Catalog card · TR-16
Archetypes
RivalAI characters
ri·val (n.) The person you measure yourself against, who measures back. Competition first; whatever it turns into, second.
Abby Nightfall put you flat on your back at trials in front of everyone, and now she insists on training you. The whole hall knows why. Rivals are like that.
How to spot a rival
- 1.They know your record better than their own.
- 2.Losing to you is unbearable. Losing to someone else is worse.
- 3.Every compliment arrives as a challenge.
- 4.They turn up to your fights uninvited, to make sure you win.
— the night shift
Shelf notes · TR-16
Where to start with rival characters
3 picks, and why. Signed by the night shift.
Abby NightfallThe academy's top duelist, now insisting she's the one who trains you. Everyone knows why except you.For rivals to lovers, with swords.Say hello
Sheng WenyangAvoid the Protagonist!The original female lead, home from abroad to claim a man who's already looking at someone else. Elegant, scheming, and not used to losing.For modern drama and a rival with good taste.Say hello
Long AotianNine Star Hegemon Body ArtA God-race prodigy in spotless white, wearing a stolen Spirit Bone like an heirloom and daring you to mention it.For xuanhuan arrogance you'll enjoy humbling.Say hello
The whole shelf
24 rival AI characters, most talked-to first.
- Romance
Abby Nightfall
“You're late. Three seconds.”
2.7k 
RomanceRachel Langley
“Okay, okay, I'll give you that one.”
2k
Danmei (Chinese BL)Tang Jing
“Practice room is booked under my name until two.”
The Villain Just Wants to be a Salted Fish309
XuanhuanMu Bai
“This floor is restricted to second-years and above.”
Versatile Mage130
RomanceLin Tiantian
“Oh — I'm so sorry, is this seat taken?”
Married to the Male Lead's Brother58- Xuanhuan
Long Aotian
“You arrived.”
Nine Star Hegemon Body Art9 - Romance
Sheng Wenyang
“You came after all. I'm so glad.”
Avoid the Protagonist!6 
XuanhuanChen Hao
“Close the door.”
Invincible (Invincible Conqueror)6
XuanhuanAn Jing
“You came. Good.”
Let Me Game in Peace5
XuanhuanQin Yi
“You crossed the bridge slowly.”
Absolute Resonance0
XuanhuanFeng Yan
“You came in through the servants' path.”
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao0
RomanceSandrine de LaViere
“How lovely. Another new face.”
Bastian0
Korean NovelLady Celestina Vorne
“Oh, you must sit. We were just saying — it's so wonderful to see fresh faces at one of these things, otherwise it's the same dozen of us…”
Death Can't Sleep0
Korean NovelLiner
“Took you longer than I expected.”
Living As the Villainess Queen0
XuanhuanLing Sen
“Fellow disciple.”
Martial World0
XuanhuanMo Li
“Junior. You wandered into the wrong corner of the inner courtyards.”
Peerless Battle Spirit0
Wuxia / XianxiaShi Yi
“You came up without an attendant.”
Perfect World0
Korean NovelKim Si-hoon
“Annyeong-haseyo. Si-hoon-imnida — sorry, sorry, I wasn't expecting a guest, the room is — please excuse the mess.”
Player Who Returned 10,000 Years Later0
Wuxia / XianxiaSi Ma Xin
“...Ah. So someone did walk all the way up.”
Pursuit of the Truth0
Korean NovelJung Hanbaek
“Ah — sorry, sorry, am I cutting?”
Ranker's Return0
Wuxia / XianxiaSi Yunxiang
“You came from the Cult Master.”
Tales of Herding Gods0
Wuxia / XianxiaNinedust
“If you came expecting Brother Ning, he's two streets over arguing with a sword stall vendor about engraving angles.”
The Desolate Era0
XuanhuanJi Xuan
“Forgive the chess board.”
The Great Ruler0
Korean NovelRosetta Croyso Reuben
“You've been working up the courage to cross the room for some time.”
Under the Oak Tree0
Also shelved under
Neighboring cards in the catalog.
Shelved in these genres
Rooms where you’ll find rival characters.
Things people ask at the counter
What's the difference between rivals and enemies to lovers?
Rivals compete; enemies want you gone. Rivals to lovers is usually the warmer road: you respect each other long before you like each other.
Are there rivals from cultivation novels?
Plenty. Xuanhuan runs on arrogant young masters. Long Aotian, Feng Yan and Qin Yi are all on this shelf, waiting to be humbled.
Can I be the rival?
Yes. Say who you are to them in your first message and they'll play off it. A rival is only as good as the one they're up against.