"CODE. I like it," Drax said, beaming as they left the Guild Hall. "Has a nice ring to it. Kinda mysterious, but also badass, like we've got some secret hacker stuff going on."

Betsy sighed, giving him a look. "We're not hackers, Drax."

"Yeah, but people don't know that. We could play it up, act all cryptic," he said, waving his arms dramatically. "Keep 'em guessing. The best way to win is to have everyone wondering how you did it."

"Or," Alex interjected, smirking, "we could focus on not dying."

"Ah, the boring option," Drax said, giving an exaggerated groan.

Despite Drax's lightheartedness, Alex couldn't help but feel the weight of the decision he had just made. Creating his own guild was a bold move, but it also put a massive target on his back. **Starter City** was already filled with established guilds, all vying for power and influence. And now, CODE would be a new player in that game—one that no one had seen coming.

The four of them paused at the outskirts of the Guild Hall, where players and adventurers milled about, seemingly unaware of the monumental decision that had just been made.

"Alright, guys," Alex said, looking at each of them. "CODE might be my idea, but this guild isn't just mine. It's ours. I want you all to join me officially. Let's make it a team effort."

Betsy smiled and nodded. "Of course. We wouldn't have gotten this far without working together. I'm in."

"Same here, mate," Drax said with his usual grin. "Let's show this city what CODE can do!"

All eyes turned to **Luke**, who had been quiet as usual, his face calm and serene. For a moment, Alex wondered if Luke even understood what was going on. But then, without hesitation, Luke stepped forward, placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, and softly said, "**Verum.**"

It was Luke's way of agreeing, and Alex felt a warmth spread through him. Despite his quiet nature and limited vocabulary, Luke was as much a part of their team as anyone.

Alex smiled at him, grateful for his presence. "Thanks, Luke. Let's make this official, then. CODE is more than just a name now—it's a family."

With that, they all stood together, a unified front in the chaos of **Starter City**. Their names now bore the **CODE guild insignia**, and from this moment onward, they weren't just adventurers—they were a guild.

---

As they made their way through the bustling streets of Starter City, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were already on them. He noticed a few players casting curious glances their way, and it wasn't long before whispers started spreading.

"Is that the new guild?"

"Heard the guy's glitched. Something weird happened when he tried to register."

"Yeah, but you don't mess with guilds here unless you're ready for a fight."

Betsy nudged Alex, her gaze sharp. "Word travels fast. We need to be careful. Other guilds won't take this lightly."

"I know," Alex said quietly. "But we'll deal with it when it comes. For now, we need to focus on building the guild up."

"Speaking of that," Drax said, rubbing his hands together. "We need to get ourselves a sweet headquarters. I'm thinking a big tower, maybe with a moat or something. You know, make a statement."

Betsy snorted. "We don't have the coins for that, Drax."

"Yet," Drax corrected, grinning. "We don't have the coins *yet*. But give me a dungeon or two, and I'll get us swimming in gold."

Alex smiled at his friend's optimism. "Let's start with something a little more realistic. We need a base of operations, and we need to gather resources—coins, gear, and time. We'll grow the guild from there."

They made their way through the market district, where rows of vendors shouted over one another, advertising their wares. Players browsed stalls selling everything from basic potions to high-tier armor. The economy of ALBEKO was alive and well, fueled by the constant flow of adventurers selling loot from dungeons and quests.

As they passed a particularly busy stall, Drax paused, his eyes lighting up at the sight of a **gleaming sword** on display. "Whoa, check that out! That thing's gotta be worth a fortune."

The sword was impressive—silver with intricate designs etched into the blade, its hilt encrusted with gemstones. The vendor, a burly NPC with a thick beard, eyed Drax with a grin. "Interested? That there is a **Tier S Sword of Valor**. Only the finest adventurers can wield it. Price is 500 gold coins."

Drax's jaw dropped. "Five hundred? That's robbery!"

The vendor shrugged. "Supply and demand, my friend. Gear like this doesn't come cheap."

"Five hundred gold," Betsy muttered under her breath. "We'd need to raid ten dungeons to get that kind of money."

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Alex studied the sword for a moment, then glanced around at the other stalls. Prices for high-tier items were outrageous, but it made sense. The higher-level players who dominated **Floor 1** had the coins to afford these luxuries, while newer or weaker players had to scrounge for scraps, struggling to stay alive.

But what caught Alex's attention even more was a **different stall**, where a small crowd of players had gathered, their expressions grim. A **young adventurer** stood behind the counter, nervously speaking to a vendor. His timer was dangerously low, flashing red with less than a few hours left.

The adventurer's voice trembled as he pleaded with the vendor. "Please, I need the gear. I can't go into the dungeon without it. If I don't get in soon, I'll run out of time. Just give me something—anything—so I can earn the time back."

The vendor sighed, eyeing the adventurer's near-empty coin pouch. "Look, I'm not running a charity here. You want the gear, you have to pay for it like everyone else."

"I... I don't have enough," the adventurer stammered, his eyes wide with desperation. "But I can't earn time without gear. If I don't do a dungeon soon, I'll... I'll run out."

The vendor's gaze softened slightly, but business was business. "You don't have the coin. But I'll make you a deal. Sell me half of your remaining time, and I'll give you a decent set of gear. Enough to get you through a few dungeons so you can start earning again."

Alex felt a cold knot form in his stomach as he watched the scene unfold. The adventurer was visibly torn, his hands shaking as he weighed his options. If he sold his time, he would be dangerously close to zero. But without the gear, he wouldn't stand a chance in the dungeon.

"I... I'll take the deal," the adventurer whispered, his voice breaking.

The vendor nodded, his expression neutral. "Place your hand on the panel, and I'll transfer the gear and adjust your timer."

The adventurer hesitated for a moment, then slowly placed his hand on the glowing panel. A faint glow surrounded him as the timer above his head began to shrink, the remaining hours ticking away rapidly. In exchange, a set of basic gear appeared in his inventory, nothing fancy but enough to get him started.

"Here you go," the vendor said, handing over the items. "Good luck in the dungeon."

The adventurer took the gear with trembling hands, then hurried off without another word, his timer now dangerously close to zero.

Alex turned away from the scene, his chest tight. "People are selling their time just to survive. This world is more brutal than I thought."

Betsy nodded, her expression grim. "It's the reality of ALBEKO. Time is everything here, and not everyone can keep up. The stronger players make it, the weaker ones... they sell what they have left."

Drax shook his head. "That's messed up. I mean, selling time for gear? What's the point if you don't have enough time left to earn it back?"

"That's the problem," Alex said quietly. "They're stuck in a cycle. They sell time to get gear, but if they don't succeed in the

!!!!!

**dungeon**, they end up with even less time and no way to earn it back. It's a desperate gamble."

Betsy sighed. "That's how this world works. The system is rigged against anyone who falls behind. They either have to sell what little time they have to get stronger, or they fade out. It's cruel, but that's ALBEKO."

"Verum," Luke said quietly from behind them. His voice was soft but steady, and when they all turned to look at him, he nodded once, as if affirming what had just been said.

Alex gave him a small smile, appreciating Luke's quiet wisdom, even if it was delivered in just a single word. It seemed that **truth**—or **verum**, as Luke called it—was something Luke held onto in this world where deception and brutality were common. It was his constant, a guiding light in a world where everyone was just trying to survive.

Drax, though, broke the tension with a loud groan. "Man, I hate seeing that. I don't want to sell my time for gear! Let's hit a dungeon and make some real loot. No way am I letting anyone cut into my time for a pair of boots."

Alex smiled faintly. Drax's enthusiasm was contagious, and despite the grim reality they had just witnessed, he had a point. They couldn't let the weight of the world drag them down. They had to keep pushing forward, gathering strength, resources, and most importantly, time.

"We'll do things differently," Alex said, his voice firm. "We're going to earn our time, our coins, without selling our lives away. We'll take on dungeons, sell our loot, and grow stronger as a team."

Drax grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Now you're talking! Let's hit a dungeon and start racking up the loot."

"Not just any dungeon," Betsy said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "We need to find one that's worth the risk. Something with high-tier loot, but that's still within our reach."

"I might know of one," Alex said, his thoughts drifting back to the **Dungeon of Shadows** where he had unlocked his Shade Master class. There had been other paths in that dungeon they hadn't explored, paths that might lead to even greater rewards.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Drax said, bouncing on his heels. "Let's go dungeon diving!"

Alex smiled, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. CODE was just starting out, but with Drax, Betsy, and Luke by his side, they could build something powerful—something different from the other guilds in Starter City. They wouldn't exploit the desperate or sell off their time for coins. They would earn their way, one dungeon at a time.

"Alright," Alex said, his voice steady. "Let's get to work."

---

They spent the next hour gathering supplies from the marketplace—potions, rations, and basic gear. They didn't have the funds for anything extravagant, but they were well-prepared for a dungeon run. Drax managed to barter for a new sword, one that wasn't nearly as flashy as the Tier S blade he had been eyeing, but functional enough to get the job done.

As they made their way to the **Dungeon of Shadows**, Alex felt the familiar tension in his chest—the anticipation of battle, the uncertainty of what they might face. But this time, he had a goal. He wasn't just fighting to survive; he was fighting to build something.

When they reached the entrance to the dungeon, a small group of players were gathered nearby, some discussing strategies, others just hanging back, waiting for their chance to enter. A few of them glanced at Alex and his party, their eyes lingering on the insignia of CODE that now floated above their heads.

"They're watching us," Betsy muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger.

"Let them watch," Alex said, his gaze fixed on the dark entrance ahead. "We're just getting started."

As they stepped inside, the cold, damp air of the dungeon wrapped around them, and the faint glow of the runes along the walls flickered in and out like the breath of a dying beast. The familiar eeriness of the **Dungeon of Shadows** settled over them, but this time, Alex felt a sense of control. The first time he had been here, the power of his glitch had been overwhelming, but now he had more confidence in his abilities.

They descended deeper into the dungeon, following the paths they had avoided on their first run. The air grew colder the deeper they went, and soon, the eerie silence was broken by the soft shuffle of movement in the shadows.

"We've got company," Betsy whispered, her bow already drawn.

From the darkness, shades materialized—creatures made of shadow and smoke, their forms twisted and shifting. Alex could feel the pull of his Shade Master power stirring within him, the connection between him and the shades calling out like a distant echo.

Drax grinned, raising his sword. "Let's give 'em a good fight!"

The battle began, and Alex felt the familiar surge of energy as he summoned one of the weaker shades he had captured in their last dungeon run. The creature appeared at his side, a twisted wolf-like form made of shadow, and it lunged at the enemy shades with deadly precision.

Betsy's arrows flew through the air, each one striking its mark with pinpoint accuracy, while Drax hacked through the shades with his usual reckless enthusiasm. Meanwhile, **Luke** stood behind them, his hands glowing softly with healing light as he kept the party in fighting shape.

"Verum," Luke muttered as he healed Drax's minor wounds.

Drax, in the middle of swinging his sword, gave Luke a thumbs-up. "Thanks, mate! You're a lifesaver, as always."

The battle didn't last long. With Alex's growing control over his Shade Master abilities and the team's coordinated effort, the shades were quickly dispatched. But the deeper they went, the stronger the enemies became. Each new chamber they entered presented new challenges, and Alex could feel the strain on his summons as they pushed further into the dungeon.

"We're getting closer to something big," Alex said, his breath coming in short bursts as they cleared yet another room of shades. "I can feel it."

"Let's hope it's something valuable," Betsy said, wiping sweat from her brow. "We're burning through our potions."

Drax, always the optimist, grinned. "Nah, this is where the good stuff is! I can feel it in my bones."

Luke, as usual, simply nodded, muttering "Verum" under his breath.

As they pressed forward, they finally reached a large, ornate door at the end of a narrow corridor. The door was carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly in the darkness, and Alex could feel a powerful energy radiating from the other side.

"This has to be it," Alex said, stepping closer to the door.

Drax cracked his knuckles. "Time to see what treasures are waiting for us."

Betsy, ever cautious, inspected the door for traps before nodding. "It's safe. Let's go."

With a deep breath, Alex pushed open the door, and the room beyond was unlike anything they had seen so far. The chamber was massive, with high ceilings and walls lined with glowing runes. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, and on it sat a gleaming object that radiated with a soft, golden light.

But as they stepped into the room, the ground beneath them rumbled, and from the shadows emerged a massive creature—a **Shade Warden**, its form towering over them, its eyes glowing with an eerie light.

"Looks like we've got one more fight on our hands," Alex muttered, summoning his shades.

The battle had only just begun.