6 The Hunt for Allies
The glow of the Shattered Archives faded into the distance as Elliot and Liam retreated into the forest. The air was thick with tension, the silence broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. Liam's nervous energy was palpable as he glanced at Elliot, who was deep in thought, his gaze fixed ahead.
"What's the plan now?" Liam asked, breaking the silence.
"We can't fight Draven alone," Elliot said firmly. "If he's using the Forge to push neural integration, we're dealing with something far more dangerous than corrupted code. We need help—players who know the game inside out and can handle themselves in combat."
"And where do we find these players?" Liam asked, raising an eyebrow.
Elliot opened his World Map, scanning the glowing markers. "The Guild Nexus. It's the central hub for guilds and alliances. If we're going to rally anyone, that's the place to start."
Liam groaned. "The Nexus? Do you know how many egos we'll have to deal with there? Guild leaders, rivalries, all that drama?"
Elliot shot him a sharp look. "Do you have a better idea?"
Liam sighed. "Fine. But if I have to listen to some guildmaster's long-winded speech, you owe me."
---
The Guild Nexus
The Guild Nexus was a sprawling city, its architecture a blend of towering spires and glowing arcane constructs. The streets buzzed with activity as players from across the game gathered to trade, recruit, and strategize.
Elliot and Liam entered through the main gate, their presence immediately drawing attention. Players whispered as they passed, some recognizing Elliot's alias, Cipher_Kane, while others eyed his gear with envy.
"Stick close," Elliot said, weaving through the crowd. "We need to find someone who can get us an audience with the top guild leaders."
"Good luck with that," Liam muttered. "Most of them don't even like each other, let alone work together."
Elliot stopped suddenly, his eyes narrowing. "There's one person who might help."
"Who?"
"Arden Vale," Elliot said, pulling up his Contact List. "She's the leader of Silver Covenant, one of the most powerful guilds in the game. If anyone can rally the top players, it's her."
"Arden Vale?" Liam repeated, his eyes widening. "You're joking, right? She's ruthless! I heard she once kicked a guy from her guild just because he missed a raid."
"She's efficient," Elliot corrected, sending Arden a message. "And right now, we need efficient."
---
Negotiating with Arden
A few minutes later, they stood outside the Silver Covenant headquarters, a grand fortress shimmering with enchanted barriers. A guard escorted them into the main hall, where Arden Vale waited.
Arden was every bit as intimidating as the rumors suggested. Her armor gleamed with an otherworldly light, and her piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight through them.
"Cipher_Kane," she said coolly. "It's been a while."
"Not long enough," Elliot replied, matching her tone.
Arden smirked. "What do you want?"
Elliot didn't waste time. "The Forge is active, and it's corrupting the game. Draven is behind it, and he's using it to destabilize the system. If he succeeds, this game won't just crash—it'll collapse into something far worse."
Arden's eyes narrowed. "And you expect me to believe this because…?"
"Because you're not an idiot," Elliot said bluntly. "You've seen the glitches spreading across the map, the anomalies in the game economy. You know something's wrong."
Arden crossed her arms, studying him. "Assuming you're telling the truth, what do you propose?"
"We need to assemble a strike force," Elliot said. "The best players, the strongest guilds. If we work together, we can shut down the Forge before it's too late."
"And what's in it for me?" Arden asked, arching an eyebrow.
Elliot met her gaze. "You keep your kingdom. If the game collapses, everything you've built—your guild, your reputation—it's gone. Helping us is the only way to ensure it survives."
Arden was silent for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she nodded. "Fine. But I'm calling the shots. My guild operates on my terms."
Elliot smirked. "Wouldn't expect anything less."
---
Rallying the Forces
With Arden on their side, the recruitment process began in earnest. Messages were sent across the Nexus, summoning guild leaders and elite players to a council meeting.
The room was soon filled with some of the game's most powerful figures—guildmasters clad in legendary gear, PvP champions with intimidating kill counts, and strategists known for their razor-sharp tactics.
Elliot stood at the head of the table, addressing the gathered crowd.
"Draven's plan doesn't just threaten the game," he said, his voice steady. "It threatens all of us. If the Forge's neural integration protocol activates, the lines between this world and the real one will blur—and no one knows what the consequences will be."
The room erupted into murmurs, some skeptical, others concerned.
"What proof do you have?" one guildmaster demanded. "For all we know, this could be a ploy to undermine our guilds."
Elliot activated his Data Archive, projecting a holographic map of the corrupted zones and the Forge's influence. The visuals spoke for themselves—regions of the game consumed by glitches, their borders expanding rapidly.
"This is what we're up against," Elliot said. "If we don't act now, there won't be a game left to save."
---
The Plan
After hours of heated debate, the guild leaders finally reached an agreement. They would form an alliance, pooling their resources and players to launch a coordinated assault on the Forge.
Arden took charge of the logistics, dividing the forces into specialized teams:
Strike Team Alpha: The strongest DPS players, tasked with breaking through the Forge's defenses.
Support Team Delta: Healers and tacticians, providing backup and keeping the assault teams alive.
Recon Unit Omega: Scouts who would gather intelligence and monitor Draven's movements.
Elliot was placed in charge of Team Cipher, a small but elite group focused on infiltrating the Forge and disabling its core systems.
As the meeting adjourned, Arden pulled Elliot aside.
"This alliance is fragile," she warned. "If anything goes wrong, it'll fall apart faster than you can blink."
"I know," Elliot said. "That's why it can't go wrong."