Too Late To Realize

Orion looked around at his men, their faces hardened with determination.

"We need to move fast," he said. "Before the next game starts, we take control of key areas. We need weapons, food, and territory."

The man with the metal bat—by the name 'Graves'—leaned forward. "Where do we start?"

Orion smirked and pointed at the Players' District.

"The dorms."

A murmur spread through the group.

The Players' Dormitory was the only place where thousands of players gathered. It was neutral territory for now, but Orion knew that wouldn't last.

"If we control the dorms, we control access to resources. Food, water, information. That's what will matter when things start breaking down."

A man with sharp eyes—Lex—crossed his arms. "You think anyone's gonna let us just take over?"

Orion chuckled. "They won't have a choice."

The room fell silent as his words sank in.

The Eclipse Arena was too big, too complex for the game masters to control everything directly. The moment chaos took over, someone would rise to the top.

And Orion planned to make sure it was him.

–––––––––––

Orion, Graves, and Lex left the warehouse, their group splitting up to scout different locations.

The Players' District was still buzzing with energy—gamers training, groups forming alliances, and others just passing their time aimlessly.

Nobody seemed worried about what was coming.

Good.

Orion watched from a distance, analyzing everything.

Who was strong?

Who was weak?

Who could be useful?

His eyes landed on a group of players arguing over food rations.

Perfect.

"Let's start small," he murmured to Graves. "Break them down bit by bit."

Graves smirked. "You got it, boss."

–––––––––––

That night, while most players slept peacefully, Orion's group made their move.

They approached the storage area behind the dorms, where supplies were kept for everyone.

A few players were already there—not guards, just people grabbing snacks.

Orion and his men cornered them.

"Hey," one guy said nervously, stepping back. "This is public access, man. We all share this."

Orion smiled. "Not anymore."

Before the player could react, Graves swung.

The metal bat connected with his ribs, sending him crashing to the ground, gasping for air.

The other players froze.

"You wanna share?" Orion asked, stepping forward. His voice was calm yet dangerous. "Then pay a tax."

Lex leaned against the wall. "If you want supplies, you come through us now."

Nobody argued.

Nobody fought back.

Because fear had already won.

Orion grinned.

The first piece of the game belonged to him.

As the hours passed, Orion's grip on the Players' District tightened.

His small act of dominance over the supplies had been only the first step.

Now, his reputation spread.

More players, wary and desperate, began to flock to him for protection, food, and information. The peaceful factions that had once roamed the city, believing they could escape the chaos, began to realize that strength mattered more than alliances or kindness.

Orion had his eyes set on the next phase.

But he needed to be careful.

There were players out there who still hadn't realized the game was no longer about play—it was about survival.

Orion's eyes flicked toward Lex, who had been scouting the edges of the district, keeping watch.

"Any sign of trouble?" Orion asked.

Lex shook his head. "Nothing major yet. But there's a group of players on the east side of the district. They've been avoiding us, staying low."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "Avoiding us?"

Lex nodded. "They're smart, not making waves. But that's dangerous. People like that are either waiting for a chance to take control, or they're just too scared to act. Either way, we can't let them stay out there."

Orion smirked. "Keep an eye on them. We'll pay them a visit."

That night, Orion, Lex, and a few other men ventured to the east side of the district. The area was quieter—less crowded, more hidden from the usual chaos of the Players' District.

Orion felt a tension in the air as they approached the small, tucked-away group.

A man was standing at the front of a small circle of players, their faces drawn with caution. They looked like people who knew how dangerous the game could be, even if they weren't all armed.

They were already preparing for the inevitable fight.

Orion and his men stepped into their midst, the players immediately stiffening.

"You're the ones running around avoiding everyone else?" Orion asked, his voice low.

One of the men spoke up, a tall guy with shaggy hair and a grim expression. "We're not looking for trouble."

Orion chuckled. "I didn't say you were. But if you're not looking for trouble… why hide?"

The man hesitated.

Lex stepped forward, his stance menacing. "There's no reason to hide, not when you can stand with us."

Orion watched the players carefully. He could see the flicker of doubt in their eyes. They knew what was coming. They knew things weren't normal anymore.

Finally, the tall guy spoke again. "What's your offer?"

Orion smiled. "Safety. Protection. Food. You want it? You join us."

The man exchanged glances with the others, and after a long pause, nodded. "Alright, we'll join you. But no tricks."

Orion's grin widened. "No tricks. Just survival."

As they walked back to the center of the district, Orion couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

The pieces were falling into place.

THE THING ABOUT PEOPLE...

Power.

People want power. They crave it.

Some deny it, pretending they only want peace, stability, or fairness. But deep down, everyone wants control—over their own lives, over others, over the world around them.

And when society crumbles?

That hunger for power becomes the only thing that matters.

Orion understood this better than most.

He had watched it happen, over and over again.

At first, people worked together, forming groups, clinging to morality and rules as if they still mattered.

But soon, desperation took over.

The ones who wanted power took it.

The ones who hesitated became pawns.

And the ones who fought back… well, they didn't last long.

In the Eclipse Arena, the illusion of safety was already fading.

It wasn't about just playing games anymore.

It was about who would rise... and who would fall.

–––––––––––

Orion sat in the warehouse, watching a live feed of the Players' District through a laptop one of his men had recovered. The city's security cameras were still active, giving him a direct view of the other players.

It was perfect.

"Look at them," Lex muttered, standing beside him. "Still acting like this is just another level to beat."

Orion smirked. "That's the beauty of it. They don't know what's coming."

Lex nodded. "And when they realize?"

Orion leaned back, folding his arms. "Then it'll be too late."