After some walking, he sees some players talking to one another next to a flatbed trailer. He approaches them asking for a driver that needs another person. After saluting, one of the players steps up.

“Sergeant Steve Grahame from the 9th Logistics Platoon, I’m currently waiting for one of the truckers to return and tag team with me.”

“Okay, I’ll take his place. Take me to your truck.”

Steve salutes and takes him to his road train parked next to the road outside the parking lot, the olive coloured truck with three trailers looked menacing as it stood on the open Sun.

“What’s inside these container vans?”

“Mostly five five six and seven sixty two’s. The second trailer has parts for the tanks, the third one are mostly kevlar plates and loaded stanag mags in crates sir.”

“I see, so we’re very explosive then.”

“Yes sir, totalling up to ninety eight tons total.”

“Are we all fueled up?”

“Yes sir, just gotta perform a pre-trip.”

“Alright, you take the right side, I’ll take the left. I also have a Dragon friend here with me, hope you don’t mind her.”

Steve enters the truck and starts it up, its diesel engine roars into life and the cab tumbles a bit as the fuel starts running into the engine, sparking power into it. He then turns on the hazard and the lights and the two start running their pre-trip. The Sergeant preps his documents for the time and men on board inside the cab.

Paul with Bahamut checks the left side of the road train, lightly kicking the tires of the 53.5 meter long combination. He pulls on the railings and spare tires underneath the flatbed, seeing if they’re properly secured, as he walks to the second trailer, he approaches the Ringfeder Hitch and see’s if the dolly’s drawbar was properly locked. After reaching the back, he looks at the lights on the left side and sees that it’s all working.

After doing his run, he hops into the right side of the cab and Steve who was on the Left side, in the driver's seat hops out to do his run. After finishing, he puts the truck into gear and it starts rolling through the road. The ride was smooth till they reached the outskirts where the roads turned into a dirt path. The three trailers behind could be seen rocking about as the truck pulls them through roads meant for carriages and horses.

Bahamut on the other hand was having a cozy sleep on the truck's dash, but Paul was alive and looking at the morning’s Sun. The noisy engine drowns out the sound of the forest and the wheels turning crush the soil below. Steve’s driving was excellent, he knew what to do and when it’s the right time to shift and turn the massive truck to avoid getting it damaged or stuck. It was after a good three hours of nonstop driving did he start slowing down as he approached a checkpoint by Eldwood and Meilurious. The steady fifty miles per hour speed starts dripping down to a mere 5 miles and the vehicle comes to a halt.

One of the soldiers of Eldwood approaches the truck through the driver's side.

“Yo Steve, who are you with?”

“General Paul.”

“Oh shit, good afternoon sir!”

Paul looks at the soldier and salutes. He hastily salutes back and let’s the truck through. Steve pulls the brake button and the truck slowly starts rolling and he puts the 18 speed gearbox to work. After a while, the Bahamut was moving about the cab, putting her face outside the window like a Dog as the truck sped through the dirt path. Bored, Paul chats with the driver.

“So Steve, how long have you been working for Eldwood?”

“-Krrrrr, chish-” Steve puts the truck into another gear before replying.

“About a year sir.”

“Must be one Hell of an experience, just joining us last year and now being transported in this foreign land.”

“Yes sir. But I’m happy that I got transported to this world with people. I would’ve immediately panicked if I was a lone Knight.”

“Were you on the defense?”

“Yes sir, Western side of the line. Fought against a Knight Cavalry attack.”

“-Chish, krrrgg-”

“I see, how was it?”

“It felt not as bad as I thought, yes I wasn’t able to sleep, but after that. I kinda just thought that it’s me or them sir.”

“I get that feeling, but even to this day, with so much blood on my hands. I can’t just let it through.”

“I’m sure you’ll be able to move on sir. We’ve made it this far and even achieved peace.”

“I guess so.”

“Did the other delegates sir mention anything about the other player groups?”

“Yes, Breznick and Libertus are doing very badly right now. If it weren’t for the fact that they have lots of high level players, they would’ve already been destroyed months ago. But it seems that the other modern guilds have been successful in staying low so far, it seems that we’ve been the first ones they’ve encountered.”

“Wow, so what’re they doing now?”

“Probably planning on how to go back home or maybe, the League of Modern Guilds has completely disintegrated and it's all out war. But war between the most modern weapons would certainly be very costly and noisy. Pretty sure it's the same objective as us.”

“Looks like we’ll be able to go home after all.”

“I’m pretty sure the Mages Guild could do something, with such high level magicians, they should be able to just poof us out of here. Or they know something too and aren't doing it.”

“I get the feeling sir that we’re in something deep.”

“Yep, keep her at sixty miles. Let’s get this one.”

“If I may ask sir, why are you here?”

“I had to check the route, so far this isn’t going to be easy to patrol. The dirt road can’t fit that many vehicles, and helicopters won’t have the time and range to patrol for this and many other annoying factors that make me want to just mass produce drones.”

“I see, so the only method is to scatter checkpoints?”

“I guess or ask Meilurious to help out in patrolling. They have the numbers and resources.”

“Yep, and sir there’s also the problem with attacks from the local animals, beasts of the edgelord Knights.”

“You mean us? Because we’re kinda as edgy as those of the Demon Lord’s.”

“I kinda see but then again- oh what’s that.”

As the road train was about to enter the highlands West of Meilurious, they saw a Humvee parked on the right side of the road with two soldiers hailing the truck. They stopped in front. The soldier sees the four stars on Paul’s collar and salutes.

“Sir, a road train got into an accident a few miles ahead. Last trailer got stuck in a ditch.”

“Cause?”

“Fog sir, a sudden fog came out of nowhere and the driver tried to avoid an animal that jumped to the front of his truck. He hit it with his bullbar but the animal is still not found.”

“Might be a demonic beast. Like, this is ninety tons on the roll. Hard to survive something like that. Was the accident recent?”

“Yes sir, about an hour ago. The truck reached the stockpile and the driver said he had to ditch the last trailer and escape.”

“Strange, you level 100 right? Demonic Beasts shouldn’t be that hard for you.”

“No idea sir, but just keep an eye out for it. It’s carrying a container van full of explosives sir. I’m only level Fifty sir. I’ve not yet reached the rank of Dark Knight.”

“Okay, you guys gonna wait here for the Humvee?”

“Yes sir, Lieutenant sent us here to warn road trains coming from the city.”

“Okay, keep up the good job okay? Keep safe.”

“Yes sir, and watch out for the fog. Truckers have said that it usually comes out of nowhere.”

“Copy that.”

Paul salutes and Steve puts the truck back into gear. The highlands were near and their speed was cut down from sixty miles per hour to thirty, though usually a straight road with a few turns here and there, the soil was obviously solidified mud. The temperature, which was already low, even went lower. Bahamut, who was energetic before then, starts sleeping.

Steve was high on alert, not giving an inch of attention to the cab or the general next to him. His eyes were trained hard on the road, following the trail closely. Paul on the other hand grabs his assault rifle which was on the sleeper bunk behind his seat and switches it from safety to single fire.

The once lightly forested area started turning into a dense forest with trees hundreds of feets high. Paul’s eyes were patrolling the horizon of the forest, sensing that this is a perfect place for an ambush.

“Steve, don’t stop for anything, okay? Something is very wrong with this place.”

“No need to tell me that sir, this place smells of Evil.”

As he drives the truck attentively, the road train starts reaching the hilly parts of the forest, the long combination starts dripping speed on the hardened mud road. At some parts, the truck was crawling at a mere two miles per hour. Bahamut though was tightly sleeping on the bunk behind their seats. The truck reaches the top of the hill and starts cresting it, below they could see the trailer that was left behind, it’s dolly still attached. It’s stuck there for good.

Seeing this, Steve edges the truck closer to right to avoid the tri-axle flatbed trailer. Using the truck's engine brake, he smoothly navigates the truck next to the abandoned cargoes and continues onwards.

After a few minutes, the dense forest was not ending, miles and miles around was nothing but extremely tall trees and bushery. Paul, who was still looking out the passenger side window, catches something, a black dog running with the truck and disappearing into the bushes.

“That’s weird.”

“What is it sir?”

“I saw a black dog.”

Shivers ran through Steve’s legs as he poured more power to the truck.

“What’s wrong? What’s with the black dog?”

“Nothing sir, just a bad omen for truckers. It’s just a saying but nonetheless, that’s not very welcoming. Not after seeing that ditched trailer.”

“I see. Well keep your eyes open for anything then.”

“Copy that.”

As the road train barrels through the forest, Paul casts Eyes of Endor. Which improves his awareness, detecting enemies further. It’s one of the most useful high level spells as it also works for enemies with high stealth. The road started getting more wet, as if it just recently rained on the place. Some parts of the road had large potholes full of water and Steve wasn’t having none of it and continually powers through them.

The weight of the trailers carried the truck through the challenging path, the momentum was good and the driver couldn’t be any happier with the weight on the back giving them the push needed to go through the holes.

Out of nowhere, thick fog starts coming through Paul’s. It was so dense that it looked like it was engulfting the trees, completely blocking out the Sun’s rays and any possible line of sight. Steve notices this and starts going through the road even more rougher, not taking any chances.

“Huh, a fog in a forest. The guys back there said something about this.”

“Naw, that’s weird sir.”

“What? It’s a fog right?”

“In the states, we call that a Valley Fog. And it’s never that fast. Something’s strange with this sir.”

“Okay, cast some spells. Looks like we’re getting into the shit of things.”

“Yes sir.”

Steve follows through and casts Greater Awareness and Ergath’s Eyes. His first spell makes him capable of feeling through the land while the second temporarily outlines enemy creatures or creatures that mean to do harm to him even with the fog. Bahamut though was still sleeping neatly behind, oblivious to the commotion happening.

Paul, who was ready to go, grabs Bahamut and puts her into his Kevlar vests’ pouch and rests his assault rifle barrel at the passenger side window. It was after a minute or so and the fog completely took them. They couldn’t see not even 2 feet in front even with the high beams turned on. All of the sudden, they run into something.

“-THUD, THUD, PWWIISH-” Steve immediately presses the parking brake and trailer brake. Completely stopping the road train after a few meters.

“What the Hell?! Why did we stop Steve?!”

“Whatever we hit… pulled an airline and did something with one of the brakes!”

“What?” angered and frustrated, Paul looks over to the driver's dash and sees that it has no brake air at all. The two men immediately jumped out of the cab, checking the perimeter. The fog was so thick they couldn’t even see half of the first trailer. With their guns up, Steve goes around to the passenger side, tracing the bullbar. He goes to the first trailer and opens one of the storage compartments underneath it and starts hurdling around for something.

“You have an extra hose and chamber in there?”

“Yea, wait for a bit. I’m looking for it.” As he rummages through, Paul keeps close to him. Pointing his gun at the dense fog.

“I got it!” As he says that, shots are fired into the fog. Waking up Bahamut, it’s Paul. At full auto, he’s firing shots into the fog aimlessly.

“Sir! Hold fire!”

“I saw it! What the fuck was that?!”

“Wha-what did it look like sir?”

Without thinking, Paul grabs Steve’s vest and pushes him to the front axle while Bahamut is seen clearly disturbed, looking left and right.

“Paul, this fog is different. It has Mana within it. I’ll watch your back, Mister Steve, please hurry.”

“O-of course!” As he hears Bahamut’s words. Steve drops to his chest and starts fixing the broken brake chamber. Paul on the other hand hops into the back and reattaches the pulled airline. He notices scratch marks behind the cab. He drops down and continues to guard Steve as he starts replacing the brake chamber.

Bahamut suddenly breathes fire right at Paul. A strange woman, with pale white skin immediately disappears.

“Fuck! It’s ghost enemies! I hated fighting them in the Dark World! Steve chop! Chop!”

“Oh shit, I know sir.”

With the magic he casted, Paul could feel the strange woman’s teleportations if close, though it seems to know this as it keeps teleporting far from his sights and his magic’s range. Bahamut on the other hand flies upward, transforming to her bigger form. She hovers and flaps her wings, clearing the truck and the first trailer of the fog. He drops his jaw as he notices the woman just outside of his awareness magic’s range.

She had empty deathly eyes, with long black hair that reached the ground. Her dress was clean but her hair was messy and her smile was messed up. It was so wide that it made him uncomfortable immediately. Paul fires a shot into her and she disappears just like that, avoiding the bullet before hitting her.

“I did it!” Steve stands up and runs into the cab immediately, he releases the parking and trailer brakes and the road train starts rumbling through the dirt road. Not having enough time to hop in, Paul grabs the passenger side mirror and puts his boots on the cabs steps with his assault rifle on one hand, pushed against his chest. Bahamut notices the truck was moving and starts following it.

“Bahamut! If you hear me! Do not burn the forest!”

She nods in reply and follows the road train till the strange fog clears. After the forest was once again open, Paul hops into the cab with Bahamut and removes his helmet from the tiring encounter. After the two have calmed and taken in the situation, Paul opens up.

“That’s gotta be players. No way can we experience something like that and not get killed.”

“I feel that too sir, they were intimidating us. Must be some sort of high level Necromancy and Weather control of sorts.”

“Yea, I get the same feeling. I might have to send some drones here after with a squad to investigate. What they’re doing is not cool at all.”

It was nearing the night when they'd reached the Stockpile that was in a forest. The road became bigger as more trucks were seen parked, doing pre trips and going both ways of the road. The dust was everywhere, and the headlights show the busy atmosphere as tankers enter the stockpile with crude oil. Still angry, Paul jolts out of the cab and heads to the commanding officer who was near the entrance counting the entering trucks.

“Bro, I want you to send one or two squads and investigate the surroundings of the abandoned trailer. I want a Drone circling that place and seeing who the Hell is living in it.”

“Copy that sir.”

He heads back to the road train and helps Steve in disassembling the three trailers and parking them in their respective places to get unloaded or taken to another checkpoint. The entire night is as busy, as the stockpile slowly gets more and more traffic as the routes become more crowded by trucks. Without a pint of sleep, Paul continually did his work. Managing the stockpile and helping around wherever he can. It was seven in the morning when a transport truck came in with a bunch of mages and people inside. Three more follow and the Humvee tailing them stops near him and a man comes out and salutes.

“Sir, we captured some low level players. They’ve been hiding within the forest, using low level necromancy to mess with passing trucks and units.”

“I see, who's their leader?”

“A man named Locke. He’s on the first truck, wearing Crimson Red Robes with the fancy hood. He says he’ll only speak to a high ranking commanding officer.”

“Okay, good job. Any casualties?”

“No Sir, just a bit traumatized by ghosts and Wendigoes.”

“Oof, take good care. Sleep tight soldier.” With a Salute, Paul turns his back and approaches the first truck. He waited for everyone to exit when the last man was wearing said Crimson Robe with a fancy ornate hood.

“Are you Locke?”

“Yes, I guess those four stars on your colour means you’re very high ranking.”

“Knight General Paul, level two hundred, legendary status. Knights of Eldwood. Commander of the fifth Mechanized Army.”

“Necromancy Mage Locke, level fifty, I’m called the Crimson Master of the Dead.”

“Weird name, but it’s good to have you here. Can you explain to me exactly why you're scaring my soldiers?”

“It’s not that we meant harm, we’re all mid-levels, no way would we be able to survive against you guys. Hence why we just scare you.”

“Why not go to a town or village?”

“They won’t really accept me and my groups of necromancy experts… We tried and got out of town by using necromancy to help out.”

“Then how about this, we have a city. No citizens, I’m sure you’ve known of it. It’s one of the most modern cities back then, when it’s all still a game.”

“Ah, that explains the skeletons. So you guys are the ones responsible for running that city?”

“Yep, and it's a free game if you want to live there and as you can see, we need a lot of your kind to run our army. The Mana Core underneath the city needs more people to use it’s power and I’m sure you and your people can give it some much needed life.”

“Of course! Please, I’m tired of living in this Medieval world. I need a comfy bed and a good shower.”

“Hm, I’ll notify the others and get you guys set up. Also, you know the rules right? No magic of any sorts or weapons inside player safe zones.”

“Of course, of course.”

After a few hours of talking and managing, the transport truck once again moves out of the stockpile and heads back to the city with the new citizens onboard. After assessing the entire place, and doing his rounds. Paul concludes his thoughts and boards the road train with Steve and heads back to the city. The sun was already half into the horizon when the road train entered the cityscape. He tells Steve to stop by the bus stop and exits. He says his goodbye to him and with Bahamut on his shoulders. He walks the open sidewalk. Devoid of life and people, the empty city streets were calm as the sun was sinking into the ocean.

He sits down on one of the benches that litter the street and takes in the quiet atmosphere, tired from the mission. He opens one of his Kevlar’s pouches and takes some leftover crackers that were in the MRE given to him and takes a bite as he places his feet on the bench and rests his whole body.

“What’re you thinking, M'Lord?”

“We might have to talk to the Architectural Guild. There’s way too much resources and way too little of us, we’ll have to streamline this all with trains. Which they have, secretly though. But we know about it.”

“Trains?”

“Yes Bahamut, large diesel electric locomotives used to haul miles of cargo through a railway. Those folks at the Architecture Guild built some to haul cargo for their massive projects. I know they still have those, so we need to contact them.”

“I see, but how will you achieve this? Do you know their location?”

“Yes, but the landscape has changed. So it might be hard to get in touch with them, I’ll have to ask the others about this.”

“There’s also the need to contact the secretive League of Modern Guilds, I really hope they’re all still good. We need to ally with them and make friends as quickly as we can.”

Sleepy, he simply dozes off after the conversation.

Miles away, a Black Ops squad is conducting an operation within a Village after a request came in from the Regions Governor about a Vampire outbreak slowly expanding. Through the screens of the Drone’s camera feed. It could be seen that the skeleton soldiers were mowing down the low level Vampires.

“Trevor, what level are you’re Black Ops guys again?”

“Those skeletons are almost level one hundred. Lot’s of NPC skills and spells too.”

“Ah, that explains a lot. I thought this was some heavy crap like actual skilled Vampires.”

“Yea, this might’ve been a bit overkill.”

“Good thing the Drone wasn’t armed with Hellfires.”

“I feel like this is a waste of highly trained fodder but they're around the area anyways.”

“Mhm, let’s just get this over with and call it a day.”

“Where's the big boss anyways?”

“He’s back at the Nor- I mean Western Airbase. I keep forgetting that the entire landscape has changed.”

“After this, I’ll be sending some of them to him. He was requesting a platoon sized one.”

“Guess there's a problem at the homestead.”

“Yep, that’s also where our factories are. Ugh, also about that Earl they’re talking about.”

As the two talk, little did they know the Black Ops soldiers down on the ground were about to meet an unexpected enemy. The soldiers were slowly tracing their way into the lonesome village as the Predator drone was flying far above them, a swing of a sword came through thin air and one of the soldier’s skulls was falling down in the ground. The two generals watching the broadcast notice it and they’re faces instantly go blank. Just frozen to what they just saw.

“Uhhhh, Trev. I think it’s time to retreat.”

“-BANG!- -BANG!- -BANG!-” With the presence of the enemy, the mindless skeleton soldiers start opening fire accurately into thin air. As if to detect the presence of the threat but not hitting anything. Trevor jumps into the radio microphone and immediately requests the team to retreat back to the nearby river and to extract.

“Damn it! John, send some Drones with Hellfires! Those skeleton soldiers are a different breed! We can’t lose them all!”

“I’m already on it, shut up.”

Two armed Predator Drone that was spying on a large town miles away diverts themselves to the area of operations. Back at the forest near the Village. The Black Ops soldiers started bolting back to the rubber boats on the river. Some were able to dodge the unknown attacker but others were taken into the darkness of the night.

“Fuck, these low level Vampires are gonna burn up anyways. Why did we do this?!”

“Remember, we accepted this since a few miles away there’s a large town. Of course we’d want to increase our reputation.”

“Just be sure to rain Hellfire into that forest.”

“Again, we’ll have to hold back with the property and soil damage. We already messed up the terrain enough.”

“Just be ready okay?!”