The Shadow Of The Old World

Atlas clenched his fists.

The stranger chuckled.

–The locket is just the beginning.

He pulled a yellowed piece of paper out of his pocket and slowly unfolded it.There was a diagram on it.

Atlas recognized her immediately.It was a blueprint similar to the symbols on the medallion.

–Where did you get this? – Atlas clutched at the sheet.

The stranger took his hand away and looked at him seriously.

–You're not the first one to find the artifact. But you're the first one to complete the quest and survive after that.

Silence.

Atlas could feel the tension building inside him.Survived? What is he talking about?But before he could ask, the system flashed a new notification.

[Attention! A hidden quest has been activated.]

["Shadow Of The he Old World."]

[Goal: Find out the truth about those who searched for the artifact before you.]

Atlas exhaled slowly.

It looks like everything has just begun.

Atlas looked at the quest notification, then back at the stranger.

– What do you mean, "survived"? His voice was steady, but tension was building inside him.

The man steepled his fingers, as if wondering where to start.

– You see, there weren't many people like you. Players who found the guardian's medallion. But of these... game characters died while completing this quest, or this quest became unavailable to them.

Atlas frowned: – Did some of the game characters die?

– Exactly, someone did show up, but that quest became unavailable to them. Their accounts just didn't find this quest a second time. If you're already going through it, then you only have one attempt.

The words hung in the air. "Just one attempt"

But his game character was fine after receiving the medallion.

– Why?And who is behind this?

The stranger shrugged slightly.

– You will have to find the answer to this question yourself.

Atlas narrowed his eyes.

–You're giving me too many riddles and too few answers.

–Don't you like solving mysteries? – The man chuckled.

Atlas stared at him in silence.

–Okay. Then let's do this. – The stranger leaned forward slightly: –You have a locket, and he opened the door for you.But you have no idea what's behind it.

He nodded at the diagram he had placed in front of the Atlas.

–It's part of an old map. The one used by the first artifact seekers. If you want to find out the truth, you'll have to continue their journey.

[The quest has been updated: Go to the dead seekers' camp.]

–Where is he? – Atlas asked.

The man looked at him carefully, then pulled out a small, worn compass from his inventory.

He looked old. Too old to be just an in-game item.

Follow it. And then... maybe you'll find out why you're still here.

Atlas took the compass.The needle wavered and slowly began to move.

To where the answer was waiting for him.

Atlas stared at the compass needle slowly rotating in his paws.

Now he faced a choice.

The first quest is to find the tracks of Lina's kidnappers. The locket was clearly connected to her disappearance, and the further he moved, the more he realized that the whole story was much deeper than it seemed at first.

The second quest is the dead camp of the seekers. As the stranger said, this place could answer the main question: why did it not suffer the fate of other players who found the artifact.

[Active Tasks:

1. "Traces Of Lina's Kidnappers" – continue the investigation by following the medallion.

2. "The Dead Camp Of The Seekers" – follow the path of the disappeared players.

He couldn't do both at once.It was necessary to decide where to start.

Lina's path led into the shadow of the past. Perhaps he could find her, or at least understand why she was taken away.

The path of the seekers led into the unknown. Those who had already passed this way no longer existed.

Both choices seemed important.Atlas took a deep breath and made a decision.…

Atlas closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Old Lina... even though she loves gold, but we need to find her."

Her disappearance haunted me. Yes, the seekers' dead camp was important, but... if he missed the trail now, it might be too late later.

He opened his paw, putting the compass back into his inventory.

–Lina first.

The stranger nodded, as if he had expected such a decision.

–Then you need to hurry. If I'm right... she's still alive.

And how do I find her?

The man reached into his inventory and took out another item, an old, cracked crystal.

"It's a fragment of an aura recording. He'll help you find her trail.

Atlas took the crystal.

As soon as he touched the surface, a translucent line flickered before his eyes – a barely noticeable energy trail going somewhere beyond the boundaries of the Dra'Myr.

[Quest Update: Follow the trail of Lina's aura.]

Now he knew where to go.

Atlas stood up.

– thanks.

The stranger just grinned: –Don't thank me. Just don't be late.

Atlas nodded, left the tavern, and looked out over the streets of Dra'Myr.

The trail led northwest.Back to where the forgotten hills began.

To a place where no map called him.

Where the truth was waiting.

Atlas strode through the narrow streets of the city'Mira, watching the faint light of the aura flickering in front of her eyes.The air shark swam quietly nearby, wagging its tail.

The city gradually remained behind, giving way to wide fields and sparse groves.The trail led him away from the main roads.

Far beyond the map, to places where the player has rarely set foot.

[You are leaving the area of controlled territories.]

[Attention! PvP mode is activated in this area.]

Atlas narrowed his eyes.

"PvP zone?"

This meant only one thing–there could be hunting players waiting for easy prey.He stopped for a second, checking his gear.

Potion supplies are in order, weapons are at hand.

The shark was ready too, its small fins glowing with a faint blue light, signaling combat readiness.

– Okay. Forward.

He quickened his pace.The Forgotten Hills were getting closer.

And the further he walked, the more intense the tension became. As if someone or something already knew he was here.

And it was waiting for him.

Atlas moved cautiously, the trace of Lina's aura leading him deeper into the forgotten lands.

The trees became lower and rarer, giving way to dry grasses and rocky hills.

[A new location has been discovered: The Forgotten Hills.]

[Danger: Medium.]

But soon something changed.

The trail that led him straight suddenly began to tremble, as if losing stability.

"What the...?"

Atlas stopped, looking around.

Silence.

The silence is too perfect.

The air shark tensed, its body glowing with a dull blue glow, as if it sensed the approach of something alien.Atlas slowly reached for his weapon.

And at that moment, a shadow flew out from behind the stone.

– PKASHERS! He only managed to shout as the sword flashed in the air, rushing towards him.

He barely managed to get out of the way.

[You have been attacked!]

[PvP mode is activated.]

There were three players in front of him.Dressed in black, masked, with weapons at the ready.

An ambush.

–Well, well, white rabbit? – One of them grinned: – Do you mind if we take your things?

Atlas silently gripped the dagger.The air shark growled softly, its body began to glow brighter.

Well then...

Atlas didn't move, studying the enemies.Trio. Everyone is armed, better equipped than him. Judging by the movements, they are experienced players.

Not newbies.

–Are you scared, little bunny? – grinned first, twirling his dagger.

Atlas watched in silence.First, understand their style.

Two kept to the sides, one moved forward.

Typical tactics: one distracts, two attack from the flanks.

But they didn't take one thing into account.An air shark.

She glowed brighter and brighter, slowly circling nearby.

Atlas moved his paw slightly.

"Signal."

The shark lunged forward.

–Wh... what?! – one of the PCashers did not have time to react when a flash of blue light crashed into him.

[Your mount beast has used a "Discharge Wave"!]

[The target is stunned for 2 seconds.]

//To be continued, please like and save…