Chapter 8: “Who’s Specter?”

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the Whispering Woods in deep shadows. The training grounds were eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Kenny stood by one of the camp’s flickering fire pits, staring at the message that still burned in his mind: Specter is watching. The name alone sent shivers down his spine.

Alina and Lucas sat nearby, both looking as exhausted as Kenny felt. They had shared a victory meal after their three-way battle, but the thrill of competition had been replaced by an uneasy tension. Kenny could feel it hanging over them, heavy and suffocating.

“Who’s Specter?” Lucas finally asked, breaking the silence. He leaned forward, curiosity and concern etched across his face. “You looked like you’d seen a ghost when that message came in.”

Kenny exhaled, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. “Specter is… a legend,” he admitted. “A hologram warrior who’s beaten some of the best players in the world. People say he’s unbeatable, that he plays on a level that doesn’t even seem human.”

Alina frowned, her dark eyes narrowing. “So, he’s dangerous?”

Kenny nodded, his throat tight. “I faced him once, before I started training with Thalos. He destroyed me in seconds. And now, he’s watching us.”

The crackling fire filled the silence that followed, each ember snapping like a tiny warning. Lucas stood up, stretching his arms as if trying to shake off the unease. “Well, if he’s that good, we’ll just have to get better, won’t we? That’s what we’re here for.”

Alina didn’t seem convinced. Her expression was thoughtful, almost calculating. “There’s more to this, though. If Specter’s interested in us, it’s not random. We need to know why.”

As if on cue, Thalos appeared from the shadows, his presence a reminder of just how observant he was. His scarred face was as unreadable as ever, but there was a new intensity in his eyes. “It seems you’ve stirred something up,” he said, his voice low and measured. “Come with me.”

The three warriors exchanged a wary glance but followed Thalos as he led them deeper into the woods. The path twisted and turned, lit only by patches of moonlight. Eventually, they reached a clearing that none of them had seen before. At its center stood a massive, ancient tree, its trunk wrapped in glowing vines that pulsed with an otherworldly light.

Thalos approached the tree and placed a hand on its bark. A hidden panel slid open, revealing a set of stairs spiraling downward into the earth. “There are things you need to see,” he said, motioning for them to follow.

Kenny’s stomach churned with a mix of fear and anticipation, but he stepped forward, Alina and Lucas close behind. The stairs creaked underfoot, and the air grew cooler as they descended. At the bottom, they entered a cavernous chamber lined with holographic displays, each one flickering to life as they entered.

The chamber was a secret archive.

Images and videos played across the walls: past hologram battles, famous players, and moments of triumph and defeat. Kenny recognized some of the faces, warriors who had become legends in the Evren League. But there was something else—a darker history buried beneath the glory.

Thalos gestured to a display that showed a match from years ago. Two warriors faced off in an arena made of shattered glass and swirling storms. One of them was Specter, his avatar shrouded in shadow and energy. The other was a player Kenny had only heard rumors about: Arion Vale, once a top contender for the Evren League championship.

The battle was fierce, a clash of skill and power. But just as Arion seemed to gain the upper hand, Specter unleashed a move that defied logic. His attacks warped the very fabric of the simulation, bending reality in ways that shouldn’t have been possible. Arion was defeated, and his avatar shattered into a million pieces of light.

“Arion Vale vanished after this match,” Thalos explained, his voice heavy with the weight of the past. “No one knows what happened to him. Specter became a name whispered in fear, and rumors spread that he had access to forbidden technology. Technology that allowed him to alter simulations in ways no one else could.”

Kenny felt a chill run down his spine. “Are you saying… he cheats?”

Thalos’s lips tightened. “It’s more complicated than that. The technology he uses—if the rumors are true—could be something beyond our understanding. Something that shouldn’t exist.”

Lucas let out a low whistle. “So we’re dealing with some kind of super-hacker?”

Alina folded her arms, her expression grim. “If he has that kind of power, how are we supposed to stand a chance?”

Thalos turned to them, his gaze piercing. “By learning from the past. Arion Vale wasn’t just defeated by Specter’s technology; he underestimated the psychological impact of fighting an opponent who bent the rules of reality. You must prepare for more than just physical combat. You must train your minds to remain unshaken, no matter what tricks Specter may use.”

Kenny clenched his fists, determination flaring in his chest. “Then let’s do it. Whatever it takes, we have to be ready.”

Thalos studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Good. Your next challenge will push you further than you’ve ever been pushed. But first, rest. You’ll need all the strength you can muster.”

As they made their way back up the stairs and into the moonlit woods, Kenny’s mind raced. The image of Specter and the vanished Arion Vale haunted him, a reminder of the stakes they faced. But he also felt something else—a sense of purpose, sharper and more determined than before.

Beside him, Alina broke the silence. “I still think there’s something we’re missing,” she said, her voice low. “If Specter has that kind of power, why reveal himself to us now? What’s his endgame?”

Lucas shrugged, though his carefree demeanor had clearly taken a hit. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. And when we do, we’ll make sure he knows we’re not backing down.”

Kenny nodded, but a nagging feeling lingered at the back of his mind. Specter’s message hadn’t been a threat—it had been a promise. And promises like that were rarely empty.

As they returned to the camp, Kenny looked up at the sky, where the stars twinkled like scattered shards of hope. His journey was only getting more complicated, and he had to be ready for whatever came next.

But in the shadows, where the light couldn’t reach, something watched them leave, its presence cold and unyielding.