The familiar buzz of the Emberhold Guild Square greeted us as we returned from the Thornback Hydra fight. Pyers bustled about, vendors shouted deals, and guildmates exchanged strategies and stories from the field. The square had a vibrant energy that reminded me why I loved being part of the game world—it wasn’t just the quests or the battles. It was the community.

  “Well,” Fi said, stretching dramatically as we approached the guild hall. “That was a decent warm-up. When do we get to the real loot?”

  Mason rolled his eyes, his hammer slung over his shoulder. “You’re never satisfied. We just took down a three-headed death machine, and you’re already itching for the next big thing.”

  “Big things are where the fun is,” Fi replied with a grin, elbowing him. “Besides, aren’t you supposed to be my partner in crime now?”

  Mason’s face turned red, and he muttered something under his breath about troublemakers. I couldn’t help but smile at their dynamic.

  Inside the Phoenix Ascendants’ Hall was bustling with activity. Pyers gathered at long tables, sorting through loot, crafting items, and comparing notes on the upcoming dungeon event. Kaelion stood near the back, fnked by a few senior guild members, deep in conversation.

  Selene’s sharp eyes scanned the room as we passed through the hall. She had a knack for reading the dynamics of a group, and I could tell she was taking mental notes on who looked prepared and who didn’t.

  Devon stopped near a table piled high with gear, motioning for us to gather. “Alright, let’s get sorted. We’ll take stock of what we’ve got and what we still need.”

  I opened my menu, scrolling through my updated inventory. Selene insisted that I take the Hydra Fang Dagger despite my protest. It gleamed in my gear list, its stats far surpassing those of my current weapon. I equipped it immediately, the weight of it in my hand feeling satisfying.

  [New Weapon Equipped: Hydra Fang Dagger (Rare)]

  Damage: +35Critical Chance: +15%Effect: Applies poison on critical hits (15-second duration).“Nice upgrade,” Ethan said beside me as he inspected his inventory. “Guess that means you’ll be even harder to keep up with now.”

  “Was that ever in question?” I teased, earning a chuckle from him.

  Across the table, Fi was practically glowing as she admired her newly upgraded twin swords from the crafting material. “These babies are going to carve through mobs like butter.”

  Kaelion’s voice rang out, commanding the attention of everyone in the hall. “Alright, listen up! We’ve got less than 24 hours before The Abyssal Forge raid begins. I’ve finalized the first wave of teams, and the rest of you will be on standby for reinforcements. If you’re on the roster, step up.”

  A hush fell over the room as Kaelion read off the names. Devon and Selene were called first, and their levels and experience made them apparent choices. Mason and Fi were named shortly after, Fi letting out a triumphant “Yes!” as she practically skipped to the front.

  “And finally,” Kaelion said, his gaze sweeping the room, “Kiera and Ethan.”

  My stomach fluttered as I stepped forward, aware of Devon’s sharp gnce in my direction. Ethan walked beside me, his expression neutral but his eyes alight with something unreadable.

  Our group gathered near one of the long tables as the crowd dispersed. The reality of what y ahead was sinking in, and even Fi seemed slightly subdued as she sharpened her swords.

  “So,” Devon said, breaking the silence. “Now we need a pn.”

  “We’ll run practice formations tomorrow,” Selene said, her tone brisk. “The Abyssal Forge isn’t just a dungeon. It’s a puzzle. Coordination will make or break us.”

  Mason leaned against the table. “Sounds like fun. You think we’ll get a glimpse of what’s really inside?”

  “Hopefully, not all at once,” I muttered. “I don’t need another surprise like the Hydra.”

  Fi grinned. “Come on, Kiera. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

  “Somewhere between cautious optimism and outright dread,” I replied, earning a ugh from Mason.

  As the conversation turned to strategy, I couldn’t help but gnce at Devon and Ethan. The tension between them had eased slightly, but it was clear the undercurrent was still there. I’d have to watch them—both in and out of the game.

  ?????°???°?????

  We didn’t get far from the guild hall before Devon turned abruptly, his voice sharp as he called over his shoulder. “Ethan. We need to talk.”

  Ethan stopped mid-step, his casual smirk fading slightly as his eyes flicked between Devon and me. “Sure,” he said, his tone guarded. “What’s this about?”

  “Don’t py dumb,” Devon said, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “We’re clearing the air about what happened st night.”

  Selene sighed, stepping forward. “Do we really need to do this now, Devon?”

  “Yes,” Devon said firmly, his gaze never leaving Ethan. “This can’t wait.”

  I looked between the two of them, my stomach twisting. “Devon—”

  “No, Kiera,” he said, his voice softening slightly as he turned to me. “I need to hear it from him.”

  Ethan’s smirk returned, though it was colder now. “Alright, let’s hear it, Devon. What exactly do you think I did?”

  “I think you’ve been waiting for an opportunity,” Devon said, stepping closer. “You’ve been hovering around her since the day you joined, but I see through you. And when she stayed at your pce, you saw your chance, didn’t you?”

  Ethan’s eyes darkened, his casual demeanor cracking. “You think I’d take advantage of her? You think I’d do something to Kiera without her consent?”

  Devon didn’t flinch. “I think you’re in love with her, and you’ll do whatever it takes to get her.”

  Ethan’s jaw tightened, his voice sharp. “You’re damn right I’m in love with her. But I would never hurt her. Never.”

  “Guys, stop!” I said, stepping between them. “This is ridiculous. Nothing happened.”

  Devon’s gaze shifted to me, his frustration evident. “Kiera, you don’t see it, do you? He’s not just some friend. He wants more. And you’re so trusting, so convinced he’s harmless, that you don’t see the risk.”

  “That’s not fair,” I said, my voice trembling. “Ethan’s my friend. He’s never given me a reason to doubt him.”

  Devon let out a bitter ugh, his hands clenching at his sides. “You’re blind to it, Kiera. And that scares me.”

  Ethan stepped forward, his voice rising. “You don’t get to talk about her like that. You don’t get to make her feel guilty for trusting people.”

  “Oh, you mean trusting you?” Devon shot back. “Because that’s what this is really about. You’ve been biding your time, waiting for her to doubt me, to fall for whatever act you’re putting on.”

  Ethan’s fists tightened at his sides, but he didn’t move. “You think this is an act? That everything I’ve done, every fight I’ve joined, every risk I’ve taken was just to get closer to her? Grow up, Devon. I’m here because I care about this team, and yeah, because I care about her. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to steal her away.”

  “Enough!” Selene said sharply, stepping between them. Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “This isn’t helping anyone. You’re both too caught up in your egos to see what this is doing to her.”

  Both of them froze, their gazes flicking to me. I stood there, feeling like a weight had settled on my chest.

  Selene turned to Devon first. “You’re protective of her. I get that. But accusing Ethan like this doesn’t fix anything. If you don’t trust him, then say that. Don’t dance around it with insults.”

  Then she turned to Ethan. “And you. Stop poking the bear. You know Devon’s on edge about this, so maybe dial back the attitude.”

  Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Fine.”

  Devon didn’t respond immediately, his jaw tightening as he looked at me. “I just... I don’t want you to get hurt, Kiera.”

  “I know,” I said softly, stepping closer to him. “But Ethan isn’t going to hurt me. You have to trust me on that.”

  Devon stared at me for a long moment before finally sighing, his shoulders rexing slightly. He turned back to Ethan. “If you ever give me a reason to doubt that, you’ll answer to me.”

  Ethan nodded, his voice quiet but firm. “Fair enough. But you won’t have to.”

  Selene crossed her arms, her expression softening slightly. “Good. Now that that’s settled, can we get back to the actual game? We have bigger things to worry about than this soap opera.”

  A faint chuckle escaped me, and even Devon’s lips twitched in a reluctant smile. Ethan, however, just shook his head with a small grin. “You’ve got a way with words, Selene.”

  She smirked. “That’s why I’m here.”

  ?????°???°?????

  After a long day in Eidolon Nexus, the energy of the guild hall and the weight of the earlier confrontation began to fade as everyone logged off individually. Devon had left with a lingering look that spoke volumes about his continued unease. Selene had promised to keep an eye on Devon and Ethan, and her pragmatic nature comforted me. Ethan had logged out st, offering me a quiet nod before disappearing into the void.

  Now, alone in the game, I stood in the quiet glow of my quarters within the Phoenix Ascendants’ Hall. My hands hovered over the logout menu when an incoming message's familiar and dreaded chime echoed through the air.

  [Private Message: UNKNOWN]

  The message text appeared in jagged, glitchy font, as if the system itself struggled to contain it. The sight sent a shiver down my spine.

  UNKNOWN: It’s been a while, Kiera. Did you miss me?

  My heart raced as I read the words, my fingers hovering uncertainly over the reply key. I didn’t trust UNKNOWN, but I couldn’t ignore them either. They always knew something—something important.

  Kiera: What do you want?

  The reply was almost instantaneous.

  UNKNOWN: Not what I want. What you need. There’s another fragment hidden. The devs were clever this time—this one isn’t just lying around. It’s underground, buried in the Facility Code itself.

  Kiera: The Facility Code? What does that even mean?

  UNKNOWN: It means this isn’t something you’ll stumble across in the dungeon. It’s beneath it. Guarded by a failsafe the devs left behind.”

  I swallowed hard, the implications sinking in.

  Kiera: “What kind of failsafe?”

  The response made my blood run cold.

  UNKNOWN: A Guardian Mod. And not just any Guardian. It’s a dragon. A very angry dragon.

  Kiera: How do I even reach the fragment if it’s underground and guarded?

  UNKNOWN: “You’ve gotten this far without getting your data fried. Figure it out. Bypass the devs’ system and get you access to the Facility Code. Otherwise, it’s game over, anomaly and you won't like the results when we don't get our way.”

  UNKNOWN’s message pulsed on my screen like a living thing, its jagged font still visible even after I closed my eyes. The mention of another Binary Fragment, buried beneath our upcoming dungeon raid, had already set me on edge. But the real bombshell was the Guardian Mod—a dragon lurking underground, protecting the devs’ hidden failsafe.

  My mind reeled. We’d defeated Oberon before, but it had taken weeks of grueling effort, teamwork, and the combined firepower of Kaelion, Lyra, and Era to bring it down—and if UNKNOWN was to be believed, the stakes were even higher.

  The message window flickered, and UNKNOWN’s final words scrawled across the screen.

  “Tick-tock, anomaly. The devs are watching. Be smart about this.”

  The message disappeared, leaving me alone in the dim glow of my quarters. My mind raced as I considered my options. If the devs were watching, I couldn’t risk discussing this in-game. I needed my team. All of them.

  I opened my DM menu, typing quickly as I sent out a message to the people I trusted most.

  Urgent: Meet IRL ASAP.

  One by one, the group responded with varying degrees of confusion and concern:

  Devon: What’s wrong?

  Selene: Is everything okay?

  Fi: IRL? Uh, okay, Boss. What gives?

  Mason: You’ve got me curious now.

  Ethan: Just say when and where.

  But I didn’t wait to expin. I logged out, my heart pounding as I pulled off the headset. The weight of what y ahead settled heavily on my shoulders.

  I felt the familiar weight of responsibility settle over me. I knew what they’d say when I told them about the fragment and the dragon: You’ve managed to get this far. Figure it out.

  They believed in me, even when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself. That faith was both humbling and terrifying, especially knowing what we were walking into.

  But first, I had to get everyone in the same room. The devs might not know exactly what we were pnning yet, but it was only a matter of time.

  This wasn’t just another dungeon. It was a game-changing mission—one we couldn’t afford to fail.