Season 1. Chapter 60: Morning

Chapter: The Chase Through Shadow

5:44 A.M.

Aurelia's grip was iron, vice-tight, every tendon locked around Zack's arm like steel cable. For a brief moment, she had him locked—physically grounded, unable to thread, cast, or vanish.

But Zack wasn't relying on strength alone.

He whispered.

> "Void Step: Phantom Drift."

His entire body blurred. His skin, clothes, and even the threads at his fingertips rippled into smoke. In that moment, he became untouchable—not teleporting, not invisibly speeding away—but phasing through the material plane. An abstraction.

A shadow without form.

Aurelia gasped as her hands passed through him like vapor.

"Damn it—!"

Zack drifted backward into the dark cavern corridor, his form half-seen in flashes. The darkness welcomed him. He moved swiftly, gracefully—needing no light, no torch, no potion. The Darkness Element wasn't hindered by blindness. He was the darkness.

Aurelia turned on her heel, cursing under her breath. "He's gone after Oliver."

She immediately snapped to the two behind her.

Garrick Ironhart was rummaging through his satchel, pulling out a final glowing vial—the last night vision potion.

"I've got the juice!" Garrick declared.

Nico Faelwyn, arms crossed, ears twitching, shook his head. "Save it for later. We don't even know if the tunnel splits. What if the light from the exit flares it up?"

Garrick frowned. "We need eyes, Nico!"

"Yeah—and timing, Garrick!"

Aurelia stared at them. Then exhaled.

She stepped between them, eyes narrowing, lifted both by the collar like sacks of flour, one in each hand.

"No time for games."

"W-Woah—?!" Nico shouted.

"Hey, hey, hey—!" Garrick flailed.

With a twist of her legs and a firm stance, Aurelia hurled both of them down the same tunnel Oliver and Fern had taken. They tumbled once in midair before both caught their footing and landed into running strides like trained scouts.

Nico grumbled, winded. "She's… terrifying."

Garrick, still mid-sprint, whispered, "How is a girl that strong…?"

Behind them, Aurelia yelled, "I can hear you."

They didn't argue anymore.

---

Ahead in the shadowed tunnels, Oliver and Fern were already closing in on the northern transfer point, ruby bags in hand. The faint glow of an Extraction Pillar began to blink in the distance, marking hope…

But now Zack Erebus was in pursuit.

And Zack wasn't running anymore.

He was gliding, phasing, drifting just inches above the ground—like a forgotten ghost of war.

And even with teamwork…

Even with the rubies…

Time was ticking.

5:45 A.M.

Fifteen minutes remain.

The final players are in motion.

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Chapter: Light and Stone — Guiding the Path

5:46 A.M.

The caverns stretched deeper, winding like ancient arteries through the underbelly of the woodland realm. Slick with moisture, choked with mist, and churning with faint echoes—it was a place made to lose people.

But Luke Astoria wasn't lost.

Bathed in a faint aura of divine light, his steps were steady, confident. His light element wasn't just a weapon—it was also a beacon, illuminating the path not just with physical brightness, but with Vita-infused clarity. Hidden crevices revealed themselves. Cracks and pitfalls glimmered under his boots.

Every step forward dispelled a little more of the shadow Zack had left behind.

Behind him, the Seven Dwarves marched in formation—led by Rindle, Doli, and Marnick—each using their specialized skills to analyze the terrain.

> "Stone's too wet here. Pressure's pulling to the left," Doli muttered, kneeling and placing his hand on the floor. "That means there's a secondary tunnel running parallel."

> "Shift in air temperature... someone opened a path ahead," Rindle added, pointing toward a subtle draft. "They're close."

> "Seismic pulses… No collapses in 80 feet. We're good," Marnick confirmed.

Together, they were more than just followers—they were a navigational unit. With their geographic sensory abilities, they could feel vibrations, airflow, and subtle magnetic changes in the stone. It was like reading the earth's heartbeat.

Luke nodded at the report and pressed forward.

"The others will need backup soon. Zack doesn't miss chances."

Rindle adjusted his belt. "You trust that Oliver kid?"

Luke smiled slightly. "I trust his choices."

"And Fern?"

"I trust her more than most gods."

The dwarves chuckled under their breath.

The glow of Luke's sword cast long, golden shadows down the corridor. As he moved, his light aura resonated with the rubies—each flicker from his blade seemed to pulse with the same energy signature that marked the gems.

> "We're getting close," Doli said, standing tall. "Extraction point's less than two turns ahead."

Luke tightened his grip. His eyes narrowed as he saw faint footprints—light, but familiar—Fern's. And newer, rushing prints—

Zack's.

He lifted his sword, letting its tip hum with radiance.

> "We're right behind him."

The hunt was back on.

And this time, the light wasn't just chasing the dark—

It was leading the charge.

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Chapter: The Final Ridge — Awaiting Dawn

5:53 A.M.

The cool wind blew in from the ridge as Oliver Woods and Fern stepped out of the cavern's mouth—and onto a high ledge overlooking the Hollowing Woods of Talgia Forest.

The night fog shimmered silver in the pale light of the approaching dawn.

And down below...

A sprawling expanse of orange and twisting vines lay beneath them.

Fields of glowing pumpkins, warped trees, crooked fences, and eerie autumn windmills turning slowly in the breeze.

> [LOCATION UNLOCKED: Hollowing Woods – Sector Talgia]

A place only accessible at the final stage of the Ruby Game.

Fern gazed calmly across the scene, her green Vita glowing softly. "This place is old. Touched by forgotten rituals. Nature here… it remembers things."

Oliver clutched the ruby sack closer. His chest rose and fell. "So we just… wait here?"

Fern nodded. "The Extraction Pillar activates at 6:00 A.M. sharp. That's when we win. If we're alive, rubies intact, and within the zone… game's ours."

Behind them came footsteps—heavy, deliberate.

Luke Astoria, his light aura still glowing, stepped out from the cavern shadows. The Seven Dwarves followed in formation, dusty, bruised—but still holding strong.

"Good," Luke said, nodding as he surveyed the ridge. "We made it."

The sun wasn't up yet, but the first threads of gold were beginning to paint the edges of the world.

Below them, the pumpkins pulsed faintly—some of them moving as if alive.

> "We hold here," Luke said firmly. "He's close. But he can't force us down. Not now."

Oliver turned to Fern. "What if Zack shows up again?"

Fern calmly tapped her staff into the soil. "He will."

The wind howled slightly through the branches.

Time ticked:

> 5:55 A.M.

5 minutes remain.

Everyone took position—Oliver holding the rubies with white-knuckled fingers, Luke scanning the forest line, and the dwarves forming a tight circle around the extraction zone.

Doli whispered, "We just need five minutes..."

And below in the trees, something stirred—a faint shift in the shadows. A breeze. A step.

The darkness hadn't given up.

But neither had they.

And the sun was coming.

------

Chapter: The Light of Loss

5:59 A.M.

Just one minute remained.

In the upper ledge of the Talgia Forest ridge, the final players stood poised, tension running like a taut wire. The Extraction Pillar was glowing steadily now, signaling the final phase of the Ruby Game. Victory—just seconds away.

But not everyone stood at peace.

Down below, within the thinning tree line where shadows still clung like stubborn fog, Zack Erebus stood silently—one hand twitching near the hilt of his dagger. His threads hovered, ready but stilled, like cobwebs on a dying breeze.

He muttered, voice cold and flat, "They already won…"

> He was too late.

The rubies were secured.

The ridge was guarded.

The light was rising.

Before his frustration could mount, a sharp cry echoed through the forest:

> "Let's heat it up!"

Nico Faelwyn appeared from the left with a flash of fire trailing his fingertips, summoning a flare of flame high into the sky. The distraction fire arced down, landing in the brush near Zack.

FOOM—!

A burst of flame crackled, catching onto the dry grass and fallen leaves.

Zack sidestepped it without panic, letting the fire lick past him. His cloak singed lightly, smoke curling up toward the pale morning sky.

He narrowed his eyes at the flame's creator—Nico, grinning like a trickster from a high branch.

"You never learn," Zack muttered.

But the real distraction had worked.

Behind him, footsteps approached—light, but annoyingly familiar.

Aurelia Dawnmere emerged at his back, wide smile splitting her face like the sunrise itself. Her posture was casual, hands behind her head, walking like she was enjoying a stroll through victory.

Zack didn't face her.

He simply looked out from the cliff edge—toward the horizon where the first golden rays were now piercing the thick Talgia treetops. The towering taiga trees swayed slightly in the early wind, and high above, birds began to chirp again, returning to the sky now that the ruby storm had ended.

Aurelia stepped closer, arms crossing in front of her chest, voice syrupy smug.

"Awww… is the big bad shadow boy sulking?"

Zack said nothing.

She tilted her head, smile curling further. "All those fancy threads, shadow steps, and spooky whispers… and we still beat you."

Still silence.

Zack closed his eyes.

He wasn't angry. Not visibly. Not physically.

But something in his jaw tightened—something in the slight flex of his fingers—spoke of a man who never lost, and didn't know what to do with the feeling now clawing at him.

> "...I'll remember this."

Aurelia's eyes sparkled. "That's the idea."

Above them—

> 6:00 A.M.

The Extraction Pillar ignited, casting a tall beam of radiant white light into the sky. Rubies pulsed brightly in Oliver's arms as the Systematic Guide chimed in the minds of all connected players.

> ✅ Ruby Game: Complete

🌅 Phase Concluded — Players Safe

🎉 Victory Registered to MP Group: Fern, Oliver, Aurelia, Luke, Nico, Garrick, Seven Dwarves

🧱 Talgia Forest: Sealed for 3 Days

The woods breathed again.

The danger dissolved.

The game was over.

Zack turned from the cliff slowly, his face unreadable.

He didn't say another word.

And like a whisper, like a dream fading with the rising sun—

He vanished.

And behind him, laughter and cheers erupted from the ridge above.

------

Chapter: Celebration and Continuation — A Game Ends, A Journey Begins

The first rays of morning sun drenched the Talgia Forest in a gentle golden light. Dew sparkled on the pumpkin leaves. The woods, which had moments ago been filled with dread, now radiated peace.

Above the forest, hovering like a phantom stitched into the dawn sky, stood a tall, composed figure.

Yarrow, the Elite Instructor of the Ruby Game.

Clad in a sharp black long coat with a flowing red tie that fluttered in the windless sky, he stood on thin air with perfect balance. His gloved hands were crossed behind his back. A strange black-and-white mask covered the lower half of his face, and his two-toned sunglasses—red on the right lens, green on the left—reflected the forest below. His skin was porcelain-fair, eerily youthful, yet his presence felt ancient and observing.

A blinking console floated in front of him—alive with data, holograms, stats.

Yarrow slowly nodded as the tallies updated.

> 🏆 Ruby Game – Phase Completed 🧱 Zone Sealed 💰 Reward Distributed: 10,000 Mysticoins 🌟 Top Performance MP Team: Oliver, Fern, Aurelia, Luke, Nico, Garrick, Seven Dwarves

With a smooth, almost robotic cadence, Yarrow's voice echoed across the entire forest, calm and oddly gentle.

> "The Ruby Game has concluded. Victory has been determined. All eligible participants have earned Mysticoin Rewards in accordance with collected rubies and game performance."

"10,000 Mysticoins awarded to primary MP team. Sector Tal—Locked. Next phase available in 48 hours."

"All remaining Travelers… you may proceed."

The message echoed far and wide.

Across the ridgelines and valleys, surviving players—many still stunned, weary, or thrilled—cheered. Some who had hidden in caves emerged. Others, still wide-eyed from close encounters with Zack, exhaled in deep relief.

The Ruby Game was over.

For now.

---

On the ridge, laughter and cheer spilled out from the victorious group.

Aurelia Dawnmere, her long blonde hair wind-tossed and smile wide, high-fived Nico and Garrick as they looked over their loot and scores. She had that glint in her eye—the energy of a winner, someone whose spirit refused to bend.

"Let's head back to Riven, regroup, and get a full meal in us," she said, stretching. "Mist Dwarves'll welcome us now that we've cleaned this zone."

Oliver looked over, nodding slowly. "Sounds good. I still want to figure out where that Land Beast is hiding though…"

Garrick was already counting rubies with Doli. "Wait till we tell Riven about this. They're gonna lose their minds."

Nico snorted. "Assuming they believe us."

Aurelia turned toward the rear of the group. "Let's pack up!"

Oliver turned to Luke, who was quietly staring out at the trees.

"You heading back with us?" he asked.

Luke gave a small, soft smile. His silver longsword was sheathed, his light aura dimmed. "Not yet. I'm in Adventure Mode. Got another contract to fulfill. But… I'll see you all again soon."

Rindle gave a dwarven salute. "We'll save you a seat at the tavern."

Luke turned and began walking off through the vines, the Seven Dwarves soon scampering behind him with cheerful grumbling and jostling.

Oliver was just about to turn back when something caught his eye.

In the far trees to the north, a lone figure in black walked silently—shoulders low, hair tousled by wind.

Zack Erebus.

Heading off.

Not sneaking.

Not fighting.

Just… walking.

Still in shadow, yet for once, not using it.

Oliver narrowed his eyes.

"…You think he'd join us?" he asked aloud, more to himself than anyone.

Aurelia, hearing him, blew a stray bang from her face. "Not likely. That guy plays solo like it's religion. Let's not waste time."

She clapped her hands and gestured. "MOVE OUT! Still gotta track that Land Beast, and I'm not spending another night in this weird veggie graveyard!"

Nico groaned. "No more pumpkin caves, please."

The group laughed and moved as one—back toward the Mist Dwarf village of Riven, carrying their Mysticoins, their memories, and the tension of what still lay ahead.

---

High above them, Yarrow turned, his lenses reflecting their forms.

His calm voice trailed into the wind.

> "They've done well… but the true Trials haven't even begun."

And then—

He vanished into the morning sky.

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