Word Number：319 Author：HLMBEST Translator： Release Time：2026-04-09

　　Both were users who settled into Midgard during the closed beta period, both were pioneers who were active on the front lines during the open beta period. One was recruited by the later Raiders, one was selected by the former development team. One created Free Birds, one formed the Mediation Organization.　　One was named Owl, one was named Vulture.　　They were the same—both were strong, both became heroes, and both harvested their respective feelings afterward.　　They were also different. One left the guild because of a bet and gradually faded from the world of Midgard, with no newcomers knowing who he was; the other became a target of public ire among guilds back then—anyone at the Mega level didn't take him seriously.　　Now they meet again, both following their own path, each calling the other their enemy, neither mentioning the time they fought side by side back then, as if they didn't know each other from the beginning. Everyone knew it was meaningless to continue fighting—it was thankless and would lead to injuries—yet no one was willing to back off. The reason was obvious: the opponent's existence was enough to constitute their reason to continue fighting.　　Between the exchanges, the hearts of both were shouting to the other: stop fighting, or die.　　The hearts of both were struggling. Neither wanted to hurt the other, nor did they want to be hurt by the other, and even less did they want to see their own people harmed by the other's. They were at the mercy of circumstance: explosions echoed across the sky, thunderbolts struck down with ferocity. Time and again, they unleashed their signature moves on each other, watching as the other was hit and disappeared into the hazy smoke. Neither slackened, for they knew each other well—it wouldn't be long before the other retaliated in kind. This was the pact they had made together