King Grey

NORTH

King had just finished his tasks inside the game and decided to log out. He had spent too much time immersed in the virtual world today.

With a soft click and a gentle rush of air, the gaming pod opened. A man with silver-grey hair stepped out, stretching his limbs as he adjusted to reality. Despite his hair color, he was still young—only around twenty years of age.

Xavier Grey studied himself in the mirror. Standing at 6'3", his frame was lean yet well-conditioned, sculpted for efficiency rather than brute strength. He wasn't built like a bodybuilder, but every muscle had its purpose. His body was trained for agility, endurance, and precision—attributes far more valuable to him than sheer bulk.

Xavier was not just another player in ESCAPE Online. He was the sole heir of Grey Corporation, a once-small arms manufacturing business that had now grown into a behemoth under his leadership. Through sheer intellect and strategic vision, he had transformed his family's enterprise into the world's only private weapons manufacturer. Governments bowed to his monopoly, not just because of his wealth but because of the technological supremacy his company commanded.

Grey Corporation wasn't merely a business—it was a power. Over the past fifty years, it had spearheaded advancements in weaponry, energy, armored suits, artificial intelligence, and space travel. But its true rise had come when Xavier Grey took over from his father. Under his direction, the company had ascended to unprecedented heights.

Xavier wasn't naïve. He knew about the existence of aliens, the Universal Empire, and the secrets the world's governments tried to keep hidden. But unlike others, he didn't rely on the government's information. He had forged his own path, securing captured alien prisoners and treating them well enough to extract invaluable intelligence. He was always a step ahead.

He had forced world leaders to sign a treaty with Grey Corporation, ensuring that he had unrestricted access to all classified intelligence. But trust? That was something he never extended to politicians. Governments changed, but power remained constant.

His wealth and influence had led him to own nearly 30% of Mars, rivaling even the powerful Jordan family. This had made him one of the most sought-after figures on the planet, with elites lining up to curry favor. But Xavier had no patience for sycophants.

Few people earned his trust. Edge was one of them—his gaming partner inside ESCAPE Online. However, even Edge wasn't privy to Xavier's personal affairs. Some lines were never meant to be crossed.

Xavier looked at his wrist , displaying his biometric and ability statistics:

Name: Xavier Grey

Synchronization: 100%

Status: Healthy

Physical Stats:

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 170 kg

Arm Reach: 82"

Eye Color: Grey

Hair Color: Grey

Body Fat: 11%

Spirit Force: 800

Abilities:

Telekinesis – Level 3

Telepathy – Level 3

Super Vision – Level 5

Cognition – Level 5

Fortitude – Level 5

Superior Intellect – Level 7

Instinct – Level 5

Among his abilities, Cognition, Fortitude, and Superior Intellect were his greatest assets. While most people possessed basic telekinesis and telepathy, few had enhanced cognitive processing and fortitude at his level. His intellect was beyond human comprehension.

With this intelligence, he solved problems that had perplexed his corporation's engineers for decades within minutes. Each day, he made groundbreaking discoveries. Each day, he pushed humanity forward.

But knowledge alone was never enough. Power was needed to safeguard it.

The Silent Army

Xavier wasn't just an inventor—he was a strategist. He trained daily, honing his martial arts and weapons skills. In archery alone, he had surpassed Olympic champions, making even the finest marksmen look amateurish. But he didn't stop there.

He knew that riches and resources meant nothing without personal strength. Inside ESCAPE Online, power dictated influence, and Xavier was building an empire from the shadows.

His method? Infiltration.

He had assembled a covert army within the game, silently embedding his men into the very fabric of the world's most powerful guilds.

10 Guardians

100 Knights

1,000 Elites

30,000 Soldiers

These operatives, enhanced with Grade-3 Serums, played ESCAPE Online for ten hours daily, pushing their levels past 100. They had joined major guilds as sleeper cells, awaiting his command. Even the Super Guilds were oblivious to the growing noose tightening around them.

Xavier's goal? 50,000 sleeper agents, all beyond Level 150.

The moment they reached this threshold, his own guild would be born. And when it did, the so-called invincible guilds would realize they had been living under an illusion.

But ESCAPE Online was just one front. Xavier's true battlefield was beyond the game.

The United Nations was planning to establish a clan inside The Empire, believing that a consolidated force of all nations would grant them a seat in the universal power structure. Xavier, however, had his own plans.

He wasn't going to let his fate be dictated by governments. He was going to carve out his own path.

With 30% of Mars under his control, and Wonderworld Corporation controlling another 30%, a potential alliance could grant them absolute dominance. The remaining 40% could easily be acquired.

His next step? An alliance with Chris Jordan.

Chris Jordan was one of the few men Xavier respected. Their upcoming meeting would determine whether they would reshape the future together.

And then there was Edge.

Ted—Edge—was a talent unlike any Xavier had encountered. The man was trustworthy, powerful, and, most importantly, predictable. Xavier had studied him closely. Edge's priorities were clear: his family came first, and money was only a means to secure their future.

This made manipulating persuading him easy. Xavier had already planned on giving him a Grade-5 Serum, but upon learning that Chris Jordan had already done so, he was both surprised and intrigued.

Chris was investing in Edge. That meant he too saw his potential.

This revelation only solidified Xavier's decision—Chris Jordan was the perfect partner for his ambitions. With Chris providing resources and Edge as his right-hand man, Xavier could construct a force that no nation or guild could oppose.

But there was still work to be done. More pillars were needed to build the foundation of his future clan.

For now, he would wait. Observe. Plan.

The Looming Threat

The fate of humanity was precariously balanced. One wrong move could provoke The Empire into eradicating Earth entirely.

Xavier wouldn't allow that to happen.

He would control the game.

He would control the corporations.

He would control The Empire.

And in the end, he would control the future.