In his dimly lit command office, “Stonewall” Grieger sat behind a polished steel desk, his eyes fixed on the digital map projected on the wall in front of him. The map displayed the known locations of Wesirian strongholds, and beside each marker was a series of updates on their “progress.” Grieger tapped the table, and the screen switched to a feed from inside Stone Chronicles. He watched the Militia’s avatars moving through the game, trailing the Seekers’ team by a few carefully timed minutes.

  A tap at the door broke Grieger’s concentration.

  “Sir, Colonel Jasper is here to see you,” came the brisk voice of his aide.

  “Send him in.”

  The Colonel entered, his stride confident but his gaze wary, as if bracing himself for whatever news awaited. Grieger looked up, raising an eyebrow.

  “Well, Teddy, we made contact with the Hacker,” Grieger said, his tone laced with satisfaction. “He’s agreed to the mission. Reward terms secured, and from what I can tell, he’s interested in what we’re offering.”

  Jasper nodded, leaning over the table to study the digital map. “A dangerous game, Bobby. But it sounds like we’re covering our bases.”

  “That’s exactly the plan. With the Hacker inside the Seekers’ team, we’ll have the advantage of foresight and intelligence. We’ll know exactly where they’re headed, what they’re planning, and how they move.” Grieger’s eyes gleamed with a mix of satisfaction and calculation. “The Militia’s in place, and I’m having them shadow the Seekers closely. Streak’s team the Slayers might get further ahead in-game, but with the right intelligence, our boys can intercept any chance the Seekers have at key intel.”

  Jasper gave a slow nod. “We’re monitoring the Militia’s progress, too, I assume?”

  Grieger tilted his head toward another feed, showing the Militia avatars keeping a steady pace. He pointed to one of the names on the screen, “Stoneblade,” his son Ethan’s gamer handle, leading the group alongside the Jasper twins.

  “They’ve been doing a great job gathering intel, actually. Using the game’s messaging and cloaking systems, they’re able to keep tabs on the Seekers without alerting them. Whenever the Seekers engage with NPCs or activate a mission, we get a notification here. Once we know the Seekers’ exact objectives, we can cut them off or beat them to it.” Grieger’s grin widened as he leaned back in his chair, visibly pleased. “They’re not just playing the game—they’re dismantling the opposition from the inside.”

  Grieger sat behind his desk, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished steel as he reviewed data feeds and military intel on the walls. Each screen was filled with streams of information: maps, field reports, and live feeds from inside Stone Chronicles. The Militia’s avatars moved across one screen, shadowing the Seekers as they tackled the game’s challenges. General Grieger’s mouth curled into a tight smile, the image of his son Ethan “Stoneblade” Grieger, leading the team across the digital landscape, filling him with a sense of control.

  Just then, there was a knock at the door.

  “Enter,” Grieger called.

  Sergeant Maloney stepped in, standing at attention. “Sir, Colonel Jasper’s visitor has arrived.”

  Grieger raised an eyebrow, glancing at Jasper, who sat across from him. “A visitor?”

  Jasper gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. “I’ve been expecting some intel, General. I’ll find out if there’s anything relevant to the mission and report back.”

  Grieger’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before he nodded. “Good. Make sure it’s useful, Teddy.”

  Jasper rose, gave a nod, and left the room, following Maloney down the dim corridor to a secluded hallway where his visitor waited.

  Vern, his face partially shadowed under a worn cap, gave Jasper a curt nod. They didn’t exchange pleasantries—this wasn’t that kind of meeting.

  “Vern,” Jasper acknowledged quietly, crossing his arms. “You’ve got something for me?”

  Vern cast a wary glance around before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. “Colonel, things have taken a turn. The President’s administration is aware of Grieger’s activities, and they’re watching closely. They’re concerned about the level of power he’s consolidating here and… well, the fact that he’s making it clear he doesn’t care who gets hurt as long as he gets what he wants.”

  Jasper’s brow furrowed, but he kept his face stoic. “The President’s taking an interest in the Seekers?”

  Vern nodded. “They’re not just ‘taking an interest.’ The administration sees the Seekers as a potential counterbalance to what Grieger’s doing. Word is, some parties at the top are supporting the Seekers quietly, hoping they can gather intel or, at the very least, interfere with Grieger’s plans.”

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  Jasper’s mind churned as he processed this. “So, what are you suggesting, Vern?”

  “Just this,” Vern replied. “The President’s team wants Grieger stopped before he crosses a line that we can’t come back from. They don’t trust him with the kind of power these artifacts represent. And they’re concerned about… you.” He looked Jasper dead in the eyes. “Colonel, you need to be careful who you’re standing beside. Your loyalty might end up costing you more than just your career. And if things go wrong, your family could be in the crosshairs, too.”

  Jasper held his gaze, masking the unease that stirred within him. He’d worked with Grieger long enough to know the risks, but Vern’s warning resonated deeply.

  Vern took a step back, blending into the shadows. “Remember what I said, Colonel. Sometimes, it’s the small choices that lead to the biggest consequences. Keep an eye on Grieger, but don’t let him take you down with him.”

  Jasper didn’t respond, merely watching as Vern disappeared down the hall. After a moment, he turned and walked back toward Grieger’s office, his mind heavy with the implications.

  Back in the office, Grieger was still engrossed in the feeds when Lieutenant Jennings entered, saluting crisply.

  “General Grieger, sir, I have an update regarding the Hacker.”

  Grieger looked up, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. “Let’s hear it.”

  “The Hacker has acknowledged the mission, sir. He’s already embedded himself within the Seekers and has accepted the terms.”

  Grieger’s lips curved into a triumphant smile. “Good. Exactly what we needed. Dismissed, Lieutenant.”

  As Jennings left the room, Grieger turns to look at Jasper, who also just re-entered, his face betraying nothing of the conversation he’d just had with Vern.

  “They’re watching,” Grieger said, gesturing toward the screen. “Every move, every piece of intel, they’ll feed it straight to us. The Seekers will have no idea they’re practically leading us to the artifacts. Our path is clear, Teddy. We’ll use the Hacker to strip them of any advantage and intercept whatever intel they find. And with the Militia on their trail, we’ll always be one step ahead.”

  Jasper managed a nod, but Vern’s words lingered, casting a shadow over his thoughts. Grieger’s confidence was unwavering, almost blinding, but Jasper knew there were cracks forming in this unyielding facade. Cracks that, given the right pressure, could bring the entire operation crashing down.

  Jasper forced a faint smile, his thoughts carefully guarded. “Understood, General. I’ll be ready.”

  Just as the Seekers turned to leave the Blacksmith’s workshop, the Blacksmith stopped working on the sword and quickly dipped it into a liquid. The steam rose all through the air.

  The Blacksmith than suddenly appeared through the steam with his gaze fixed on Leo. With a knowing look, he stepped forward and held out a gleaming sword, its blade etched with five intricate ancient runic symbols that pulsed faintly with a golden glow.

  “Before you go, LeoAdams1,” the Blacksmith said, his voice low and almost reverent, “try this sword. It’s no ordinary blade. Crafted with the wisdom of ages, it holds the ability to channel its wielder’s intentions, enhancing your focus and power. If you listen, it might even whisper the path forward.”

  Leo reached out, fingers closing around the hilt. As he gripped it, a surge of energy pulsed through him, and the rune on his guantlets flashed a golden hue simultaneously with the runes on the sword.

  The sensation seemed to physically tingle. Similar to when he logged back in to The Lost Megaliths after burning his fingers on a VR monolith. He once began feeling as though he was connected to the the inside of the game.

  The sword felt perfectly balanced, like an extension of his own body. He could sense its potential, its capability to cut through not just physical obstacles but barriers of knowledge, leading him toward answers hidden within the game.

  “Thank you,” he murmured, awestruck by the weapon’s presence.

  The Blacksmith gave him a nod, as if acknowledging some unspoken understanding, and returned to his work crafting another sword

  Leo glanced back at his team. Nexus, their strategist, was already contemplating their next move, her brow furrowed in concentration as she reviewed their objectives, noting possible risks and outcomes. Her mind worked like a chessboard, mapping out scenarios, her eyes scanning the area as she mentally placed each of them in ideal positions. Nexus wasn’t just a thinker; she had a knack for identifying strengths and vulnerabilities, honing in on the best tactics to use in every encounter. Sitting on the ground a few feet from Nexus was Cipher.

  Cipher was their resident mythology expert, a player whose knowledge extended far beyond the game itself. He was thumbing through a virtual codex, muttering to himself as he reviewed the legends associated with Delphi, the Sphinx, and ancient riddles. His passion for mythology meant that he often found clues others would overlook, tying them into the game’s lore with ease. Every whispered phrase and hidden symbol seemed to come alive under his scrutiny, each one a piece in the sprawling tapestry of the game’s mysteries. A few meters away near a tree, Nova was sizing up the sight on his crossbow.

  Nova was the explorer, his eyes constantly roaming, picking up on details most people would miss. His curiosity drove him, and he would often venture off the beaten path, discovering hidden pathways and secrets that others would overlook. He could see connections where others saw only walls, and his instinct for finding the uncharted had saved them more than once. He had an eye for the unusual, his sense of adventure adding a layer of excitement and discovery to their journey. Twirling a large hammer, Forge nodded as he tightly gripped the handle.

  Forge, with his oversized hammer and tactical know-how, was the team’s tech and gadget wizard. He constantly tinkered with his equipment, modifying and enhancing it to give them an edge. Whether he was creating new traps, enhancing their weapons, or assembling makeshift barricades, Forge’s skills were invaluable in both offense and defense. He was a creator, building solutions that weren’t just practical but gave the team a strategic advantage, and his ingenuity had proven instrumental.

  And finally, there’s Zara who consistently scouted the perimeter. Known as Valkyrie, she is their scout and defender. She moves with the precision of a soldier, her gaze always scanning their surroundings, assessing threats before they even materialized. She plans their defenses with the insight of someone who had seen enough conflict to know that survival depended on preparation. Zara’s scouting ability meant they were rarely caught off guard, her instincts honed to sense danger before it appeared. She was fiercely protective of the team, her presence a silent reassurance that they had someone watching their backs.

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