Stephan sat at his desk, hands clasped behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
He'd come in early, earlier than even Becky, the receptionist. Sleep had been impossible last night. His mind kept replaying the rooftop battle like a broken film reel stuck on chaos.
Two Players in the same office building.
Both dangerous. Both stronger than him.
But Anna had helped him. That part still didn't make sense.
Why?
He'd meant to confront her after Yennefer vanished, but by the time he'd turned around… she was gone. No trace. No footsteps. No lingering energy. Just shadows and perfume.
Teleportation magic? Illusion? Or was she just that fast?
He leaned forward slightly, just enough to glance past his monitor, to where she sat now.
She sat as if nothing had happened.
She hadn't looked at him once since she walked in. Just gave him a lazy smile when she passed his desk.
Today, she wore a tight red mini dress that clung to every curve, low-cut enough to command attention, high-slit enough to spark questions. The soft scent of lavender still drifted faintly in the air around her, but beneath it, Stephan could almost smell the danger again. The same razor-edge of power he'd felt when she stepped between him and death.
Was she showing off? Or sending a message?
Yennefer was absent today
The supervisor said she'd called in sick. No details. Just a text and silence.
Stephan had almost laughed. Not from amusement, but relief. Anna had rattled her.
Enough to keep her away.
He smirked slightly and leaned back again, fingers tapping the edge of his keyboard.
War was brewing.
Stephan got up and headed to the bathroom, the need to relieve himself too strong to ignore.
Afterward, he paused by the mirror.
A different face stared back at him,a harder face.
"Two Level 5s, huh?" he muttered, a grin curling at his lips. "As if they'd stop me. This time… it's my turn to run the world."
In the glass, he noticed it first: a shimmer of blue and black energy, swirling like smoke behind him.
He didn't turn.He just watched it form.
And then Anna stepped out of the portal, lips parted in a sly smile, teeth white and perfect.
"You're a hard man to scare, Stephan King," she said. "Most panic when an enemy appears behind them. But you? I'm impressed."
He turned at last, meeting her eyes without blinking.
"You can't scare a god."
Her smile widened. "Already calling yourself a god?"
"It will be mine to claim… soon."
Anna tilted her head, eyes glittering. "Already declaring yourself the winner of the tournament, I see."
She took a step closer, the scent of lavender thick in the air.
"I like confident men," she whispered.
Stephan's voice turned firm, almost cold.
"Didn't expect you to be a Player too. You, me… and Yennefer. Enemies under the same roof."
She raised a brow, then stepped in until he could feel the warmth of her skin. Her finger traced a slow line down his chest.
"We don't have to be enemies, Steph," she murmured. "We, could work together…"
Her lips brushed close to his ear, her breath hot."And I could help you with… other things, too."
She stepped back, her eyes dancing with mischief, a wicked grin on her face.
She was offering an alliance, same as Yennefer had done yesterday.
"As if I'd trust you," Stephan said, stepping back, his eyes narrowing.
Anna Mary's grin faded, replaced by a colder, sharper look. "This isn't about trust, Stephan," she said, her voice low and steady. "It's about survival."
She crossed her arms, her gaze locked on his. "Right now, we only know of three Players: you, me… and Yennefer. And Yennefer has already declared us enemies."
Stephan didn't answer, but his silence invited her to go on.
"We don't know how many others are out there," she continued. "Anyone could be a Player, waiting to strike. And there's no telling what level they might be at. Some could already be Level 10… maybe higher."
She stepped closer again, but this time her voice held urgency instead of seduction.
"If that's true, then you and I are sitting ducks. We won't survive this tournament if we fight each other now."
Stephan's jaw tightened. Her words weren't wrong, and they both knew it.
"We don't have to like each other," Anna said, her tone turning cold and practical. "Hell, we don't even have to trust each other. But until the others are gone, we should work together. Take them out one by one… then settle things between us when only we remain."
Stephan turned away, staring into the mirror again. For a moment, he let himself imagine it: cutting down other Players with Anna at his side… climbing levels… until the final clash between them decided who truly ruled.
His reflection seemed to grin back at him.
He turned back to face her.
"Fine," he said at last. "Temporary alliance. Until the rest are gone."
Anna's mouth curled into a slow, dangerous smile.
"Good," whispered Anna. "Let's get started then."
Stephan frowned. "Really? …Here? In the men's toilet?"
Anna raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Relax, I won't do anything to you," she said, though her gaze shamelessly slid from his shoulders down to his waist and back up again.
Stephan still didn't look convinced.
Anna let out a sigh. "Fine. Follow me, then."
That same blue-black energy shimmered into existence, swirling in the air beside them until it widened into a portal. Anna stepped halfway through, then turned, her silhouette framed by swirling light.
"You coming?"
Stephan hesitated, then followed her in.
The trip was over almost as soon as it began. When Stephan stepped out the other side, he stopped short.
They stood atop Kirkloma Tower, the tallest building in town.
Below them, Kirkloma sprawled in the sharp light of late morning: sun gleamed off glass windows and steel beams, traffic shimmered in lazy midday heat, and distant construction cranes poked at the sky like curious insects. Billboards flashed digital ads in bursts of color, while rooftops bristled with satellite dishes and water tanks.
A brisk wind swept across the rooftop, tugging at Stephan's clothes and teasing Anna's long black hair until it whipped around her shoulders like a living thing.
Anna turned to him, eyes sharp with purpose.
"Here," she said over the rush of wind, "Now let's discuss Yennefer ."
"She called in sick today," Stephan said, eyes scanning the skyline. "Think it's part of a strategy?"
"Dunno," Anna replied, shrugging. "Whatever she's planning, we've got to be ready."
"She'll probably guess we're working together now," Stephan added. "After that little show you pulled yesterday."
"What I did was necessary," Anna said, her lips curling into a sly smile. "I was protecting my interests."
"Huh…?"
She waved it away, shifting the conversation. "Yennefer won't stay hidden forever. She'll eventually show up, and she can strike anytime she wants."
"She can come at me whenever she likes," Stephan said coolly, "but she won't touch me."
"You're a Level 2 Player, Stephan."
He met her gaze, eyes steady. "All you and Yennefer have done over the past few days is underestimate me."
He paused, his voice dropping lower.
"Both of you are in for a surprise."
For a moment, Anna felt a flicker of doubt tighten in her chest. There was something unsettling about him, something that didn't fit the numbers. Intimidating… yet magnetic.
She glanced away, looking down at the town spread below them. "All I'm saying is Yennefer can't be underestimated either."
"The only way to beat her," she added softly, "is if we fight together."
Stephan was silent, eyes fixed somewhere past the horizon. Then finally, he spoke.
"Then we'll hunt her. Force her out of her rabbit hole."
"We'll see if she shows up tomorrow," Anna said. "If not… we'll have to find her. And eliminate her."
A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by the wind sweeping over the rooftop.
"What a nice view," Stephan said at last.
Anna turned to look at him, and saw his eyes weren't on the city at all, but on her. Her cheeks went red.
A ripple of blue-black energy shimmered open beside her, forming a portal. "I think we should get back to work," she said, clearing her throat.
Stephan slid his hands into his trouser pockets, gave a faint smirk, and stepped in first.
Anna watched him go, a smile tugging at her lips, pleased despite herself, then followed after.
*******
Stephan lay in bed, staring at the cracked ceiling, the shadows of night pooling around him.
Sleep refused to come and his mind replayed it all in an endless loop, both of the players he'd met were already on Level 5, dangerous.
They're stronger than me now, he thought. But that won't last.
It couldn't.
I have to become something they can't even imagine.
A quiet hum broke through his thoughts, like a whisper at the edge of hearing.
[DING!]
[The System has prepared a Special Quest.]
[Location: Abyssal Realm]
[Objective: Enter the Abyssal Realm and survive its trials.]
[Reward: ???]
[Warning: Death is permanent.]
[Do you wish to accept?]
[ ACCEPT/ REJECT]
Stephan's pulse quickened. The words glowed in the darkness, cold and final.
"Survive the Abyss…?" he murmured, voice barely a breath. "What the fuck is the Abyssal Realm?"