Westdale rose from the dry plain like a stubborn mirage, a settlement that seemed to cling to the land through sheer habit and grit. Its long, straight main street was lined with weathered wooden buildings, wide porches, and simple columns casting stretched shadows across the dusty ground. Hand-painted signs hung over the entrances, their faded lettering worn down by sun and wind, advertising shops, inns, and trades without pretension.
The people moving through town were a mixed lot: traveling merchants, hunters returning from the nearby desert, players resting before venturing into dangerous routes. Many lingered beneath the porches to escape the sun, leaning against pillars and quietly observing anyone who crossed the street. There was no open hostility; but there was constant vigilance, subtle and learned.
As afternoon faded, Westdale shifted. The orange light stained the wood and dust, and the town grew unnaturally quiet. Voices dropped. Shadows lengthened. The sound of footsteps along the main street felt too sharp, too clear. It was still a safe zone, like every town in the tower, but something about the place kept players from truly lowering their guard.
Akari and Silver stepped into a bar along the main street and sat near the counter. They wore simple armor and ordinary clothing beneath cloaks. They chatted casually for a while until a player approached them.
—What’s a beauty like you doing in a place like this? —the young man asked. He looked more like an adventurer than a fighter, with kind eyes and an easy smile.
Akari answered with a smile just as bright.
—I’m crossing the Rocky Desert with my boyfriend. We love adventure. It puts us… in a good mood —she added, her smile shifting from sweet to mischievous in an instant.
The player blinked, caught off guard by the reply.
—And we want to test the rare weapon he picked up yesterday. My guy’s a great adventurer —she added proudly, clinging to Silver’s arm.
Silver remained silent, letting Akari handle it.
After a moment, the player smiled again.
—You’re in luck. You can ask around town, but I guarantee no one has better mapping than I do —he said confidently. —There’s a lesser-known route that leads to some unexplored caverns.
—Could we find more treasure? —Akari asked, eyes sparkling.
—If luck’s on your side, sure. And it looks like this guy’s got plenty of that —he winked at her. She responded with a coy smile.
The adventurer opened his menu and generated a map to transfer. Silver paid the agreed col, and the deal was done.
—Just out of curiosity —the player added—when are you planning to head out?
—Why do you ask? —Akari’s voice turned innocent again.
—I’m heading that way later this afternoon. I could guide you, if you’d like.
Akari smiled.
—We’ll be leaving mid-afternoon. But we prefer to go alone. We like our adventures… personal.
* * * * *
January 15, 2024. 4:53 p.m. — Rocky Desert, Floor 45
The Rocky Desert stretched like an open wound across the map; a vast, arid plain where sand was scarce and stone ruled the horizon. It wasn’t a sea of gentle dunes, but a hard, fractured terrain of eroded rock and reddish earth that radiated heat with merciless intensity. The sun beat down without compassion, light shimmering off bare surfaces until distance and depth blurred together.
The true threat, however, wasn’t the open expanse.
It was the escarpments.
Jagged walls of uneven rock cut across the desert like deep scars, dividing the land into abrupt corridors and forcing travelers to search for narrow passes to continue. Some paths were wide and obvious. Others were barely cracks in the stone, invisible until you were too close to retreat easily.
The walls were riddled with natural ledges, crevices, and overhangs that overlooked the lower paths. From below, those heights were nearly impossible to monitor. From above, every movement was exposed.
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It was a perfect place for ambushes; not because of violence, but because of geography. The desert didn’t need to hide predators. It placed them high, out of reach, while funneling travelers into unavoidable routes.
Akari and Silver walked hand in hand. Once the city was out of sight, Silver finally let go.
—Is holding my hand really that unbearable? —she asked with a teasing smile.
—That’s not it.
—I know. Don’t think I’m trying to take advantage of the situation. But we need to look like defenseless travelers.
Silver raised an eyebrow.
—“Adventure puts us… in a good mood?” —he repeated, mimicking her tone from the tavern.
Akari laughed.
—Drama, darling. Drama.
He glanced at her sideways, unable to hide a reluctant smile. Akari was a force of nature; arguably worse than Miwa.
—Are you sure that guy was part of a robbery group? —Silver asked.
—Yes. I’m sure.
—His cursor was green.
—Every criminal group needs players who stay green. Orange players can’t enter safe zones. The guards attack them immediately and send them to jail.
—There’s a jail? —Silver asked, surprised.
—Yes. But only for crimes committed inside safe zones. And jail isn’t nearly enough punishment for a murderer.
Silver nodded silently.
They continued across the plain, following the route marked on the map.
—There. The triple peaks —Akari said.
—I see the cave entrance —Silver added.
Their awareness sharpened.
—Are you scared? —she asked.
Silver shook his head.
—I trust my defense. What worries me is not being able to protect you if there are too many of them.
She smiled and gently took his hand again.
—I don’t need you to protect me, Silver. I need you focused on delivering justice.
Her words echoed painfully. He forced himself to stay calm. This depended on him.
As they neared the cave, movement stirred among the surrounding rocks. First laughter. Then footsteps.
Three players stepped out, blocking their path back. One had an orange cursor. The other two wore masks. From body shape alone, Silver recognized the one who’d sold them the map, the yellow mask. The other wore green.
—Well, lovebirds. Hope you enjoyed the stroll —the orange player sneered. —Hand over everything you’ve got, and we’ll let you walk away. But if you hide something…
He didn’t need to finish. His grin said enough.
Akari smiled sweetly.
—Just the three of you? I thought the “Desert Coyotes” would be more impressive. Guess rumors exaggerate.
The orange player’s expression hardened.
The green-masked one spoke.
—Pretty and well-informed. Impressive —he mocked. —But that doesn’t change your situation.
—Same goes for you —Akari replied calmly.
At that moment, Silver removed his cloak. He opened his menu swiftly: his light armor vanished, replaced by the imposing Queen’s Warden Set.
The yellow-masked player cursed.
—What’s wrong with you? —the green one demanded.
—It’s got to be a joke…
—Talk!
—It’s him. The front line’s wall. The invincible tank…
The three exchanged stunned looks. Then the orange player smiled.
—Perfect. Finally someone worth testing myself against.
He drew his two-handed sword and charged.
Silver took a defensive stance.
Five brutal blows crashed against the Aegis. Silver didn’t move an inch. The attacker stared in horror; that had been his strongest combo.
Silver stepped forward, sword raised.
The opponent focused on the blade, waiting for the telltale glow of a skill activation.
But Silver closed the distance without triggering anything.
The hesitation cost him a second.
Silver took it.
The shield slammed into him; low damage, but his posture shattered.
—Vertical Square.
Four arcs of light sliced through the air. The blows cut across chest, arms, and legs.
The player’s HP bar dropped by more than half.
The scream that tore from his throat wasn’t rage.
It was terror.
For the first time, the fear of dying was on their side.
A notification appeared before Silver’s eyes: