A/N: Okay, I'm warning you in advance, SMALL CHAPTER:) I thought that this would be better, because next chapter you meet Haseo (yes, he's here, finally!), and that takes a while. Anyway, enjoy!

PS: Please please please don't write a review saying something about the second game. I DO NOT WANT SPOILERS! I don't even want you to say, "Oh, I'm not spoiling, but I thought you should know this..." because either way you're revealing something that I didn't know, which is spoiling. And even if I did know (Like about Haseo's Xth form... Oi, people... . ), I'm not going to change the story because I've ALREADY written it. I WILL NOT GO BACK AND CHANGE IT!! So, however the story turns out is how it turns out. I'm not going to fix something because it's inaccuate, because it's already written and I'd have to change the entire story after it. Sorry.

Okay, done with that! Onto the chapter:)

Logging On

Chapter 4

"Thank you for registering. Please come back whenever you're ready for your first battle," the NPC at the front desk recited in a formal voice. Kite glanced at Blackrose, who nodded.

"I think we're ready for our first battle right now, actually," he informed her. She smiled warmly.

"Okay, I'll set you up against another party. We will warp you to the waiting room to prepare, and when you're ready you may exit into the arena," she said pleasantly.

Kite nodded, "Thank you."

They were transported into the room, a small area with two large screens on either sides of the wall. A save point was at one of the vacant walls, and the opposite wall had a door leading to the arena. Blackrose cracked her knuckles.

"This'll be easy," she remarked briskly, grinning at her partner.

He smiled at her enthusiasm, though his own cerulean eyes glinted with excitement below his orangish-red hat, "Sure. Let's do it."

The two dot-hackers walked out of the door confidently, and arrived at one end of a large arena. The circular stage was set below several rows of stands that wrapped around the stadium. At the other end of the floor, a party of three watched them with murderous looks.

The announcer's voice came over the speaker, "Okay, folks, we're excited! Here to challenge the Emperor yet again is the ever-failing 'Sagacious Studs'! Will this be the time that they triumph, or will they have another defeat before reaching Emperor Taihaku? And in the other corner, we have a new party, called the 'Dot-Hackers'!" he paused, "…Okay, that sounds a bit pompous, so we'll have to see if they live up to the name!

"As usual, PKing is allowed in the arena, and to win, the leader must be killed! So, anything goes except items! Healing spells are okay, but if you use an item, you're disqualified! Is everyone ready?" he didn't wait for an answer before sounding the bell, "Begin!"

The 'Sagacious Studs' strutted to the center, and Kite and Blackrose met them there. The leader—a tall guy dressed in long green pants and a long-sleeved shirt that opened in the front to show his bare chest—surveyed the two with condescending eyes.

"Well, looky here. We have what? A twin blade… and what are you supposed to be, girly? Where'd you pick up that ghetto outfit?"

Blackrose narrowed her eyes, "I'm a heavyblade, idiot."

He shook his head, "Who's the idiot? Heavyblades don't exist anymore, doll. Are you a noob, or are you just stupid?"

She gritted her teeth and lunged forward, slashing her sword at him in anger, "Why don't you pull out your weapon, then?"

He jumped aside, "You're much too slow, heavyblade," he told her in a mocking tone, "If you don't know what class I am, then you clearly are a noob. Probably a hacker, if you're participating in the Sage Palace tournament so early on."

"I'm… not… a… hacker!" she swung her sword with each word, pronouncing it carefully and angrily. He dodged each attack easily.

"Sure, I'll play along. I'm a Tribal Grappler, babe. No weapons, just fists," he landed a punch on her, and she went flying.

"Blackrose!" Kite cried, slashing easily at the leader's two party members. One of them died on the spot, and the other one backed away to heal his wounds.

"I'm okay, that barely scratched me!" she called back, standing up. The leader walked forward, cracking his knuckles.

"Come on, then. Show me some real power," he motioned for her to move forward. Instead, Blackrose shouldered her sword and grinned.

"Maybe later."

At that moment, Kite jumped from behind and sliced the leader down. His HP dropped a little, and he moved to get a healing spell ready, but Blackrose was already in motion. Without hesitation, she attacked from his blind spot, swinging her sword quickly to achieve maximum damage.

The leader staggered back, his health dropping drastically at that attack. Blackrose advanced at him, an evil smirk on her face.

"Who's the noob now?" she growled.

He clenched his fists, "That doesn't prove anything. You're still a lot slower than I am!" He lunged forward, swiping his fists at her. She held up her sword to block, but one punch got through. He laughed in triumph, "Ha! Take that!"

Blackrose watched as her HP decreased about 100 points from the 3000 that she had already. She turned to face him, raising an eyebrow, "Know your classes, noob. Heavyblades are slow, but they're much higher in attack and defense. You would really have to try hard to kill me."

She glanced around to see Kite finishing off the second member of the party easily. He flashed her a thumbs up, and she turned to face the leader again, "Luckily, I also have speed. Kite is a twin blade, and therefore he's much faster than any other class. We've practiced the same way for years, and we're not about to lose to some idiot like you."

The leader scowled, "You keep saying that you're a heavyblade, but you can't be! CC Corp got rid of that class after the original World crashed!"

Blackrose sighed, "Does the name 'Dot-Hackers' mean nothing to you?" she moved to the left so that Kite could join her.

"But they left The World a long time ago! They're just legends now!"

Kite fingered his weapons as his partner grinned, slowly advancing on the leader.

"Surprise, we're back."

A/N: Good place to leave off, no:) Hope you liked it, and the next chapter will be longer! I promise! Please review and tell me what you think, because I won't post the next chapter until I get enough reviews! (evil, I know. I'm sorry)