Whispers in the Void

The soft hum of Serena Palace's artificial atmosphere filled the chamber as Serana leaned back in her hover-chair, gazing at the luminous cityscape of Selene below. The Moon's underground metropolis was a marvel of engineering, a place where the elite of Luna schemed and whispered beneath the glow of artificial starlight.

She flicked her fingers, navigating through her private terminal. Her recent financial activities had already drawn unwanted attention. The Lorest—an investigator assigned by the Lunar Council—was probing the movement of funds.

"Tsk."

She had known they would notice eventually. Spending millions on hiring beta testers, securing resources, and setting up a foundation in World of Solva was bound to trigger some red flags. But she needed control. Influence. Power.

A notification flashed.

Incoming Message: Akari Cypher

Serana raised an eyebrow. Akari was one of the players she had recruited into her network. A skilled hacker and strategist, but also someone who kept her own agenda.

She tapped the message open.

[Akari Cypher]:

World of Solva making waves, Oracle. People are starting to ask questions. That Mars wood situation? It's spiraling. Now there are rumors that Solva is more than a game.

Serana smirked.

[Serana]:

Let them speculate. They'll find nothing.

[Akari Cypher]:

Maybe. But I did some digging on the other beta testers. Guess what? A solid chunk of them aren't "randomly selected." They're ex-military. Mercenaries. Black ops. Someone is curating the player base.

Serana's fingers hovered over the screen. This confirmed her suspicions. Solva wasn't just a simulation—it was a battlefield in disguise.

But who was truly behind it?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Enter," she commanded.

Nira stepped in, holding a datapad. "Madam, we've tracked down one of Jerry's men."

Serana's gaze sharpened. "Bring them to me. Now."