As I made my way through Twilight City’s bustling streets, I headed straight to the news boards and forums. The city’s towering walls and narrow alleys hummed with chatter from players and NPCs alike. There, sprawled across the digital boards, were rumors—and plenty of them, thanks to Skullhead’s petty vendetta. According to his Crossbones guild, I’d “exploited” my way through the Tomb of the Ancients, using “underhanded cheats” to steal loot that, by Skullhead’s logic, should’ve been his. The accusations were as wild as they were baseless, but it was clear his guild had been busy seeding the story across forums and message boards, turning the whole thing into some sad attempt at character assassination.
Most players, especially the ones who had a history with Crossbones, saw through the act. They piled on with their own tales of Skullhead’s shady antics—PK ambushes, loot sniping, and general underhanded gameplay. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the stories; turns out, I wasn’t the only one who’d gotten under their skin. Letting the rumors sit, I switched gears and dug through the forums for lore threads and rumors of hidden quests. Anything that could give me an edge—unique items, exclusive gear, unclaimed EXP boosts. With Skullhead’s smear campaign in the background, I was more motivated than ever to take my build to the next level.
To get my mind off things, I decided to tackle some side quests around Twilight City. Gathering herbs and hunting down packs of beasts felt refreshingly simple after the Tomb. As I ran through the forest outside the city, I started to experiment with movement, incorporating parkour into my fighting style. To my surprise, the game engine actually allowed for that level of freedom—vaulting over obstacles, rolling from jumps, wall-running where possible. The added finesse made me grin; it was hard not to feel unstoppable as I cut through enemies in smooth, fluid motions.
After turning in my quests and cashing in the rewards, fatigue hit me. I logged out, set the headset aside, and stretched, realizing I hadn’t eaten all day. Grabbing a snack, I glanced at my phone—Mira had bombarded me with messages about the Skullhead rumors. She seemed worried, but I reassured her that he wasn’t worth the brain space. Then I noticed a text from an unknown number. It was just a random line of code, cryptic but oddly intriguing, and something about it told me this wouldn’t be the last time it came up.
The next morning, I dived back into the game, eager to continue my streak of progress. As I loaded into the inn where I’d last logged off, I noticed a group gathered by the bar. At the front of the pack was someone I recognized, a figure I wasn’t thrilled to see—Blazer.
Blazer had his usual smug expression, and the moment he spotted me, he strode over, dropping a heavy boot onto the chair beside mine. He gave me a condescending once-over before grinning, a self-satisfied look in his eyes.
“Well, well, well. So it’s true—our so-called Zero Hero is back, and already crawling up to level 30.” His name tag flashed across my HUD: Blazer. Just the kind of drama I didn’t need first thing in the morning.
I leaned back and smirked. “Look who’s here to drop some wisdom. The fragile egotist finally found me.”
Blazer’s smug expression faltered. “Fragile? Last I checked, I was the one still standing. You’re the one we kicked out of the guild, remember?”
“Oh, I remember, all right,” I replied. “The guild you and your lackeys hijacked—the one where I made all of your builds, sourced all your gear, boosted your PvP rankings. But then you had to ruin it by chasing me out, too insecure to handle the one person who did the work.”
The faintest hint of annoyance flickered in Blazer’s eyes, quickly masked by his smirk. “You really think you’re hot stuff, don’t you? Here you are, already getting accused of exploits. Or did you think Skullhead was making that up?”
“Right, because Skullhead is known for his honest dealings,” I replied, voice dripping with sarcasm. “All he and his guild do is gank noobs and loot-snipe, and they still couldn't take me down. You really believe his little story?”
Blazer’s smirk faltered, just a fraction. “Doesn’t matter if I believe it or not. What matters is that the rumor’s out, and people are talking. This game’s mine to rule. You? You’re just a has-been trying to play catch-up.”
“Play catch-up?” I scoffed, standing to face him. “Here’s a reality check: you can hoard gear, chase the meta, scream about ‘rules,’ but you know what you’ve never done? Actually master your build. You’re so busy trying to dominate the leaderboards, you forgot what it’s like to actually play.”
Blazer’s face flushed, his bravado slipping. “Master my build?” he echoed, laughing harshly. “Why bother with that? This game’s about power. You either have it, or you don’t. And I have it. But keep climbing the ranks, if you want. Just know that I’ll be right here at the top, waiting to remind you exactly where you belong.”
Without another word, he turned and strode off, his entourage following close behind. I shook my head, watching him leave with a mix of frustration and pity. Blazer had always been arrogant, but this… this was something else. He was slipping further and further into his own ego, letting his insecurity rule him. The guy had never learned that power wasn’t just about gear or numbers—it was knowing how to wield it.
As the inn’s door swung shut behind him, I let out a sigh. The game had changed, and I could feel the competition heating up. But one thing hadn’t changed: I was here to win, no matter who or what stood in my way.
I opened my quest log, scanning to make sure I hadn't missed any key quests. A few story quests still sat there, waiting to be completed—most were a bit under-leveled for me by now, but that would make things easier. Breezing through the story content would give me some background on the world and possibly unlock more rare nodes on the Atlas of Power. I still had about ten skill points to spend, waiting until I gained another ten levels to make my next strategic allocation smoother. For now, I was focused on unraveling more lore. The Loremaster passive skill, which amplified my understanding of the world's myths and history, glowed faintly in my menu.
The quest I picked up was titled "Galant and the Necromancer". The story unfolded as I accepted it: Centuries ago, Lord Galant, King of the Isles, banished his court mage, who had delved into dark experiments that defied both reason and humanity. Branded a necromancer, the mage unleashed plagues and twisted the dead into servants for his own twisted amusement, staining the land with his dark power. In a final stand, Galant mustered his armies and waged war upon the necromancer, forcing him into exile. When Galant confronted him in the desolate Wildlands, he sealed him away with a powerful holy incantation. Yet now, that ancient barrier weakens, and darkness stirs. If the necromancer breaks free, his wrath will once again sweep across the realm. Brave adventurer, journey into the Wildlands and prevent this evil from rising anew.
With a slight grin, I hit "Accept." My map updated, showing the Wildlands sprawled out beyond Twilight City and the dense expanse of the Twilight Forest. The Wildlands was a wasteland, dotted with crumbling ruins and failed settlements. From the map alone, I could tell it was designed to look like a no man's land—a graveyard of those who’d ventured too far and failed. I'd heard stories of players struggling out there; it wasn’t just the monsters but also the infamous Crossbones Guild that lurked in the shadows, preying on anyone daring to tread their turf. They loved ambushing low-level players, swooping in to steal their loot, but after our last encounter, I was pretty sure I’d given them a reason to reconsider messing with me.
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I set off, winding my way through Twilight Forest, its dark, twisted trees parting occasionally to let slivers of dim sunlight through. The atmosphere gradually shifted as I approached the Wildlands. Shadows stretched longer, and the air felt colder, carrying the distant, haunting echo of forgotten battles. The scent of decay clung to the breeze, and the ruins on the horizon seemed like silent sentinels, watching for the necromancer’s return.
The Atlas of Power pulsed faintly in the corner of my HUD, reminding me of those unspent points. I knew that taking down the necromancer could unlock even more skill nodes, potentially opening paths few others would be able to access. But this wasn’t just about leveling or loot; this was my chance to delve into a deeper storyline, to explore the mysteries buried in Age of Eternity's lore.
As I got closer to the Wildlands, an eerie mist began to crawl along the ground, thickening until it seemed to cling to everything, obscuring my view. Low moans drifted through the fog, and spectral shapes moved just beyond sight, phasing in and out like echoes of long-lost souls. A notification blinked on my screen: "Entering High-Level Zone: Wildlands. Warning: Player-vs-Player enabled.”
I gripped my weapon tighter. I’d have to stay on guard, not just for the necromancer’s minions but for any Crossbones scouts lurking nearby. Whatever was waiting for me in those ruins, I was ready to face it—and if Crossbones wanted to try their luck again, I’d be more than happy to remind them just how costly their last ambush had been.
As I moved deeper into the Wildlands, it was like clockwork—player-killers (PKs) were all over the area, a sign that Crossbones or another guild was at work. Crossbones had made a name for themselves as notorious griefers, but they weren’t the only threat out here. There was one guild that struck fear into even high-level players: Red Masters. These guys were serious build obsessives, master players who knew the mechanics and had honed their skills to an art form. They clashed with Crossbones often, fighting for dominance and kill-stealing when it suited them. But I was smarter. I kept to the shadows of the ruins, quietly making my way further in, letting the maniacs clash steel and spill blood around me without drawing attention to myself.
The sounds of chaotic combat echoed nearby—clanging metal and crazed laughter mingling in the mist. Corpses of monsters littered the ground, killed off faster than they could respawn. In the distance, I spotted a familiar sight: Skullhead, The GM of Crossbones, locked in combat with a rogue. But this rogue wasn’t just another scrub; he darted around Skullhead with practiced agility, stabbing him with daggers in precise, relentless strikes. The name over the rogue’s head was Zero, and his guild tag read Red Masters. Trouble. I was well aware of Red Masters’ reputation, but thankfully, I was out of range for both detection and map tracking. I watched from my hiding place, waiting for the battle to play out.
After a tense struggle, Skullhead finally retreated, licking his wounds. But then I felt the sharp ping of a detection spell—a net had been cast, and it found me. A handful of Red Masters’ members teleported in around me. My pulse quickened as I prepared for the worst, but then I received a Voice Whisper from Zero.
“Hey, I know you’re watching us,” he messaged. “Don’t worry, my guild and I won’t PK you. Come over and have a chat.”
I hesitated. Generally, you didn’t chat with the "bad guys" of the game, especially not Red Masters. But sneaking around them and bolting would probably only draw more attention. So, with little choice, I stepped out of the shadows and walked over.
Zero looked me up and down with a smirk. “So you’re the one Skullhead’s been complaining about. Odd—you don’t look like a cheater.”
“Just a glitch, nothing more,” I replied coolly.
“Ah, the hero tomb glitch,” Zero said knowingly. “Yeah, that happens sometimes. Weapon pops into your inventory unbidden. But anyone who’s had a run-in with Crossbones usually gets hounded out of the game. Guess you’re tougher than the average player.”
“Skullhead’s never met a player like me,” I said, a hint of smugness slipping into my voice.
Zero chuckled, clearly amused. “Word is you’re a hotshot from Royale Online. Top player for three years, wasn’t it?”
“Until my own guild turned on me, yeah,” I said, my voice laced with bitterness. “Except for one friend, of course.”
“Avisious the Immortal, now going by Astraeus in this game,” Zero noted, clearly well-informed. “Fighter/Warlock build, right? Unconventional, but it looks like you know what you’re doing. I’m guessing you picked up the Loremaster node, too? Thirty percent more XP on lore and story quests?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You know an awful lot for a typical player. Guessing you’ve been around since the beta?”
Zero nodded. “Red Masters have been here since the beginning. We only recently started clashing with Crossbones.”
“And what exactly are they up to?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“They’re loot-sniping,” Zero explained. “Forcing other players to hand over rare drops from the Tombs of the Ancients. Somehow, they’re bypassing the personal instance protection.”
Before I could respond, Zero turned to one of his guildmates. “Rugar!”
A towering figure stepped forward, clad in a Pristine Grace armor set—a Level 60 build of pure Fighter class. He wielded a Titanium Blade, powerful enough to make even hybrid builds wary. Zero looked back at me with a grin.
“Rugar wants to duel you. Just a friendly match, to see if you’re the real deal.”
I didn’t really have a choice, so I drew my sword, its rare gleam catching Rugar’s attention. His eyes narrowed in recognition.
“My name is Rugar,” he said, his voice carrying a faint smirk. “I used to play Royale Online. You were my biggest rival in Realm versus Realm. I was King Regulus—ring a bell?”
I laughed, genuinely surprised. “The King returns, huh? Yeah, I remember you. Your Barbarian build was nearly unbeatable.”
“Nearly,” Rugar corrected, chuckling. “You killed me so many times I eventually quit and started fresh here. Linked up with Zero, and here we are.” He unsheathed his sword, his stance ready. “Shall we?”
I activated my Dark Pact ability, watching as my sword glowed with an inky, black aura. Rugar lunged, fast and powerful, but I sidestepped with Fade Step, dodging his strike and bringing my sword down to clash against his. He blocked, and I twisted mid-air, landing with precision. He lunged again, but I countered with Arcanic Blast, sending him reeling back. A chunk of his health bar dropped.
“Not bad,” Rugar said, clearly impressed. “That’s some serious power, especially for your level. What kind of passives are you running?”
I smirked. “Loremaster.”
The whole guild laughed, Rugar included.
“An XP passive and a rare drop from the tomb? You’re something else, Astraeus,” Rugar admitted, still catching his breath.
Zero observed our duel with a critical eye, nodding. “Not to mention the finesse in how you wield your blade. This game’s combat engine allows for full freedom of movement, and you’re using it well. That twirling technique could catch any would-be PKer off guard. Satisfied, Rugar?”
Rugar sheathed his sword, nodding. “Oh, it’s him, alright. The legend himself has come to Age of Eternity.”
Zero and the others exchanged knowing glances.
“Well then, we’ll be on our way,” Zero said, giving me a respectful nod. “I’ll leave a scout behind to ensure you reach your destination safely.”
I held up a hand. “No need. If Crossbones or any monsters want a fight, I’ll give them one. Skullhead learned the hard way. His health bar took a nice hit from the bleed damage alone.”
Zero nodded approvingly. “Suit yourself. Good luck out there.” With that, he and his guildmates teleported away, leaving me alone once more.
I took a deep breath, surveying the landscape of the Wildlands. Shadows stretched over the ruined landscape, broken only by the faint glow of decayed barriers and ancient spells fading in the distance. The Necromancer awaited, and these Wildlands were mine to conquer.