So I'm going to come out and say this if it makes any difference – Remnant Online will no longer be called a VRMMORPG, but simply a VRRPG. Why? This is because of the Realms concept that's going to be explained in this chapter.

Also, I'd like to thank SirSpangler for going out and showing me all the parts where I messed up in the "OP main protagonist" department. It's thanks to their review that also gave me ideas for two new systems, to be explained in the NEXT chapter.

Yeah...sorry.

*start*

The phone rang. She picked it up and saw that the caller ID was "Seth", whom she had heard of making a RWBY-themed VRRPG game. He'd already found a group of 4 testers to play it, meaning she didn't really think she'd be involved in any way. More to the point, she was surprised.

What did Seth need of her now?

She answered. "Hello?"

*switch*

On their way to Ozpin's office, Kirito decided to ask Sirius a few questions. "You did say this wasn't an MMO, right? So how do you make it so that multiple players can play at the same time without messing the world up?"

"I'm glad you asked." The professor/co-developer replied. "It's a system we call Realms. Realms are different versions of the world of RWBY, separating groups of players and the lore they impact from one another."

"One can create a Realm, and he or she can set how many players who can play with him in that Realm, where they start on the RWBY timeline, and quite a few other things, too. We did this because a large scale MMO would, as you said, mess the world's lore up."

"What's interesting is that Realms can have completely different stories from one another. You can fight as a hero in one, and as a villain in another, or even as a bystander! Your and other players in the Realm's decision impact how the tale of RWBY in that Realm plays out."

"And this one? You know, the Realm we're in right now?" Asuna asked.

"Well, you can say it's the first public Remnant Online Realm created!"

"OK, I've got it…" Kirito paused for a bit. "…but what about Semblances? The unique powers that each Huntsman and Huntress have? How do you give everyone a suitable Semblance without jumbling things up?"

"Well, remember, this was made with the Seed as well. Nick and I have made a system that analyzes your performance and style of play on other VR games, and we implement that in helping select your Semblance. It also creates a quiz consisting of about a dozen questions, which you likely answered when you began playing, to determine your personality, and thus your Semblance."

"The system selects from a growing list of currently almost half a hundred Semblances for each player – and Nick and I are still hard of work adding in lots more!"

They stopped at the elevator, which they would take up to Professor Ozpin's office. There, Kirito, Asuna and Sinon noticed a girl who was also waiting there. Kirito saw that she had a… petite stature, to say the least.

"Ah, yes, where are my manners?" Sirius cleared his throat, which also made the girl turn around. "Team SALK, meet your new teammate…"

*switch*

"Karen? You there?"

"Seth? What is it?" Karen wouldn't be surprised if this was about RNO – it was almost the only thing he'd talk about these days.

"One of our testers dropped out."

"Oh. And?"

"I've been looking for a replacement, though honestly it didn't take to olong. Karen, how would you like to be one of the four testers for Remnant Online?"

"Wha…me? But…I'm scared I'll be horrible!"

"Oh come on, I've seen you in GGO before. Ruby Rose would envy your speed! And don't worry about your, uh, complex – you can just transfer your character over, and I'm already sewing up your abilities."

Karen took a breath. Playing a new game wouldn't be so bad. Plus, while she didn't really admit it to anyone, Karen herself was a RWBY fan.

"Alright." She replied. "What do I need to do?"

*switch*

"Team SALK, meet your new teammate, LLENN." Sirius introduced the short girl to Kirito, Asuna and Sinon, and LLENN waved shyly.

"That's a…weird name." Asuna noted.

"She reminds me of Gun Gale Online, you know." Kirito said.

"OH MY GOSH! YOU'RE THE PINK DEVIL!"

Kirito and Asuna turned towards Sinon, startled by her sudden burst of admiration. The swordsman also figured out why seeing LLENN returned GGO into his memories.

"You're so much smaller than I thought!" Sinon continued squealing, fully examining LLENN, who actually seemed a little frightened. "No wonder you fit in that suitcase! And your P90, where did y--"

"Alright, Sniper, that's enough." Asuna pulled the excited girl away, just as the elevator arrived.

"I guess your reputation goes before you." Sirius told LLENN as they stepped in.

*switch*

After Professor Ozpin acknowledged the formation of team SALK, there was one other thing he said that he wanted them to pay attention to.

"As you can see, all students here at Beacon have had to go through an Initiation trial to prove their worth as Huntsmen and Huntresses, with genuine desires to study here." The headmaster said. "I have seen how strong Kirito can fight by himself, but not once have I witnessed the girls' own combat prowess, less to say how all four of you work together. So, your Initiation begins tomorrow morning, at 9 in the morning."

"I understand, Professor," Kirito, the 'unofficial' leader of team SALK(Sinon would scoff whenever someone brought this up) replied. "But I would like to ask, what will be our task?"

"Well, I shall explain tomorrow. For now, I've reserved a dorm for you on the third floor.(I don't know what Beacon Academy is like in architectural terms, so I decided to just wing it) Go and get some rest for tonight - we all know that not one of us wants to see a sleepy student during Initiation."

*switch*

"So, Kirito, Asuna, and Sinon..." LLENN repeated after her three teammates had formally introduced themselves to her. "Nice to meet you! And yes, I do play Gun Gale Online. And I'm willing to bet Sinon here watched the Squad Jams too." She tried to mask a tone of bitterness which Kirito and Asuna noticed.

"Oh, and LLENN, can you do me a favor?" Kirito asked.

"Hm? What do you need?"

"I've never really seen you fight before, so, how about a duel? You and me, in the courtyard, in a moment?"

LLENN paused for a bit. She realized that while Sinon could have just told them about the way she ran and shot, LLENN supposed the best way to know someone's full power was to fight them yourself.

"Sure, I don't see why not."

*switch*

Ruby was sitting on a bench. She looked over to the spot where a young swordsman named Kirito had challenged her team to a duel, four-to-one. She wondered if he was here right now, at Beacon Academy.

"Ruby!" Yang's voice snapped the reaper out of her thoughts. "Sitting here again?" Behind her were Weiss and Blake, the latter leaning against a nearby tree, clutching a book.

"Oh, uh, hi!" Ruby started. "I, uh, just wanted a little peace, so I came up here."

"Oh come on," Her sister raised an eyebrow. "You're sitting at this exact spot because of that sword guy, aren't ya?"

"Wha...Um, well, partly..."

"Sheesh." Weiss nudged Yang, pointing at the open courtyard. "Speak of the devil."

Sure enough. Ruby, Weiss, and Yang saw the black swordsman they'd fought the other day, standing with his swords out, facing a small girl with a gun.

"Kirito's still here?!" Ruby exclaimed, meriting Blake looking up from her book.

"I think's he's got another duel." Weiss said. "Oh, this'll be interesting."

*switch*

"So, care to explain how your gun works?" Kirito asked LLENN as they prepared to battle.

"Well, my gun works just like my beloved P90 from GGO, great for medium and close range combat." She explained. "But when it gets really close, then one or two adjustments and..." She flicked a pin on the side of her gun, and a modestly long bayonet sprang out from under the barrel. "Ta-da!"

Kirito grinned. He knew he dominated melee range, and could easily slash his opponent apart if he got close enough. The one thing he did have to worry about was actually hitting LLENN.

And from what he'd heard, this girl was fast.

*switch*

OK, but in his defense, he didn't think her to be that fast.

LLENN kept dodging nimbly away from Kirito's swipes and stabs, occasionally suffering from a scratch or two, and at one moment a hefty slash to the left of her torso.

On the other hand, Kirito himself was blocking and avoiding rather a lot of LLENN's shots, and reacted very quickly to every big move she made - though he had some hit marks himself.

"That girl's fast, I have to admit." Blake said as Team RWBY observed the duel from afar.

Finally, Kirito spotted a huge opening, for LLENN had been jumping in a slightly predictable way, and didn't waste a second to capitalize upon it. He leapt forward, poised to deliver a stab. Realizing her mistake, LLENN unloaded a hail of bullets towards him as a last resort, and did succeed in almost bringing his Aura down to the defeat threshold before he reached her.

Of course, almost doesn't mean enough. A quick stab to her arm set up a prime opportunity to send LLENN flying with a combo, and seize it, Kirito did.

Eventually he stopped, and panted. The top right corner of his screen showed LLENN's Aura bar dropping quickly to the red line. He smiled. She was good, and it was a hard fought-

But then LLENN's body flashed, and suddenly dissolved into lines zipping right behind him. And Kirito suddenly realized that the Pink Devil was nearly at the same healthy state she was in a dozen seconds or so ago, for her Aura bar had retraced it's steps and showed LLENN's Aura at almost half, a bit less than she once was.

Then Kirito felt the tip of a gun touch the back of his head. "Jackpot." LLENN grinned.

"Life is cruel." He thought before going on to lose the duel.

*end*

Alright, please do pardon the *switches* used as a replacement for the horizontal lines I usually use to separate bits of the chapter. I'm actually writing part of this on a tablet, and I have zero clue how you make horizontal lines on this thing. AND THE HYPHENS WON'T STICK.

I'll explain team SALK's Semblances in the next chapter, along with two new systems and the Initiation of team SALK. But if you're itching to know just one, then yes, LLENN just pulled a Tracer.

Stay tuned!