— Beneath the Empire
The underground command room buzzed with low voices and flickering screens. Holographic maps hovered above the central table, red markers blinking across sections of the Empire-controlled city. Surveillance feeds cycled rapidly—corridors, checkpoints, supply routes, detention facilities.
Captain Chaxti stood at the center, arms crossed behind his back, his sharp eyes scanning every face in the room.
"For now, that's the situation," he said firmly. "According to Volt's report, the Empire has increased security around several facilities. Patrol routes have doubled, access codes rotate faster, and internal surveillance has been tightened."
Volt stood to the side, arms folded, nodding in confirmation.
"I personally infiltrated the facility where Ryze is being held," Volt added. "I can confirm she's still alive."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the room.
Chaxti raised a hand for silence. "For now, we wait. We don't rush this. We stand by until we find the perfect opportunity—either to strike or to extract Ryze safely."
A soldier near the back raised his hand hesitantly.
"Sir… can we really handle the Empire?" he asked. "It's not like we have an entire army backing us."
The room fell quiet.
Volt answered before Chaxti could.
"He's right," Volt said calmly. "We're outnumbered. Their strength is overwhelming. If we go head-on, we lose."
He paused, then smirked slightly.
"But that's not our job."
The soldiers looked toward him.
"We're the Resistance Spy Division," Volt continued. "We don't fight wars—we feed them. Our job is intel. Information. Precision. We slip in, gather what we need, and slip out before anyone realizes we were there."
He tapped the console beside him. "I already snuck into one of the Empire's so-called 'highly guarded' facilities. Trust me—this isn't impossible."
Chaxti studied Volt silently.
Not long ago, Volt had been a new recruit—an Eclipse Online player specializing in stealth and assassination. Fast. Quiet. Deadly. He wasn't just a spy; he was a ghost. Even handling rifles with unnatural ease.
A rare asset.
"That's all," Chaxti finally said. "Meeting dismissed. Get some rest. We move when the time is right."
One by one, the soldiers stood and exited the room.
Chaxti gathered his files and turned to leave—then stopped.
Volt was still there.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" Chaxti asked without turning around.
Volt stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"When I infiltrated the facility," he said, "I had a strange feeling."
Chaxti glanced at him. "Surprised she was still alive?"
"No," Volt replied. "Every Resistance spy the Empire captures usually ends up dead—after they extract information."
"Exactly," Chaxti said. "So why is Ryze still breathing?"
Volt frowned. "That's what worries me. Ryze's a frontline unit. She's not HQ. She shouldn't have high-value intel."
Chaxti's expression darkened.
"Unless…" he murmured.
"Unless what?" Volt asked.
"Unless they're not after information," Chaxti said slowly. "Or not from us."
Volt's eyes widened slightly. "You think it's a trap?"
"Yes," Chaxti replied. "But not for the Resistance."
Volt swallowed. "Then who?"
Chaxti didn't answer.
Empire Capital — City Streets
Blaze and SK walked side by side through the wide streets of the Empire capital, neon lights reflecting off polished stone and metal. Soldiers passed them regularly, saluting SK and nodding respectfully toward Blaze.
Blaze, however, looked painfully bored.
His hands rested in his pockets, shoulders slouched, eyes drifting across the towering buildings and glowing signs as if none of it impressed him.
SK noticed immediately.
"Come on, sir," she said with a strained smile. "This is your first mission as part of the Empire. Try to enjoy it."
Blaze sighed. "Mission? This feels more like running errands."
SK blinked. "Errands?"
"Yeah," Blaze replied. "Walking around. Looking important. Why do you even need patrols? Doesn't the Empire already have full authority here?"
"Well…" SK hesitated. "Sometimes wild monsters appear. Occasionally even bosses."
Blaze stopped walking.
"In the city?"
She nodded quickly. "The Code glitches from time to time. That's why we stay alert—to keep Empire players safe."
Blaze stared at her. "…You're joking, right?"
SK smiled awkwardly. "I wish I was."
They resumed walking.
As they moved deeper into the district, Blaze's expression subtly changed. His boredom faded, replaced by a faint tension in his shoulders.
Something felt… off.
The noise of the street dulled. The glow of the lights felt distant. His eyes caught on a narrow alley tucked between two old buildings—too dark, too quiet compared to the rest of the street.
A strange pull tugged at him.
"…SK," Blaze muttered, slowing his pace.
But SK had already continued talking.
"And that's why we need to patrol the streets, sir—sir?"
She turned.
Blaze was gone.
SK stopped dead, eyes widening as she scanned the street.
"…Sir?"
She spun around, checking behind her, then toward the alleyways.
Realization hit.
She let out an annoyed sigh. "Ugh… not you too."
Blaze stepped into the alley without hesitation.
The air was cooler here, heavier. The glow of the city faded behind him as he followed the pull deeper between the buildings. At the end of the alley stood an old, hidden door—its sign flickering faintly.
A bar.
Blaze frowned.
Something about the place stirred a strange sense of déjà vu. Like he had been here before… or somewhere like it.
He pushed the door open.
A soft chime rang.
The inside was dim, warm light casting long shadows across dusty tables and worn wooden floors. The place smelled faintly of old drinks and memories.
Blaze stepped in slowly, eyes scanning the room.
I've been here before… haven't I?
Before he could think further, a calm voice spoke from behind the counter.
"Oh my— a customer."
Blaze looked up.
Behind the bar stood a well-dressed man wearing a clean barista uniform, his dark hair tied neatly into a ponytail. His posture was formal, almost too composed for such a quiet place.
"Please," the bartender said with a polite smile, "have a look at the menu. If there's anything that interests you."
Blaze blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"Oh—sorry," he said politely. "I think I just got lost."
The bartender chuckled softly. "Then it must be your first time here. Please, order whatever you like. It's on the house."
Blaze smiled faintly. "If you insist."
He took a seat at the counter and glanced over the menu. After a moment, he pointed to a drink.
"That one."
"Ah," the bartender said approvingly as he began preparing it. "A good choice."
As the drink was made, Blaze glanced around the bar. The place was old—dust gathered in corners, chairs slightly uneven, the walls marked by time.
"Was this place popular before?" Blaze asked.
The bartender paused briefly before answering.
"It used to be," he said. "A famous lounge among high-level players and guilds. During the early days, it was always full."
He resumed mixing the drink.
"But when the Great War broke out… customers stopped coming. Guilds vanished. Players disappeared. Eventually, only a handful still visited."
Blaze studied the room again.
"Looks like business hasn't been great lately," he said gently.
The bartender smiled sadly. "Ever since they left… they never came back."
Blaze nodded slowly.
After a moment, he spoke calmly.
"You're not a player… are you?"
The bartender didn't answer right away.
He simply smiled.
The drink slid across the counter.
Then—
The door burst open.
"Finally found you, Sir Blaze!"
SK stormed in, eyes blazing. Before Blaze could react, she grabbed his arm.
"Hey—!"
She dragged him off the stool. "This is no time to drink! We're in the middle of a mission!"
Blaze let himself be pulled, sighing.
"Ah, right," he said dryly. "Completely forgot."
SK groaned as she hauled him out.
Behind them, the bartender watched in silence.
As the door closed, he murmured softly to himself—
"…Blaze?"
A knowing smile touched his lips.
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