So.

Suddenly, he was there. Coming from the city, dark and ominous.

Marked gaped in shock as he took it in. The figure approached him and Tusky in an unhurried pace.

It was a man, clad in black leathers with twin swords in black sheathes. He wore a black coat with a hood, but his dark hair and permanent frown was clearly visible. There was no doubt who this player was. No doubt what kind of man he was.

He was a brooding anti-hero.

*the audience gasps*

That's right. He was the one. The one with goals similar to Mark's, but with a much darker path. But that wasn't everything, no. His character's name was clearly visible to all: xXxNoobSpanker360xXx. The name that Mark originally wanted, but had been taken.

*the audience gasps louder*

That's right. Without doubt, this man was Mark's nemesis. He was his rival. But there is more! Look at that. As if all of this hadn't been enough, xXxNoobSpanker360xXx brought others with him.

He brought his harem.

*the audience gasps and pulls out smartphones to take pictures for research purposes*

That's right. There were nine girls, coming in different shapes and sizes. They all wore traditional high-level RPG armors: basically nothing the so-called bikini armors! Well, no one really called that type of armor bikini-armor, but it was an apt description. Anyone could see how big those boo— erm, bonuses were. Big bonuses. Yes. On the armor.

Anyways, the NINE girls were all of a different kind. Not only did they have different... umm, personalities, but their appearance was very diverse as well. There was a big-breasted woman with secretary-style glasses (no doubt a yandere), a slender and shy type with a boyish haircut (hopefully not a trap), a purple-haired loli (with questionable age) and many more (all of them anime-girls, of course).

"It's you!" Mark exclaimed, pointing a finger at xXxNoobSpanker360xXx. "You were the one who took my favorite username! What are you doing here?"

xXxNoobSpanker360xXx just grunted.

"Kram is here to defend the city and save the day," said one of the harem members, a catgirl with a nice pair of boo— erm, boots. Nice pair of boots, yes.

"Well, you don't have to worry," Tusky replied, baring her fangs. "Me and my husbando are already here to defeat the Dark Lord. Mark is the strongest player you have ever seen!"

"...whatever," Kram, also known as xXxNoobSpanker360xXx, said with a grunt.

"How do you plan to do that, anyways?" asked a tall elf in tight leather pants and an S-sized tank top. "I mean, no offense, but it's just the two of you? You don't seem too strong, and you are inferior in numbers."

Mark gritted his teeth. "Oh really? Let me revert that question on you. Why does Kram need his harem to fight his battles for him? Is it perhaps because he's too weak and needs to rely on his girls?"

The nine girls gasped as one in shock and outrage, then talked over each other to rebuff Mark's accusations.

"Kram is so strong, he could destroy this Dark Lord and his undead army with a single hand!" the loli screamed, waving her oversized hammer threateningly at Mark.

"He doesn't need any of us for protection," another girl shouted. "If anything, he protects us!"

"Yes! In fact, he would have left us behind in safety if we didn't insist to come!"

"Despite his manners, he has a kind heart! He would never let us fight his battles!"

"We are loyal to him and love him, that's the only reason we came!"

Mark's mood darkened considerably, almost matching Kram's personality. That last comment was an especially heavy blow on Mark's feelings; he remembered how eagerly Sebille went shopping, instead of coming to help. Poor Mark.

"Well, that's very nice and all," Mark said at last, "But you still seem to be an irresponsible person, Kram."

Wooo, what a comeback.

"Whatever..." Kram said.

"Don't you dare to speak to Kram like that," a dark elf girl told Mark, "Can't you see that he is still mourning? A week ago, one of us died to an eldritch monster. It wears on him heavily. He cares a lot!"

"D-Died?" Tusky asked in surprise.

"That would be me!" the catgirl raised a hand. "I respawned of course, but it was terrible for poor Kram!"

"Yeah, that's right, Mark!" the loli chimed in, "I bet you don't even know how difficult it is to lose a harem member, even if only temporarily!"

The elf woman laughed. "What are you saying? Just look at him! I bet he hasn't even seen anyone dying. He is as green as they get."

"Now, that's not true at all!" Tusky retorted. "I am the proof that Mark has seen others dying. The first time we met, he killed me with his own hands!"

The nine girls gasped in shock, and even Kram managed to squeeze out a grunt.

"You killed your waifu?!" the big breasted girl (one of the lot) shouted incredulously.

"How cruel!"

"He is a savage! Just look at him!"

"Hey orc girl, wanna switch sides?"

"Yeah, we don't have any orcs among us. It would be good for the diversity!"

"You'd fit right in!"

"I can already imagine how good she would look in armor like ours! All that green skin, mmm...."

"Yes, and Kram wouldn't treat you so badly!"

"Hey hey hey, hold on a sec!" Tusky shouted, and the jibbering stopped. "Orcs are loyal. I'm staying at Mark's side, Kram. "

"Whatever," Kram said with a shrug.

Mark however, almost shed (manly) tears as he heard Tusky's words—but he stopped himself in the last second. Although his image and his self confidence were already trampled to the ground, he didn't want to make things worse by showing Kram and his girls how relieved he was.

Luckily, there was no more time to argue further. The Dark Lord was approaching, the first of his undead skeletons already appearing on the horizon. Kram, Mark and the girls watched in anticipation as they marched towards the city.

"They are here," Kram said, surprising everyone by the range of his vocabulary. "Girls, stay behind me. I'll show these undead what it is to die again."

"Whoooah, so cool!

"Kram is the best!"

"We have faith in you, Kram!"

"We love you!"

While the rest of girls continued swooning over their edgelord brooding hero, Mark and Tusky got ready to fight too.

"That's right," Mark murmured. "It's time to show that edgy emo virgin how much more of a man I am!"

[Skill learned: ]

[ is now level 1!]