The figure's words echoed in Aiden's mind long after they had vanished into the shadows. "Obey the Architect or break free." It was the first time anyone had spoken to him about resisting the System—something he hadn't even considered possible in the previous timeline.
He pressed forward, his steps cautious, the dim glow from his System Interface lighting the way. The air in the tunnel was heavy, thick with an almost palpable sense of danger. The deeper levels of this dungeon weren't just ordinary traps or monsters. There was something much more insidious lurking here.
"Join us."
Us? Whoever that cloaked figure was, they weren't alone. There were others out there, people who knew about the Architect, people who could defy the System. But if they had the power to resist, why hadn't he heard of them before? Why hadn't they helped in the last timeline?
The System might not have shown everything to him yet. The cloaked figure was a warning: Aiden wasn't the only one fighting for survival, but the deeper question was whether these people could be trusted.
Focus, Aiden. You still need to finish the dungeon.
He stepped through a narrow passage, the walls closing in on either side. It was a tight fit, the cold stone brushing against his shoulders as he moved deeper. His footsteps echoed off the slick walls, every sound amplified by the oppressive silence.
Suddenly, the tunnel opened up into a wide, dark chamber. Aiden stopped at the entrance, scanning his surroundings. The space was massive, the ceiling so high it vanished into the shadows. Broken stone pillars lined the room, and at the far end, something massive loomed—a statue, cracked and weathered by time.
But it wasn't the statue that caught his attention. It was what was standing before it.
A man, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in dark, worn armor. His presence was immediately imposing. His skin was deep brown, almost blending into the shadows of the room, and his eyes were sharp, calculating. A massive two-handed sword was strapped to his back, the hilt gleaming faintly in the low light.
Aiden's instinct was to reach for his dagger, but something in the man's demeanor made him pause. This wasn't a mindless monster or a random dungeon boss. This man—whoever he was—didn't look like an enemy. But he didn't exactly look friendly, either.
"Who are you?" Aiden asked, his voice cautious but firm.
The man didn't respond immediately. He simply watched Aiden with an unreadable expression, as if sizing him up. After what felt like an eternity, the man finally spoke, his voice deep and resonant.
"Garvey," he said, the name rolling off his tongue with quiet strength. "And you're Aiden Hoshino. The one who's been causing ripples."
Aiden stiffened at the mention of his name. "How do you know who I am?"
Garvey took a step forward, his heavy boots echoing against the stone floor. "The System isn't the only thing that watches this world. There are those of us who live outside its reach—those who have learned to see beyond the control it has over people like you."
Aiden's mind raced. He had suspected as much after meeting the cloaked figure, but this was the first time someone had openly confirmed it. People living outside the System's control? That was supposed to be impossible.
"You're with them, aren't you?" Aiden asked. "The ones resisting the Architect."
Garvey's gaze didn't waver. "I am. And if you're smart, you'll join us. The path you're on, following the System blindly, will only lead to your death."
Aiden felt his pulse quicken. "I'm not following it blindly," he said, his voice edged with defiance. "I know something's wrong. That's why I'm here."
Garvey raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Do you? Or are you just another pawn, doing exactly what the Architect wants you to do?"
Aiden clenched his fists. He didn't like being talked down to, but Garvey had a point. Even though Aiden was trying to resist, everything he had done up to this point had been reacting to the System's demands—completing quests, leveling up, following the objectives set before him.
"You've been fighting against the System for a while," Aiden said, trying to regain some control over the conversation. "What's your plan? What's this 'breaking free' really mean?"
Garvey's lips tightened into a thin line. "Breaking free means not letting the System dictate our fate. It means learning to use its power without becoming its slave. But it's not easy. The System doesn't like people who go off script."
Aiden's thoughts raced. This was what he had needed to hear. A path forward that wasn't dictated by the Architect. But could he trust Garvey? Could he trust this group that resisted the System?
"How do you do it?" Aiden asked. "How do you fight something that controls everything?"
Garvey's gaze hardened. "By understanding that the System's power isn't absolute. It can be manipulated, hacked—just like any other piece of code. The Architect wants you to believe it's unbreakable, that the System is an unchangeable part of this world. But that's a lie."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, glowing stone. Aiden recognized it immediately—an Anomaly Stone, a rare item that occasionally dropped in hidden dungeons. He had only ever found one in the previous timeline, and it had been useless to him then.
"This," Garvey said, holding up the stone, "is how we disrupt the System. It allows us to rewrite parts of the code—give ourselves abilities the System doesn't want us to have. But more than that, it's a tool to disrupt the Architect's control."
Aiden's eyes widened. If the Anomaly Stone could be used to rewrite the System's code, then that meant he could potentially gain access to abilities or information that the System wanted to keep hidden. It could give him the edge he needed.
But Garvey's next words sent a chill down his spine.
"You've got a target on your back, Hoshino. The Architect knows you've gone rogue. And it's sending its best hunters after you."
Aiden's heart pounded in his chest. He had already suspected that the System would retaliate for his defiance, but Garvey's tone implied something far worse.
"Hunters?" Aiden asked, his voice tight.
Garvey nodded. "People like you—players—who've become corrupted by the System's direct influence. The Architect sends them to clean up anyone who goes off-script. They'll be coming for you soon."
Aiden's pulse quickened. If the Architect was sending its hunters, that meant he didn't have much time. He needed to grow stronger—fast. But if what Garvey said was true, then simply leveling up wouldn't be enough. He needed to break free.
"So, what now?" Aiden asked, looking Garvey in the eye.
Garvey's lips curved into a slight smirk. "Now, you decide. You can keep following the System's path, hoping to outrun the Architect's reach. Or…" He tossed the Anomaly Stone in the air, catching it easily. "You can join us, learn how to break the rules. And fight back."
Aiden's mind raced. Garvey's offer was tempting. If what he said was true, then joining him could be the key to unlocking the System's secrets and protecting Mira. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Garvey wasn't telling him everything. There was something… guarded about him, something Aiden couldn't quite place.
"Why should I trust you?" Aiden asked, his voice firm. "You talk about breaking free, but how do I know you're not just using me? What's your angle?"
Garvey's smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. "I'm not asking for your trust, Aiden. I'm offering you a choice. You're smart enough to see that this world isn't what it seems. The Architect isn't some benevolent force. It's trying to control us, to mold us into something we're not."
He paused, his eyes narrowing.
"But if you'd rather go back to being a pawn, that's up to you."
Aiden was silent for a long moment, weighing his options. Garvey was right—he couldn't just keep reacting to the System. Not if he wanted to protect the people he cared about. Not if he wanted to survive.
Finally, Aiden took a deep breath and met Garvey's gaze.
"Alright," he said. "I'm in."
Garvey's smirk returned, this time with a hint of approval. He tossed the Anomaly Stone to Aiden, who caught it easily.
"Good choice," Garvey said. "Now, let's get out of here before the real monsters show up."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "The real monsters?"
Garvey nodded toward the deeper part of the dungeon, where the shadows seemed to grow darker. "The System's Hunters. They're already on their way."
Without another word, Garvey turned and started walking, his heavy boots echoing in the dark chamber. Aiden hesitated for only a moment before following him, the Anomaly Stone still warm in his hand.
As they moved through the winding tunnels of the dungeon, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that his world had just gotten a lot more complicated. Garvey's presence was imposing, but there was something about him—an unspoken intensity, a quiet strength that made it clear he wasn't just another rogue player.
Aiden didn't know if he could trust him yet. But one thing was clear: Garvey knew how to survive. And for now, that was enough.