The massive structure in the distance grew clearer with each passing moment. Its jagged edges shimmered with precision, its design far too polished for the broken, glitch-ridden world around it. Streams of light spiraled from its towering spires, forming a pulsating dome of energy that blotted out the flickering sky.

  Erik stared at it, his heart sinking. It wasn’t just a building—it was a fortress.

  “That’s the devs’ node, isn’t it?” he asked, gripping his sword tightly.

  Lena nodded, her expression unreadable. “It’s the Command Nexus. The devs’ primary base of operations. They control everything from there—the sentinels, the experiments, even the players. If they’re deploying it now, it means they’re done playing games.”

  Erik’s stomach churned. “So, they know we severed the glitch.”

  “They know you severed the glitch,” Lena corrected, giving him a pointed look. “And they’re not going to let that slide.”

  “Perfect,” Erik muttered. “So, what’s the plan? We storm their super fortress and ask politely for them to stop?”

  Lena smirked faintly, though there was little humor in it. “We don’t have to storm it. Not yet. First, we find out what they’re planning.”

  “Planning? You think they’re still trying to deploy the glitch?” Erik asked.

  “Not exactly,” Lena said. “The glitch might be gone, but the devs don’t need it to control this world. They’ll have backups, contingencies. And they’ll want to make an example of you.”

  Erik winced. “An example, huh? That’s… reassuring.”

  Lena’s expression softened slightly. “We’ve bought ourselves some time by severing the glitch, but that fortress? That’s their answer to us. If we don’t act fast, they’ll solidify their control over the system—and over everyone in it.”

  Erik nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. “Then we don’t give them the chance.”

  As they moved through the newly stabilizing world, Erik couldn’t help but notice how different it felt. The terrain, once fractured and chaotic, was slowly reassembling itself. Trees regrew, their leaves shimmering with unprocessed light, and streams of water trickled through valleys that hadn’t existed moments before.

  But there was something off about the world. It felt too perfect, too clean, like a freshly wiped slate.

  “This doesn’t feel right,” Erik said, his gaze sweeping the landscape.

  “It’s not,” Lena agreed. “The system is rebuilding itself, but it’s not the same as before. The devs are rewriting it in real-time, shaping it to their liking.”

  Erik frowned. “Shaping it how?”

  Lena pointed to a group of NPCs in the distance. At first glance, they appeared normal—villagers tending to crops, children playing in a field. But as Erik looked closer, he realized their movements were off. They were too smooth, too synchronized, as if they were running on a script with no variation.

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  “They’re not thinking anymore,” Erik said, his voice quiet.

  “They don’t need to,” Lena said. “The devs don’t want a world filled with complex systems and unpredictable variables. They want control. And this?” She gestured to the NPCs. “This is their version of perfection.”

  Erik’s fists clenched. “They’re turning the entire world into a simulation.”

  “It always was a simulation,” Lena said, her tone sharp. “But now, it’s a controlled one. No glitches. No anomalies. No freedom.”

  Erik’s chest tightened. The weight of what they were up against felt overwhelming.

  “So, how do we stop them?” he asked.

  Lena smirked. “We hit them where it hurts. The Nexus.”

  Their path to the Nexus was fraught with danger. The devs weren’t just sitting idly by—they were deploying everything they had to regain control of the system.

  The first sign of trouble came in the form of massive drones, their sleek forms cutting through the air like silent predators. Erik and Lena spotted them from a ridge, their glowing eyes scanning the terrain below.

  “Recon units,” Lena said, crouching low. “They’re looking for us.”

  “How many do you think there are?” Erik asked.

  “Too many,” Lena replied. “And if they find us, they’ll call reinforcements.”

  Erik nodded, gripping his sword. “So, we avoid them?”

  “Or we take them out quietly,” Lena said, a sly grin spreading across her face.

  Erik sighed. “Why do I feel like your version of ‘quiet’ is going to involve a lot of stabbing?”

  Lena chuckled softly. “You’re catching on.”

  They waited until the nearest drone hovered just below their ridge, its glowing scanners sweeping the area. Lena moved first, her daggers flashing as she leapt from the rocks. She landed silently on top of the drone, driving one blade into its sensor array.

  The drone let out a low hum, its lights flickering as it struggled to stay aloft. Erik followed, slashing at its propulsion unit with his sword. The drone shuddered, then crashed to the ground in a heap of twisted metal and sparks.

  “Nice work,” Lena said, hopping off the wreckage.

  “Thanks,” Erik said, though his nerves were on edge. “But that was just one. What about the others?”

  As if on cue, the hum of approaching drones filled the air. Erik and Lena spun around to see a squadron of the machines closing in, their lights glowing ominously.

  “Of course,” Erik muttered.

  “Time to move,” Lena said, darting toward a nearby ravine.

  Erik followed, the sound of the drones growing louder behind them. They slid down the rocky slope, the terrain growing rougher as they moved deeper into the ravine.

  “We can’t outrun them forever,” Erik said, glancing back.

  “Then we don’t,” Lena said, skidding to a stop. She turned to face the approaching drones, her daggers gleaming in the dim light.

  “Lena, are you serious?” Erik asked, his heart racing.

  “Trust me,” she said, a confident smirk on her face.

  The drones descended, their weapons charging. Erik raised his sword, ready to fight, but before he could move, Lena leapt forward.

  Her movements were almost inhuman, a blur of speed and precision. She weaved between the drones, her daggers slicing through their vulnerable points with surgical accuracy. Sparks flew as the machines fell one by one, their glowing lights fading.

  By the time the last drone hit the ground, Lena was already turning back to Erik.

  “See?” she said, breathing heavily. “Easy.”

  Erik shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Remind me never to doubt you again.”

  The closer they got to the Nexus, the more the world changed. The terrain became sterile, devoid of the organic beauty that had once defined Endworld Online. Smooth, metallic surfaces replaced grass and stone, and towering pillars of light dotted the horizon.

  The Nexus itself loomed ahead, its massive gates glowing with runic symbols. Erik could feel its power from here, a weight pressing against his chest.

  “This is it,” Lena said, her voice steady. “Once we go in, there’s no turning back.”

  Erik nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. “What are we going to find in there?”

  “Answers,” Lena said. “And a fight we might not win.”

  Erik swallowed hard but didn’t waver. “Then let’s make it count.”

  The gates began to open, a low rumble reverberating through the air. Beyond them lay the heart of the devs’ control—an intricate web of power, secrets, and danger.

  Erik took a deep breath and stepped through, ready to face whatever awaited them.