Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 44: New Mission

As the group rode steadily down the winding dirt road leading back to Arthalon, the rising sun cast golden streaks across the landscape. This return trip felt almost serene. The skies were clear, and the wind was calm. No beasts roared from the distance, no sudden ambushes, no rustling sounds from the trees that sent hearts racing. It was peace—something they hadn’t had much of since entering this world.

The merchant sat on his cart, occasionally humming an old travel tune under his breath as the wheels creaked rhythmically against the path. Liam rode beside the cart, occasionally glancing around, still alert, but more at ease than he’d been in days.

Sophia, riding just behind him, broke the calm silence with a nudge. "Hey," she said softly, "you should really thank the merchant, you know. If it weren’t for him, we might not have gotten to that healer in time."

Liam glanced over at the man driving the cart, his brows drawing together slightly. She was right. He owed this man his life. Slowing his horse to match the cart’s pace, he looked up.

"Hey... I just wanted to say thanks," Liam said. "You didn’t have to help us, but you did. I don’t think I’d be here if it weren’t for you."

The merchant gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Don’t mention it. If anything, I should be thanking you lot. If you hadn’t stood up to that arrogant bastard Davos, I would’ve lost everything. I’d say we’re more than even now."

Liam nodded, the corner of his lips curving into a faint smile. It wasn’t often someone outside the group helped them without a hidden motive. That, in itself, meant something.

Behind them, Marcus had fallen unusually silent. He was usually loud, joking about everything, always the one to lift the mood—but now, he stared out into the distance, one hand loosely gripping his reins, the other resting on his axe handle. His mind had wandered far away from the current moment.

A particular face lingered in his memory. Sera. The feisty, sharp-eyed innkeeper who had welcomed them when they first arrived in this world. He remembered how she had spoken to him with such certainty, how she had made him sign a covenant during their sex, swearing he’d return when his heart started to feel a certain way—connected, drawn, anchored.

And he was starting to feel exactly that now.

He could feel a strange pull, a tug in his chest that reminded him of her warmth, her smirk, her mysterious way of talking like she knew more than she let on. But they were far from that inn now—days away at best—and they still had a long way to go before they could entertain side quests or personal matters.

Marcus sighed and ran a hand through his hair, leaning forward on the saddle a bit. Not now, he told himself. There’ll be time for that later. He had his blood in another man now—Liam. They’d faced death, stared it in the face, and beat it. That bond couldn’t be ignored. Right now, he had to focus on the bigger picture.

Still, he couldn’t help the little smile that tugged at his lips when he thought of her voice again.

Jason rode up beside him, noticing the quiet. "You good?" he asked.

Marcus blinked, snapped out of his thoughts. "Yeah," he said with a grunt. "Just thinkin’."

Jason smirked. "Must be serious if it shut you up."

"Piss off," Marcus muttered with a faint grin, but his eyes returned to the horizon.

When they eventually arrived at the bustling gates of Arthalon, the towering stone walls felt more familiar now than they did the first time they passed through them. The guards gave the group nods of recognition—one or two even offered slight salutes. Word of their exploits had clearly begun to travel, and though they still felt like strangers in a strange land, there was a sense of belonging now.

The merchant, riding beside them on his cart, seemed more relaxed than he had been for the past few days. Once they reached the main square, he parked the cart near a stable and hopped down, dusting his tunic off with a heavy sigh of relief.

"Well," he began, turning to the group with a satisfied grin, "this is where we part ways, I suppose. I owe you all more than I can say."

He reached into a small chest tucked under the driver’s seat of the cart and pulled out a small pouch for each of them. The jingle of coins was unmistakable.

"Ten silver coins each," he said, handing them out. "It’s not much, but it’s something to show my thanks."

"Ten silver? That’s more than fair," Jason said, pleasantly surprised.

"Much appreciated," Eleanor said with a nod, pocketing hers.

Sophia smiled warmly, and even Marcus gave a respectful nod as he took his.

Liam, who stood a little apart from the rest, accepted his pouch and gave the merchant a steady look. "You’re a good man," he said. "Not many would have done what you did."

The merchant chuckled. "Just don’t let anyone say old Thom didn’t help a few heroes in his day."

With that, they all shared a quick farewell before turning their focus to their next objective: the Adventurer’s Guild.

The guild building was still as lively as ever, its doors wide open, the scent of ale, sweat, and parchment wafting out as they stepped inside. Adventurers of all kinds were gathered—some boasting about their quests, others checking the notice boards, and a few passed out drunk in corners. The receptionist recognized them and offered a polite smile.

"You’re back. Welcome," she said. "I’m guessing you’re here to turn in your quest?"

"Yes," Liam replied. "Merchant escort job. Delivered him safely."

"Perfect," she said, flipping open her logbook and checking their names off. "Reward is confirmed."

As soon as she spoke those words, a soft ding echoed in each of their ears, and a translucent screen popped up in front of them.

[Quest Completed]

Reward - +2 points on all attributes and skills

But before they could even process that, a second ding sounded—sharper, heavier. The system screen glitched for a brief second before displaying something new and unexpected.

[New Main Mission Unlocked]

"Veil of the Forgotten"

Objective: Investigate the Disappearance of the Lost Hunters near the Tomb of Ancients.

Location: Eastern Ravines - Restricted Zone.

Difficulty: - King Tier

Status: Active

Reward: ???

The group froze.

"Wait... King Tier?" Jason said slowly, his eyes widening.

"Lost Hunters?" Eleanor muttered, her expression tightening.

"What the hell is the Tomb of Ancients?" Marcus asked, raising a brow. "That sounds like the kind of place that gets you killed."

Sophia looked around nervously, then back at the screen in front of her. "Why would the system assign something like this to us now?"

They were all thinking the same thing—this wasn’t just another escort or hunt quest. This felt bigger. More dangerous. And the system didn’t even list a fixed reward. That alone was unusual.

Liam didn’t say a word. He stared at the mission screen, his jaw clenched slightly. This... felt different. He could feel it in his chest, the weight behind the words Tomb of Ancients. Something was pulling them toward that place.

"Looks like our next adventure just got a hell of a lot more serious," he muttered under his breath.

The group exchanged uncertain glances. The game was changing—again.

After collecting the reward from the Guild’s receptionist and exchanging a few uncertain glances, the group quietly made their way out of the busy hall. The notification of the new mission still lingered in each of their minds like a storm cloud refusing to pass.

It was the highest difficulty they’d ever seen... and that alone said everything.

By the time they got back to their temporary residence, the silence had become heavy. Once inside, they all slumped into the chairs and couches of the dimly lit common room. No one spoke for a moment.

Then Marcus broke the silence.

"King Tier?" He scoffed. "Are they trying to kill us on purpose?"

Jason sighed and leaned against the wall. "Man... we almost died facing that Advanced Tier beast back in the farm, claws like razors, and it ran through my skin like they were made of paper!"

"That wasn’t even King Tier," Marcus groaned, rubbing his face. "So what the hell are we gonna be up against now? A freaking dragon? A demon lord? A kingdom full of undead with flaming swords?"

Sophia sat quietly, arms folded tightly under her chest, staring at the floor. "The system didn’t give any details either. Just the rank, location and the confirmation that it’s official."

Eleanor, always composed, leaned forward with a frown. "King Tier missions are known to be terrible threats. They don’t just hand them out... unless someone with clearance requested us directly."

Liam hadn’t said a word yet. He was sitting near the window, staring out at the bustling streets.

He finally turned to the group. "Whatever it is, we’ve handled a lot already. Poison, beasts... even a powerful noble."

"Don’t forget near-death transfusion surgery," Marcus muttered, raising a brow.

Liam smirked faintly. "Yeah... that too."

Jason pushed off the wall and walked toward the table. "All jokes aside, if this is a King Tier mission, we’re talking full-scale danger. We need to start preparing from now. Gear, potions, scrolls, tactics. Everything."

Eleanor nodded in agreement. "And possibly backup. If this threat is beyond what the five of us can handle, we’ll need to consider that."

Sophia glanced at Liam. "Do you think this mission has anything to do with why we were brought here in the first place?"

Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Maybe. Or maybe it’s just the next test. Either way, we’ll be ready."

Marcus exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his messy hair. "Better start sharpening our blades... and our wits."

Just then, the notification screen popped up again in front of each of them with a faint glow. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

[King Tier Mission: Directive Update in 24 Hours]