2025-07-29 18:00:20The next morning, Alex didn’t get the luxury of sleeping in. Not that he could anyway. Every creak of a floorboard, every flicker of shadow made him think of Kaelira—no, Lyra now—lurking just out of sight.
Still, he was oddly calm.
Maybe it was the fact that she didn’t kill him last night. Or maybe it was because the system now officially recognized her as part of his questline. Either way, he had a chance.
A dangerous, slippery, probably-ends-with-a-knife-in-his-back chance.
But a chance.
He stepped into the war room, freshly dressed and half-dead from no sleep. The map table flickered to life with blue-glowing borders, displaying his territory—and, more importantly, the enemy factions tightening their circles.
“System,” he muttered, “show Lyra’s current location.”
[Tracking Active Ally: Lyra]
[Location: West Tower Battlements – Status: Idle / Observing]“Of course she is.”
He headed that way, boots echoing softly on the marble stairs as he made his way up. The West Tower overlooked the dense forest that bordered his lands—the same forest the rebel factions used to scout.
He found her seated on the stone edge, one leg dangling off the side, blade unsheathed and resting across her knees.
She didn’t turn when he approached.
“Most people knock before invading my brooding time,” she said dryly.
“You broke into my castle. I think we’re even.”
She gave a soft snort. “Fair.”
He stepped closer but kept his hands where she could see them. Trust was a fragile thing, and Lyra didn’t strike him as the type who offered it easily.
“So,” he began, “I looked you up.”
She arched a brow. “And?”
“You’re not just some hidden NPC. You’re a rogue general—former commander of the Nightblade Guild. Specialized in infiltration, sabotage, and high-level assassinations. Said to have betrayed both the Heroic Alliance and the Empire before disappearing from the game entirely.”
“You forgot ‘untrustworthy,’ ‘emotionally unstable,’ and ‘not worth recruiting,’” she added casually.
Alex grinned. “I was getting there.”
She glanced at him, lips twitching. “Still here, though. I take it you want something.”
“I want to survive. That means allies. Real ones.”
“And you think I’ll be your friend just because I didn’t kill you?”
He shook his head. “No. But I think there’s something you want. Otherwise, you’d be gone.”
Lyra stood slowly and faced him. Her eyes—sharp and silver-gray—held his for a moment longer than comfortable.
“I want truth,” she said. “And revenge. But not the petty kind.”
Alex folded his arms. “Who are you really trying to kill?”
There was a pause.
Then she said, “The guild who betrayed me. The one I served for five years. They left me behind on a suicide mission when I started questioning their motives.”
“The Nightblades?”
“No,” she said. “That’s just what the world called us. Our real name was the Black Vow. We were heroes… once.”
The name sent a tingle down Alex’s spine.
He remembered the Black Vow. A hidden faction from the late-game content—one of the hero guilds known for morally gray decisions and impossible stealth missions. They were led by a character named Darek the Silver Hand.
“I fought their leader in the finals,” Alex said. “He was... brutal. Efficient.”
“He still is,” Lyra muttered. “He wants you dead. But not because you're the villain.”
“What then?”
“Because you’re in his way.”
Alex frowned. “So he’s after the throne.”
“No,” Lyra said. “He’s after what’s under the throne.”
His pulse quickened. “You mean the sealed vault?”
Lyra nodded. “There’s something down there. Something ancient. Darek believes it can ‘fix the world.’ But it can’t. It’s pure chaos.”
“And he wants to unleash it?”
“Unless someone stops him.”
Alex leaned against the tower wall, mind racing.
“So you want revenge on the man who used you. And I want to not die when the endgame hits.”
He looked at her.
“Join me. Not as a spy. Not as a follower. As a partner.”
She raised a brow. “You’re trusting me that easily?”
“No,” he said honestly. “But I’d rather have you close where I can see you than out there, unsure if you’re friend or foe.”
Lyra chuckled. “Smart. Still stupid. But smart.”
She stepped closer, stopping just inches from him. He noticed the faint scar across her jaw now, partly hidden beneath a strand of hair.
“You really want my help?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Then don’t control me. Don’t order me around like the last man did.”
“Deal.”
“And one more thing.” Her voice dropped lower. “Don’t fall for me. I’m not one of your harem recruits.”
Alex blinked. “Whoa—who said anything about—?”
“I’ve read the tropes,” she interrupted, smirking. “Brooding assassin girl becomes the emotionally complicated love interest? Pass.”
He laughed. “Believe me, I’ve got enough problems.”
The smirk faded slightly as her eyes softened.
“Then let’s make a deal,” she said. “I’ll help you survive this stupid world. I’ll watch your back. But if you become the monster everyone fears… I won’t hesitate.”
Alex nodded slowly. “Fair enough.”
[System Alert: Lyra’s Loyalty Increased to 33% – Ally Status Upgraded: Rogue General]
[New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Anchor – Lyra may now be assigned to missions, infiltration tasks, or defense objectives][Quest Progress: ‘A Blade in the Dark’ – 1/3 Milestones Complete]
Alex held out his hand. “Welcome to my side, Lyra.”
She looked at it like it might explode. Then, after a beat, she shook it.
“I still might stab you,” she muttered.
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
The moment held, just long enough to feel real.
But then—
BOOM
The entire tower shook as a thunderous blast echoed across the fortress.
A guard came rushing up the stairs, face pale.
“Lord Virex! It’s the southern wall!”
Alex’s stomach dropped.
“What about it?”
“Breached. We’re under attack.”
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Chapter 10 – Reputation Drops
Smoke curled into the sky.Alex stood at the southern wall, boots crunching against the shattered stone, eyes scanning the aftermath of the attack. Bodies littered the field below—his soldiers, the attackers, some mercenaries in mismatched armor. It wasn’t a full-scale invasion. More like a test.A warning.And yet, despite the chaos, his attention was fixed on one thing.The girl.She was maybe seventeen. Barely old enough to hold a sword, let alone charge into his fortress screaming vengeance. Her armor was a size too big, her blade trembling in her hand even as she stood between two of his soldiers, defiant and bloody.“What’s your name?” Alex asked, stepping toward her.She spat at his feet.“I’m not telling you anything, tyrant.”He sighed, glancing at the soldier gripping her arm.“Let her go.”“My Lord?” the guard blinked.“I said let her go.”The man hesitated, confused, but released her.The girl stumbled back, surprised she wasn’t being dragged off to the dungeon. She stared
Chapter 9 – Taming the Blade
The next morning, Alex didn’t get the luxury of sleeping in. Not that he could anyway. Every creak of a floorboard, every flicker of shadow made him think of Kaelira—no, Lyra now—lurking just out of sight.Still, he was oddly calm.Maybe it was the fact that she didn’t kill him last night. Or maybe it was because the system now officially recognized her as part of his questline. Either way, he had a chance.A dangerous, slippery, probably-ends-with-a-knife-in-his-back chance.But a chance.He stepped into the war room, freshly dressed and half-dead from no sleep. The map table flickered to life with blue-glowing borders, displaying his territory—and, more importantly, the enemy factions tightening their circles.“System,” he muttered, “show Lyra’s current location.”[Tracking Active Ally: Lyra][Location: West Tower Battlements – Status: Idle / Observing]“Of course she is.”He headed that way, boots echoing softly on the marble stairs as he made his way up. The West Tower overlooked
Chapter 8 – First Assassin Attempt
Night had fallen over the Tyrant’s Castle, casting long shadows across the stone corridors. Torches flickered against black marble walls, and the ever-present chill of the fortress had settled in deeper than usual.Alex paced the upper balcony of the central tower, overlooking the courtyard where soldiers drilled under moonlight. His hands were behind his back, eyes scanning the horizon beyond the high walls.It had been two days since Alaric’s little war speech. Two days since that tremor from the sealed depths shook the castle foundations. Whatever was locked below, it hadn’t breached the upper levels yet—but the tension in the air hadn’t left since.Alex hadn’t slept.He was adjusting, slowly, to the rhythm of this world. The throne, the weight of command, the bizarre blend of game logic and real danger.But something still felt… off.A chill crept up his neck. He turned, instinct kicking in.No one there.The corridor behind him was empty. Silent.Still, his gut whispered.Somethi
Chapter 7 – Enemy Armies Mobilize
The castle war room was humming with activity—magical message scrolls unfurling mid-air, troops reporting in with urgent updates, and Virex's generals shuffling nervously around the massive central table. Above it, a glowing map of the continent floated, lines of red and blue flickering with every new alert.Alex, now fully dressed in battle armor that still felt too evil for his taste, stood at the head of the table, arms folded.“Someone explain this again,” he said, voice calm but firm. “From the top.”Lyra stepped forward, her white-blonde hair tied back and her expression sharp. “Three major hero factions just issued joint declarations of war. The Radiant Order from the west, the Kingdom Alliance from the centerlands, and the Icebound Paladins from the north.”“And they’re all coming here?”“Yes,” she said. “They’re calling it the Final Purge.”Alex blinked. “Final Purge? Isn’t that a little… dramatic?”“It’s what they called the last push to kill you in the original game timelin
Chapter 6 – Tyrant’s Castle
The wind howled through the broken windows of Darkfang Fortress.Alex stood at the highest tower, arms crossed, watching the early morning mist curl over the cliffs below. The sky was overcast, heavy with the kind of gloom that made everything feel colder than it was.This place—this towering gothic monolith of black stone—was now his home.Or prison.Depending on how you looked at it.“Pretty view,” Lyra said behind him as she stepped onto the balcony, rubbing her arms for warmth. “Shame it’s attached to a murder palace.”Alex smirked. “Yeah. Real fixer-upper.”He turned and walked back inside, boots echoing on the cracked stone floor. The room was massive—fit for a king—but empty in a way that screamed abandonment. Torn banners. Dusty weapon racks. Cold fireplace. The throne in the center was jagged obsidian, practically designed to intimidate anyone who approached.It fit Lord Virex perfectly.And that was the problem.“Still feels weird, doesn’t it?” he asked, glancing at her. “I
Chapter 5 – Memory Sync
Alex’s eyes snapped open.His body felt… wrong.Heavy, yet light. Weak, yet buzzing with a strange warmth that pulsed from his chest to his fingertips.He blinked a few times as the vision stabilized.He was still in the courtyard of Darkfang Fortress. The divine blast had scorched the stone tiles, now cracked and glowing faintly. Smoke drifted in lazy swirls. The hero party had vanished—retreated after their spell failed to finish him off.And Lyra…He turned his head.She lay beside him, unconscious but breathing. Her face was pale. There was a faint red thread of light connecting her chest to his.“Dark Binding…” he whispered.The choice had been instant. Desperate.But now that it was done, the consequences started creeping in.System alerts flickered across his vision.Dark Binding Complete – Soul Link EstablishedTarget: Lyra VexhartLoyalty Status: 100% – DevotedBond Path Unlocked: Shadow ConsortAccess Granted: Shared Skill Tree | Memory Sync | Tactical Link“Memory sync?” he
