically as I slashed them repeatedly and a second bar went up! What was it? As if reading my mind, my opponent glowed and blinded me. When the light disappeared, I saw them turn into a cannon. Perhaps this second gauge was a special move gauge, if I remember how fighting games worked. And this person's special move was turning into a cannon? What was mine?

I moved around quickly, trying to dodge all the explosives being shot at me. One hit me directly and I lost a lot my health. I was stunned for a few seconds before getting up again. I opened up the menu and looked at my move list My special attack was a "Charged Shot". What that meant, I didn't know. I didn't have some sort of energy cannon with me. Maybe I could charge up my sword...? But how?

"Charged Shot!" I cried. I began to glow very faintly as I ran towards the enemy with my sword.

"That's a dumb special move," my opponent said in a manly tone. So my opponent was a male player. Yet their avatar was very slender and woman-like.

I let go of all the power I mustered and focused it all onto my sword. I slashed down on my enemy and smashed the ground. A small yet powerful and visible shock wave appeared after unleashing my power and finished off my enemy, Magenta Disc. He disappeared and a results screen popped up. 'You win!' it said. I also gained 10 BP after winning the fight. I wondered what that was. Cash, maybe? Before I could do anything else, I was flashed back into the real world.

"Wow," I said to myself.

I won my first Brain Burst duel. I couldn't wait to tell Kuroyukihime! I ran as fast as I could to the school, full of excitement.

I found Kuroyukihime in her lunch area before school began. There wasn't any other person there, either. I don't know why, but I had a feeling she'd be here. I sighed and calmed down. I walked casually to where she was sitting and sat down quietly in the chair opposite of her.

"Kuroyukihime, I have something to tell you."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I won my first duel today!" I said very cheerfully.

"I know, I was watching," she said with an amused smile.

"Wait, what?" I asked, bewildered.

"People can spectate if they want to and if they're on the same network."

"Oh, I see..."

Kuroyukihime then gave me tips on what to do for my next battle against a ranged opponent. I took quick notes in my mind and nodded, carefully paying attention to what she was saying.

"Also, Kuroyukihime, what is a BP?" I asked.

"It's short for 'Burst Points'. They indicate how many times you can enter the Accelerated World. Once you run out, Brain Burst automatically uninstalls itself and you can never install it again."

I sat there shocked. My happiness quickly changed into a serious shock.

"Really?" I couldn't believe it. I was ready for Kuroyukihime to laugh at me for thinking she was being serious.

"Yes. I've eliminated people permanently from Brain Burst before..." her voice trailed off. Her eyes indicated that she was remembering something.

"Is something the matter?" I asked.

"No, it's nothing."

"Alright then. Anyway, what do I exactly do with this power of acceleration?" I asked.

"Anything you want. No cheating on tests or becoming a sports hero, though. As your parent, I forbid you to do so."

"My parent?" I asked.

"A parent is someone who gives a person the Brain Burst application. The person who received it is called a child."

"Wow, that's interesting," I said.

"Sure is. A parent-child bond is different compared to a normal bond in the Accelerated World. Do you know why?" Kuroyukihime asked.

"Uhm... I'm not sure. Is it because in a parent-child bond, the two people know the identities of the other?"

"Correct! That's why it is important to keep your parent-child bond."

"I won't let this bond become severed. I'll always be your friend, Kuroyukihime," I said with a sudden confidence.

Kuroyukihime stared at me with surprise in her eyes. She also had something else, but I couldn't figure out what it was. Admiration, maybe?

"I'd like to show you something in the Accelerated World," she said.

"Okay."

We accelerated and once again appeared in the blue cafeteria.

"Look to the left of your HUD and find the matchmaking option."

I did as I was told and pressed it.

"Do you see the matching list?"

"Yes. There's Red Hero, Black Lotus, and Olive Driver. Who's Olive Driver?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. But he's been hunting me for a few weeks now. I don't want you to challenge him. Rather, just keep your guard up. I'm sure he won't prey on a level 1 Burst Linker."

"Alright. Thanks for the heads-up," I said graciously.

Right as we exited the Accelerated World, the school bell rung and surprised me. I hadn't realized I was here for that long. I quickly said farewell to Kuroyukihime and left. She waved goodbye and went back to her usual tapping. I wondered why she didn't rush to her first class. I shrugged it off and barely made it to my first class on time. I sighed and sat down quickly.

"Hey, Lan-kun, I heard you were going out with Kuroyukihime-senpai," said the male student sitting behind me.

"Uhm, actually, we're just friends-"

"That's nonsense! It's okay to like girls. It's this time of your life where they start getting pretty."

"I don't think I'd go for a girl just for their looks," I said.

"Whatever. If you don't want Kuroyukihime-senpai, I'll take her for myself."

"Don't get in the way," I said suddenly.

"In the way of what?"

And before I could answer, our teacher came in and instructed us to take notes. Today's lesson was going to be a long one.