Stephan and his crew left Magodilin through the stone tablet hidden within the king's chamber. The ancient runes lit up under his hand, glowing with pale blue light before the world around them vanished in a flash.

His crew was small but powerful, Yennefer, sharp and fierce; Anna Mary, calm and precise; Grief, his silent, spectral blade; and Death, the horned soul servant whose power hummed like a storm waiting to break.

He and Death were both on the verge of C-rank, their strength balanced and lethal. Yennefer and Anna Mary had climbed into the higher ends of E-rank, veterans of battle and blood. Grief had evolved to D-rank, her soul energy more refined, her presence heavier.

Together, they were strong enough to stand against B-ranked players, perhaps even challenge an A-rank if pushed to their limits.

When the light faded, they found themselves standing once again amidst the ruins of Kareth'Zul.

The wind whistled through the hollow bones of the dead city, carrying the echo of its forgotten past. The sunlight spilled over collapsed towers and broken bridges, glinting off fragments of shattered stone like old glass.

Stephan adjusted his cloak, eyes scanning the ruins ahead. "Back to where it all began," he murmured.

Death stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly violet. "Where are we headed my Lord?"

"South," Stephan said, his gaze fixed on the cracked horizon. "That's where we're headed. The king mentioned there's an elven base somewhere beyond the dunes."

Anna Mary frowned. "Didn't you just say we shouldn't be trusting him?"

Stephan's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "Exactly. That's why we're going there. If he's the one feeding the elves information, then we'll find proof waiting for us."

Anna Mary folded her arms. "That's a wild risk."

"I'd call it a worthy gamble," Yennefer said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Besides, I've been dying to see what elves actually look like. Might as well tick that off the list before someone kills us."

Death chuckled softly, her voice low and velvety. "You'll find they're not as elegant as the stories say."

Anna Mary sighed. "We might run into an army before we even reach their gates."

Stephan tightened his grip on his sword's hilt. His eyes glimmered, calm but resolute. "Then let them come. We're an army ourselves." He glanced at each of them, Death, Grief, Yennefer, and Anna Mary. "And we're going to give smoke to anyone who wants it."

Anna Mary hesitated for a moment longer, then exhaled. "Fine then," she said finally. "South it is."

They had barely set foot beyond the crumbling gates of Kareth'Zul when Stephan stopped cold.

A sharp prickle ran through the air, pressure, ancient and heavy. Two soul signatures flared in the distance, distinct and powerful.

"Wait…" Yennefer's eyes narrowed as her hand hovered near her blade. "That energy..."

"Gabuzar," Stephan said quietly. "And Salimi."

A shadow rippled across the shattered streets. Then they came.

Gabuzar stepped out first, a mountain of muscle draped in a massive bear pelt, the beast's skull resting over his head like a crown. His bare chest gleamed beneath the daylight, and every breath he took seemed to shake the air itself. The ground felt smaller beneath him.

Beside him walked Salimi...tall, poised, dangerous. Her silver hair fell in a single braid over one shoulder, glinting faintly beneath her wide-brimmed hat. Gold earrings danced with every step. A cigar smoldered between her lips, the faint curl of smoke twisting lazily upward as if even the air bent to her will.

Ding!

[Death God System: Player Scan Activated]

[Target Identified: Gabuzar]

[Affiliation: Player – Kharvos, the Death God of Beasts]

[Soul Signature: Overcharged – Summoner Vessel Type]

[Combat Rank: A-Rank (Predator)]

[Level: 40]

[Class: Hellbeast Caller]

[Primary Ability: Summons demonic beasts from the Abyss]

[Threat Level: Extreme]

Ding!

[Target Identified: Salimi]

[Affiliation: Player – Veilith, the Death God of Mirage]

[Soul Signature: Stable – Illusionary Vessel Type]

[Combat Rank: C-Rank (Manipulator)]

[Level: 16]

[Class: Mirage Weaver]

[Special Abilities: Creates powerful illusions, conjures barriers, and bends sight with layered veils.]

[Threat Level: Moderate]

Salimi's eyes flicked up, a lazy smile playing across her lips as she blew a ring of smoke.

"So," she said, voice smooth as silk. "We meet again, Stephan… and company."

Grief's hand was already on her spectral sword, her eyes burning with memory. The last time she'd crossed paths with Gabuzar, one of his summoned beasts, a massive abyssal frog, had swallowed her whole before she carved her way out through its gut.

Stephan, however, only smiled.

"Well, what an unexpected surprise," he said calmly. "Didn't think I'd see you again this soon."

Salimi exhaled a slow plume of smoke, the corners of her mouth curling.

"Seems your little family's grown," she said. "That one wasn't with you before, darling."

Gabuzar's heavy gaze fell on Yennefer. "Your new soul servant?"

Stephan nodded slightly. "Yes. My latest one."

Gabuzar gave a small grunt of approval. "Impressive. Your ability truly is remarkable."

Anna Mary crossed her arms. "Are you here to fight us or just admire him?"

Gabuzar scratched the side of his head, his expression unreadable. "The last time we met, I told you, next time, we'd be enemies."

"So that means you are here to fight," Yennefer said, her tone sharp.

Salimi's smile widened. "You're always so eager for blood, little girl. I remember watching you scrap with Anna Mary and that servant of Stephan's. You fought hard… until you broke." She leaned forward slightly, smoke spilling from her lips. "Then you became such a good little dog."

Yennefer's aura flared. "Just answer the damn question. Because if you are..." she drew her weapon halfway "...you should know you're outnumbered."

"The only threat I see here," Salimi said coolly, "is the boy and his two soul servants."

Gabuzar lifted a hand, silencing her. "Calm down, Salimi. We didn't come for a fight, not yet." His eyes returned to Stephan's. "We're still enemies, yes. But for now… we want a temporary truce."

That made everyone freeze.

"A truce?" Stephan asked, his tone even. "Why would you want a truce?"

The silence that followed was thick and uneasy. Even the wind through the ruins seemed to hold its breath.

Finally, Salimi broke it. "Because an army of Orcs is headed this way."

Stephan's eyes narrowed. "Orcs? We've fought them before."

Gabuzar's grin turned grim. "Not like these. They're organized, and led by an S-Rank player."

The words hit like a hammer. For a moment, no one spoke. Even Stephan's expression darkened, the shadows around him stirring like restless smoke.

Gabuzar folded his arms. "So, Stephan… what'll it be? Do we fight each other now and die like fools, or face what's coming first?"

For a heartbeat, no one moved. The air between them hung heavy, the kind of silence that felt sharp enough to cut.

Anna Mary's hand trembled slightly on her dagger. Her voice, though she tried to steady it, came out tight. "An S-Rank… leading Orcs?" She swallowed hard. "That's suicide."

Yennefer looked pale, her knuckles white around her staff. "You're not serious," she said to Gabuzar, her eyes darting between him and Stephan. "S-Ranks don't just lead armies. They erase cities."

Gabuzar said nothing, only gave a grim nod. Salimi flicked ash from her cigar and smirked faintly. "You think I'd bother with a truce if it was anything less?"

Stephan didn't answer right away. His gaze lingered on the horizon beyond the ruined walls of Kareth'Zul, that endless gray stretch of stone and ash that once was a city. He could feel it, the faint tremor beneath the ground, the distant echo of drums.

He turned back to Gabuzar, expression unreadable. "And why come to me?" he asked. "You could've just run."

"Run where?" Gabuzar barked a low laugh. "We both know what happens to cowards in this world. You've seen the Death Gods' games. There's no hiding. The only way to live…" his grin widened, savage and weary at once, "...is to keep killing."

Death stepped forward slightly, her cloak shifting like liquid shadow. "He's telling the truth," she said softly. "I can smell the war on the wind. Blood and iron."

A chill crept through the group.

Anna Mary took a step closer to Stephan. "Stephan," she whispered, "we can't trust them. They're killers..."

He didn't look at her. His eyes were still distant, thinking, weighing. "I know," he said.

Yennefer frowned. "So we're really doing this? Teaming up with them?"

Stephan exhaled slowly. "If that S-Rank reaches us, it won't matter who's friend or foe. We'll all be corpses." He turned to Gabuzar. "Fine. You have your truce."

Gabuzar's grin widened. "Good choice, boy."

Salimi chuckled. "Looks like you're smarter than you look."

"Don't push it," Death murmured.

Then, the first boom. A deep, rhythmic thud that rattled through the city's broken streets. Another followed, then another, until the air itself seemed to pulse with it.

War drums.

And then came the cries... distant, guttural, and growing louder. Hundreds of voices howling as one, echoing between the ruins.

Anna Mary's face drained of color. "They're here…"

Stephan's expression hardened, his aura flaring faintly. "Then the truce starts now," he said, drawing his blade.

Gabuzar cracked his neck and grinned. "Finally."

The air trembled again...the sound of something vast moving through the dust-choked plains. The army of Orcs had arrived.

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