The group moved as a unit, heading northwest along the river’s edge. The grassland gradually gave way to rockier terrain, and the ruins became more frequent. Most were little more than collapsed walls and broken foundations, remnants of whatever civilization had occupied this land before the game’s current factions took over.

After several minutes of walking, Vi pointed ahead. "There. That’s the one I saw."

King followed her gesture and spotted the structure. A small shack, weathered but still standing, positioned near the edge of where the grassland met the foothills leading toward the Seven Great Kings’ territory. The shack’s walls were constructed from rough-hewn timber reinforced with stone at the corners. The roof was intact, covered in moss and overgrown vines. A single door hung slightly crooked on its hinges, and two small windows flanked either side.

It wasn’t much, but it was shelter.

The group approached cautiously. King entered first, checking for threats or structural instability. The interior was sparse, a single room with a dirt floor, a stone fireplace in the corner, and a wooden table with two chairs.

Dust covered every surface, and cobwebs hung in the corners, but the structure was sound.

"It’ll do," King said.

Eli entered next, still carrying Maya. The child looked around with interest, her eyes lingering on the fireplace. He set her down gently, and Maya immediately walked over to inspect the stone hearth.

Vi entered last, closing the door behind her. She surveyed the room with a critical eye. "Not exactly the Victorian estate, but it’s better than nothing."

King walked to one of the windows and looked out, studying the surrounding area. The shack’s position offered decent sightlines in multiple directions. They could see anyone approaching from the grasslands or the river. The foothills behind them provided cover and potential escape routes if needed.

"We’ll fortify this tomorrow," King said. "For tonight, we rest."

Vi moved to stand beside him at the window. She leaned against the frame, her shoulder brushing his arm. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply stood together, watching the sun begin its descent toward the horizon.

"King," Vi said quietly.

He turned to look at her.

"Thank you," Vi said. "For getting us all here safely."

King held her gaze for a long moment, then reached out and took her hand. "We’re not safe yet. But we’re together. That’s what matters."

Vi squeezed his hand, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Behind them, Eli had started a small fire in the fireplace using dried wood he’d found outside. Maya sat cross-legged on the floor near the flames, watching them dance with quiet fascination.

King and Vi remained at the window, their hands intertwined as the light outside gradually faded. The Second Woe was still active, the pruning games still ongoing, and danger still lurked in every direction.

But for now, in this small shack at the edge of two warring territories, they had found a moment of peace.

A notification chimed softly in King’s interface.

He opened his messages, still holding Vi’s hand.

One new message from Pantheon.

[Pantheon: I’ll be coming soon.]

King stared at the message for a moment, then closed the interface. He would deal with Pantheon soon enough.

But right now, he was exactly where he needed to be.

With Vi.

THE NEXT DAY

The morning came quietly, sunlight filtering through the shack’s small windows. King woke first, as he always did, and spent time checking his interface to make sure everything was in order.

Vi turned beside him, stretching as she sat up. Eli had taken first watch during the night and was already awake, he woke few minutes after King and was still sitting near the fireplace with Maya curled up beside him.

The child was asleep, free from the struggles of their lives.

King stood and walked to the window, looking out at the territory. The grasslands stretched endlessly, bathed in morning light.

Everything seemed calm.

Then the global announcement shattered the silence.

[GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT]

[THE SEVEN GREAT KINGS ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN DEFEATED]

[VICTORIOUS ALIGNMENT: ALL-GODS]

[THE SEVEN GREAT KINGS ALIGNMENT HAS NOW BEEN ANULLED. AND THE ALL-GODS ALIGNMENT CAN LAY CLAIM TO THEIR TERRITORY]

King face froze in surprise as he stared at the notification.

The Seven Great Kings. Defeated.

Already?.

The Second Woe was only a few days, and the All-Gods faction had already won a thousand pruning points off The Seven Great Kings.

That shouldn’t have been this easy. The Seven Great Kings faction was one of the strongest in the game, defended by legendary NPCs with armies at their command. Taking them down required coordination, overwhelming force, and time.

Vi rushed to the window beside King, her interface already open. "Did you see that?"

"I saw it," King replied quietly.

Eli stood as well, careful not to wake Maya. He moved closer, his expression grave. "Master King, if the All-Gods alignment has already claimed a major territory, they have significant momentum."

King opened the World Chat, knowing what he would find.

The chat had erupted into absolute chaos.

[NO FUCKING WAY]

[Seven Great Kings down in ONE DAY???]

[How is that even possible?]

[All-Gods alignment is stacked. They’ve got the numbers and the coordination]

[I mean, they are the final bosses for a reason]

[RIP to everyone who picked Seven Great Kings lmao]

[lol, what a shame, they’re definitely a bunch of weaklings]

[Who led the charge? Anyone know?]

[Probably their heavy hitters. I heard Cain is with All-Gods]

Then a new message appeared, standing out from the spam.

[Goliath_Reborn: The All-Gods alignment is coming for the rest of zone 1. One by one, we’ll claim every territory. And our weapon? Cain. He’s unstoppable. You’ve all been warned.]

King’s eye fixed on that particular text, his fist clenched instinctively.

Cain.

That same guy. King had expected Cain to be a threat, but seeing confirmation that he was actively leading the All-Gods alignment’s assault changed the calculus.

And they were close. Uncomfortably close.

The Null Alignment Territory bordered what had been the Seven Great Kings’ domain. Now that territory belonged to the All-Gods faction. Which meant Cain and his forces could practically be at their doorstep.

Vi must have been reading the same messages. She turned to King, concern etched across her face. "Cain threatened you directly in the World Chat already. Now he’s right next door."

"I remember," King said evenly.

Eli crossed his arms. "If Cain decides to push into our territory, we need to be prepared. He won’t come alone."

King closed the World Chat and checked his stats. His MP had fully regenerated overnight, sitting at maximum capacity. Vi had healed his injuries from the previous day’s encounters using her skills, bringing his HP back to full. He was in peak condition.

There was no better form to face cain.

But with his victories, there was no telling what upgrade he’d gotten just after the ranking update. Complacency fled from King at that thought.

A notification chimed in his interface.

King opened his messages and saw Pantheon’s name.

[Pantheon: I’ve arrived at the Null Alignment Territory. Let’s meet.]

King stared at the message for a moment, then typed his response.

[King: Where?]

[Pantheon: I’m near the eastern edge, close to the river. I’ll wait for you here.]

King closed the interface and turned to Vi and Eli. "Pantheon’s here. I’m going to meet with him."

Vi frowned. "Pantheon, since when?."

"Don’t worry about it" King said. "I’ll fill you both in when I get back."

Eli nodded slowly. "Be cautious, Master King."

King grabbed equipped his mage staff as a precaution. Then he walked to the door and stepped outside.

The morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of wildflowers and fresh water from the nearby river. King oriented himself using his map and started walking.

The terrain sloped gently downward as he approached the river. The grasslands thinned out, replaced by scattered rocks and patches of bare earth. King spotted a figure standing near the water’s edge, arms folded casually as he waited.

Pantheon.

King approached slowly, studying the man as details came into focus.

Pantheon wore red-tinted transparent spherical glasses that caught the sunlight, giving his eyes an almost ethereal glow. His hair was cut extremely short, a low buzz cut that was almost skin-level. Beneath the glasses, his pale-yellow eyes tracked King’s approach with sharp intelligence. He wore an elitist robe, high-quality fabric dyed in faded green with gold embroidery along the hems and cuffs. The robe suggested wealth, status, or at least a deliberate projection of both.

A pale snake coiled around Pantheon’s shoulders. The creature’s head rested near Pantheon’s collarbone, its tongue flicking out occasionally to taste the air.

Pantheon stood roughly six feet one inch tall, his posture showed complete calm. And across his face stretched a broad, clever smile, the kind of smile that suggested he knew something you didn’t and yet deliberately played dumb.

"Kiinng," Pantheon said, his voice lingered for a bit with that call out. "Good to finally meet face-to-face."

King stopped a few meters away, keeping his distance. "Pantheon."

Pantheon gestured toward the river. "Beautiful territory you’ve created here. Neutral ground between two warring factions. Can’t say I fancy the positioning though."

"That was not my call," King replied.

"I see"

Pantheon’s smile widened slightly. "Well, I’m certain you got the news, and now that the All-Gods alignment has claimed the northern sector. You’re essentially placed as the next target."

"Seems like it."

Pantheon studied King for a moment, his eyes held a secret even through the tinted lenses. The snake on his shoulders shifted slightly, twirling as if observing King himself. "I have to say they did fall faster than anyone expected. Well, anyone except me of course"

"Cain led the assault," King said. "is he still not a problem for you?".

"He did, I know how it all happened" Pantheon confirmed. "And no he isn’t, for now."

King processed the information. "And you know this how?"

"I have my sources," Pantheon said vaguely. "Let’s just say I make it my business to stay informed."

"Why are you here?" King asked directly.

Pantheon’s smile shifted, becoming more genuine. "Straight to the point. I appreciate that." He adjusted his glasses slightly, the red tint reflecting the river’s surface. "I wanted to meet you. That’s all.

"And afterward?" King asked.