The Ogre capital buzzed with tension. News of the battle in the undercity had spread quickly, and whispers of K’s growing influence reached every corner of the city. The uneasy truce between the Ogres and the Human Empire was hanging by a thread, and Alex knew that any misstep could send everything spiraling into chaos.
“We need to act fast,” Alex said as CODE gathered in their temporary base, a small, fortified room in the heart of the capital. “K’s agents have retreated for now, but they won’t stay hidden for long. If we don’t secure some alliances, we’ll be fighting this war alone.”
Betsy, leaning against the wall with her bow in hand, nodded. “The Ogres are restless. The Warchief is barely holding his generals back, and the Humans are in no shape to fight. If K makes his move now, the whole floor could fall apart.”
Rogan, ever the strategist, crossed his arms as he considered their next steps. “We’ve got some guilds we can trust, but it’s going to be tricky. K’s agents have been working in the shadows for years. Some of the guilds may already be compromised.”
Drax, sitting nearby with his hammer resting on his knee, grinned. “Let ‘em try something. We’ll smash through any traitors who get in our way.”
But Alex wasn’t as confident. The political landscape was far more complex than a simple fight, and the alliances they needed to secure were fragile. Trust was a rare commodity on the fourth floor, and with K’s influence growing, it was hard to know who was an ally and who was a potential enemy.
“We’ll need to approach this carefully,” Alex said, his voice thoughtful. “We’ve seen how K manipulates people—using fear, greed, and power to control them. Some of these guilds will be working with him willingly, while others might be too scared to stand up to him.”
Luke, standing at the edge of the room with his shield resting against the wall, offered his usual word of reassurance: “Verum.”
Alex smiled at Luke’s quiet confidence. They had been through so much together, and despite the challenges ahead, Alex knew they were ready to face whatever came next.
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The Guild Summit
Their first step was to convene a guild summit. Alex had sent out word to the major guilds of the fourth floor, calling for a meeting to discuss the growing threat of K and his agents. The summit would be held in Aurelia, the capital of the Human Empire, which had become a neutral ground after the death of General Solana.
It was a risky move. Bringing the most powerful guilds together in one place would either result in a united front against K or a chaotic power struggle that could tear the floor apart.
“We need to convince them that K is the real threat,” Betsy said as they made their way to Aurelia. “If we don’t, this whole summit could blow up in our faces.”
Rogan, moving through the streets with his usual stealth, nodded in agreement. “Most of these guilds only care about one thing—power. They’ll only join us if they think it benefits them.”
Drax, ever the optimist, grinned as he hefted his hammer onto his shoulder. “Then we’ll just have to show them why siding with us is the best option.”
But Alex knew it wouldn’t be that simple. The guilds were powerful, and each one had its own agenda. Convincing them to put aside their differences and focus on the threat of K would be the hardest part.
When they arrived in Aurelia, the guild summit was already in full swing. The grand hall where the meeting was being held was filled with the leaders of the most powerful guilds on the fourth floor, each one representing a different faction or interest. The tension in the air was thick, and the conversations were laced with suspicion.
“Welcome to the party,” Rogan muttered under his breath as they entered the hall.
Alex stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room as he took in the various guild leaders. Some of them were familiar—old allies from past battles—but others were new faces, guilds that had risen to power since K’s influence had begun to spread.
One of the first to approach them was Garret, the leader of the Ironclad Legion, a powerful guild known for its military strength. Garret was a tall, imposing figure, his armor gleaming in the dim light of the hall.
“Alex,” Garret said, his voice low but respectful. “I’ve heard about what happened in the undercity. K’s agents are growing bolder.”
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Alex nodded, keeping his expression neutral. “They are. And if we don’t stop them now, they’ll destroy everything we’ve built.”
Garret crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t disagree. But you have to understand—many of the guilds here aren’t interested in fighting K. They’re more concerned with consolidating their own power. If you want to win them over, you’ll need more than just talk.”
Alex knew Garret was right. The guilds wouldn’t join them out of the goodness of their hearts—they needed a reason to believe that siding with CODE was in their best interest.
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A Fractured Alliance
As the summit progressed, it became clear just how divided the guilds were. Some, like the Ironclad Legion, understood the threat posed by K and were willing to join the fight. But others, like the Silver Serpents, a guild known for its wealth and political influence, were more concerned with maintaining their own position of power.
“We’re not here to fight some shadow war,” said Lira, the leader of the Silver Serpents, her voice cold and calculating. “K’s influence is a problem, yes, but so is the instability on this floor. The Ogres are restless, and the Human Empire is on the brink of collapse. We need to focus on securing our own interests.”
Alex clenched his jaw, trying to keep his frustration in check. “If K succeeds, there won’t be a floor left to secure. He’s trying to tear down the barrier between worlds. This isn’t just about politics—this is about survival.”
Lira raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “And how do you propose we stop him? You’ve already admitted that he’s out there, regrouping. What makes you think you can succeed where others have failed?”
Before Alex could respond, Garret stepped in. “CODE has done more to stop K’s agents than anyone else on this floor. If they say K is a threat, we need to take it seriously.”
But Lira wasn’t convinced. “And what if CODE is just another power-hungry guild trying to use fear to control the rest of us?”
The room fell silent, the tension thickening as the other guild leaders waited for Alex’s response.
Alex took a deep breath, meeting Lira’s gaze with steady resolve. “We’re not here to play politics. We’re here to stop K before he destroys everything. You can either join us, or you can watch from the sidelines as this floor falls apart. The choice is yours.”
Lira’s expression remained cold, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she turned away, clearly uninterested in further debate.
Betsy, standing at Alex’s side, muttered under her breath. “We’re not going to win everyone over.”
“We don’t need to,” Alex replied quietly. “We just need enough.”
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A Dangerous Offer
As the summit continued, CODE managed to secure a few key alliances. The Ironclad Legion and a handful of smaller guilds agreed to support them in the fight against K, but it was clear that the larger, more powerful guilds were still hesitant.
It wasn’t until later in the evening, after the official talks had ended, that Alex was approached by an unexpected figure.
“Alex,” a voice called from the shadows. When Alex turned, he saw a figure emerge from the darkness—a tall man with dark hair and sharp features, his eyes glinting with a dangerous intelligence.
It was Silas, the leader of the Black Fang, a notorious guild known for its ruthlessness and underground dealings. Silas was not a man to be trusted, but his power and influence on the fourth floor were undeniable.
“I’ve heard you’re looking for allies,” Silas said, his voice smooth and dangerous. “And I believe we can help each other.”
Alex narrowed his eyes, instantly wary. “The Black Fang isn’t exactly known for working with others.”
Silas chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “True. But these are strange times, Alex. K’s agents are a threat to all of us, even those of us who prefer to operate… in the shadows.”
“What’s your offer?” Alex asked, his tone guarded.
Silas smiled, a slow, calculating smile. “The Black Fang has resources—information, weapons, and men willing to fight. We can give you the edge you need to take K down. But of course, nothing comes for free.”
“And what do you want in return?”
Silas’s smile widened. “Influence. When this war is over, the Black Fang wants a seat at the table. We want a voice in the new order you’re trying to build.”
Alex didn’t trust Silas, but he knew that they needed all the help they could get. The Black Fang’s resources would be invaluable in the fight against K, but aligning with them could be dangerous.
“I’ll think about it,” Alex said carefully.
Silas’s eyes gleamed. “Do that. But don’t take too long. K isn’t the only one who knows how to manipulate the game.”
With that, Silas melted back into the shadows, leaving Alex with more questions than answers.
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The Line Between Friend and Foe
As the summit came to a close, Alex and his team regrouped outside the grand hall. They had secured some key alliances, but the fractures in the guilds were still glaringly obvious.
“We’ve got the Ironclad Legion and a few others,” Rogan said, his tone thoughtful. “But it’s not enough. We’re still outnumbered, and K’s agents are regrouping as we speak.”
Betsy sighed, her frustration evident. “We can’t trust half the people in that room. The guilds are too focused on their own agendas.”
Drax, ever the optimist, grinned as he rested his hammer on his shoulder. “Doesn’t matter. We’ve got what we need, and when the time comes, we’ll smash through anyone who gets in our way.”
Alex, still thinking about Silas’s offer, shook his head. “This is bigger than just smashing things, Drax. The line between friend and foe is getting blurred. We need to be careful who we trust.”
Luke, always the quiet presence, simply said: “Verum.”
Alex smiled at Luke’s simple wisdom. The truth was always out there, even if it was hard to see.
“We’ll figure this out,” Alex said, his voice filled with determination. “K is still out there, and we’re going to stop him. But we have to be smart about this.”
As they left the city of Aurelia and prepared for the next phase of their journey, Alex knew that the battle ahead would be more complex than anything they had faced before. New allies and enemies had emerged, and the line between friend and foe was growing thinner by the day.
But CODE was ready.
The war wasn’t over yet.