Trapped...?

After finishing dinner, Ray felt the familiar weight of exhaustion in his bones, but it wasn't the kind of fatigue that would keep him from getting into the game.

He stretched his arms and headed toward his game pod, which sat in the corner of his dimly lit room.

The pod, sleek and modern, was more than just a virtual interface; it would soon become a crucial part of everyone's life, replacing sleep, nutrition, and the need for traditional rest.

With advanced micro-nutrient technology, the pod could feed him, hydrate him, and even simulate rest using micro-sleep cycles. For those living monotonous and busy lives, this game was a true escape, allowing them to live freely while their bodies rested in real life.

As he opened the pod, a faint hum filled the room. He swapped out his nutrition bags for fresh ones, the system automatically recognizing and adjusting the doses.

The tech had come a long way; it was no longer just a game—it was a life support system.The gentle vibrations of the pod's interface signaled it was time to log in.

He tapped a few buttons, and within moments, his vision blurred and was replaced by the familiar loading screen of Etherea Online.

The virtual world unfolded before his eyes, an immersive experience that now felt more real than ever.

Ray logged back into the game, the familiar sensation of being immersed in its vivid world washing over him.

The inn's warm, flickering lanterns greeted him, and the muffled chatter of NPCs in the common area brought the place to life.

He stood in the corridor outside of their room.

Seraphine was most likely sleeping, so the door was locked from the inside.

He opened his player interface and navigated to the messaging tab. Cassandra's name was the only one in his friends list with a notification sign on its corner.

Cassandra : "Hey, are you there?"

Ray smiled and typed back quickly.

Ray: "Yep, just logged in. Ready to start the quest?"

He closed the tab and leaned against the wooden railing of the inn's second floor, his mind already turning toward Ironvale.

The quest details replayed in his head. The shadows near the mines, the silence about the missing girl, and the unease in the town's name all hinted at something more than just a disappearance.

The worst part was that he could not remember the name of the town even after passing through here in his previous life.

He feared that the reason was similar to what happened with Virella.

"Ironvale," he muttered to himself. "If the Guild's got nothing, the Black Market might."

The Black Market was infamous among players and NPCs alike—a hub of whispered deals and secrets, hidden beneath layers of shadowy allegiances.

As he waited for her reply, He checked his recent post on the forum, which had been getting a lot of attention now that people had confirmed the fact. He clicked on the forum and saw his post was one of the top ones on the board.

As he was scrolling through the comments, a message blinked on his screen.

Cassandra: "Meet me in front of the Moonlit Gem shop."

Ray's lips curled into a smirk. The Moonlit Gem shop. It was a place known for its rare potions and trinkets, but Ray guessed the Black Market would probably only a few steps away, hidden beneath the façade of a legitimate merchant.

He quickly sent a reply:

Ray: "On my way."

With one last glance at the inn's common room, he moved toward the Moonlit Gem shop.

The area around it had a distinct aura of mystery—old cobblestone streets, gas lamps flickering eerily in the growing twilight, and the buzz of murmuring players coming and going.

The game was designed to feel alive, but it was moments like these, when everything seemed off-kilter, that it felt all too real.

When he reached the shop, he spotted Cassandra leaning against the wall, her arms crossed. She didn't look like someone who was about to embark on an innocent quest.

No, she looked more like someone who was waiting for the next move in a game of chess—calculating, cold.

"Hey... uh if you don't mind me asking, what is your name? There's some bug and ... you name is sort of glitched...?"

Ray raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you can call me Ray." He said reminding himself to buy a rename stone from the store. "So, where's the quest giver NPC? Is he still awake?"

Cassandra glanced around, then back at him, her face betraying nothing. "Oh, of course he is awake. Let's go! But where is the girl? She is coming right...?" She said feigning excitement and curiosity.

"Well she was not able to log in, I guess..."

"Let's see what we can do with just the two of us, then," she said, her voice dripping with something Ray couldn't place—impatience, or maybe just frustration that things weren't going according to her plan.

Ray leaned in, lowering his voice. "There won't be any problem with the quest right?"

Cassandra didn't flinch. "Don't worry, It is her who will be missing out on experience and loot!" she said grinning widely. But there was a flicker of something in her eyes—fear? Anger? Maybe both.

Ray's grin widened. "Sure, no problem. Just didn't realize the third player was optional all of a sudden. Funny how that works." His tone was light, but there was a hint of amusement dancing behind his words.

Cassandra shot him a sideways glance realising that he was not such a fool he believed him to be. "It's not like it matters now, is it?"

Ray smiled. "Not at all. Let's go the NPC must be waiting."

They reached the hidden entrance, an alleyway between two shops where NPCs in tattered cloaks whispered to each other.

The Black Market, a place where anything could be bought and sold, and secrets were even more valuable than the rarest of potions especially in the trading city of Valltherion.

The atmosphere was thick, stifling almost, as if the very air held the weight of all the shady deals and half-forgotten promises made here.

The shadows clung to the walls, bending around corners like sentient things. Players, NPCs, and unmarked figures moved in and out, each of them careful with their words and transactions.

"Here we are," Cassandra said, almost in a hushed tone, as she stepped forward. She motioned for Ray to follow her deeper into the marketplace.

Before they reached the inner sanctum of the Black Market, Ray's thoughts were interrupted by Cassandra's sudden action.

A strange, shimmering artifact appeared in her hand—a small, ornate orb that pulsed with dark energy. She looked at Ray with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Gotcha."

In the blink of an eye, the orb surged with power. Ray's vision blurred, and his body froze.

His limbs felt as if they were bound by invisible chains, but there was no pain—just a suffocating stillness, a silence that was almost deafening.

He could barely move, his entire body locked in place. Shock flooded through him, but he resisted the urge to panic. This wasn't the first time he'd been trapped in a situation like this.

"Hah! Acting all smart are we. Know your place. scum! "

She said with visible satisfaction on her face but she paused at Ray's eyes - his expression of joy? Or something like he had planned this to happen?

Her jaw tightened, but she didn't respond. Instead, she pushed through a dark curtain at the back of the market, revealing a dimly lit chamber.

The space was dominated by a massive obsidian table, etched with glowing red runes. On the other side of the table sat a demon NPC, its glowing eyes locking onto Ray with a predatory gleam.

The demon's glowing eyes gleamed with twisted delight as Cassandra approached the obsidian table, her stride confident and her smirk widening.

She dropped into a slight bow, presenting herself as if she were the most loyal and accomplished servant in the room.

"Ah, Cassandra," the demon purred, its voice dripping with mock admiration. "Once again, you prove your worth. Another fine offering, ripe for the taking. I expected nothing less from my most… resourceful associate."

Cassandra straightened, her pride unmistakable. "I aim to please, master. And, of course, I expect the usual payment."

The demon chuckled, a sound like crackling fire. With a wave of its clawed hand, dark energy swirled around Cassandra, enveloping her in a crimson glow.

She gasped as the power surged through her, a notification blinking in her peripheral vision:

[EXP GAINED!]

[LEVEL UP!]

[LEVEL UP!]

The rush of power left her breathless, her eyes gleaming with newfound strength. She flexed her fingers, testing her enhanced stats, before flashing the demon a satisfied grin.

"As promised," the demon said, its tone both amused and condescending. "Two levels for such a delectable prize. You've outdone yourself this time, Cassandra."

She inclined her head in acknowledgment, her smirk widening. "And the next? When do you need the next offering?"

The demon's face twisted into a cruel smile, its jagged teeth gleaming in the dim light. "Soon. But for now, I have been summoned to Ironvale. The general of the Demon King himself—Lord Asmodeus—has demanded my presence. A massacre is in the works, and I intend to savor every drop of it."

The mention of massacre caused Cassandra to falter for the briefest moment, her confident mask slipping just slightly. But the demon didn't notice—or perhaps it didn't care.

It leaned toward Ray, its fiery gaze boring into him.

"And as for this one..."