The rain had stopped by evening, leaving the village streets glistening under torchlight. Sanji stood at his window, watching players move through the square below. The atmosphere had changed over the past week people walked faster now, glanced over their shoulders more often, traveled in groups. Fear had become the new normal.
He checked the time: 11:30 PM. The mysterious meeting Kenji had mentioned would begin in thirty minutes at the old church near the north gate.
A soft knock on his door. Through the Party Link, he already knew it was Yuki.
"Come in."
She entered, followed by Akane. Both were dressed in dark clothing, weapons concealed but ready. They'd discussed this earlier attending the meeting was risky, but potentially valuable. Information was currency in this world, and they needed to know who else was resisting guild control.
"We're really doing this?" Akane asked nervously.
"We are," Sanji confirmed. "But carefully. We stay near the exits, we don't reveal our capabilities, and at the first sign of trouble, we leave. Agreed?"
Both nodded.
They left the inn separately, taking different routes to avoid drawing attention. The Party Link let them coordinate without being physically together Sanji could sense Yuki moving parallel to him two streets over, and Akane taking a longer route around the village perimeter.
The old church was a crumbling stone building that had been there since they'd first arrived an NPC structure that most players ignored. Its windows were dark, and moss grew thick on its walls. It looked abandoned, which made it perfect for a clandestine meeting.
Sanji arrived first, slipping into the shadows near the entrance. His Game Master's Eye scanned the area for threats or traps. Nothing obvious, but he noted three other players already positioned in concealment nearby others arriving early to scout, just as he had.
Yuki appeared next, approaching from the east. Then Akane from the south. They converged at the entrance without acknowledging each other appearing to be three separate individuals rather than a coordinated party.
The church door was slightly ajar. Sanji pushed it open, the hinges creaking ominously.
Inside, the pews had been pushed aside to create an open space. Candles provided flickering illumination, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. About twenty players were already there, standing in small clusters, speaking in hushed voices.
Sanji recognized a few faces players he'd seen around the village, some who'd been at the inn, others he'd passed in the forest. All of them were level six or higher. No weak players, no obvious guild members.
Kenji stood near the altar, talking with a tall woman who radiated competence. She was level nine, dressed in ranger equipment that looked expensive and well-maintained. Her name tag read: Hana - Level 9.
Wait. Hana. The same woman whose party had been attacked by the Crimson Fangs days ago.
Kenji noticed Sanji's arrival and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment but didn't approach maintaining the fiction that they weren't closely associated.
At exactly midnight, Hana stepped forward and raised her hand. The conversations died down.
"Thank you all for coming," she said, her voice strong and clear. "I know this is risky. I know some of you are wondering if this is a trap. So let me be direct: I'm Hana, level nine ranger, and I'm here because I'm tired of watching strong-arm guilds turn this world into their personal kingdoms."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the gathered players.
"The Crimson Fangs, the Red Talons, the Iron Brotherhood all of them are using the same playbook. Claim territory, demand tribute, eliminate opposition. They're building feudal systems where they're the lords and we're the peasants. I don't know about you, but I didn't survive this long just to become someone's servant."
More nods, stronger agreement.
"But we can't fight them individually," Hana continued. "They have numbers and organization. What we need is our own network not a guild with rigid hierarchy, but a coalition of independent players who can share information, provide mutual support, and push back against exploitation."
A voice from the crowd: "What exactly are you proposing?"
"An alliance," Hana said. "We call it the Free Blades. No mandatory dues, no territory claims, no forced obligations. Just cooperation. We share information about safe hunting grounds, good quests, and guild movements. We back each other up when one of the big guilds tries to bully someone. And we work together to access content that would otherwise be monopolized."
"Like the dungeon," someone said.
"Exactly like the dungeon," Hana confirmed. "The Crimson Fangs are planning to seal it off. I propose we hit it first. A coordinated raid by Free Blades members. We clear it, we get the loot, and we prove that independent players can compete with organized guilds."
The energy in the room shifted. Players were leaning forward, interested now.
"How would this work?" a warrior asked. "The dungeon recommends level ten, minimum five-person parties. We'd need multiple parties, which means coordination, which means leadership. Sounds like a guild to me."
"Temporary coordination for a specific goal," Hana countered. "After the dungeon, parties go their separate ways. No permanent structure unless people choose to maintain connections. The difference between us and a guild is consent everything is voluntary."
Sanji was impressed. Hana had clearly thought this through. She was offering structure without control, cooperation without coercion. It was a smart pitch.
Through the Party Link, he felt Yuki's analytical approval and Akane's hopeful optimism.
"I'm in," someone said. Then another. Then several more.
"Good," Hana said. "We'll organize properly tomorrow evening. For now, I need to know skill sets. Who here are tanks?" A few hands raised. "Healers?" Three hands. "DPS?" Most of the room. "And anyone with special abilities scouts, trap detection, anything unusual?"
Sanji hesitated. Revealing his Game Master's Eye could make him a target, but it could also make him valuable enough to protect. Through the Party Link, he felt Yuki's caution and Akane's trust in his judgment.
He raised his hand. "I'm a scout with enhanced detection abilities. I can spot traps, hidden paths, and enemy weaknesses."
Hana's eyes locked onto him. "That's extremely valuable for dungeon work. What level?"
"Nine."
"Perfect. You'll be essential for mapping the dungeon safely." She made a note, then continued surveying the room.
After another thirty minutes of discussion, the meeting concluded. Hana distributed information about a rendezvous point for tomorrow's planning session a clearing in the western forest, away from guild territories.
As players began to leave, Hana approached Sanji. Up close, she was even more formidable confidence born from survival and skill.
"You're the one who saved Kenji from those shadow wolves," she said. It wasn't a question.
"Word travels fast."
"In a world where death is permanent, people remember who helps and who hurts. You've built a reputation for being competent and decent. That's rare." She glanced at Yuki and Akane, who'd subtly moved closer. "Your party?"
No point denying it. "Yes. We work well together."
"I can tell. The way you're positioned, the awareness you've got good instincts." Hana extended her hand. "I meant what I said in there. This isn't about building an empire. It's about survival with dignity. If your party wants in on the dungeon raid, you're welcome."
Sanji shook her hand. "We'll be there. But we prefer to maintain our independence afterward."
"Understood. That's what Free Blades is about." She handed him a small token a bronze coin with a sword etched on it. "Show this at the rendezvous tomorrow. It proves you were here tonight."
After Hana left, Sanji, Yuki, and Akane exited separately again, reconvening at the inn once they were sure they weren't followed.
"What do you think?" Sanji asked once they were safely in his room.
"Hana seems genuine," Yuki said. "But group raids are messy. Too many variables, too many people we don't know. If the dungeon goes badly, we could end up used as cannon fodder."
"Or we could gain allies and access to content we couldn't clear alone," Akane countered.
"Both are true," Sanji said. "Here's what I propose: we attend tomorrow's planning session, evaluate the raid composition and strategy. If it looks solid, we participate but maintain autonomy over our own actions. If it looks like a mess, we politely decline and attempt the dungeon on our own later."
"Splitting the difference," Yuki said with a slight smile. "Very Adventurer-class of you."
They spent another hour discussing contingencies before finally calling it a night. As Sanji prepared for bed, he reflected on how much had changed in just over a week. They'd gone from confused, panicked players to level-nine adventurers planning dungeon raids and political resistance.
The world was forcing them to grow up fast.
The next day passed in preparation. They restocked potions, sharpened weapons, and did light grinding to top off their experience bars they were each about seventy percent of the way to level ten.
As evening approached, they headed to the western forest rendezvous point. About thirty players had gathered more than were at last night's meeting. Word had spread.
Hana stood on a fallen log, addressing the assembly. "Thank you all for coming. Let's get straight to business. The dungeon raid happens tomorrow at dawn. The Crimson Fangs are raiding the day after, so we have a narrow window."
She unfurled a hand-drawn map. "The dungeon entrance is here, three miles east. Scout reports say it's a cave system called the 'Whispering Depths.' Level recommendation is ten, party size five minimum. We've got thirty-two people here, so we'll form six parties with some scouts floating between them."
She began organizing parties based on class composition. Sanji's group remained together, with two additional members assigned: a level-eight warrior named Takeshi and a level-nine healer named Mei.
Takeshi was broad-shouldered and quiet, his equipment well-maintained. Mei was nervous but competent, her healing magic rated as advanced.
"Your party will take the vanguard position," Hana explained to Sanji. "Your scout abilities mean you'll map the safe route. The other parties will follow at five-minute intervals. If you hit trouble you can't handle, fall back and let another party take point."
It was a solid strategy using multiple parties as waves rather than one massive, uncoordinated group.
They spent two hours planning, discussing signals, emergency protocols, and loot distribution. By the time the meeting ended, everyone knew their roles.
As they walked back to the village, Takeshi fell into step beside Sanji. "Heard you stood up to Ryoga at the vine serpent grove. That took guts."
"Or stupidity," Sanji said.
"Maybe both." Takeshi grinned. "But I respect it. Too many people are just rolling over for these guilds. Nice to see someone with spine."
Through the Party Link, Sanji felt Yuki's assessment of Takeshi cautiously positive. The warrior seemed genuine, and having a dedicated tank besides Sanji would make the dungeon significantly safer.
Mei was quieter, walking slightly behind. Akane engaged her in conversation about healing strategies, and gradually the healer relaxed, opening up about her experience so far in Alkhali World.
By the time they reached the village, their five-person party had developed a fragile but real camaraderie.
"Get good sleep tonight," Sanji told them. "Tomorrow is going to be intense."
Back in his room, Sanji lay awake for a long time, his Game Master's Eye unconsciously active, scanning the darkness for threats that weren't there.
Tomorrow they would enter their first real dungeon. Tomorrow they would face challenges designed to test organized parties of level-ten players. Tomorrow they would either prove themselves capable of competing with the guilds, or they would die trying.
He thought about Yuki's brother, sick in the real world. About Akane, who'd been betrayed and left to die. About all the players struggling to survive in this nightmare.
They had to succeed. Not just for themselves, but for everyone counting on the Free Blades to stand up to tyranny.
Sleep finally came, bringing dreams of stone corridors, ancient magic, and whispers in the dark.
To be continued...