As CODE expanded its reach, the tension grew. While their trade routes solidified and their influence spread, whispers of **K's shadow** crept further into the world of ALBEKO. The symbols appeared more frequently now—etched into the walls of ancient dungeons or briefly flashing in the sky during combat. And while some players dismissed them as mere glitches, Alex knew better. He could feel the growing pressure, as if the game itself was reacting to the hidden presence of this mysterious force.
The team gathered in their headquarters, which had been expanded since their partnership with the Dwarves. What had once been a modest base of operations was now a sprawling **fortress of trade**, with storage facilities for weapons, enchanted gear, and endless crates of **Eternal Bite Plus**. The air was thick with a sense of urgency, an unspoken understanding that they were preparing for something much bigger than anything they had faced before.
"We're almost ready for the third floor," Alex said, standing at the head of the war table. Spread out before him was a **detailed map** of the second floor, with **Ironclad City** at the center. Their trade routes had expanded to **Stonehaven**, **Thornfall**, and beyond. "But K's agents are moving faster than we anticipated."
Betsy, ever sharp and calculated, was scanning the latest reports from their network of spies. "We've confirmed that K's influence has spread into the **elite guilds**. A few of them are openly showing allegiance to him. Whether they know the full story or not is unclear, but they're aligning with his symbols."
"They're probably being promised power," Rogan chimed in from the corner. He had returned from his mission with a wealth of information about K's underground network. "K's agents have been recruiting anyone who shows promise, promising them they'll be part of something bigger—something beyond the game."
Drax, leaning against the wall, scowled. "Sounds like they're getting desperate. If K needs that many recruits, maybe he's not as invincible as we think."
Alex shook his head. "No. This isn't desperation. This is **preparation**. He's building an army."
A heavy silence settled over the group as the weight of Alex's words sank in. K wasn't just some glitch in the game—he was orchestrating something far larger, and CODE was on a collision course with him.
"We need to level up," Betsy said, breaking the silence. "We've been focusing on building the market and securing alliances, but we're going to need to reach **level 199** if we want any chance of surviving on the third floor."
Alex nodded. "Agreed. We'll split our focus. We'll continue our preparations with the trade routes and diplomacy, but we need to prioritize **combat** and **leveling up**. If K's agents are already gaining influence on the third floor, we need to be ready for whatever's waiting for us up there."
The next few days were a blur of **intense training** and leveling. Alex and his party focused on hitting the most **dangerous dungeons** they could find, pushing their skills to the limit. **Ironclad City** had several high-level quests available, but it was the **deep dungeons** on the outskirts that offered the most experience points.
It was here, in the dark caverns filled with **ancient monsters**, that Alex's true power as a **Shade Master** became undeniable.
In one particularly grueling dungeon, the team faced off against a **behemoth**—a massive, hulking creature that towered over them, its skin as hard as stone and its roars shaking the very earth beneath their feet. For hours, they fought, dodging its attacks and chipping away at its health, but the beast seemed endless, regenerating its wounds almost as fast as they could inflict them.
"We're not doing enough damage!" Betsy shouted as she loosed an arrow into the behemoth's thick hide.
Drax slammed his hammer into the beast's leg, barely making a dent. "It's like hitting a damn mountain!"
Alex, his mind racing, realized that their usual tactics wouldn't work here. He needed to push his powers further, test the limits of his Shade Master abilities.
He closed his eyes and focused. **The shades**, which had been battling the behemoth's minions, shifted their attention. Alex raised his hands, summoning more of them than he had ever commanded before. His body thrummed with energy as the shades gathered around him, their ghostly forms swirling in a tight circle.
"**From darkness, you are born…**" Alex whispered, his voice low but filled with power.
The shades surged forward at his command, merging into a single, massive entity—a **shadow beast** that rivaled the size of the behemoth. The ground shook as the two titanic creatures clashed, shadow against stone.
The impact was devastating. The shadow beast wrapped its ethereal tendrils around the behemoth, constricting it, holding it in place as Alex and his party launched their final assault.
"Now!" Alex shouted.
Betsy's arrows flew, glowing with enchanted light as they pierced the behemoth's vulnerable spots. Drax let out a battle cry and swung his hammer with all his might, cracking the creature's armor-like skin. Even Luke, with his simple but powerful word, "**Verum**," sent a blast of healing magic into the party, keeping them alive as they pressed the attack.
The behemoth roared in pain as the final blow was struck. With a deafening crash, it fell to the ground, its massive form dissolving into a cloud of experience points and loot.
As the dust settled, the system notification flashed before Alex's eyes:
**[Congratulations! You have defeated the Ancient Behemoth.]**
**[Experience gained: 100,000.]**
**[You have leveled up to Level 130.]**
Alex let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. They had done it. The team had reached **new heights**, pushing their levels ever closer to the goal of reaching 199. But they weren't there yet.
"That was... insane," Betsy said, wiping the sweat from her brow. "We're getting stronger, but it's going to take everything we've got to make it to the next floor."
"We'll get there," Alex said, his determination unwavering. "But we're going to have to take on bigger challenges. The third floor isn't going to wait for us. We need to **accelerate**."
As CODE continued to grow in power, their influence spread beyond just Ironclad City. Players from across the second floor flocked to their guild, drawn by the promise of protection, wealth, and the chance to be part of something bigger. Many of the **lower-level players** who had been struggling to survive in ALBEKO joined CODE, grateful for the **training and resources** the guild provided.
But Alex knew they needed more than just numbers. They needed **elite players**, those who could stand alongside them when the time came to face K and his agents.
"I've been scouting the top guilds," Rogan reported one day as the team gathered in the war room. "There are a few players who are **independent**—not tied to any major guild. They're strong, high-level, and they're looking for opportunities."
"Get in touch with them," Alex said. "We need every advantage we can get. And if they're willing to fight alongside us, we'll welcome them."
The recruitment process began in earnest. Rogan reached out to the top **solo players** on the second floor, offering them a place in CODE. Some were hesitant at first, wary of joining a guild, but when they saw the strength and influence CODE had amassed, many agreed.
Soon, the ranks of CODE were filled with some of the **strongest players** on the second floor, each bringing their own unique skills and abilities to the guild. They trained together, fought together, and prepared for the day when they would face K on the third floor.
With their numbers bolstered and their power growing, Alex knew they were approaching the moment they had been preparing for. The third floor was within reach, but they had to make one final push to reach **level 199**.
The team gathered for one last mission before they would ascend. It was a **raid**—one of the most dangerous dungeons on the second floor, rumored to be filled with **legendary monsters** and guarded by a boss that no player had ever defeated.
"This is it," Alex said, his voice steady as they stood at the entrance of the dungeon. "If we beat this boss, we'll have the experience we need to reach the third floor. But it's not going to be easy."
Betsy tightened the string on her bow. "We've faced worse. Let's get it done."
Drax cracked his knuckles, grinning. "About time we had a real challenge."
Luke stood silently, his shield at the ready. "**Verum.**"
With that, the team entered the dungeon, ready to face whatever lay ahead.