The air in Knox's basement is heavy, saturated with the smell of old stone and unburnt gunpowder.
The Mistveil City blueprint lies across the central table, a fragile piece of paper holding the key to a bloody history. Knox sits beside Makus, while Clara, Edgar, and Alaric occupy the opposing seats. Anya, The Phoenix, paces slowly, a caged energy waiting to be unleashed.
Knox: "We have no time left. The Stranger is desperate for the Artifact Map."
Makus: "Based on the current situation, The Stranger and one other organization are the primary threats: The Night Hunter."
Knox: "The Night Hunter?"
Anya pauses her rhythmic steps, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
Anya: "That's right. The Night Hunter is a formidable syndicate that monopolizes the Black Market. It's even larger than Stranger. They were involved in the Nadian Empire's recent paranormal incidents. We suspect the person who hid the Artifact is connected to them. Furthermore, our intelligence suggests The Night Hunter is already in possession of a Memory Fragment of God"
Makus and Knox exchange startled looks.
Anya: "No matter how powerful one is, trying to fully assimilate that Fragment is suicide. It is highly probable that the Artifact is the Key to controlling that Fragment."
Makus: "Anya's theory is plausible. We still don't know the Artifact's nature."
Edgar tentatively raises a hand.
Edgar: "There is one detail that bothers me, Makus." He straightens his circular glasses. "The Stranger only dispatches Viper. Usually, they deploy full squads for crucial operations... but we only see Viper."
Makus: "You're correct, Edgar. Stranger normally operates in pairs or triplets. And for a mission this important, they should have certainly sent their best division, which is..."
Anya stops dead in her tracks, completing his sentence with a chilling calm.
Anya: "...King and... Queen."
Makus: "Precisely, Anya. King and Queen should have been here."
Makus catches Knox's eye; a signal passes between them. Knox prepares to detail their strategy.
Knox: "Makus and I have a plan. According to the map, the Artifacts location is deep beneath Mistveil City."
Clara: "Underground?"
Knox: (He nods) "Yes. Underground. But it's not a simple vault or tunnel. Below Mistveil lies the ruins of a devastating territory sealed during the Cataclysmic Era_ a place stained with blood: The Sunken City."
Anya's steps abruptly cease. Her bright eyes are now alight with dangerous excitement.
Anya: "Oh! The rumor of The Sunken City? Is it truly the burial ground of an Ancient God, Grandpa Knox?"
Knox sighs.
Knox: "It is, Anya. A desolate zone, choked with underground streams and walls slick with decay."
Makus moves from his chair, pointing at a hidden underground entrance on the map_ situated beneath an abandoned old library on the city's edge.
Makus: "This is the safest route down. We descend via the secret staircase of The Forgotten Archives. There are indeed Impacts protecting the Artifact."
Clara: "Impacts... What kind?"
Makus: "Worse than mere Corrupted Creatures: the influence of the God's Memory Fragment itself. That subterranean space is permeated with a residual Chaos Impact that can corrupt the very soul."
Makus: "Our enemies have undoubtedly spread their agents across Mistveil... We need to lay a feint, but they likely anticipated that. Therefore..."
Makus looks at Knox, then continues his speech.
Makus: "Anya, Edgar, and I execute a two-stage feint using Knox's decoy maps."
Edgar: "Two stages?"
Makus nods and responds: "Yes. Two stages."
Makus looks at Anya. "First stage is Anya. You divert the enemy alone."
Anya immediately nods. "Good. I'll lure them out and eliminate them."
Makus looks at Edgar and says: "Second stage: Edgar and I depart shortly after Anya. We act as the second decoy, heading in the opposite direction of both Anya's path and the Artifact's true location."
Makus: "After our feint draws their attention, Knox, Clara, and Alaric exit through the basement's secret passage and enter the ruin zone to retrieve the Artifact."
He gently claps Knox's shoulder and says: "Old Man Knox... you still have that Amulet from the Goddess of Judgement (Moon Goddess) Temple, right?" (The Amulet is a protective item against spiritual assault.)
Knox nods and says: "Yes, I do."
Makus looks at Clara and warns: "Clara... don't forget to wear your Amulet."
Clara responds: "Yes, Makus."
Makus immediately signals to move. "Alright, let's move!"
The Scouters and Knox prepare to execute the plan. Knox walks slowly to the dark corner of the basement, opens an old wooden chest, and draws out the Long Silver Dagger inscribed with Runesthe Sterling family's ancestral Mythical Weapon.
Knox: (Muttering, inspecting the dagger) "This dagger can instantly purify Forsaken and tainted spirits. But... it won't be enough to repel the Chaos Impact."
Clara tightens her grip on the Amulet around her neck. She attaches a small pouch containing her Magic Chalk and Talismans to her belt.
Anya is preparing to depart. She puts on a gray hooded robe; her eyes are blazing. She turns to Makus.
Anya looks back from the doorway, smiling at everyone. "I'm off, everyone."
Makus nods sharply.
Makus: "Go. But be careful."
Anya tucks the decoy map into her pocket and silently steps out of the basement and the house. Her steps are swift, leading her towards the Market, the direction opposite the Artifact's location.
As Anya departs, Makus assesses the situation from the window, noticing a small number of people tailing Anya.
Makus and Edgar prepare to leave as the second feint. They then depart as planned.
After the two decoys are gone, Knox's trio prepares to exit through the basement's secret passage. Knox takes the key and opens the door. As the door opens, Alaric holds it ajar and focuses his violet eyes to sense any enemy presence nearby.
Knox asks: "How is it, boy?"
Alaric turns back immediately and responds: "The immediate area is clear."
Knox pulls his bucket hat further down over his face and responds: "Then let's go!"
Meanwhile, in the Mistveil City Market, Anya senses the five stalkers pursuing her and moves to lure them into a nearby alley.
She instantly breaks from a slow walk into a sprint into the narrow lane. As she moves, the enemy pursuers instantly follow her.
But when the pursuers reach the alley, they don't see her. She has completely vanished from their sight.
She is walking slowly behind them. They haven't noticed her yet.
She instantly targets the nearest stalker. She spins, takes momentum, extends her leg, and kicks toward the enemy's abdomen.
"Whip- Crack!... CRACK!"
The stalker is sent flying away with a crash.
The other stalkers notice her. She slowly removes her black cloak and drops it to the ground.
One stalker instantly draws his dagger and rushes toward her, aiming for her gut.
In that flash of a second, she grabs the dagger from the stalker and slits his throat.
The stalker falls, cut by his own weapon.
Anya whispers: "Such weaklings."
The remaining stalkers instantly draw their weapons. Two dagger stalkers rush her simultaneously. While they are rushing, the two revolver stalkers are cocking their guns to shoot her. They are willing to kill their own to eliminate her.
Anya knows this. She easily dodges the two dagger attacks, grabs one, and uses him as a human shield. Just as she expected, the two revolver stalkers open fire relentlessly. The remaining dagger stalker is forced to take cover.
During the shooting, Anya moves at an unbelievable speed, completely unmatchable by the naked eye, and slashes the throats of the two revolver stalkers.
When the shooting stops, the dagger stalker stands up. Anya reaches the stalker's back with incredible speed and holds the dagger to his throat.
Anya: "Surrender."
The last remaining stalker instantly drops his dagger in terror, pleading with Anya. "D-don't kill me... We were just following orders... They said they would sacrifice us if we didn't!"
Before the stalker can finish his plea...
"BANG!"
Someone shoots deliberately at Anya and the stalker.
Anya manages to dodge the bullet quickly and escapes. If she hadn't dodged, the bullet would have hit her.
She looks up toward the source of the shot. A person is standing on the rooftop, holding a revolver.
Anya yells: "Hey... you stealthy sneak! You almost killed me!"
As Anya speaks, the person descends in front of her. When Anya sees the person, she becomes excited.
Anya: "You... You are unusual... Now it is finally getting fun."
The person standing in front of Anya is Queen, The Stranger's third strongest.
She looks like a Dark Enforcer or a grim tactician descended from a battlefield. Every detail of her attire conveys her ruthlessness, military precision, and immense power.
Her outfit is a fitted combination of black or charcoal leather and dark fabric, clinging to her slender figure.
She wears a wide-brimmed black hat centered with a gold, clock-like ornament.
Golden or brass Epaulettes adorn her shoulders, with gold tassels hanging over her arms, giving her the air of a high-ranking commander. Her jacket features a high collar and a crimson jewel pendant at the neckline.
Her black leather gloves are reinforced with armor-plated segments. She holds a long dagger in her left hand and a revolver in her right.
Multiple belts, secured with gold or bronze buckles and complex straps, crisscross her waist.
Her hair is a pale blonde, naturally wavy, cascading long beneath her wide hat.
The upper half of her face is obscured by a black mask. Her eyes, however, are an unusual, fierce pink, radiating mystery and danger.
Queen flashes a contemptuous smirk at Anya.
Queen: "Anya Solara Fenia, The Strongest Librarian of Watchers HQ... alias The Phoenix."
Anya instantly responds with excitement. "You know me! Am I that famous?"
Queen ignores her, and continues: "Both of us know that the Artifact Map you carry is a fake... and we're here for you... The Phoenix"
Anya responds: "Indeed"
'Waittt... she said 'FOR ME' and 'WE'?' she thinks.
Immediately after, she hears a cold, slow footstep approaching the alley behind her. The measured pace suggests another cold-blooded killer.
Anya turns to the source of the steps. A man, fearsome yet alluring, emerges as if from the dark legends of Mistveil, stopping a few steps away from her.
His dark, wavy hair flows long down his back, giving him the air of an Ancient Noble.
His eyes are a fierce, crimson red, possessing a cold, stern gaze. The look seems capable of piercing one's soul.
His complexion is pale, yet he emits a hard, sharp aura. A Playful Smirk often hovers at the corners of his lips.
His uniform is silk, primarily black and dark blue. He wears a Crimson Vest under his shirt, with a vintage-style Cravat/Jabot adorned with pearls and necklaces.
His jacket shoulders and chest are adorned with gold braids, runes, and ornate Royal Crests, signifying his High Status.
He wears Pure White Gloves with several large Signet Rings meticulously placed over them, the white completing the sharp contrast.
Long, golden chains hang from his attire down to his waist, secured with ancient clock-like ornaments.
His aura is filled with stability, grace, harsh leadership, and hidden bloodlust. It is King.
Meanwhile...
Makus and Edgar find themselves in a desperate, high-stakes chase involving three hostile factions: Viper (The Stranger), Tyson Grimshaw (Night Hunter_ the one who offered Viper the deal), and Dog & Cat (Stranger's mercenaries). They run for their lives, fighting a three-way conflict.
On the other side, Alaric, Knox, and Clara successfully enter the desolate, underground ruin zone beneath Mistveil.
In this intricate, chaotic conflict_ will Makus and Edgar survive the three-way chase? Can Anya defeat King and Queen to rejoin her team? Will Alaric's group successfully find the Artifact?