The tavern in Draggor was a patchwork of dark wooden beams, low-hanging iron chandeliers, and the ever-present scent of charred meat and spiced ale. The night air outside pressed against the leaded glass windows, muffling the distant sounds of revelry and the occasional drunken brawl in the streets. Inside, a fire crackled in the stone hearth, casting flickering shadows across the rough-hewn tables and the wary faces of the six players gathered in a secluded corner booth.

  Chaostrigger sat with her back to the wall, a precautionary measure she had adopted since becoming trapped in Ludere Online. Her sea-green mana crystal pulsed faintly as she traced a gloved finger around the rim of her untouched tankard. The dim torchlight caught the intricate princess cut of the crystal embedded in her forehead, refracting a brief glimmer of aquamarine against the gunmetal blue of her eyes. Her short, thick curls framed her face, damp with the humidity of so many bodies packed into the tavern.

  ObsidianFury leaned forward, elbows braced on the table, his dark armor bearing fresh nicks and scratches from a recent skirmish. His black eyes flickered beneath the hood of his cloak as he spoke in a low, controlled voice. “The email came from Frank’s account. That much we know. But was it really him?”

  AstralVenom drummed his fingers on the wooden surface, his iridescent tattoos pulsing faintly in the dim light. “If it was, why would he tell us to keep playing when it’s clear we’re stuck? It doesn’t add up.”

  MirageHex frowned, her feline-like eyes narrowing. “Or maybe that’s the point. Maybe he didn’t send it at all.”

  Neb, who had been silent until now, let out a slow breath. “I synched in later than most of you,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “And I met someone. A guy who called himself Dedisco.” The group turned their attention to him instantly, the name alone enough to draw interest. Neb hesitated before continuing. “He said everything happening now is to ‘prepare us.’ But he wouldn’t elaborate. Just said we needed to be ready.”

  Chaostrigger’s fingers tightened around her tankard. “Prepare us for what?”

  Neb shook his head. “He didn’t say. But the way he talked… it wasn’t just about the game. He made it sound bigger. Like this isn’t just about Ludere Online anymore.”

  TemptestHowl scoffed, crossing her arms. “Well, no shit. There are ships hovering over real-world cities. We’re not just dealing with a game glitch.”

  ObsidianFury nodded grimly. “That’s the other thing we need to talk about. Those ships showed up right when everything went to hell in here. That can’t be a coincidence.”

  AstralVenom exhaled sharply. “So, what are we thinking? Some kind of connection between the game and whatever’s happening outside?”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  MirageHex leaned forward, her expression tense. “What if the reason we’re trapped is tied to them? Maybe something about those ships—whoever or whatever is in them—is keeping us locked in Ludere Online.”

  Chaostrigger tapped her fingers against the table, her mind racing. “If that’s the case, then we need to figure out why. Are we being used for something? Tested? Or is this some kind of side effect of whatever those ships are doing?”

  Neb sighed. “All I know is what Dedisco told me. That we need to be ready. But ready for what?”

  ObsidianFury’s jaw tightened. “We need more information. If the email wasn’t from Frank, then who sent it? And why tell us to keep playing?”

  AstralVenom clenched his fists. “If we find out how we got stuck, we might find out how to get out.”

  Chaostrigger nodded. “Then that’s our priority. We start looking for answers—any digital trails that could lead back to Frank or whoever sent that email. We talk to NPCs, we dig through hidden files, we find whatever connection there is between Ludere Online and those ships.”

  MirageHex’s feline eyes gleamed with determination. “And if we don’t like what we find?”

  Chaostrigger’s mana crystal pulsed, casting a faint glow over the table. “Then we start making our own way out.”

  Chaostrigger’s mana crystal pulsed, casting a faint glow over the table. “Then we start making our own way out.”

  ObsidianFury exhaled, his fingers drumming on the table. “We should also focus on locating other players. We can’t be the only ones trying to figure this out.”

  AstralVenom nodded. “If we can find others, we might be able to compare notes, see if anyone else has information about Dedisco or anything related to the ships.”

  TemptestHowl scoffed. “That’s assuming they aren’t already playing into Dedisco’s hands. If he wants us to ‘prepare,’ then leveling up is exactly what he wants us to do.”

  Neb frowned. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? Any real information is going to be locked behind quests, higher-tier NPCs, or areas we can’t access at our current levels. The only way we get what we need is by playing the game.”

  MirageHex crossed her arms. “Which is exactly what Dedisco said we had to do. Whether we like it or not, we might not have a choice.”

  Chaostrigger clenched her jaw. “Then we’re stuck in a cycle. We need information to get out, but the information is behind a wall that forces us to play into Dedisco’s agenda.”

  ObsidianFury smirked humorlessly. “Feels like a trap, doesn’t it?”

  AstralVenom sighed, rubbing his temples. “So, what do we do? Sit here and wait?”

  Chaostrigger straightened, resolve hardening in her expression. “No. We move forward, but on our terms. We gain levels, but we don’t just grind blindly. We take only the quests that give us answers. We search for other players, but we stay cautious about who we trust. If Dedisco wants us prepared, then we make sure we’re prepared for more than just playing his game.”

  The group exchanged glances, their faces set with determination. The fire in the hearth crackled, casting their shadows long against the walls, like ghosts of the warriors they would have to become.