The Player who had spontaneously combusted was Maria, the Super Maria Sisters Online World Champion. She shrieked and rolled on the floor. Princess and Huntress rushed over and patted her clothes down.

Once the fire was out, Maria jumped up, unhurt but fuming mad. She pointed to a Player who was walking away. 'MAMA MIA! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!'

The Player slowly turned around.

Akumi gasped.

A big wizard hat. A dark blue robe with a yellow star pattern. A face obscured by darkness with flaming blue eyes.

Wizard.

The Magic King.

This one wasn't like other VRMMO world champions. He was a Double Ranker, a world champion of two VRMMOs. In his case, it was Dark Spirits Online and The Elder Runes Online, two crushingly hard fantasy RPGs. In order to become the number one player of one VRMMO, you had to become an obsessed freak. In order to be the number one player of two VRMMOs, you had to become a single-minded monster. Most lost their humanity in the pursuit of perfection.

Wizard spoke with an echoing English accent. 'You were...in my way.'

Maria balled her hands into fists. 'YOU BASTARDO! YOU THINK YOU CAN PUSH PEOPLE AROUND JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A DOUBLE RANKER?! THIS ISN'T A GAME ANYMORE, YOU IDIOTA! COME ON, GIRLS! IT'S ABOUT TIME WE TAUGHT THIS GOOMBAH SOME RESPECT! LET'S A GO!'

Princess and Huntress got into fighting stances behind her.

Wizard clicked his fingers. Two Players moved to either side of him.

The first was a giant, muscular man in bulky, green power armour. This was Beast, the Double Ranker of Damnation Online and Haloid Online.

The second was a feminine-looking, lithe-bodied Asian boy in a skintight, black nanosuit. This was Ninja, the Double Ranker of Iron Gear Online and Deus Ex Machina Online.

Together, these three made up the Triumvirate, the de facto ruling council of the VRMMO world. Though they despised one other, they viewed Single Rankers like Maria as lesser lifeforms and would step in to enforce the hierarchy whenever necessary.

Beast spoke with a electronic Texan accent. 'Know your place, Single Ranker. The fact that we've been isekai'd changes nothing. Some of us have actually been planning for this, by god.'

Ninja giggled and spoke with a manic Japanese accent. 'You should take his advice, sweetheart! I'd hate to see that pretty face of yours carved up like sushi!' His tongue lulled out of his mouth.

Maria, Princess, and Huntress went white. They put their hands up and backed off.

Wizard sighed. 'It seems the validity of the hierarchy has come under scrutiny due to this new...situation.' He sounded bored, as if all this was beneath him. 'Perhaps I should make an example out of the three of you as a lesson to the rest.... Yes.... Ignis.' He raised a flaming hand.

The girls cried out.

Akumi looked around. The other Players were just watching. Some were even nodding their heads in approval. In the VRMMO world, the strong did what they could, and the weak suffered what they must. Even Emma, Michelle, and Jane were averting their eyes. No one wanted to mess with the Triumvirate. Saeko, Lee, and Chu, on the other hand, were watching with evil glee.

Akumi bit her lip. She was all for might makes right in games, but it had no place the real world. She hated bullies.

Summoning all her courage, she ran between Wizard and Maria and stretched her arms out. 'If you want to get to them, you're going to have to go through me!'

Wizard shrugged 'Whatever.' His flaming hand flared.

The heat was overwhelming!

'Enough!' said General Mantis. He raised his raptorial arm. 'I have a healthy respect for you Players and your strange ways, but I cannot allow any one of you to come to harm under my watch.'

Wizard slowly turned his head. 'And how exactly do you plan to stop me...insect?'

Jaguar growled and stepped forwards with a crack of his knuckles. 'Leave this godling to me, General! I'll put him in his place!'

Oh, Buddha, thought Akumi.

Astronaut placed his hand on Jaguar's shoulder. 'Hold on, you fool. These are Players. We are going to have to do a lot more than just beat them if we want them to fall in line. We have to crush their spirit. Let us use...the Renegades.'