Alex leaned back in his chair, staring at the growing list of gold and items he had amassed in The Infinite Quest. His market flipping had gone better than expected, and his deals with other players were starting to pay off. The recent partnership with MiraNight was proving fruitful, as she had already uncovered a few hidden quest leads and rare item drops that he could turn into valuable intel.
Void's name was slowly gaining traction in the gaming community, but with this rise in fame came an inevitable side effect: attention from people who didn't necessarily want him to succeed. Alex knew it was only a matter of time before others took notice of his activities—competitors, trolls, and players who couldn't stand seeing someone else succeed.
As he logged into the game, the familiar welcome screen displayed his avatar and current stats.
Username: Void
Race: Human
Experience Percentage: 85%
Level: 5
HP: 180
MP: 110
Strength: 15
Stamina: 18
Agility: 14
Perception: 12
Intelligence: 17
Luck: 12
Remaining Stat Points: 0
After putting in several hours of grinding and questing, Alex had finally leveled up a few times. He felt a sense of pride looking at his progress, but he knew it wasn't enough. As Void, he wasn't trying to become the strongest fighter in The Infinite Quest—his true strength was his network and influence.
He stretched his fingers, ready to jump back into the game when a message pinged in his inbox.
From: WraithLord95
Void, I need to talk to you. Something's going down in the game. Meet me at Valewood Tavern ASAP.
Alex raised an eyebrow. WraithLord95 rarely sent messages that were this urgent. Usually, they just discussed dungeon runs and strategies, but this felt different.
"Guess I should see what's going on," Alex muttered as he teleported to Valewood Village.
-----
The Valewood Tavern was a busy, bustling hub where players often gathered to share information, recruit for guilds, or simply relax between quests. As Alex entered, the tavern was no different from usual—players milled about, drinking virtual ale and swapping stories.
He spotted WraithLord95 sitting at a table in the corner, surrounded by a few other players, presumably his guild members. The moment Alex sat down, WraithLord leaned in, lowering his voice.
"We've got a problem, Void," WraithLord said, his tone serious.
"What kind of problem?" Alex asked, already feeling a sense of unease. He wasn't used to hearing WraithLord like this.
"There's another group, a rival guild called The Silver Fangs, and they've been spreading rumors about you. Apparently, they think you're scamming people—selling false information about quests and hidden items."
Alex frowned. "That's ridiculous. Everyone I've worked with knows my info's legit."
"I know that, and so does anyone who's dealt with you," WraithLord said. "But the thing is, The Silver Fangs are well-connected. They've got a lot of influence in the game's economy. If they start convincing enough players that you're shady, it could hurt your reputation."
Alex paused, considering the situation. The Silver Fangs were one of the bigger guilds in The Infinite Quest, known for their aggressive tactics and dominance over the in-game marketplace. If they decided to target Void, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing a few clients—his entire network could unravel.
"So what's their angle?" Alex asked. "Why come after me now?"
WraithLord glanced at the other guild members before answering. "It looks like they're trying to monopolize the information trade. Word is, they've been hiring players to track down rare quests and items, and they're hoarding that information for themselves. You're a threat to that."
Alex leaned back, his mind racing. It made sense. The Silver Fangs weren't just playing the game for fun—they were treating it like a business, and Alex's rise as a popular guide and strategist was cutting into their profits.
"So, what do you suggest?" Alex asked. "I'm not going to just back down because of a few rumors."
WraithLord smirked. "That's what I wanted to hear. Look, my guild has your back. We've worked together enough to know you're legit. But if The Silver Fangs are coming for you, it might be time to start thinking about your next move."
Alex tapped his fingers on the table, thinking. The Silver Fangs might have the upper hand when it came to sheer numbers and influence, but they lacked one thing: creativity. They relied on brute force, buying up information and strong-arming players into cooperation. Void, on the other hand, thrived on subtlety and strategy.
"Alright," Alex said, "if they want a war of information, we'll give them one."
-----
After leaving the tavern, Alex returned to his usual haunt—Valewood's marketplace. He strolled through the crowded square, his mind already forming a plan. If the Silver Fangs were hoarding information and spreading false rumors about him, he'd fight back in the way he knew best: by finding information they didn't have.
MiraNight would be essential to this plan. She had already shown she could find hidden quests and rare items, and now it was time to put that skill to the test.
He quickly sent her a message.
To: MiraNight
We've got a new mission. There's a guild called The Silver Fangs trying to sabotage my reputation. I need you to start digging for hidden quests—stuff that no one else has discovered yet. If we can uncover some exclusive content before they do, we can hit them where it hurts. You in?
It didn't take long for a response to come through.
From: MiraNight
I'm always down for a challenge. I'll get started right away. Let me know if you have any leads.
Alex smiled. He had a feeling MiraNight was exactly the kind of ally he needed in this fight.
-----
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Alex spent most of his time monitoring the market, trading high-demand items, and keeping an eye on the Silver Fangs' activities. MiraNight had already sent him the coordinates for several hidden quests, some of which even WraithLord's guild hadn't heard of. Alex wasted no time in compiling this information into detailed guides, which he sold to other players at a premium.
Word spread quickly that Void had access to content that no one else did, and soon, players who had once trusted the Silver Fangs began to come to him for guidance instead. The Silver Fangs, despite their best efforts, couldn't suppress the flow of information, and their attempts to discredit Void were falling flat.
But Alex knew this was just the beginning. The Silver Fangs wouldn't give up that easily.
One evening, while reviewing his earnings from the latest batch of item trades, Alex received another message—this time from an unfamiliar name.
From: Ironclad
Void, we need to talk. I represent The Silver Fangs. You've been stepping on our turf, and that's going to stop. Let's discuss terms before things get messy.
Alex's eyes narrowed. So they were finally reaching out, trying to intimidate him.
To: Ironclad
I'm not interested in negotiating. If your guild wants to compete, then bring it. But don't expect me to back down.
The response came almost instantly.
From: Ironclad
You'll regret this. The game's about to change, and you're not ready for what's coming.
Alex leaned back in his chair, his fingers resting on the keyboard. He knew The Silver Fangs would try to escalate things, but that didn't scare him. If anything, it motivated him.
They were playing checkers, while he was playing chess.
And in The Infinite Quest, it was only a matter of time before the game tipped in Void's favor.
.
.