Shadows of the Meta

Fin sat at his desk, fingers hovering over his keyboard, but his mind was elsewhere. He had finished his assigned tasks, but instead of logging into Ram Online as planned, he found himself staring blankly at his screen.

The office buzzed around him, the usual chatter and clacking of keyboards filling the air, but he barely registered any of it. His thoughts swirled around the game, around the new meta, and most importantly, around how he could win.

"Hey, Fin, you okay?" Tina's voice cut through his daze.

Snapped out of his trance, he turned toward her, a bit flustered. "Oh—sorry. Nothing. Just tired."

She raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Alright. Just making sure."

Ren, who had been observing the interaction, leaned back in his chair. "You can take it easy, senpai. I'll handle things here."

Fin didn't argue. He wasn't in the mood to work, and Ren seemed capable enough. He grabbed his pack of cigarettes and headed to the balcony's smoking area.

The moment he lit up, he exhaled deeply, staring out at the city skyline. But his mind wasn't here—it was deep in the mechanics of Ram Online. The game had changed. He had been gone too long.

The Meta Had Shifted

Races weren't a thing back in his time. It used to be just humans. Now, there were Beastmen, Elves, Dwarves, and the ultra-rare Demon race. Each brought unique traits that fundamentally changed combat.

Beastmen – Ferocious melee fighters with enhanced agility and lifesteal abilities. Their racial skills allowed them to ignore a percentage of incoming damage and move faster when below a certain HP threshold.

Elves – Masters of ranged and magic attacks. Their passive abilities gave them increased critical hit rates and natural mana regeneration.

Dwarves – Resilient warriors with a natural resistance to magic and the ability to craft enhanced armor and weapons.

Demons – The rarest of them all. Their racial skills gave them devastating burst damage, shadow manipulation abilities, and unique class synergies that made them unpredictable.

Fin thought back to his last PvP match. He had barely won against that Beastman player, and now he understood why. He had fought like it was the old game, not taking into account the newer mechanics.

He pulled out his phone and started searching. Ram Online Meta 2025.

Forum threads, YouTube guides, and heated debates filled his screen. He skimmed through discussions about top-tier builds, watching highlights of elite players dominating matches with strategies he had never even considered.

This game was no longer the one he had mastered.

He wasn't just behind—he was outdated.

That night, instead of jumping straight into PvP, he dedicated himself to research. He read build guides, watched match replays, and even joined a few gaming Discord servers to lurk on discussions. His eyes scanned tier lists, noting how once-dominant classes had fallen while newer ones rose to prominence.

Somewhere between one video and the next, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep at his desk.

The Search for Answers

The next day, Fin couldn't shake the feeling that something was still missing. Guides and videos could only teach so much. He needed insider knowledge. The kind of intel that only seasoned veterans had.

After work, he logged into Ram Online.

Kuma stood in the middle of the bustling capital city, the neon-lit streets filled with players showing off their rare gear, vendors hawking overpriced potions, and guild recruiters spamming their pitches.

He opened his friends list. Most names were grayed out, long abandoned. He sighed. Just as he was about to close it, an idea struck him.

The Informants

Back in the day, he had blocked a few of them. These were the players who made their living selling information—about upcoming patches, secret farming spots, hidden mechanics. He used to despise them, hating the idea that they profited off knowledge that should have been earned. But now?

Now, he needed one.

He scrolled through his old blocked list. Most names were unfamiliar, relics of a bygone era. But then—

Jillian.

She had once been a Human Thief, but she had since evolved into a Rogue, a class upgrade only attainable at level 100 through a specialized questline. This was something Fin would only come to understand later, but for now, it was clear—she had kept up with the game in ways he hadn't.

He unblocked her and sent a friend request.

A moment passed. Then another. He was about to give up when—

Friend request accepted.

"Nice."

He wasted no time, sending a message immediately.

Kuma: Hey, Jillian. Do you remember me? It's Kuma. We used to exchange info back in the day.

Jillian: Kuma? The Kuma?

Her response came almost instantly, but there was hesitation in it.

Jillian: You disappeared. Thought you were dead.

Fin smirked. Not dead. Just… away.

There was a pause.

Jillian: What do you want?

Kuma: Info. About the current meta. I need to get back on top.

Another pause. Then:

Jillian: That'll cost you.

Fin expected that. He opened his inventory, looking at his in-game currency. He had some gold, but not enough for her level of information.

Kuma: I'll make it worth your while. Give me a free sample, and if your intel checks out, I'll pay for the rest.

A long silence.

Then, finally—

Jillian: Meet me at the Underground Market in fifteen minutes. Come alone.

The Underground Market

The Underground Market was dimly lit, filled with NPCs and players selling rare goods, illegal buffs, and hidden game exploits. It was the place for shady dealings.

Jillian stood waiting, flanked by three guild members.

Kuma's eyes widened slightly. Her character had changed drastically. Before, she had the appearance of a small girl—frail, agile, and deceptive. Now? She had matured, her body taller, more defined, and… noticeably curvier. Her new Rogue avatar had an air of confidence, her sharp gaze studying him with an amused smirk.

Kuma let out a low chuckle, tilting his head. "You've grown."

Jillian's smirk widened, catching the implication in his tone. "And you've shrunk. At least in terms of skill."

Kuma snorted. "We'll see about that."

Flanking her were:

An Elf Archer at level 85, precise and deadly with quick movement.

A Beastman Monk, her muscular form showing off a balance of speed and raw power.

Hector, a Demon Magician, her strongest recruit. Rolling a Demon character was a 1 in 1000 chance, making him absurdly strong in PvP.

Jillian smirked. "If you're really Kuma, prove it."

The Trials

The fights were brutal. Kuma dodged the Elf Archer's rapid arrows by rolling behind cover, his movements instinctive but rusty. He countered with swift melee strikes, but her agility was superior. Every move he made felt just a fraction too slow. After a grueling exchange, he barely landed the final blow.

The Beastman Monk was relentless, her mace swings creating shockwaves. Kuma struggled to parry, his stamina draining quickly. He had to outthink her—using footwork and feints, he finally tricked her into overcommitting, landing a decisive counterstrike.

But against Hector? The match was over before it began.

Dark energy lashed out, warping space around Kuma, immobilizing him. He tried to react, but before he could, Hector unleashed a burst of shadow magic, obliterating him instantly.

Jillian laughed. "Pathetic! You were a god, Kuma. Now? Just a relic."

Despite the loss, Kuma had learned one thing: The old ways wouldn't work anymore.

If he wanted to win, he had to evolve.

Jillian crossed her arms, looking him up and down. "And your equipment? Trash."

Fin's pride was hurt. He had spent most of his gaming hours from before wearing this equipment—it was his bread and butter, his companion in a sense. But to Jillian, it was merely scrap metal.

She tilted her head, her smirk returning. "Do you have anything to offer? I'll at least give you a fighting chance against level 90s."