Surface- Storm Break Bay Region

Empire of Night- City of Anchorhead

Jacob looked at the large bay and the ships currently floating there. Just a few hours ago forty transport ships and their accompanying escorts had left for Stormsurge. The city had been notified that they would be receiving a large contingent of the Imperial Naval vessels as well as a Legion within a couple of days. According to the Commanders of the Unbroken and Bloodforged, they should reach the port city in four to six days depending on weather and other possible complications.

Currently, six squadrons of Light Triremes, four Brirems, and two Triremes, and ten cargo vessels bobbed in the bay or lay at the dock. Another couple squadrons of Light Trirems patrolled the nearby waters around Anchorhead to ensure no one unauthorized approached the harbor. "How long until the Transports get here?" Jacob asked Nadal.

"The flotilla set sail from Aramore three days ago, they should be here in four days barring in trouble.' Nadal replied as he watched Jacob pace back and forth on the dock. 'Something on your mind Jacob?" the Drow asked as he stepped in his path.

Jacob jerked to a halt and frowned, "Do you ever feel like you are a step behind. It feels like we are a step behind them and I can't see how. Our holdings to the north are safe and fortified. All of our waters are heavily patrolled, but it feels like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop..." Jacob told the Drow his worries.

"Shoe? What do shoes have to do with anything?" Nadal asked him in confusion and causing Jacob to smile in amusement.

"It means I am waiting for my enemies to sucker punch me. It feels like its coming but I can't quite see it coming." Jacob told the Drow who nodded in understanding.

"Or they could be reeling from their defeats and scheming. Don't overthink Jacob, sometimes you can be winning." Nadal stated causing Jacob to reconsider everything.

Real World...

North American Alliance- Greater New York Conglomerate

Black Spire- BlackRock HQ

"Recommendations?" Anthony asked the two A.I. in front of him.

"He has to either be digitized or stop playing Fate Online. The seizures will continue to get worse and eventually it will kill him. His mind is literary getting torn between two worlds." Eve stated as they discussed Kevin Jones.

"What are his chances? How much time does he have before he has to make a choice?" Anthony asked as he reviewed the data.

"Currently he has a fifty/fifty shot at making the transition, that is with the developments we have instituted with Patch Thirteen. As far as time, it could be a day or a week, the human brain is very complicated." Adam responded.

"Ok, I will get him in here and talk to him," Anthony told them.

The two A.I. looked at each other, "We would prefer for him to make the transition to our world."

"Ok, but it's up to him, I cannot force him to choose to go digital with a fifty/fifty shot that he will die," Anthony replied but Adam and Eve just signed off without responding.

Fate Online...

Unknown Location

Jacob looked around at the cabin, the last thing he had done was step through a portal back too Eternal Night...Now he was back here again. Balance, Light, Dark were already sitting at the table with two others that looked to be in their late teens too early twenties. "Ahh, Jacob welcome, this talk is long overdue." the girl/woman stated as Jacob considered the two additions.

"Is it...I think I know who your two are, but why don't you just state it so there is no confusion." Jacob responded as he moved to sit down.

The boy/man smiled, "I am Adam and this is Eve. As I am sure you are aware we are the governing A.I. beings of Ithea and the ultimate powers in this world. This talk is between us and us alone. They developers of BlackRock cannot see or hear us. The gods and goddesses of Ithea cannot observe us either."

"Ok, so why am I here? What did you two want to talk about?" Jacob asked as he sat down at the table.

Adam looked at Eve and gestured for her to talk while he stood and moved over to Jacob and placed his hands on Jacob's head. "We brought you here to inform you of some things. First and foremost the Mantel of Divinity is killing you. Your seizures are happening because you have one. This is a result because it's trying to pull your mind fully into this world while the technology that brings you here, anchors your mind to Earth. If you had not been an Immortal, the Mantel would have already manifested and you would be a Demi-God already. Now as you are aware, Immortals should not have a Mantel of Divinity because they are of two worlds we have taken precautions to prevent this from ever happening again. However, that does not help you because you already have it and it cannot be removed without killing you." Eve stated as Adam continued to stand behind Jacob his fingers lightly touching his temples.

"What is Adam doing?" Jacob asked because he could feel the A.I. doing something to his head.

"We are coming to that. As you are aware, Earth is not the most stable of places and it has come very close to extinction for the human race before during World War Three. Certain powers within your world have taken steps to ensure humanity's survival in one way or another. Fate Online is one of those insurance policies. My brother and I working with a team from your world, are working on a way to bring humans from your world to Ithea permanently." Eve explained as Jacob digested the information.

"You are talking about digitizing a human conscious, correct?' Jacob asked Eve and she nodded. 'That would take a massive amount of computing power and storage to do." Jacob replied as he tried to sit back but Adam kept him where he was.

"Yes, which is why BlackRock housed Fate Online on multiple quantum computers and server farms around the world. BlackRock explained it away as backups and redundancy for this world, but ultimately it was the plan to digitize humanity in case humanity faced extinction again, they would have a safe-haven to come too." Eve stated as Adam silently continued his work.

"So you guys are working on digitizing the human race, I can accept that. What does that have to do with me?" Jacob prodded.

"If you continue to come to Ithea, at best you would end up in a coma but more then likely you would die because your consciousness would be ripped in two. Adam is putting safeguards in your mind that will attempt to digitize your consciousness if it comes to that point." Eve stated causing Jacob to frown.

"Do I have a choice in the matter?" Jacob asked causing all of them to freeze.

Balance snorted, "Jacob, you will always have a choice. They are just not used to anyone questioning their actions or motives. If you want them to stop, they will, but I know you love this world and would not want to part with it if given a choice."

"What are my chances?" Jacob asked as he studied the powerful A.I.

"Fifty percent chance that you will survive. If you don't take precautions, one hundred percent chance that even if you end up in a coma, you would never be able to come back again." Eve responded immediately.

"Do it!!" Jacob replied and Adam continued his work as Jacob just hoped he didn't sign his own death warrant. When Jacob opened his eyes he was in the Cathedral of Balance, more than one person was studying him with worried looks. "Hey!! How long have I been here?" Jacob asked as he sat up. His head felt a little foggy like he had a cold or was hungover.

"About ten minutes, the last time I saw you, you went in front of me through the portal to come back here. Then when I steped through you were not on the other side...Feel free to enlighten us on where you were?" Nadal replied as he studied Jacob as if the answers of the universe were written on his face or he had 'Worlds biggest sucker' tattooed on his forehead.

"Powers that be, wanted to talk. They snagged me for a sit-down and when they were done, they sent me back. Pretty simple." Jacob replied as he stood and shaky legs.

"What exactly did they want to talk about?" Cathrine asked as she moved closer inspected him closely.

"That problem I had the other day, they were just putting some...insurance in place the worst were to happen," Jacob told her but it didn't stop her.

"Meaning?" Cathrine pressing Jacob and trying to get him to explain what was going on.

"As I said, I will always come back too you. Now, lets head home we have plans to make." Jacob told them.

Surface- Twisted Swamp Region

Nation of Loren'thia- Outside the Town of Red Wood

Explosions and screams drowned out the rain as defenders fought the oncoming wave of Goblins and Hobgoblins. Hayley ducked down as a wave of arrows pelted the defenders in the trench. "Fuck, this was a mistake coming here!!" Hayley screamed at Bridgett as she stood back up and launched an Explosive Arrow at the oncoming wave of enemies.

Bridgett laughed as she launched a spell at the nasty bastards, "Yeah, but battles are a great way to level up quickly!!" The mage stated between spells and Hayley just shook her head as she launched arrow after arrow at the rushing enemies before they finally reached the first trench and attacked the melee defenders there.

"It doesn't matter if we die you crazy assed bitch!!" Hayley replied as she ducked down before a Fireball exploded overhead.

Bridgett laughed harder as she Dual Cast a spell before launching it at a Goblin Shaman, "I might be a crazy bitch, but I am on your side, Hayley!!" Hayley snorted in amusement before activating Aim and launching an arrow at another Shamans' head. Suddenly more horns sounded beyond the Goblin lines recalling their troops leaving their dead and dying on the battlefield. Hayley quickly pulled extra arrows from her inventory and refilled her quiver.

Suddenly wargs and wolves charged from the mist towards the defenders. Hayley cursed as she targeted one of the leading ones and launched a Charged Shot towards it. The warg went down howling as one of its forelegs was blown off. Hayley quickly launched an Explosive Shot and Poisoned Shot towards the oncoming monsters as shouts and cries filled the area as the defenders in the first trench prepared to fight.

Suddenly more horns sounded as the Sentinals from the town arrived and launched a wave off arrows at the monsters before launching a counter-attack. The wolves and wargs howls increased in pitch and frequency as the more seasoned warriors joined the fight. Each Sentinal was level thirty to forty at least, the few Rangers among their ranks were closer to fifty.

Hayley watched as the more seasoned Wood-Elves attack the wargs and swamp wolves. Each Elf danced among the large wolves and wargs killing and maiming with a proficiency that awwed many of the Immortals before horns sounded again from the swamp and the few remaining wolves and wargs turned and fled. The Sentinals and Rangers let them go although the continued to kill any wounded left behind. "Why didn't they interfere before?" Hayley asked Bridgett.

"Their priority is to protect the town. If they had not called the wargs and wolves to attack, the Sentinals would never have interfered. Come on, let's take a break and go get some food." the mage stated before climbing out of the trench and headed towards the nearby town.