POV : CELESTIAL EMPIRE

  The Celestial Emperor smiled, happy about his alliance with Fort Bone. The two empires had one goal: to collect those hundred tokens and to become rulers of the Wasteland. The last month had been a series of small skirmishes across the wasteland. Both armies, with their Pathfinder and Shadow Riders giving out timely information, caused the armies of Fort Bone and the Celestial Empire to win engagements across America United territories. Skeletons and mobs also fell quickly to the army. Dungeon spawn were tough, but not tough enough to do significant damage to large armies.

  Things were going well. Until they weren’t.

  Reports of the random attacks came flooding into the Celestial Emperor’s chambers. His people were outraged—citizens and soldiers alike being assaulted by a group wearing bone armor, the trademark of Fort Bone.

  The Celestial Emperor’s face was a mask of barely contained rage as he read the reports. "Fort Bone!" he growled, slamming the parchment down. "How dare they betray us so quickly?"

  Immediately, he dispatched diplomats to Fort Bone, demanding an explanation for this blatant act of treachery.

  ---

  POV : FORT BONE

  Atlas sat in the war room, reviewing military strategies when the Celestial Emperor’s diplomats burst in, accompanied by several belaboured Fort Bone diplomats. Their faces were pale with anger, their eyes blazing with accusations.

  “Fort Bone has sent adventurers to attack our people! What is the meaning of this treachery?” one of them shouted.

  Atlas raised an eyebrow, remaining calm despite the intensity in the room. “We’ve never sent anyone to attack your area,” he said, his voice steady but firm. “And you know as well as I do, we sell that bone armor to almost anyone. Sure, it’s not our most up-to-date version, but it’s available to the public.”

  The diplomats glared at him, unconvinced. "Your citizens are wearing it as they assault our people!"

  Atlas folded his arms across his chest. "Does it really make sense for us to attack our own allies? We’ve just signed an alliance. Why would we undermine it?"

  The diplomats paused, thinking about his points. Nobody here was stupid. The anger had blinded them for a second, but they could see the logic.

  Atlas continued, “The only way that we could be doing that would be if we had hired unaffiliated adventurers to attack you, and there really is no benefit for us to do this.”

  The diplomats hesitated, glancing at one another, realizing that Atlas had a point.

  The Celestial Emperor, who had accompanied his diplomats, stepped forward, his expression thoughtful. “You’re right, Atlas. There’s only one other explanation for this.”

  Atlas met his gaze, both of them understanding the truth in an instant. At the same time, they spoke: “America United.”

  Atlas sighed, a hint of frustration crossing his face. “I see you figured it out too. That guy’s looking to stir up trouble between the two of us. But look,” he said, pulling out the system contract, “it’s clearly stated here that neither one of us can attack each other. Not on the field, not through the military, not economically. Our prices are aligned, our people are united, and this alliance is strong.”

  The Celestial Emperor studied the contract, nodding. “You’re right. And the penalties for breaking it... they’re not something we want to risk.”

  Atlas chuckled, though there was little humor in it. “Those clauses we wrote in—pretty nasty stuff, huh?”

  The Emperor smiled grimly. “Very. Lawson underestimated us if he thought we’d fall for this trick so easily.”

  Atlas stood up, rolling his shoulders. “So, what’s next? We let Lawson keep pulling stunts like this, or do we show him how strong our alliance really is?”

  The Celestial Emperor straightened, determination hardening his gaze. “We strike back, but first, we fortify. We need to make sure our borders are secure from any further meddling.”

  Atlas grinned, his warrior spirit coming alive. “Then let’s do it. Lawson's trying to play us, but he's about to find out we’re not so easily fooled.”

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  ---

  POV : AMERICA UNITED

  Jed Lawson leaned back in his worn, leather chair, the flickering light casting shadows across the room. A smirk spread across his face as he received the report—his adventurers had done their job well. The Celestial Empire was teetering on the edge. The attacks had been swift, brutal, just the way he liked it. Now, all he had to do was sit back and watch the alliance crumble like a house of cards.

  “They’ll never see it coming,” he muttered under his breath, tipping his dusty hat back. He had no idea that the alliance was formed with an ironclad system contract. There was no way he would ever sign something like this, and he imagined that two men like the Celestial Emperor and Atlas were like him. But he underestimated their desire to go back to Earth. America United was a great life for him, why would he ever want to go back to being a cog in the machine on Earth?

  His gaze settled on the map of the Wasteland sprawled across his desk, filled with markers of territories and battles. Two empires, side by side, thinking they were untouchable. “Invincible? They’re just about to learn the hard way.”

  He imagined it—Atlas, scrambling to hold his precious Fort Bone together, the Celestial Emperor too busy with his grand empire to see the cracks forming beneath his feet. ‘They think they’re strong’. Jed scoffed. ‘But strength makes you blind.’

  He propped his boots up on the desk, feeling the weight of his own power settle over him. He was the one pulling the strings now. The alliance would fall, and when it did, America United would rise, stronger, meaner. Jed Lawson would be the name they cursed for generations.

  But as he relaxed into his chair, feeling like the puppet master in control of it all, there was one thing he didn’t know. His enemies weren’t as fractured as he thought. Atlas and the Celestial Emperor, driven by the shared threat of America United, had forged something stronger than just an alliance. They were already closing in on him, quietly, methodically.

  Jed might have felt like the predator, but soon, he’d realize he was the prey. And by the time he did, it would be too late.

  ‘‘‘

  POV : FORT BONE EMPIRE

  Atlas was surprised when Portilla met up with him.

  "What’s up, Portilla?"

  "We want more trolls," Portilla replied.

  Atlas tilted his head, "To fight?"

  "No," Portilla shook her head, "We're lonely. We're only trolls."

  Crushir added quietly, "Sad."

  Atlas thought for a moment, then smiled. "Why don't we all go to the dungeon where the trolls spawn? Now that it's under the control of the dungeon heart, we should be able to get a good idea of what's going on there."

  Excited, Portilla and Crushir agreed, and they all trekked toward the dungeon. The journey took several hours, but they made the most of it, laughing and smashing random trolls, slimes, and even a couple of mutated rhinoceroses along the way. By the time they reached the dungeon, they were in high spirits.

  Atlas stepped inside the entrance, peering into the dimly lit tunnels. The dungeon was now under the control of the dungeon heart, a silent, powerful entity. He called out, his voice echoing in the cavern, "Hey dungeon, it's me, Atlas!"

  Of course, the dungeon didn't reply. It couldn’t speak, after all. Atlas shrugged, "Guess we'll wait for the fairy."

  About thirty minutes later, a soft light filled the air as the dungeon fairy fluttered in. Her tiny wings shimmered with a soft, warm glow, and her face lit up with a bright smile.

  "Whee!" she chirped, twirling in the air as she approached them. "Nice to see you, Atlas!"

  Atlas smiled back, relieved by her cheerful demeanor. "It's good to see you too. My trolls are feeling a little lonely, though. Do you think you could help them?"

  The fairy’s face softened as she looked at Portilla and Crushir. "Oh, of course! It must be hard being the only trolls around."

  Portilla nodded, a bit shy, "We want friends."

  The fairy tapped her chin thoughtfully, her wings flitting gently. "Well, I can't just summon trolls on the spot, but I can definitely help encourage more to spawn. The dungeon heart is very cooperative these days."

  Crushir brightened. "Really?"

  "Yes, really!" the fairy beamed, her kindness evident in her voice. "I’ll make sure to put in a good word with the dungeon heart. It may take a little while, but soon enough, you’ll have more trolls around."

  Portilla smiled gratefully. "Thank you! You nice."

  The fairy giggled. "Oh, it’s no trouble at all! I love helping out. I’ll go talk to the dungeon heart right now. Just give it a bit of time."

  With a cheerful wave, the dungeon fairy zipped away, leaving behind a trail of sparkling light. Atlas turned to the trolls.

  "Well, looks like you're going to get your company soon."

  Portilla and Crushir exchanged happy glances. "Thanks, dad," Portilla said quietly.

  Atlas grinned. "Anything for my trolls."

  ‘‘‘

  After a week, the dungeon had done its job well. Trolls of all sizes and ages now roamed the cavern—some tiny baby trolls clumsily toddling around, while larger adult trolls lumbered about, surveying their new home. There was a mix of male and female trolls, all seemingly content with their new surroundings.

  Since the dungeon fairy had been so kind and cooperative, things had gone smoothly. As Atlas’s kids, Portilla and Crushir were granted leadership over the new trolls without having to lift a finger in combat. They were now the Alpha’s, with the respect of their fellow trolls coming naturally after witnessing them fight off all challengers. Trolls in the wild were tough, but in the history of the Wasteland, no trolls had ever been systematically trained, nor fought in as many brutal wars as Portilla and Crushir.

  Portilla, standing tall and proud, looked around the bustling dungeon with a smile. "We did it," she said softly, the sense of belonging clear in her voice.

  Crushir nodded, his chest puffed up a bit. "Yeah. No more fight. We boss now."

  Atlas grinned, watching his friends settle into their new roles. "Told you it would work out."

  The dungeon thrummed with life, the soft glow of its heart pulsing rhythmically as the trolls began to form their own little community. And at the center of it all, Portilla and Crushir stood as the rightful leaders, finally no longer lonely.

  ‘‘‘