Eidolon Nexus: The Shattered Realm: Chapter 43

A group of people wake up in video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

Chapter 43 Escape.

Before long, I’m brought back through the gates, down the familiar halls, and straight into the director’s office.

Varcen is already waiting, standing behind his desk with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

The guards push me forward before stepping back, standing at attention.

I keep my posture stiff, my expression carefully neutral.

“Report,” Varcen says simply, his gaze locked onto me.

The crossbow guard steps forward first. “He failed. The targets escaped.”

Varcen’s expression doesn’t change. His eyes shift to me. “Is that so?”

“They all had weapons. There were too many for just me,” I say quickly, keeping my voice controlled but urgent. “It wasn’t my fault.”

Varcen tilts his head slightly, studying me like I’m some puzzle he’s trying to solve.

“Too many,” he repeats, his tone unreadable.

The crossbow guard scoffs. “He hesitated. If we’d acted sooner—”

“And yet you let them escape as well,” Varcen interrupts, his gaze flicking to the guard. The man stiffens slightly but says nothing.

For a second, the silence stretches.

Then—Varcen sighs, rubbing his temple. “Unfortunate. But not unexpected.”

Unexpected?

He looks back at me, his expression unreadable. “It seems you’re not ready for work outside these walls just yet.”

My stomach tightens.

“For now, you’ll return to your quarters. But don’t mistake this for leniency.”

I clench my jaw. “I can do better. Just give me another chance.”

Varcen smirks slightly. “We’ll see.”

With a flick of his hand, the guards move forward to drag me away.

Back to my cell.

Back to waiting.

But that’s fine.

Because I’ve already won.

I sit on the bed, forcing myself to stay calm, but my mind is racing.

I have until nightfall.

If that rock did enough damage, I should be able to break the collar. And once it’s off—Shade is back in play.

I reach up carefully, fingers brushing against the thick metal around my neck. No cracks, no clear weak points… but maybe if I apply enough pressure—

“Careful,” Shade murmurs. “If you mess this up, they might notice.”

I exhale sharply, lowering my hand. He’s right. If I start yanking on it now and fail, they’ll reinforce it—or worse.

I need to be smart about this.

I glance at the small, metal cup on the table near my bed. It’s dented, heavy enough… maybe I could use it.

I pick it up, weighing my options.

I have to break this thing. Tonight.

I take a slow breath, gripping the metal cup tightly.

Time to get to work.

I move carefully, listening for any sounds outside the door—footsteps, voices, anything that might mean a guard is nearby. Nothing.

Good.

Slowly, I bring the edge of the cup to the collar and press, feeling for any cracks or weak spots. If that rock did its job, there has to be damage somewhere.

I push a little harder, twisting the metal just enough to test its give—

A faint creak.

My heart jumps.

There.

It’s not much, but it’s something.

I reposition the cup, this time with more force, bracing myself as I slam it against the collar. The impact vibrates down my neck, a dull ache spreading from the point of contact—

But I hear it.

A snap. A shift.

The enchantment flickers for just a second.

“Keep going,” Shade whispers, his voice almost eager. “You’re close.”

I grit my teeth, raise the cup again—

And swing.

I freeze for a second, barely daring to breathe.

The collar shifts against my skin—loose.

I reach up, gripping the edge, and with one final pull—

It snaps off.

I exhale sharply, my whole body tense, waiting—expecting something to happen. An alarm, a surge of magic, something.

But nothing comes.

Just silence.

“Well done,” Shade murmurs, his voice curling back into my mind fully, stronger than before. “I was starting to think you liked being helpless.”

I grip the broken collar in my hands, heart pounding.

I did it.

Now, I just have to wait for nightfall.

And then?

It’s time to set the others free.

The hours pass, and no food comes. A punishment for failure, I’m sure.

No matter.

I’m not staying much longer.

Eventually, night falls, and I stand, ready to move—

Then suddenly—

A strange pull washes over me, my body shifting, unraveling. I look down, eyes widening as my form begins to melt into the shadows, dissolving like smoke.

“Shade?” My voice is unsteady, distorted, almost echoing inside my own head.

“Don’t worry. We’ve done this before,” Shade says smoothly.

“I think I’d remember this.”

I lift my hands—or what used to be my hands. My fingers are nothing but shifting darkness, flickering at the edges like a candle flame.

My body is almost nonexistent. It feels wrong—unnatural, weightless, yet somehow powerful.

“Just walk through the door,” Shade says.

I hesitate. “What?”

“You can move through whatever you want now,” he says, almost amused. “Try it.”

I glance at the door—the thick wooden barrier that’s kept me trapped.

This shouldn’t be possible.

But at this point, I’ve already crossed every line of what’s ‘normal.’

I step forward.

And phase right through.

“That felt weird.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Shade says, his voice smooth, casual—like this is just normal now.

Maybe. But for now, I can’t focus on how unnatural it feels. I move through the hallway, my form shifting in and out of shadow as I test my movements.

At the very least… this will make sneaking around much easier.

But I don’t have time to mess around.

I need to get to the main gate and open it. Then the bunks.

No telling who their friend or friends are or where exactly they’re being held.

And I don’t have all night.

I move swiftly through the corridors, barely making a sound—not that it matters. In this form, I am the shadows.

Every step feels lighter, faster. I don’t have to avoid the guards—I just move past them. Slipping under doors, through cracks in the walls, completely unseen.

It’s almost too easy.

“You’re enjoying this,” Shade hums in my mind.

The corridors are mostly empty this late at night, only a few guards posted at key points. I make my way toward the gate first—getting the prisoners out means nothing if they can’t leave.

I spot two guards at the entrance, standing near a large iron lever—that must control the gate.

Perfect.

I just need to deal with them quietly.

And thanks to this new ability…

That won’t be a problem.

I move closer, watching the two guards carefully. They’re alert, but not expecting anything. Why would they? No one escapes from this place.

That’s about to change.

I sink further into the shadows, my form stretching unnaturally across the ground. This should be impossible, but I push the thought away. Now isn’t the time to question it.

“What exactly can I do like this?” I think to Shade.

“Plenty,” he muses. “But let’s start simple. Try pulling them in.”

“Pull them in?”

“You’re the shadow now, Artemis. Use it.”

I hesitate only for a moment before willing myself forward.

The darkness beneath the guards ripples—then lashes out.

Before they can react, tendrils of shadow coil around their legs, yanking them down. One barely has time to let out a strangled yell before he’s pulled into the ground itself—swallowed by the very darkness cast by the torchlight. The second guard scrambles, trying to pull himself free, but the shadows tighten, dragging him under.

And then—

Silence.

They’re gone.

I straighten, staring at the spot where they stood just moments ago. My heart pounds.

“Shade—where did they—”

“Somewhere far enough that they won’t be a problem,” he says smoothly. “Now, hurry up. The gate isn’t going to open itself.”

I shake off the lingering unease and step forward. The lever is heavy, rusted, but I grip it and pull—

With a loud clang, the chains rattle, and the main gate begins to rise.

One step down.

Now, for the prisoners.

I glance into the darkness of the woods beyond the rising gate, scanning for any sign of the players I’d promised to help.

But I don’t see them.

No movement. No sound. Nothing.

Did they actually leave? Did they assume I was lying? Or are they just waiting, watching, making sure this isn’t a trap?

I don’t have time to worry about it.

I turn back toward the prison. The bunks are my next target—I need to get them open before someone notices the missing guards and the open gate.

And if those players are out there, they’ll see the prisoners escaping soon enough.

There are four bunkhouses in total.

If I open just one, the guards will sound the alarm, and that gate will be slammed shut before anyone gets out.

I need to move fast.

And I need to make sure the prisoners wait until all four doors are open. If even one panics and runs too soon, this whole thing falls apart.

I grip the edge of the first door, taking a steadying breath.

“Think they’ll listen to me?” I ask Shade.

“They don’t have much of a choice,” he replies smoothly. “But it’s all in the approach. Be commanding. Make them believe you have a plan.”

Right.

I push the door open and step inside.

“The gate’s open,” I say quickly, keeping my voice low but firm. “Wait until you hear the signal. Then run.”

A few prisoners stir, groggy and confused, but the ones who have been here longer—who know not to question an opportunity—snap to attention.

One man steps forward, eyeing me warily. “What signal?”

Shit.

I don’t actually know what the signal will be yet.

“You’ll know it when you hear it,” I say smoothly, masking my hesitation. “Just be ready.”

The man hesitates, then nods, stepping back.

Good enough.

I slip back out before any of them can ask more questions.

Three more to go.

And I really need to figure out what this signal is going to be.

I move fast, slipping through the shadows to the final bunkhouse.

Three are done. One left.

I push the door open, stepping inside. The dim torchlight barely illuminates the cramped space, and a few prisoners stir at the sound. Some are already awake, watching me warily.

“The gate is open,” I say, keeping my voice urgent but controlled. “Wait for the signal, then run.”

Like before, some hesitate—but others understand immediately.

No questions. No hesitation.

They’re ready.

I step back into the night, my pulse pounding.

All four are open.

Now I just need that damn signal.

“Shade, you got an idea for a loud noise you can make?” I think, moving quickly toward the center of the camp.

“Oh, I thought you’d never ask,” Shade replies, amusement lacing his voice. “How dramatic are we feeling? A sudden, eerie wail? A full-on explosion? I could bring the shadows to life and let them do the screaming for us—”

“Just make it loud and distracting,” I cut in. “Something that’ll send the guards running the other way.”

“Got it,” he says. “You might want to cover your ears.”

A second later, the shadows around the farthest guard post begin to shift.

Then—

A deep, monstrous roar rips through the night.

It echoes off the prison walls, deep and guttural, like something massive has just awoken. The sound alone shakes the ground beneath my feet.

Torchlight wavers.

Shouts erupt from the guards.

Panic.

And then—

The prisoners run.

“Okay, time to go.”

I don’t wait around to see how the guards react. The prisoners are already pouring out of the bunkhouses, sprinting toward the open gate, some barely pausing to look back.

It’s chaos—exactly what I needed.

I slip into the shadows again, moving unseen alongside them. The guards are scrambling, trying to figure out where the hell that roar came from, too distracted to stop the escape.

Good.

I keep close to the group, scanning the tree line for any sign of the players I made a deal with.

If they’re still out there—if they actually kept their end of this—then now’s the time they should be moving in.

There.

A flicker of movement just beyond the tree line.

The players.

They’re crouched low, partially hidden in the underbrush, watching as the prisoners rush toward the gate.

I keep moving, sticking to the shadows as I close the distance.

One of them— the woman from earlier—spots me first. Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn’t hesitate.

“You actually pulled it off.”

“Told you I would,” I say, keeping my voice low. “Now, let’s get your people and get the hell out of here.”

“Which one is yours?” I ask, scanning the escaping prisoners.

Before I even finish speaking, one man immediately breaks from the crowd and heads straight toward us.

Well. Guess that answers that.

He’s rough-looking—messy hair, dirt-streaked clothes—but there’s no hesitation in his steps. He knows who he’s looking for.

The woman steps forward, gripping his arm. “You okay?”

He nods, breathing heavily. “Yeah. Thanks to you guys.” His eyes flick to me. “And… him, I guess?”

“Yeah, yeah, heartfelt gratitude later,” I say quickly. “We need to move before anyone realizes what’s happening.”

The woman nods. “Agreed. We’ve got an exit point set up deeper in the woods. Let’s go.”

I glance back once—watching the last few prisoners disappear into the night—then turn and follow them into the trees.

We move quickly through the trees, feet crunching against dirt and fallen leaves. The further we get from the prison, the quieter it feels—just the rustling of branches and the distant shouts of guards realizing they’ve been completely outplayed.

I exhale slowly. We actually pulled it off.

But now comes the harder part.

I need to convince these people to help me.

Eventually, we come to a stop.

A carriage waits just ahead, hidden between the trees. They were prepared for this.

Smart.

Before they can rush off, I step toward the woman—the one who seemed the most willing to trust me before. The leader, or at least the closest thing to one.

“I need to talk to you,” I say firmly.

She hesitates, glancing toward the others, then nods. “Alright. Make it quick.”

The others start loading their rescued friend into the carriage, giving us a sliver of privacy.

I take a breath. Now or never.

“I need your help.”

The woman crosses her arms, eyeing me carefully. “Was breaking the collar not enough?”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “You’re not gonna believe me at first, but I need you to listen.”

She doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t walk away either.

“I’m not just a normal player like you,” I continue. “At least, not anymore. When my friends and I logged into this game… something happened. Somehow, we ended up actually in the game. We’ve been stuck here for months.”

Her expression tightens slightly, skepticism clear in her eyes, but I push forward.

“I know that sounds ridiculous, but I’m serious.” I step closer, lowering my voice. “And this? This is dangerous for us. All these threats, all these enemies you’d normally respawn from? We don’t have that option. If we die here, we die in the real world.”

That gets her attention. Her posture shifts, less dismissive, more… considering.

“My name is Alex Carter,” I say firmly, locking eyes with her. “Look me up. I should be missing. Or something. Please—I need you guys to help us.”

She stares at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable.

Then she exhales sharply, shaking her head. “That’s… a lot.”

I nod. “I know.”

She glances toward the others. They’re busy prepping the carriage, getting ready to leave. No one’s paying attention to us.

“You’re right—I don’t believe you,” she says finally. “People don’t just… get stuck in games. That’s insane.”

I clench my fists. “I know how it sounds. But just—look me up. Check my name. If I’m not missing, then fine—forget everything I said. But if I am…” I let the weight of my words settle. “Then you’ll know I’m telling the truth.”

She watches me carefully, searching my face for any sign of a lie. I hold my ground.

Finally, she sighs. “Fine. I’ll look.”

Relief washes over me, but she holds up a hand before I can say anything.

“That doesn’t mean I’m promising anything,” she warns. “Even if you are missing, what do you expect us to do?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “But you’ll be outside of this place. You’ll have options. You could tell people—try to get someone to investigate. Anything is better than nothing.”

She hesitates, then nods slowly. “…Alright.”

I exhale, tension easing from my shoulders. “Thank you.”

She gestures toward the carriage. “We need to go. What about you?”

I glance back toward the prison. The guards will figure out what happened soon, if they haven’t already.

I should go with them. It’s the safest option.

But i need to go to my friends.

“I’ll find my own way,” I say. “Just don’t forget about me.”

She smirks slightly. “Hard to forget the guy who single-handedly broke open a prison.”

I watch as they climb into the carriage. The wheels creak, and just like that, they’re gone—disappearing into the night.

I stand there for a moment, staring after them.

Then I turn, stepping back into the trees.

Time to find my way back.

“You forgot to ask for directions,” Shade says, his tone dripping with amusement.

I stop in my tracks, realization hitting me like a brick.

“I didn’t even think of that…” I mutter, running a hand down my face. “Am I an idiot?”

“Well, I was going to be polite about it, but since you asked—yes.”

I groan, glancing in the direction the carriage disappeared. Too late now.

I have no idea where I am. No map, no landmarks, nothing to guide me.

Just a massive, unknown forest and the knowledge that I need to get back.

Great.

I sigh, rolling my shoulders. Guess I’m figuring this out the hard way.

I pick a direction and start walking.

It’s still night, but after everything that just happened, sticking around isn’t exactly a smart move.

The prison guards will be on high alert soon—if they aren’t already. And the last thing I need is to be caught wandering near the scene of the escape.

I move quickly, keeping low as I make my way deeper into the forest. Every rustling branch, every distant sound has me on edge, but I force myself to focus.

No clear landmarks, no path… just trees in every direction.

Perfect.

“So, Shade,” I think, scanning the dark surroundings. “Any ideas on where the hell I’m going?”

“Oh, now you want my input?” he muses. “After walking blindly into the woods like an idiot?”

I sigh. “Just tell me if you can sense anything useful.”

He hums thoughtfully before answering.

“No familiar presences… but we both know you’re not getting out of here by luck alone. Find higher ground. Get a look at the terrain. Or, you know, keep stumbling forward and hope you don’t walk in circles.”

I roll my eyes but nod to myself.

Higher ground.

That’s a start.

I scan the area, but the forest around me is frustratingly flat. No hills, no cliffs—nothing that would give me a vantage point.

Great.

Still, I can’t afford to just wander aimlessly. If I keep moving, maybe I’ll find a break in the trees, a ridge, something that’ll give me a better idea of where I am.

“Not much of a landscape designer, was he?” Shade mutters.

“What?”

“Whoever built this world,” he clarifies. “A flat, featureless forest? Not exactly inspired.”

“Not really my priority right now, Shade,” I mutter.

“Oh, but it should be. You did just escape from a high-security prison. If I were designing the perfect way to keep people trapped, I’d make sure there was nowhere for them to get their bearings.”

I frown, pushing forward through the underbrush. He’s not wrong. This place almost feels designed to disorient people.

Which means I need to be smarter about this.

I stop for a moment, listening.

No wind. No distant water. No sign of a road or settlement.

Just trees.

I exhale sharply. Looks like I’ll have to find my way out the hard way.

I keep moving.

“Want me to take over so you can rest?” Shade offers, his voice smoother than usual—almost tempting.

I hesitate for a second.

I don’t like the idea of giving him full control, but… I’m exhausted. My body is sore, my mind feels sluggish, and wandering aimlessly through the dark isn’t getting me anywhere.

“Alright,” I sigh. “Wake me up if you find anything.”

“Sweet dreams,” Shade murmurs, and before I can even process it, my consciousness slips.

I’m in the void again.

Dark. Black. Empty.

But this time… I’m not alone.

There’s a figure in the distance.

I try to move toward it, my steps soundless against the nothingness beneath me. The figure moves too, walking toward me at the same pace.

As I get closer, my chest tightens.

It’s her.

Artemis.

She looks just like she always did—same sharp green eyes, same stance, same expression filled with something I can’t quite place.

I stop.

She stops.

I slowly lift my hand—

And she does the same.

I move. She mirrors me exactly.

Like a reflection.

It’s been a while since I was her.

Now, I’m Alex again.

I’d almost forgotten how I looked.

Seeing Artemis standing there, perfectly mimicking my movements, feels wrong—like looking at a version of myself that no longer exists.

I lift my hand again, watching as she does the same, our fingers hovering in the empty space between us.

Is this just a dream? A trick of the mind? Or something else?

I press my hand against hers—

And suddenly, I’m not me anymore.

I’m in her place.

Staring back at Alex.

My breath catches. My body—her body—feels natural, familiar, like slipping into something I’d never really lost.

Alex, standing across from me now, looks just as stunned as I feel.

“What is this?” I whisper.

But no answer comes.

Just silence.

I stare at him—at myself.

The Alex version of me stands there, watching just as intently. It’s the first time I’ve really seen myself since I became Alex again.

The messy hair, the broader frame, the sharper features—it all looks right, but at the same time… wrong.

It feels distant, like I’m looking at a person I used to be, not someone I still am.

I lift a hand to my face, brushing my fingers over my cheek. Alex does the same, mirroring me perfectly.

I suppose it’s good I’m Alex again. That’s who I was, right? That’s who I’m supposed to be.

But…

I look down at myself—at Artemis. At the body I’d lived in for months. The body that, somehow, started feeling… right.

My fingers curl slightly, tracing along the fabric of my tunic. I know this form. The way it moves, the way it fits.

And yet, Alex is still standing there. Watching me.

Like a version of myself frozen in time. A version I should want back.

So why does it feel like I’m losing something instead?

Suddenly, I wake up.

I’m still standing, still walking forward like I never stopped.

The sun is rising, casting long golden light through the trees.

I blink, my mind still foggy from the dream—if it was a dream.

“Did you find anything?” I ask, my voice rough from sleep.

Shade hums. “Trees. More trees. A lot of trees.”

I sigh. “So, no.”

“Nope.”

Great.

“Want to talk about that dream?” Shade asks, his voice annoyingly smooth.

“Absolutely not,” I mutter.

I focus on just walking, pushing the thoughts away. The last thing I need is him picking apart whatever that was.

For now, I just need to find my way back.

I keep walking for hours, my legs aching, my thoughts a dull haze as I push forward through the endless trees.

No paths. No landmarks. No sign of civilization—just the same stretch of forest, over and over again, like I’m stuck in some looping section of a game with no exit.

I try to keep track of the sun’s position, but it doesn’t help much. I have no idea how far I’ve gone or if I’m even heading in the right direction.

Shade stays unusually quiet, though I can feel him lingering in the back of my mind, watching. Waiting. Probably still expecting me to talk about the dream.

Not happening.

Just when I start to wonder if I’ll be trapped wandering this forest forever, I see something in the distance.

At first, I think my eyes are playing tricks on me, but as I move closer, the trees start to thin, and the unmistakable sight of walls comes into view.

A city.

But not the one I know.

Not the one we’d spent so much time in.

This one is different. The walls are made of dark stone, taller than the ones I remember, with strange symbols etched into the surface. The architecture is unfamiliar—more fortified, less welcoming.

Something about it sends a prickle of unease down my spine.

“Well, that’s new,” Shade murmurs. “Not exactly a warm, friendly town, is it?”

I stop just before the tree line, narrowing my eyes at the city beyond.

I don’t know where I am.

I don’t know who’s inside.

But at this point, I don’t have much of a choice.

If I want answers—if I want to get back—this might be my only chance.

I take a breath, then step forward toward the gates.

After a bit longer, I finally reach the massive gate leading into the city. The stone towers loom over me, dark and imposing, with watchmen stationed above, their eyes scanning the road.

At the entrance, a man stands guard, dressed in dull gray armor with an emblem I don’t recognize. He watches me approach, his expression neutral but wary.

I don’t waste time. “What is this place?” I ask, my voice rough from exhaustion.

“Eldenwarren,” he replies simply.

I freeze for a second. Eldenwarren?

I remember that name. That was where the caravan mission was headed before I got fired, essentially. Back when I was still in Aeloria with the others.

Which means… I’m not too far from them.

I take a steadying breath. “Which way is Aeloria?”

The guard barely reacts, just nods northward. “A day away.”

A day.

Relief washes over me so quickly it almost makes me dizzy.

But then reality sets in.

I still have no money. No supplies. No way to get there except on foot.

And if I go into this city, I don’t know what I’m walking into.

I glance past the guard, toward the open gates. The streets beyond look different from Aeloria—more structured, more militarized. People move about, but there’s a tension in the air, an edge that makes my skin prickle.

Shade hums in my mind. “So, what’s the plan? Go inside, or start walking now?”

I exhale, glancing between the road ahead and the city before me.

Do I risk Eldenwarren, or do I push forward to Aeloria on my own?

~His weapon.~

~Take it.~

Before I even think, my fist slams into his jaw. The guard barely makes a sound before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

My breath comes fast, my hands tightening as I immediately grab his weapon—a standard-issue sword, heavier than I expected.

“What are you doing?" Shade’s voice cuts through, sharp with something I don’t usually hear from him—actual confusion.

I freeze, the weight of the sword suddenly too noticeable in my grip.

"What?" I murmur, barely recognizing my own voice.

I look down at the guard. Out cold. His chest rises and falls steadily—he’s alive—but that doesn’t make it any less of a problem.

I glance at my hands. At the weapon.

What am I doing?

I don’t know why I did that.

I didn’t even think.

One second I was debating whether to enter the city or keep moving, and the next… this.

I take a shaky breath, my mind scrambling for some kind of justification, but there isn’t one.

I just—…

Looks like I’m not going in now.

I grip the sword tighter, my mind still reeling, but there’s no time to stand around questioning myself. I need to go.

I turn away from the unconscious guard and start heading north. Aeloria’s only a day away. If I keep moving, I can get back, find the others—figure out my next move then.

But my thoughts won’t settle.

Why did I do that?

It wasn’t just instinct. It wasn’t even a choice. It was a compulsion—sudden, undeniable. Like something else pulled the trigger before I could think.

“Shade.” My voice is quieter now, wary. “That… wasn’t you, was it?”

He’s silent for a moment. Too long.

Then, “No. That was all you.”

A chill runs down my spine, but I shove it down. I just need rest. That has to be it.

I’ve been pushing myself hard. Even if I wasn’t fully awake last night, my body was still moving. The shadow stuff? That had to have taken a toll too, even if I didn’t feel it right away.

That’s all it is. Exhaustion.

I shake my head, focusing on the path ahead.

I just need to get to Aeloria.

End of chapter 43.