A thick silence, like ether-soaked cotton, enveloped the forest. The trees weren't wood, but black crystal, their trunks twisting into impossible spirals, like frozen claws in a spasm. Their translucent, obsidian-sharp leaves tinkled with a cold melody when the breeze brushed them, a sound that filtered into the soul like choked laughter through glass teeth.
The ground, covered by a silver mist that clung to ankles like eager spectral hands, glowed with phosphorescent glimmers. These were ether spores, tiny luminous particles that floated slowly, illuminating the lost runes hidden among the forest's twisted shadows. Some radiated a pure, golden aura, promises of power and victory. Others, the corrupted ones, pulsed with a dark, sickly red, like open wounds in reality itself—a silent warning.
And then there were the echoes. Whispering voices, fragments of phrases, distorted laughter, and choked screams from past participants, trapped in the forest like energy ghosts. Sometimes, a child's giggle; other times, a desperate moan. Always behind you, playing with your perception. Never directly in front of you, because what you can't see is what frightens you most.
From her seat in the observation lounge, Architect Samantha Jens never took her eyes off the monitors. A satisfied smile, one she couldn't—and didn't want to—hide, curved on her lips. On the main screen, Danny Mercer held out his hand, and a map of light wove with his fingers tracing invisible lines in the air. Danny had done it from the start, and Samantha knew the other Architects must be burning with jealousy. Of course, localization magic existed in the Ether Tower's vast library, but not as he had conjured it. To use air and light magic combined in such a perfect, stable pattern was something only Danny could control.
"That's not in the manuals," murmured Veyne, the Shadow Architect, from the other end of the room.
"Of course not," Samantha replied, without looking away from the screen. "Because no one else was smart enough to try it."
Kael, the most imposing of the Architects, crossed his arms. "Combined air and light magic… without destabilizing. That's not control, it's…"
"Genius," Samantha finished, her tone final.
On the screen, Danny's map pulsed more strongly, guiding the team toward the second rune. Ethan, Sophie, Liam, and Kara followed without question, their steps now sure, as if they finally understood that Danny was not a hindrance, but the compass that would guide them. Everything was starting to turn in their team's favor. They were heading for two runes, or at least, one was crucial. Danny barely managed a small, almost imperceptible smile as his teammates watched what he was doing.
Samantha chuckled, a low, satisfied sound that echoed dangerously in the room. "Ha."
The other Architects said nothing. There was no need. Because as Team Outcast advanced, the entire game began to twist… in their favor.
The Architects silently watched the screens showing Ethan's speech. He hadn't been chosen as the official leader—that role belonged to Jake, with his raw strength and commanding presence—but to Samantha, that didn't matter. He didn't need a title to move people. He had proven it in the entrance trials. While other participants sweated and struggled, Ethan spoke. And when Ethan spoke, people listened. Not because of his perfect face, not because of his millions of followers, but because he knew exactly what to say, how to say it, and when.
"He's a born manipulator," murmured Veyne, the Shadow Architect, with disdain.
"He's a strategist," Samantha corrected, keeping her eyes on the screen. She watched as Ethan let Lara and Torn from Team Osiris go, not out of weakness, but because he understood something others didn't: the real game wasn't the rune hunt, but what came next—the final trials.
Kael, the Strength Architect, grumbled. "We shouldn't allow him to convince other teams. That breaks the balance."
Samantha merely smiled. "Balance?"
On the surrounding screens, chaos erupted.
The Other Teams' Battles
While Team Outcast stealthily advanced toward their rune, the rest of the participants tore each other apart.
Team Solaris, divided and bleeding, struggled between loyalty and survival instinct. Zara burned everything in her path, but her own teammates began to eye her with suspicion.
Team Vanguard was a war machine, but even Kael couldn't be everywhere. Brenna and Garrick hunted solo, accumulating points but losing cohesion.
Team Mirage vanished among the trees, but their illusions no longer deceived anyone.
And amidst it all, Team Outlaws... did what they always did: observed.
Samantha savored every second. Because while the others wore themselves out, her team—her experiment—was heading straight for a secure rune, intact, united. And Ethan, the unrecognized orator, had been key to that.
"Do you see now why I chose him?" Samantha murmured, as the other Architects argued amongst themselves. No one replied. There was no need. The game had changed.
The Architects' lounge vibrated with unresolved tensions. Holographic screens projected images of the forest, scattered teams, and runes glowing in their hiding places. Samantha Jens reclined in her seat, a playful smile on her lips as she toyed with an ether card between her fingers.
On the screen, the sound of water falling in liquid ether curtains resonated like an ancient whisper. The cascade shone under a light from no sun, illuminating the air with silver glimmers that dispersed like stardust. Danny's map pulsed more strongly in his palm, signaling their proximity.
Sophie was the first to approach, her fingers grazing the water that didn't dampen, but passed through skin like a cold memory. "It's an illusion," she murmured, quickly pulling her hand back.
Liam didn't wait. With an agile move, he passed through the water curtain, disappearing into the shimmering mist. A second later, his muffled voice called out: "There's a cave!"
Kara followed him, then Ethan, whose golden silhouette vanished in the glow.
Danny lingered a second longer, looking back. The forest breathed behind them, its crystal trees leaning slightly, as if watching. Had they been followed? Paranoia crawled up his back like a shiver. Every shadow seemed to hold a hidden figure, every rustle of leaves, an enemy's step.
"Jake and the others will be fine," Danny repeated to himself. But certainty wouldn't come.
He advanced. The cave opened like a throat of black stone, its walls encrusted with crystals that pulsed in sync with Danny's map. It wasn't just a shelter: it was a living place.
"I admit, I didn't expect Danny to be this good," Samantha said, sliding the card onto the table.
Veyne, the Shadow Architect, frowned. "It's not fair. You chose him. You manipulated the trials."
Kael, arms crossed, grumbled. "It's not manipulation if he did it himself. The kid calculated runes even we hadn't considered."
Samantha chuckled, softly, as if enjoying a private joke. "And Ethan… well, you didn't even notice him. But look at him now."
On the screen, Ethan walked at the front of his group, his voice resonating with that persuasive cadence that made even the most skeptical stop and listen. He wasn't the official leader, but he didn't need to be.
"We didn't choose him because he had millions of followers," Samantha continued. "We chose him because we knew that, sooner or later, they would need him to keep the team together."
The other Architects exchanged glances. They couldn't deny it.
Meanwhile, on public screens across the city, host Marcus Vey appeared with his immaculate smile, suit, and hair.
"Citizens of the Nexus!" he announced. "The finals are approaching, and teams are just one step away from securing their place in history. But first, a message from our generous sponsors…"
Cameras zoomed out to show huge floating logos: EtherWear, NexusEnergy, HoloTech. The public sighed, some laughing, others complaining. But everyone kept watching.
As the commercials ran, in the forest, teams approached their objectives. Team Outcast moved stealthily, Danny guiding them and Ethan ensuring no one was left behind. Team Vanguard scattered, members hunting solo. Team Solaris was consumed by internal arguments. Team Outlaws… well, no one really knew what they were doing.
Samantha, still in the Architects' lounge, let out a satisfied sigh. "Everything is going according to plan."
The other Architects didn't respond. There was no need. The game continued its course.
ETHERCHAT 🌐: Forest Buzz by Team! 💥
(The latest from the Ether Games' social media, summarized by team.)
Team Outcast (The Unexpected Geniuses!): Danny is the unlikeliest hero; his new mapping rune is game-changing, silencing haters and making fans swoon. Ethan, the "golden boy," is using his charisma to save his team from infighting, leading to speculation: pure leader or master manipulator? The internet is shipping Dethan hard after a subtle interaction. Sophie is the ultimate unsung MVP, deftly disarming traps and saving Liam, yet cameras barely catch her—justice for Sophie! Liam gave everyone a fright with screams but is confirmed okay. Team leader Jake surprisingly split the team, a bold move now lauded as "Captain Surprise."
Team Vanguard (Brutality with Internal Drama!): Kael is trending after incinerating his own suit, now looking even more epic as "King of Arrogance," especially after mercilessly hunting down three rivals off-camera. Despite their ruthless efficiency, Brenna and Garrick are reportedly not speaking, hinting at deep internal rifts. Vex is noticed as Kael's loyal, bloodthirsty shadow, always covering his back.
Team Solaris (Self-Destruction in Real-Time!): A full-blown civil war erupted between Zara and Dorian, ending with Dorian's scarred exit and Zara being crowned "Queen of Survival" for her ruthless tactics. Helios tried to mediate but got caught in the crossfire. Caden seems to be the only one agile enough to keep up with Zara's fiery pace.
Team Outlaws (The Enigmatic Playmakers!): Rook continues to fuel conspiracies: he doesn't blink, corrupt runes avoid him, and some think he might not even be human. His mysterious interactions with Selene, the team's fiercest member, are pure gossip gold. Finn is always lurking, waiting for the "perfect chaos" to strike, like when Rook and Selene oddly ignored a found rune.
Team Mirage (Masters of Illusion and Paranoia!): Aura's command over illusions is terrifying, demonstrated when they used a fake Rook to scare Team Solaris. The forest is riddled with their nightmarish mirror traps, making everyone paranoid. The biggest question is whether Team Mirage members are even real or just Architect drones.
Team Sage (The Silent Watchers!): Orlan appears surprisingly calm, while his teammate Seraphine watches everything with intense, cold precision, missing no detail. There's buzz about Mirai's ability to "dive" through runes without triggering traps, showcasing their uncanny precision.