Zarfar.

Rael leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the screen. Discussions about Ascent flooded the forums, the sheer volume making it impossible to keep up with everything.

It had been a month since launch. In that time, the game had gone from an ambitious project to a full-blown phenomenon. The numbers were staggering—almost half the world was plugged in, the sheer realism and time dilation drawing in players like nothing before.

But what caught Rael's attention wasn't just the popularity—it was the infrastructure.

How the hell was Kepler Inc. ready for this?

Even with how advanced immersion pods had been before Ascent, there was no way millions of people should've been able to access them so easily. Supply chains, manufacturing, distribution—it all should've taken years to scale up. And yet, the moment the game launched, the hardware was already there. Like they had been waiting.

Rael's fingers tapped idly against the desk. Something didn't add up.

Pushing the thought aside for now, he refreshed the forum.

A post caught his eye.

"Eclipse Recruitment Complete! Here's Who Made It In—"

He clicked. The post wasn't long, just a summary of the guild's recent trials and the results. A list of notable names stood out, including SureArrow, Takane, Kazan, and a few others. The comment section, as expected, was lively.

[Kaleidos]: Never heard of these guys before, who even is their guild leader?

[Wraith_9]: Noctus. Used to be a pro.

[Flameborn]: LOL another washed-up pro trying to relive the glory days.

[Omnivore]: Nah, I was in the trials. These guys actually have some solid players.

[HollowEdge]: Bruh, half these names are randos. This guild is gonna get rolled in high-level content.

[Stormwake]: Noctus… wait, as in Aureus?

[SilverLance]: Pretty sure that's just a rumor. He doesn't play like Aureus.

[Pryon]: If he is Aureus, wouldn't he have joined an actual top guild instead of making his own?

[NexV]: Who cares? Either way, they're just another new guild. Let's see if they even last a month.

Typical. Rael scrolled past the noise, glancing at some more neutral takes. Some players were genuinely curious about how Eclipse would perform, others were skeptical but open-minded. He wasn't surprised. New guilds rose and fell every day. Reputation alone wasn't enough—performance mattered more.

Closing the tab, Rael leaned back again, gaze lingering on the ceiling.

The world was paying attention. Maybe not closely yet, but the eyes were there. Watching.

Fine by him.

He'd make sure they saw something worth watching.

Rael scrolled further down the forums. More guild discussions filled the space—some celebrating, others already speculating on the early top contenders.

One name kept popping up.

Solomon's Demons.

Apex's guild.

They were already a Level 3 guild with a hundred members, and if the comments were anything to go by, they were being hailed as the number one guild in Ascent so far.

[NightHowl]: Bro, Solomon's Demons already hit Level 3. They're insane.

[AshenBolt]: Makes sense. Apex is grinding like a madman.

[WarpedGlass]: Meanwhile, Eclipse is Level 2. Not bad, but kinda slow compared to SD.

[IronMonger]: That's Aureus' guild, right? They just recruited like 50 people.

[StrayCinder]: Yeah, but how good are they? Trials were open-invite, so who knows.

Rael exhaled slowly.

Fifty members wasn't a small number. It was the cap for Level 2 guilds. They weren't behind—not really. But perception mattered. And right now, Solomon's Demons had taken the spotlight.

Not that he cared. Eclipse wasn't here to sprint.

This was just the beginning.

* * *

Today was the day.

The guild was finally large enough to warrant some structure. Eclipse wasn't just a small group anymore—it needed organization. To optimize guild operations, they would be splitting into divisions, each with a specialized focus.

Rael logged in, stepping into the guild hall.

The place had changed. It wasn't just the upgrades from reaching Level 2; the entire atmosphere was different. More settled. More structured.

The open space no longer felt like a repurposed storage room—it actually looked like a functioning guild now. The once bare walls had banners displaying Eclipse's insignia, and the furniture wasn't just a mismatched collection of whatever they could find. Sturdy wooden tables, reinforced chairs, and proper storage racks gave the hall a sense of permanence.

The mission board was the biggest addition. Mounted on the far side of the hall, it was already filling up with available quests. Members stood around it, discussing their options. Some were low-ranked scouting missions, others involved escorting merchant caravans or hunting down dangerous creatures.

Despite the improvements, the hall felt… hollow.

Rael glanced around. Almost half the guild was absent. Some were out on assignments, while others had simply logged off. Mira wasn't here. SureArrow was also missing.

It didn't matter. The ones here would be enough.

"Yo, finally decided to show up?"

Rael turned as Leon approached, hands tucked into his coat pockets. His usual easygoing smirk was in place, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. "Gale and Elias are off doing whatever, so it's just us right now."

Rael nodded. "We're setting up the divisions today."

"Yeah, I figured. You want a speech or just get straight to it?"

"Gather everyone first. Ten minutes."

Leon sighed dramatically but turned on his heel. "Alright, alright. I'll round them up. Try not to look too serious, boss."

Rael ignored the comment, stepping forward as Leon started calling out. The chatter in the guild hall slowly died down as people turned toward him. Some still looked a little unsure—a few recruits who hadn't interacted with him much yet. Others, like Takane, Lupus, and Kazan, were more relaxed.

It didn't take long. Within minutes, every active member had assembled.

Rael let the silence settle before speaking.

Rael's gaze swept over the gathered members, making sure he had their attention. When he spoke, his voice was steady, cutting through the lingering murmurs. 

"As you all know, we've grown past just being a small group. The way things are now won't work in the long run. We need structure. Efficiency. So, from today, Eclipse will be divided into three divisions, each with a specific focus." 

He let that sink in for a moment before gesturing toward Elias. 

"Elias will be leading the division responsible for espionage, information gathering, and defensive measures." 

Elias, leaning lazily against a table, raised an eyebrow. "Wait, defensive measures?" 

Rael gave him a flat look. "Yes." 

"But I blow things up half the time," Elias deadpanned. 

That was all it took. A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd, a few members shaking their heads knowingly. 

"Exactly," Leon quipped, smirking. "You handle defense by making sure there's nothing left to attack." 

More laughter followed. Elias dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "I am honored." 

Rael continued, ignoring Elias's antics. "Gale will lead the main combat division. His unit won't be restricted to any particular fighting style—it'll be the backbone of our strength. Whether it's dungeon raids, territory defense, or large-scale battles, they'll be the first in and the last out." 

Gale, standing with his arms crossed, gave a short nod. No unnecessary words—just quiet acknowledgment. 

"Leon will take charge of the utility division—crafting, alchemy, potion-making, and logistics." 

Leon made a vague gesture. "So, the guys that make sure we don't all run out of potions and weapons mid-fight. Got it." 

Rael nodded. "More than that. We'll need dedicated blacksmiths. When we reach Level 3, I want you to find one worth adding." 

Leon hummed. "Sounds like work. But fine, I'll make it happen." 

"Good." 

Rael let his eyes settle on the three of them. "You'll all be vice guild leaders. You have full authority over your divisions, and your word carries the highest weight after mine." 

That got a reaction. The three of them exchanged glances, processing the weight of the responsibility. Then, almost in sync, they turned back to him. 

Leon tilted his head. "And what about you?" 

Gale frowned slightly. "Yeah. If we're handling all this, what's your role?" 

Elias grinned. "Oh, I know. He's gonna sit back and look mysterious." 

Rael exhaled quietly, then met their gazes. "I'll make sure nothing happens to any of you." 

The room quieted. 

He let his words settle before continuing. "My job is to ensure you can all do yours without fear. I'll handle the things that threaten us before they become a problem." 

Elias clicked his tongue. "So, you're just gonna be lurking in the shadows, huh?" 

Rael didn't answer, but the implication was clear. 

A beat of silence. Then, Kazan let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's a real leader's answer." 

The atmosphere shifted—not just respect, but something deeper. A sense of certainty. 

Then, Elias broke it. 

"Still, kinda dramatic." 

The moment shattered with another wave of laughter.

* * *

Rael traveled alone, his cloak billowing slightly with each step as he made his way northward. The landscape shifted as he left Vash'kar behind—the rugged frontier city that housed Eclipse's headquarters.

Vash'kar lay on the western edge of the Order's controlled lands, a stronghold standing between relative civilization and the untamed wilds beyond. But the west wasn't the real problem for the Order.

The north and east? That was where chaos reigned.

From the Veil—the barrier that separated Solmora's central continent from the realms beyond—endless hordes of monsters poured forth, testing the limits of Order-controlled land. And despite the Order's dominance, they only truly controlled about 40% of the central continent. The rest was fractured, divided between various organizations, independent kingdoms, and hidden factions, each with their own claims and ambitions.

And now, Rael was heading north.

To Zarfar.

The reason? A gamble.

He had used the Cursed Beads, a relic that revealed a single hidden truth to its wielder. The item was dangerous for him before—back when he was a templar.

He had used it simply to test its effects, expecting something trivial or cryptic. Instead, the hidden truth it revealed was far more direct than he had anticipated.

A whisper carried by unseen lips. A verse woven in the cadence of an old bard's song.

Where the frozen black meets embered gold,

Where the silent ruins whisper old,

A piece of Zenith waits in deep,

Buried where the lost ones sleep.

It could mean anything.

But to Rael, it meant one thing: a fragment of Zenith was at Zarfar.

The roads leading to Zarfar were well-maintained, carved through the northern landscape by the Order's engineers. Rael's mount trotted steadily, the rhythmic clatter of its hooves blending into the quiet hum of the wilderness. Unlike the more dangerous regions beyond the Order's reach, these routes were reinforced and patrolled, ensuring safe travel for merchants, pilgrims, and anyone else willing to abide by their authority.

As he neared Zarfar, the distant silhouettes of stone buildings and wooden caravans came into view, nestled between rolling hills and winding rivers. Unlike Vash'kar, which stood as a frontier bastion of the Order's military presence, Zarfar belonged to the Merchant Alliance—a powerful and politically complex conglomerate of trade houses and independent factions. The Order tolerated them as long as they paid their dues and maintained stability, but their influence did not extend here in the same way.

That meant Zarfar operated under different rules.

It was a place where deals were made in shadowed corners, where contracts held more weight than vows of loyalty, and where coin dictated law. It was also where the cursed beads had led him. The relic's cryptic revelation had given him no details, only a poetic hint that a fragment of Zenith could be found here. How or why it had ended up in a town dominated by merchants, he didn't know.

For now, he needed to gather information.

* * *

The tavern was warm, filled with the thick scent of roasted meat, spiced ale, and sweat. Conversations blended into one another—merchants discussing supply routes, mercenaries boasting of past contracts, and travelers sharing half-true tales of distant lands. A bard strummed an out-of-tune melody near the hearth, his voice lost beneath the ambient chatter.

Rael stepped inside and found a quiet corner, leaning against the wooden frame of a support beam. His eyes scanned the room, picking apart details—what weapons were carried, who was grouped together, and who was watching whom.

He was just settling in when a blur of movement passed him.

A figure—small, quick—ducked low and pressed against his side.

Rael's eyes flicked downward. A girl, no older than sixteen, tucked herself against the shadow of his cloak. Her clothes were dusty from travel, her blonde hair hidden beneath a hood. She clutched something wrapped in cloth against her chest.

Before he could say a word, she whispered sharply.

"Please."

Her body was tense, her breath shallow. Rael exhaled through his nose, his gaze already moving past her toward the entrance.

Two men had just walked in.

They scanned the room, eyes sharp and focused. Their armor wasn't uniform, but the way they carried themselves made their purpose clear—mercenaries. Not the rowdy, half-drunk kind. The kind that worked for someone.

Rael shifted slightly, adjusting his cloak without a word. The fabric draped further over the girl, obscuring her from view.

One of the mercenaries glanced in his direction but moved on after a moment.

The girl exhaled softly. "…Thank you."

Rael studied her for a second before speaking. "Who are you hiding from?"

She hesitated, then unwrapped the cloth in her hands, revealing a simple ceramic vase.

At a glance, there was nothing special about it. No markings, no inscriptions, just a plain, smooth surface. But there was something off about the way she held it—like it was heavier than it should have been.

"Take this," she said, voice low. "You need to deliver it to my brother, Victor."

Rael frowned. "Why not do it yourself?"

Her fingers tightened around the cloth.

"…I won't make it."

Before he could press further, she turned and ran, disappearing into the maze of tables and bodies.

A second later, his interface lit up.

[System Notification]

Quest Received: Deliver the Ceramic Vase to Victor.

(Reward: ???)

Rael sighed slowly, turning the vase over in his hands.

He didn't know what the girl had just dragged him into.

Rael stepped out of the tavern, blending into the moving crowd. The mercenaries were still inside, but they wouldn't take long to realize something was off. Staying put wasn't an option.

He moved through the town with purpose, keeping to side streets and narrow alleys. Zarfar wasn't a large city, but it was dense. The structures were packed close, built upward rather than outward, and the streets were a maze of stairways, hanging cloth banners, and stacked crates.

Eventually, he slipped into a quieter district, a desolate street lined with shuttered shops and fading lanterns. Here, information was more valuable than gold—if one knew where to ask.

Rael found the dealer where he expected.

A hunched figure in a tattered cloak sat near a worn-out stall, a small brazier burning beside him. The man wasn't selling wares, only waiting. His face was partially obscured by a hood, but his eyes gleamed with awareness as he studied Rael's approach.

"You look like someone who wants something," the dealer rasped, voice dry.

Rael didn't bother with pleasantries. He reached into his inventory and pulled out a rough sketch—a depiction of a fragment, drawn based on what little he had seen of his own.

The dealer took one glance before his entire demeanor shifted.

His body tensed, fingers twitching slightly before he exhaled sharply. "…I don't know anything about that."

Rael didn't move, didn't blink.

The dealer swallowed. "Listen, stranger, if you value your life, drop this. There are things in this world better left buried."

Rael took a step forward. The dealer took a step back.

Another step.

The dealer turned to leave—

Rael moved.

A sharp grip caught the dealer's collar, slamming him against the nearby wall. The brazier rattled from the impact, embers spilling onto the ground. The man wheezed, hands gripping Rael's wrist in panic.

"I don't have time for this," Rael said flatly.

The dealer let out a short, breathless laugh. "You think—cough—you think threatening me will help? If I talk, I die."

Rael pushed harder, the stone wall pressing into the man's back. His voice lowered.

"You'll die either way."

The dealer's lips trembled. Then, after a long pause, his shoulders slumped.

"Fine," he muttered. "Not like it'll matter soon."

Rael eased his grip slightly. The dealer sucked in a shaky breath before whispering:

"The fragment you're looking for… It's with the Gurdle family."

Rael didn't react immediately. He let the words settle, watching the dealer carefully. Then, after a pause, he spoke.

"…And who are they?"

The dealer hesitated, then scoffed. "You really don't know?"

Rael said nothing.

The man exhaled shakily, glancing around the empty street before lowering his voice.

"The Gurdle family. A prominent merchant house—one of the biggest in Zarfar." His fingers twitched slightly. "They control trade routes, own warehouses, fund expeditions… They don't like people meddling in their business."

Rael's grip loosened slightly, but he didn't step back. "And what does a merchant family want with something like this?"

The dealer shook his head. "I don't know. And I don't want to know."

His tone was final. He was done talking.

Rael studied him for a moment longer, then finally let go. The dealer slumped against the wall, rubbing his throat. He looked at Rael like he was already a dead man.

"Forget you heard anything," the dealer muttered. "If you're smart, you'll turn around and leave Zarfar."

Rael didn't answer.

Because that wasn't an option.