As the heroes stepped into the throne room, their gazes roamed over every opulent detail that symbolized the kingdom's power and grandeur. Massive stained-glass windows lined the walls, their colors shimmering as sunlight poured through, casting vibrant, kaleidoscopic patterns across polished marble floors. The walls bore intricate tapestries depicting legendary battles, noble crests, and the history of Auroria. Towering chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a warm, steady glow over the space. A thick, plush red carpet stretched from the towering entrance doors to the throne itself, drawing their attention to the figure seated at its end—a king cloaked in both majesty and might.
King Thorian, a player, the sovereign ruler of Auroria, sat with an aura of absolute authority. His crimson-and-gold robes hung in regal folds over a muscular frame that rivaled even the warriors standing before him. His hair was silver, neatly combed back, and a gilded crown rested on his head, enhancing the intensity of his piercing blue eyes. Despite the apparent age in his face, he radiated strength and vigor, the look of a man who'd fought his own battles and emerged unscathed. Beside him stood two women, their heads bowed in deference, their gazes cast to the floor in respectful silence, adding an air of solemnity to the already imposing scene—apparently, they're NPCs. Lining the sides of the hall were NPC guards, each dressed in gleaming silver armor, either swords or spears in hand, their disciplined stances an embodiment of loyalty.
Kenji, the general, stood before the king, waiting to address the ten newcomers lined up across from him. They stood side by side in a formation, dressed in attire reminiscent of a medieval army, each bearing their weapon with pride. Riley was the first on the left, a sleek black sword sheathed on his right hip. Next was Ethan, a dark green scythe with an adjustable blade strapped to his back. Rei stood beside him, a golden-purple katana resting on his side, its hilt glinting in the chandelier's light. Liang had red dual daggers at his hips, their blades sharp and pristine. Soo-jin held a white rapier at her side, its blade narrow and elegant. Joaquin's hands were wrapped in cloth, bare for close combat. Naruya held a silver claymore, nearly as tall as she was, her grip steady. Amirah carried a metallic grey recurve bow, slung over her shoulder. Naomi, dressed in robes as white as her staff adorned with feather-like details, symbolized her role as the group's healer. And finally, Harinder gripped a crossbow of blackened steel, his eyes scanning the room with practiced ease.
Kenji took a step forward, his voice steady yet charged with reverence. "Behold His Majesty, King Thorian of Auroria, not a monarch by bloodline, but by choice and necessity." He paused, casting a measured glance at each of the ten before him. "Three years ago, when this realm teetered on the edge of chaos, the players were scattered, leaderless, and overwhelmed. Every day, more lives were lost—some in fierce battles against monsters, others in desperate and reckless attempts to escape this prison."
Kenji's face softened, his eyes almost wistful as he continued. "During those dark times, our guild—Lion's Heart—stepped forward, gathering players from every corner of this realm. We needed hope. We needed someone who could guide us through the storm. And thus, we crowned King Thorian, who led us out of the shadows and brought order back to our world."
The ten glanced at each other, absorbing the significance of this moment. They knew the struggle had been real, but hearing it firsthand added a new weight to the stories they'd read.
Riley, standing next to Ethan, leaned in and murmured, "That explains the spike in deaths reported back in 2032. The media made it sound like complete pandemonium."
Ethan nodded, his gaze fixed on the king. "They were desperate, trying to survive… Makes you wonder what else went unreported."
As if hearing them, King Thorian rose from his throne, his towering form exuding authority and strength. Every inch of him, from his powerful build to his imposing silver hair crowned by a golden circlet, conveyed a sense of majesty earned, not inherited. His gaze, sharp and unyielding, swept across the group before he spoke, his voice resonant and unforced.
"Indeed, those were days of chaos," he said, his tone laced with a raw intensity that captured the room's attention. "Desperation had driven us to the brink. Players threw themselves into battles they could never win, charging recklessly into quests and arenas alone. For every survivor, another fell." His piercing blue eyes clouded for a moment, as though haunted by memories of fallen comrades. "But leadership is not simply a title. It is a burden of responsibility."
There was a pause, his voice softening as he continued. "Once I became king, I set laws to ensure the safety of those within my rule. Those who sought to endanger others with their recklessness—those who selfishly risked the lives of their comrades for glory—were held accountable. These were not easy measures, but they were necessary. Over time, people learned caution, learned to protect each other, and unity replaced chaos."
The king's gaze settled on each hero, scrutinizing them with an intensity that seemed to probe their very souls. "Now," he continued, a new note of gravity entering his voice, "there is a reason I summoned you here."
The heroes straightened, sensing the shift in tone. King Thorian leaned forward, clasping his hands before him. "Two months ago, I received an unusual message—a system notification that defied everything we believed about this world's code. It claimed that ten heroes would arrive, and that they would be the ones to bring us salvation."
A wave of surprise rippled through the group, some glancing at each other in astonishment. Soo-jin, visibly unsettled, muttered under his breath, "A message… from the system itself?"
Thorian nodded, his voice hardening. "Yes, there it was. It appeared before me as I awoke, a single line of text: 'In two months, ten new players will enter the world with the purpose of freeing us all.' I had no way to verify its source or truth, so I kept it hidden. Only Kenji was informed. We couldn't risk raising false hopes." His gaze settled intently on each of them. "And now, here you stand."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, their wariness sharpening. Soo-jin's mind raced, grasping the implication. How could Nakamura or the system itself have foreseen their arrival? An unsettling chill ran through her.
Rei stepped forward, his posture formal and voice steady as he addressed the king. "Your Majesty, we are indeed here with a purpose, but not as wandering players seeking refuge." He cast a glance at his team, measuring each of them. "We were selected for a government operation known as Project GRIM REAPER, a mission tasked with entering Eternal Nexus to end the cycle of captivity. Each one of us was chosen specifically for our expertise, our skill, and our resolve to end this nightmare." He gestured to Soo-jin beside him. "One of our own has a theory that Nakamura, the game's creator, is still within this world, hidden but watching. And if he knows of our presence, then it's possible… someone is communicating with him from outside."
"Which means," Soo-jin interjected, his expression darkening, "someone could be sabotaging our mission from the very start." His mind whirred, piecing together the disturbing implications. "If Nakamura knows our moves… every step we take might already be accounted for."
Riley's eyes narrowed, suspicion etched across his face as he spoke, his voice sharp and cutting through the tension like a knife. "There's only one person who would have access to both the project and Nakamura himself: Dr. Kazuki Asano."
King Thorian's gaze hardened, a flicker of wariness crossing his stern face as the mention of the unfamiliar name caught his attention. He leaned forward, his tone laced with a dangerous edge. "This… Dr. Asano," he repeated slowly, as if testing the name for any hidden meaning. "Who is he, and how does he fit into this twisted web of yours?"
Riley's jaw tightened, his expression somber as he continued. "Dr. Asano was once Nakamura's associate, one of the architects behind the creation of this game. Now he's supposedly aiding our rescue operation, feeding us critical information. But…" His voice grew colder, each word laced with mistrust. "The deeper we dig, the more it seems he's playing both sides. Asano knows far too much about both Nakamura's plans and the inner workings of our project. It's very possible he's feeding Nakamura our progress—or worse, manipulating events from both sides."
The group absorbed Riley's words, the unsettling implications settling heavily over them. Ethan, arms folded, looked unconvinced, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of it all. "But why?" he challenged, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Why would Asano betray us? He's putting his neck on the line to help, or so it seems. If he's involved in the project, and he's risking everything to support us… what could he possibly gain by also helping Nakamura?"
Riley's eyes grew darker, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as if he were unraveling the twisted logic within Asano's motives. "Think about it. There's a pattern here—a pattern of secrets, misdirection, layers upon layers of misinformation." His voice dropped, almost to a whisper, yet the weight of his words was unmistakable. "Asano might not be as loyal to either side as we think. To him, this could be a game of control—a high-stakes strategy where he remains the master of every move. I'd wager this has nothing to do with rescuing anyone. His loyalty isn't with us. If I were a betting man, I'd say it's not even with Nakamura. Asano's loyalty lies with himself."
The revelation hung heavy in the air, unsettling and insidious. King Thorian's jaw clenched, his gaze dark and calculating as he processed the possibilities. "If this Dr. Asano truly holds influence on both sides, then we're no longer players in this game," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "We're pawns."
The room fell into an uneasy silence, each of the ten grappling with the possibility that Asano was not the ally they thought. Soo-jin's brow furrowed, his mind racing as he spoke up, his voice laden with dread. "If Asano has been monitoring our every move, then Nakamura already knows everything we plan to do. We're walking right into his hands."
Riley's gaze grew sharper, his suspicion deepening. "Exactly," he replied, his tone filled with a cold certainty. "Every step we take, every strategy we think we're keeping hidden… Nakamura could already be two steps ahead. And if Asano's feeding him intel, he knows our weaknesses, our limits. He could even be steering us toward decisions that benefit him."
Joaquin's face hardened, his fists clenching at the thought. "We're not here to be pawns," he muttered, a spark of defiance in his voice. "If Asano thinks he can control us like pieces on a chessboard, he's got another thing coming."
King Thorian's face was a mask of grim determination, his piercing gaze flicking between them. "Then we must play our cards close to our chests. We cannot allow ourselves to be outmaneuvered." His gaze settled on Riley, an unspoken challenge in his eyes. "You seem well-versed in strategy, Riley. How do we proceed?"
Riley straightened, his jaw set with resolve. "We adapt, and we cut off his line of sight," he said firmly. "Asano may think he's holding the cards, but if we sever his access to our plans—operate off the grid, so to speak—then we take back control. Nakamura won't know our next move, and neither will Asano."
The silence grew heavier, each hero lost in thought as they absorbed the implications. Rei took a measured step toward Riley. "And how can you be so certain?"
Riley gave a mirthless smile. "I didn't spend years as a detective to ignore patterns. I've seen enough to know when someone's hiding the full picture."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. Determination solidified in their expressions as they steeled themselves for what lay ahead. They had come to this world to be saviors, not pawns in another's game. And they would fight with everything they had to break free from the strings that bound them.