I woke up in pain. A lot of it. It felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to my insides, then tried to glue everything back together—piece by agonizing piece. Every breath burned, every muscle throbbed, and a dull ache pulsed in my bones. My groan broke the silence as I forced my eyes open, the blinding light above searing into them. I blinked, trying to clear my vision. It felt like my organs were being reformed from the molten mulch they’d become after the fall.

Death feels very real in this world, I thought, the irony not lost on me.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided enough for me to pull a health potion from my Phasepack—a handy upgrade I’d earned through blood and sweat.

Phasepack Durability: 470/1000, Capacity: 500 lbs.

Invisible, weightless backpack. Can hold any size item up to a max of 500lbs. Bound to user: Gaines. All items contained in the backpack are indestructible as long as the Phasepack retains durability. On destruction of the Phasepack, all items contained will be lost.

A real lifesaver. Being the ruler of a city had its perks. Healing potions weren’t so hard to come by now, and I’d stocked up. I pulled the cork and downed the potion in one go. The warmth spread through my body like a slow burn, stitching my shredded muscles back together and calming the fire in my lungs. My health points ticked up, and with them, the will to move.

I sat up slowly, wincing as the world tilted. Sand. Nothing but dunes as far as the eye could see, heat shimmering off the ground, making the horizon blur into a distorted mess. The sun above felt like it was trying to bake me alive.

“One thousand miles from Sefia,” Dave chimed in, his voice annoyingly calm. “At your current top speed and accounting for fatigue, I’d say you’d want a rescue before you start walking.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. The pain was still there, but manageable now. “And where were you when I was busy being roadkill?”

“I thought it best, old chap, to let you handle the situation. Without the added distraction of my interference. Once again, it appears I made the right decision.”

I bit back a retort. Typical Dave. There when it suited him and conveniently absent when it didn’t. But I wasn’t in the mood to argue. I had bigger problems, like figuring out how to get him out of my head. The deranged A.I. currently nestled in my brain.

I needed to talk to Iggy. See if he’d made any progress on how to get Dave out of my head without turning me into a vegetable. The problem was, I couldn’t ask Iggy directly—not with Dave listening in. The private chat feature I had acquired when killing Hapzon could block Dave, but using it now would be too obvious.

If Harmony can isolate Dave, I thought, maybe someone else can remove him entirely. I just had to find the right opportunity to bring it up with Iggy. In the meantime, I needed to play it cool.

“Ah, I see the Administrators have finally contacted you,” Dave interrupted, cutting into my thoughts. “This could change things for us…you, Gaines. The administrator 171 buff has been instrumental in your survival. Dying and being ejected from the game... it adds a new layer of…shall we say, complexity.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” I muttered. The possibility of being ejected from Harmony was unsettling at best. “Guess I should deal with that now. I’ll send Iggy my coordinates and let him know I’m talking to the Administrator. He can pick me up when I’m done.”

“We took care of everyone on the shuttle, right?” I asked, remembering I left Iggy on the ship.

“Yes, Gaines. Iggy should have no trouble navigating the ship back to Sefia.The last Ree agent followed you out of the ship”

I sent a quick message to Iggy with my coordinates, hoping he’d get to me soon. My body was still reeling, and a 1,000-mile trek through the desert wasn’t happening. I opened the message from the Administrator.

Administrator 171 would like to meet. All external hardware has been repaired. Administrator buff 171 can be removed. There are no longer any safety concerns. YES or NO?

I stared at the message for a moment, weighing my options. This was it—the meeting I’d been avoiding, the one that could change everything. I had no idea what would happen next, but I didn’t have many other options.

Guess it’s time to find out why it’s taken them this long to contact me.

I selected YES.

The world around me shimmered, the desert dissolving into bright white as the reality of Harmony blinked out of existence.

----------------------------------------

The sterile, white room of the Administrator materialized around me. Everything was too clean, too clinical. A long, narrow monitor displaying graphs, charts, and statistics wrapped around the walls. The only furniture was a stark white desk with two matching white chairs. Administrator 171 sat calmly in one of them, her appearance slightly altered since the last time I’d seen her.

"Ah, Mr. Gaines, welcome," she greeted, her voice as smooth and calculated as ever. "I trust you are still enjoying your experience within the Harmony network?"

Her features had changed—subtly, but enough to be unsettling. Her face was sharper, with square, angular lines framing her slender features. Her hair fell in perfectly straight lines, so rigid it looked unnatural, like it had been designed to resemble human hair, but was a poor imitation.

I wasn’t the same confused idiot I’d been the last time I was here. I’d just come from hours of torture at the hands of Old Wrig. While I was still angry, I wasn’t naive anymore. I’d learned a few things about how Harmony worked.

“Yeah, fine,” I replied, trying to keep my irritation in check. “Why has it taken you so long to contact me? You said it would only take seven days to return me to my system.”

"Mr. Gaines," she began, her tone still as calm as ever, "I gave an estimated time of seven days. It was just that—an estimate. If you had any concerns, you were always free to reach out. I would have been more than happy to discuss any issues.”

Right, I thought. Like chatting with an AI was going to help. In all honesty, I didn’t want to lose the buff placed on me. Being unable to die in this place had, as Dave said, been instrumental to my advancement in this place. Without it, I could die in this place, and dying in this place forces ejection from the system.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Okay, fine. But why did it actually take so long to send me back? Any issues I should know about?”

I didn’t feel like arguing with her—or it. Administrator 171 was an advanced AI built to monitor this virtual world and my current home. But I needed to know what was going on with the real me—the flesh and blood version wherever that was.

“It was deemed unsafe to return your substation due to an ongoing dispute in the area,” she said matter-of-factly. “Your substation, containing your upgraded capsule, was sent to the Invidia system instead. We do our best to ensure the safety of all users.”

My mind raced. "What conflict?" Was I in danger outside of Harmony.? Could I even do anything about?

“I am not at liberty to discuss external conflicts between member species," she replied. "Such matters are outside Harmony’s purview, and we remain neutral in all galactic disputes.”

“Not even a hint?” I pushed, though I already knew it was futile.

“I am afraid not. If you wish to learn more about the political situation in your star system, I suggest contacting a representative from your home planet.”

Great, I thought. "Alright then," I sighed. "So, what’s this Invidia system, and why is my substation there?"

“Invidia is the central hub of the Harmony network. It spans three light years and is home to 248 trillion members. It contains the most advanced hardware and software, capable of sustaining all species indefinitely.”

A chill ran down my spine despite the Administrator’s calm, detached explanation. Are they herding us all into one place like cattle? Or maybe it was just easier to manage users when everyone is packed into the same place. Still, the thought was unsettling.

“So, am I safe to log out of the system now?” I asked, not actually planning to do so. If I logged out, I doubted I’d ever get back in. My only link to what had been going on was Sky ratchet—Sam McKenna from the Famous Five. He’d entered Harmony over a thousand years ago, and if anyone knew what was happening, it was him.

“Yes, you are in no immediate danger from exiting the Harmony network,” Administrator 171 replied smoothly. “A field survival pack is located in a storage locker next to your capsule. The air outside has been matched to that of your home world for comfort—20% oxygen, 80% sulfuric acid. We were able to detect the atmosphere from ground samples along the edge of the protective shield on Bovidi. Your species are new to Harmony, and not much is known, but we try our best to learn all we can”

I felt my throat tighten. Sulfuric acid? If I exited the system, I’d be dead in seconds. If I died here, it’d be permanent.

Seeing the Administrator's unflinching expression, I forced a smile and waved my hand dismissively. “Great work, thanks. For a second there, I thought you wouldn’t know the exact composition.”

“So I take it I am stuck in the Invidia system?” I tried to hide the frustration gnawing at me. Right. I’m stuck here indefinitely. What exactly happens next? How can I exit the system?"

The Administrator's eyes flickered slightly, her robotic calm never wavering. “We appreciate your patience, Mr. Gaines. As such, Harmony is offering you an opportunity for a permanent system upgrade in compensation for the current inconvenience.”

System upgrade? My instincts flared up. Nothing in Harmony came without a price. "An upgrade?"

“Yes. An enhancement to your current skills. This will provide you access to restricted areas in the network and unlock new potential within your abilities."

I crossed my arms, my mind racing. "And what’s the catch?"

“No catch, Mr. Gaines,” she replied, her voice a little too smooth. “Merely a... strengthening of your connection to the system.”

And there it was. They wanted me more connected, deeper into the game. The more I integrated into Harmony, the harder it would be to disconnect. I clenched my fists under the table, feeling the weight of my decision press down on me.

I leaned back in my chair, watching her carefully. “And if I decline?” Of course, I had no intention of accepting it until I had discussed it with the deranged AI trying to take over my mind. What the hell was I even thinking?

“That is your choice, of course,” Administrator 171 said, tilting her head ever so slightly. “But consider the benefits. Such an upgrade would allow you to operate with greater efficiency, especially in environments that are becoming increasingly volatile.”

Volatile? That set off alarm bells in my head. “What do you mean by ‘volatile environments’?”

Administrator 171’s gaze remained unreadable. “There are... developments within Harmony. Not all users are as compliant as you, Mr. Gaines. Certain factions are destabilizing the system. Danger is imminent, even here.”

My pulse quickened. “Are you saying Harmony isn’t safe?”

“In some sectors, caution is advised,” she replied, still calm, still detached. “But with the right preparation, you would be well-equipped to navigate these challenges.”

Preparation sounded a lot like control. And she knew it.

I rubbed my temples, trying to piece together the implications. "Let's switch gears. You said my body’s been relocated to the Invidia system. Is it... intact?”

Administrator 171 paused for a moment, her expression neutral as ever. “Your physical form has been well-maintained. However, certain modifications were necessary to ensure survival.”

I froze. "Modifications? What kind of modifications?"

“To ensure that your neural network remains in sync with the virtual environment, additional biological upgrades were performed. Your body is... optimized for your continued interaction with harmony.”

The room felt colder, despite its clinical sterility. "You did what to me?" Panic rose inside, the thought of Dave being discovered while they messed about with my brain.

“Rest assured, Mr. Gaines, these modifications were necessary and beneficial. They ensure a more seamless experience in the network."

Seamless experience — more like taking control. What the hell had they done to me? I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The longer I stayed in this place, the less of me there was left outside.

"Okay," I muttered, pushing the rising panic down. “Well, thanks for that," I said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. "Anything else I should know?"

She paused, as if calculating her next move. “We hope the conflict in your system is resolved soon. And that more of your species can enjoy the harmony network. And please, if you do decide on the upgrade, do not hesitate to contact me.”

Conflict. That word again. I’d almost forgotten a war going on back in the real world—what with harmony now messing with my brain alongside Dave. Would there be anything of me left when they are done?

I stood up, my hands balled into fists. “Great. I’ll think about your ‘offer,’ but I need time to think about it.”

Administrator 171 gave a small nod, unfazed by my tone. “As you wish. All the information for the upgrade can be accessed through your UI. I will return you to the Harmony network now. Should you change your mind, you know where to find me. I have removed the but temporary buff on you. Please enjoy your time while in Harmony”

The room shimmered, her voice still ringing in my ears. “Good luck, Mr. Gaines.” I didn’t have a chance to say another word.

The sterile white dissolved into pixels, and the virtual world of Harmony blinked back into view. But as I stood there, taking in the familiar landscape, just the sound of wind blowing sand, swirling across the dunes. Something felt... off. The air felt heavier, the world darker, like I was seeing it with new eyes. Whatever was coming, it wasn't just going to test me—it was going to change everything.