He walked to the edge, hands resting on the safety railing. From this vantage point, he could see the sprawl of the city, its organised chaos.
people walked without purpose or andered aimlessly, all unaware of what was coming.
Unaware that in less than thirty-four hours, their reality would rge with another, and everything they understood about existence would shatter.
Clouds drifted overhead, their edges gilded by the setting sun. Even in this industrial zone, with its stark architecture and utilitarian design, there was beauty in it.
Arthur closed his eyes, allowing himself this single mont of peace.
His life had taken a major turn in the past few months, and he was slowly getting accustod to it.
He didn't like it.
Not at all, but he had to adapt. Adaptation was a key to survival.
'Survival...sothing so easy to attain for so. Yet so difficult for others.'
'Why do we go after sothing that will only make our life more difficult? By surviving, we are only continuing the endless cycle of joy and pain. Never truly attaining peace.'
'Death is the easy way out, no? Or is it? Do people who die truly find peace? I don't believe it.'
'Hell must exist. Heaven must exist. Without those two, reality wouldn't really have a aning to it. Everyone will be able to do as they please, and no one will be objectively responsible for their actions.'
"Arghhh," He shook his head violently, as if trying to dislodge the thoughts physically
"Even when I wanted a peaceful mont, my mind couldn't stop racing. I can't stop thinking about the future. The present...and the past."
The city sprawled beneath him—millions of lives about to change forever. Most wouldn't survive the first wave. They didn't know and couldn't prepare.
"Forget it. Thinking about all of this will only make go crazy."
He inhaled deeply, centring himself. Ti to refocus.
"Lock in..." he muttered, just as the door to the rooftop swung open.
Arthur straightened, his montary vulnerability vanishing like morning fog under harsh sunlight. His expression reset to its default coldness.
"Sir, the food is ready. I've brought you a chair and table, since there isn't any here," the guard said, holding a silver tray while soone behind him struggled with a folding chair and table.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "There was no need. The floor is good enough."
"No, no. Mr. Gates would kill ," the guard smiled wryly, nodding to his colleague to set up the furniture.
Though Arthur had requested a simple al, what arrived was anything but simple. The tray contained a whole chicken, cooked to perfection, with roasted vegetables arranged artfully alongside and so rice on the side.
"Mr. Gates insisted on the upgrade," the guard explained, noticing Arthur's expression. "Said you only deserve the highest quality of nutrition,"
Arthur nodded once, taking a seat as the guards retreated to a respectful distance.
As he ate, he mapped out his strategy.
He finished his al quickly. Standing, he nodded to the guards and made his way back to the elevator.
He finished his al quickly. Standing, he nodded to the guards and made his way back to the elevator.
One guard imdiately cleaned up the rooftop while the other led Arthur back.
Before entering his room, Arthur stopped. "Where's Gates?"
"Sir, he's currently in Armageddon. I need a few monts to contact soone to log in and tell him."
"No need. I'll talk to him myself."
Arthur paused at Charlotte's window, taking one final look at his sister's pale form. Her chest rose and fell in perfect rhythm with the ventilator. Machines keeping her alive. For now.
The countdown in his mind ticked relentlessly: [31:35:44]
Upon entering his designated room, Arthur settled back onto the bed. Before his body dissapeared.
He materialized exactly where he'd left—at the edge of the Verdant Maw.
The forest seed darker now, more ominous. The trees had shifted subtly, as if rearranging themselves during his absence.
Arthur didn't hesitate. He strode forward, passing under the natural archway ford by massive, ancient trunks.
"Show your secrets," Arthur muttered, before summoning Aether and the others once more.
Dark portals ripped open around him, his beasts erging in combat-ready stances.
"Let's keep it going, guys. We have a lot of work to do."
Aether's head snapped toward Arthur, genuine indignation in his eyes. "Master! I was mid-bite! That bear was the best thing I've eaten in this place!"
The void dragon's complaint was so unexpected that Arthur actually smiled.
"Haha. Sorry about that, Aether. I promise you will eat much better food in the next few days. Don't worry about it."
"Really?" Aether's ears perked up
"Really." Arthur confird, already moving forward down the centre path.
They moved swiftly through the forest.
Ten minutes into their journey, they found sothing expected, yet unexpected.
The group cautiously approached to find a body sprawled face down in the mud.
Arthur turned the corpse over carefully, examining the insignia on the player's cloak.
"He's part of the Thornywycks," Arthur muttered, recognizing the thorned rose emblem of the rchant guild.
With a swift gesture, he stored the body in his dinsional storage.
'A high-ranking mber by the look of his gear,' Arthur thought. 'I'll return his corpse to the Thornywycks. Could be useful to have their favor.'
He stood, eyes narrowing as he scanned the surrounding forest. "Whatever killed him did it easily. No struggle marks, no defensive wounds."
"Let's keep moving," Arthur decided. "Skyla, Hank—hop on my shoulders."
The hawks exchanged glances before complying, their talons gently gripping Arthur's pauldrons.
Aether watched the maneuver, his massive head tilting sideways. The void dragon's scales rippled with what could only be described as jealousy.
"Master!" he rumbled. "Let jump too!"
Arthur laughed, a short, surprised sound. "Aether, are you trying to kill ? Look at the size of you."
"That's an," the dragon pouted. "I can beco smaller. You know that!"
"No, Aether. You're the protector—you need to intimidate whatever's ahead." Arthur's voice softened slightly. "You're a primordial beast."
The dragon's chest puffed out at the complint, his montary sulk forgotten.
"Besides," Arthur added, "I'll let you ride on my shoulders another ti."
"Promise?" Aether's eyes glead hopefully.
"When you're hawk-sized, sure."
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