Alex woke up with the early morning light streaming through his bedroom window, the cool breeze of dawn still lingering in the air. He stretched lazily, feeling the slight soreness in his muscles from sitting at his computer for too long the previous day. Today would be another adventure in Infinite Quest, but first, breakfast.
Heading to the kitchen, he grabbed a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. As he ate, his mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming journey with MiraNight. They had sold a good portion of their loot in Nocturn the day before, and now, their focus was set on reaching the Caverns of Shroud—a dangerous place known for its lawlessness and wealth of hidden treasures. Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something might go wrong, especially after the large sale they'd just made. He made a mental note to stay alert.
Once he finished breakfast, he headed back to his setup, sat down, and logged into Infinite Quest. The familiar hum of the game's loading screen gave him a sense of comfort as it transported him back to his avatar, Void.
When the game finished loading, Void found himself standing in the small room on the second floor of the inn in Nocturn. The shabby wooden walls and creaking floors greeted him as he adjusted to the world once again. He quickly checked his inventory, confirming that their preparations for the journey were still intact—health potions, antidotes, and a few key weapons.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Void, you up?" came MiraNight's voice from the other side.
He smiled to himself and opened the door. MiraNight stood there, fully armored and ready to go, her sharp eyes scanning him quickly.
"Ready for the Caverns?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Void nodded. "Yeah, let's move. I don't want to spend more time here than necessary."
They made their way downstairs to the inn's first floor, where a few NPCs and some players sat around, nursing drinks and talking about their latest conquests. The innkeeper gave them a short nod as they passed by. The village of Nocturn, though quiet for now, always had an undercurrent of danger. It was the kind of place where lawlessness simmered beneath the surface.
As they stepped outside into the cool morning air, the streets were mostly empty, with only a few early risers and shopkeepers opening up their stalls. The wooden buildings looked even more worn in the daylight, their cracked shutters and faded signs showing the years of neglect.
"We should move quickly," MiraNight suggested, pulling her hood up. "Something about this place always gives me the creeps."
Void nodded in agreement. "The sooner we're out of Nocturn, the better."
They made their way down the dirt road, heading toward the village's outskirts. The air was heavy with the promise of the dangerous wilderness beyond the village, but Void couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. His instinct for trouble had been honed through countless encounters in the game, and today, it was screaming at him.
Just as they were about to leave the village, Void's suspicions were confirmed.
Up ahead, several figures stood blocking the road. There were six of them, all dressed in mismatched armor and gear. Some wore helmets obscuring their faces, while others had their hoods pulled low. Their weapons glinted in the early morning light—swords, maces, and daggers, all at the ready.
MiraNight tensed beside him. "We've got company," she muttered, her hand already reaching for her sword.
Void quickly scanned the group. These weren't NPCs. They were players, and judging by their confident stances and weapons, they weren't amateurs either. One of them, a tall figure with a massive two-handed axe, stepped forward.
"You Void?" the leader asked, his voice gravelly and menacing.
Void's eyes narrowed. "Who's asking?"
The leader laughed, a dark sound that echoed across the quiet road. "Word around town is you sold some rare gear yesterday. That kind of gold gets people talking, y'know? And well... we'd like our cut."
The other members of the group grinned, their weapons raised slightly, ready for a fight.
MiraNight leaned in closer to Void. "Someone must have leaked what we sold yesterday. We should've known this would happen."
Void nodded subtly. "We're not handing anything over," he whispered back. "They're going to try to kill us either way."
Without warning, the leader of the group lifted his axe. "You can either hand over the rest of your loot, or we'll take it off your corpses. Your choice."
Void raised his head, meeting the leader's eyes. "Come and try."
The leader's grin faltered for a moment, but then he barked a laugh. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts won't save you."
In an instant, the group of players surged forward, weapons drawn. Void and MiraNight barely had time to react as the attackers closed the distance. Void unsheathed his sword, Whispered Blade, its dark edge gleaming ominously. MiraNight followed suit, her spear ready to strike.
The first attacker lunged at Void, a rogue with twin daggers aiming for his chest. Void sidestepped quickly, bringing Whispered Blade up in a swift motion. The rogue barely had time to react before Void's sword sliced through his defenses, leaving him with a deep wound. He stumbled back, bleeding heavily.
MiraNight, meanwhile, faced off against two attackers at once, expertly using her spear to parry their blows. Her movements were fluid, and her speed gave her the upper hand. With a powerful thrust, she skewered one of her opponents, sending him collapsing to the ground.
"Watch your left!" Void shouted as he blocked another attack, this time from the group's archer, who had begun firing arrows from a distance. He quickly raised his shield, deflecting the arrows as they whizzed by.
MiraNight spun around, narrowly avoiding a swing from one of the larger attackers. Her eyes flashed with determination. "We need to finish this quickly, or we're going to get overwhelmed."
The leader of the group, the man with the axe, charged at Void with a roar. Void barely had time to raise his sword before the massive axe came crashing down, the force of the blow sending a shockwave through his arms. His feet skidded backward, but he held his ground.
"You're not bad," the leader growled, preparing for another swing. "But you're no match for me."
Void's mind raced. He needed to find an opening. He glanced over at MiraNight, who was holding her own against the other attackers but was clearly beginning to tire. They couldn't keep this up much longer.
As the leader raised his axe for another strike, Void saw his chance. With a quick feint to the right, he dodged the incoming blow and brought Whispered Blade up in a precise arc. The dark sword cut through the leader's armor, leaving a deep gash across his chest.
The leader stumbled back, his face contorting with pain and shock. "You...!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Void delivered a final blow, driving his sword through the leader's chest. The man let out a choked gasp before collapsing to the ground, his body disappearing into a puff of digital dust.
With their leader gone, the remaining attackers hesitated, unsure of what to do next. MiraNight took the opportunity to strike down another one, her spear driving through his back.
Void turned to the last two, who were now backing away slowly. "Unless you want to join your friends, I suggest you leave," he said coldly.
Without another word, the two remaining players turned and fled, disappearing into the trees.
Void lowered his sword, breathing heavily. "That was close."
MiraNight wiped the sweat from her brow. "Too close. Let's get out of here before they come back with reinforcements."
They quickly gathered what little loot the attackers had left behind and continued their journey out of Nocturn, the encounter serving as a stark reminder of just how dangerous this world could be—both in the game and outside of it.
.
.