The unexpected adversary

The ruins of the city stretched out in front of them, bathed in the fading glow of twilight. Shadows crept along the cracked pavement, and the air was too still, too quiet. Biodun couldn’t shake the gnawing sense that something was off—something was watching them. His instincts, honed from countless skirmishes and near-death encounters, screamed at him to stay alert.

Zainab was the first to voice what they were all feeling. “We’re being followed,” she said, her tone sharp and edged with irritation. Her hand rested on the hilt of her blade, ready to draw. She never liked surprises, and this one had her on edge.

Biodun’s mind raced as he scanned their surroundings. This wasn’t just another one of Hassan’s patrols—this felt different. More precise, more deliberate. His stomach churned as he considered the possibility of a new threat, something beyond Hassan’s usual soldiers. Could it be an ambush?

“Stay sharp,” Tunde muttered behind them, his hand tightening around the handle of his weapon. His calm, measured voice contrasted with the tension in his posture. “If it’s a trap, we’ll need to act fast.”

Biodun nodded, but inside, his thoughts spiraled. His responsibility as a leader weighed heavier than ever. He couldn’t afford to make a mistake, not with his team’s lives on the line. But what if he was leading them into danger? Was his judgment still sharp enough? He felt the familiar hum of the system at the back of his mind, reminding him of its constant presence, but it offered no comfort. It was just there—always there—dictating the terms of their lives.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows, quiet and deliberate. The way they moved—controlled and confident—set Biodun’s nerves alight. He gestured for the others to halt, tension rippling through the group.

The figure was cloaked in gray, their face hidden beneath a hood. There was no immediate threat in their stance, but the air around them felt thick with purpose. Something about this person felt practiced, as if they’d done this before.

“Before you reach for your weapons,” the figure spoke, voice calm but weighted with intention, “hear me out.”

Zainab’s response was immediate, her frustration clear. “And why should we trust you?” she spat, her eyes narrowing as she took a step forward, challenging the stranger’s calm with her own fire.

The figure paused for a moment, then slowly lowered their hood, revealing a woman’s face—sharp and intense. Her gaze flicked between them, measuring, calculating. “Because I know Hassan better than anyone.”

Biodun’s chest tightened. The simplicity of her claim sent warning bells through his mind. Too many things about this didn’t add up, and trust wasn’t something he could afford to give freely. He had led his team through too much danger to gamble their lives on the word of a stranger.

“You’ll need more than that,” he said, his voice calm but laced with suspicion. “We don’t trust easily.”

The woman offered a tight smile, one without warmth. “I don’t expect you to. My name is Mariam. I worked with Hassan before he... changed. I know how to take him down.”

For a moment, silence fell over the group. Biodun felt the skepticism rising from Zainab and Tunde, thick in the air. He could sense Tunde’s wariness, though his face remained composed. Zainab, on the other hand, made no effort to hide her disdain, her fingers itching to draw her blade at the slightest provocation.

Gssmzzz!

Ding!

New Task: Verify the Ally’s Information and Intentions. Completion will result in 100 XP.

The system’s notification rang through his mind, the sudden task clear: verify Mariam’s claims. Biodun shared a glance with his team—Zainab’s eyes were hard, and Tunde’s expression unreadable, but both were waiting for his decision.

He took a deep breath. “Let’s hear what you have to say,” he said, his voice steady despite the roiling uncertainty inside him. “But don’t think for a second we won’t verify every word.”

Mariam’s posture relaxed, though her eyes stayed sharp. She stepped closer, her face lit by the dying light. “Hassan’s building something,” she said quietly, her voice threaded with urgency. “Something that will give him control over more than just the system.”

Biodun’s heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain composed. “Control over what?”

“A network,” Mariam replied, her tone dark. “He’s tightening his grip on the city’s infrastructure—both tech and magic. He’s figured out a way to override the system’s core mechanics. If he finishes what he’s started, the system won’t just govern the game. It’ll govern everyone in it.”

Zainab, her temper barely restrained, glared at Mariam. “And why should we believe you?” she asked, her voice low and dangerous. “What’s to stop you from turning on us the moment it suits you?”

Mariam’s gaze hardened. “Because I’m the one who built it. And I saw what it’s becoming. I left because I couldn’t be a part of it anymore.”

Biodun studied her carefully. The system’s directive was clear, but Mariam’s story was hard to ignore. His mind churned with doubts—was this a trap, or was she truly a rogue element in Hassan’s plans?

“We’ll need more than words,” Biodun said, his voice measured. “Give us proof.”

Mariam nodded, as if she expected nothing less. “There’s a lab. An underground facility Hassan’s been using to test his control module. It’s in the southeast quadrant, near the industrial ruins. Go there. You’ll find what you need.”

The system pinged once more, solidifying their next move.

New Task Update: Investigate the Underground Lab.

Biodun glanced at Tunde and Zainab. Zainab’s eyes still burned with suspicion, but Tunde nodded slightly, indicating he was ready to follow the lead.

“We’ll check it out,” Biodun said after a long pause. “But we verify everything. You’re not off the hook.”

Mariam’s gaze didn’t waver. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

The industrial ruins towered over them like skeletal remains of a forgotten era, jagged metal and crumbling structures stretching into the darkening sky. Biodun led the group silently, his mind focused on the task at hand. The system’s reminder buzzed in his mind—verify everything. Trust no one blindly.

The weight of his responsibility bore down on him as he considered the possibility of a trap. Was he walking his team into a death sentence? Every step felt heavier, the thought gnawing at the back of his mind.

“We’re close,” Tunde muttered from behind, his voice calm but tense. “What’s the plan if this turns out to be a setup?”

Biodun glanced back, his eyes meeting Tunde’s. “We assess first. No rushing in. Zainab, you and Tunde secure the perimeter. Nkiru, stay on recon. I’ll go in with Mariam.”

Zainab shot him a sharp look. “You’re trusting her?” Her voice dripped with disbelief. “I thought we were verifying, not walking in blind.”

“I don’t trust her,” Biodun replied, his voice low. “But we need information, and this is our best shot.”

Mariam, silent but watchful, led them to a collapsed building. She shifted a rusted piece of debris to reveal a hidden stairway descending into the earth. “Down here,” she said, her voice steady.

Biodun’s stomach tightened. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, but he pushed the thought aside. Trust was dangerous, but in this world, so was inaction. He gestured for the others to follow and descended the stairs.

The underground lab was a stark contrast to the ruins above. Holographic displays flickered with life, streams of data running across the screens like veins of light. The technology here was different—old world machines spliced with the system’s magic, humming with energy.

Mariam moved to a terminal, her fingers gliding over the interface with practiced ease. “This is it,” she said, pulling up a series of schematics. “The early prototypes of Hassan’s control module.”

Biodun stared at the blueprints, his chest tightening. The designs weren’t just for power—they were for absolute control. Hassan was trying to reprogram the system itself, to rewrite the rules that governed their world.

“He’s not just trying to control the game,” Biodun muttered. “He’s trying to control everyone in it.”

Mariam’s face darkened. “If he finishes, no one will be able to stop him.”

The weight of it hit Biodun like a blow. Hassan’s ambition wasn’t just about domination; it was about subjugation. No one would be free.

“Zainab, Tunde,” Biodun called through the comm. “We’ve got confirmation. Mariam wasn’t lying.”

Zainab’s voice crackled through, still heavy with suspicion. “So what now?”

“Get back to the surface,” Biodun replied. “We regroup and figure out how to use this.”

But before they could leave, Mariam pulled up another set of files—security footage. “There’s more,” she said quietly, anger threading through her voice.

Biodun’s blood ran cold as he watched the footage. People—ordinary system users—being reprogrammed, their stats manipulated, their abilities overwritten. They weren’t people anymore. They were tools, extensions of Hassan’s will.

“We have to stop him,” Biodun whispered, his voice barely audible. “No matter what.”

The system buzzed in his mind.

Gssmzzz!

Ding!

Task Completed: Verify Ally’s Information.

Earned 100 XP.

The XP reward felt hollow, a distant echo against the weight of the discovery. The truth was worse than they had imagined.

Back at their hideout, the atmosphere was tense. Zainab paced the room, her frustration palpable. “She wasn’t lying,” she admitted, “but I still don’t trust her.”

Tunde crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “She helped us this time, but what’s stopping her from turning on us later?”

Mariam stood near the door, her face unreadable. “I’m not asking for trust,” she said, her voice low. “I’m giving you a chance to stop him.”

Biodun studied her carefully, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders. Trust was a dangerous thing, but they couldn’t fight this battle alone. For now, he had to believe Mariam was telling the truth.

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” he said. “But if you betray us, you’ll regret it.”

Mariam’s gaze didn’t falter. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Biodun checked the system interface, noting their progress.

[Level 6]

[XP: 2160]

[Skills: Basic Fitness, Strategic Analysis, Meditation, Basic Combat]

[Weapons: None]

They were growing stronger, but so was their enemy. And time was running out.