Darius crouched beside the survivor. "Tell me everything."
The man's smile faded. "You sure? Once you hear it… you can't un-know it."
"I need to know what I'm building."
A pause.
Then the survivor leaned in, whispering like the trees might be listening.
"They built the system to control—not guide. The first emperors didn't rise, they were chosen. The island? It's a cage. Every heir before you failed to break it."
> [System Alert: Unauthorized Knowledge Transfer Detected]
Warning: This information is restricted. Cease contact immediately.
Darius ignored it. "Go on."
"They called it the Core Protocol. Deep beneath the island—where even the system fears to reach. That's where it lives. The thing that runs it all."
> [FINAL WARNING: System Breach Risk – Penalty Possible]
The man grabbed Darius's arm.
"You think you're in control? No. You're next. Just like me."
Suddenly, a harsh crack rang out—like a thunderclap inside their heads.
The man convulsed.
> [System Enforcement Activated – Memory Seal Deployed]
"NO—!" the man screamed—and then collapsed, eyes blank, twitching on the ground.
Silence.
Darius's system screen burst open.
> System Stability: Compromised
New Thread Unlocked: [Hidden Empire Protocol – Fragmented]
'Seek the Core. Question everything.'
+1 System Point | ??? Questline Updated
Rowan rushed over. "What the hell was that?!"
Darius stood, face pale. "The system just silenced him."
Aric checked the man's pulse. "Alive. Barely."
Darius looked back toward the outpost. "We're being watched—by whatever runs this place."
He checked his interface again:
> SP: 3 | Gold: 50
New Location Unlocked: Deep Core Marker – Inactive
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"We're not just building an empire anymore," he said quietly. "We're digging into its bones."
---