THE SIEGE OF NEOTROY

Aklion’s HUD blinked to life, the familiar stats scrolling across his vision as he stirred from another restless sleep. SYNTHIA, the AI that ran everything in NEOTROY, hummed in the background of his neural link, ever-present, ever cold.

[Stats: Level 42 Paxxer Commander]

•Strength: 38/50

•Agility: 35/50

•Neural Resilience: 25/40 (Warning: Instability Detected)

•Combat Efficiency: 46/50

•INPAXX Dosage: 99% Administered (Status: Stable)

“Stable, my ass,” Aklion muttered as he rubbed his temples, feeling the glitch gnawing at the edges of his mind. The Conglomerate’s definition of “stable” was a joke. Every day, the glitch in his neural system got worse, causing brief moments of disorientation and flashes of static, but no one seemed to care.

SYNTHIA’s voice echoed in his head again. “Commander Aklion, neural instability has increased by 2.4%. Recommend a reset at your earliest convenience.” “Recommend you shove that reset, SYNTHIA,” Aklion grumbled, sitting up. The damn AI was relentless. The pause from SYNTHIA felt calculated. “Your combat efficiency remains within operational limits. Your next mission briefing is available.”

Aklion sighed, standing up and scrolling through the mission log that appeared in front of his vision. Another day, another mission to pacify the rebel-infested ruins of NEOTROY. The once-glorious city had been reduced to rubble after months of conflict, and Aklion had been part of the clean-up crew from the start.

[Mission: Secure West Sector of NEOTROY]

•Objective: Eliminate high-priority rebel targets

•Reward: 2,500 XP, Rare Combat Augment (Tier 4)

•Failure:Debuff—Lose 10% Agility for 24 hours, Involuntary Reset

“2,500 XP? Are they kidding me?” Aklion scoffed. “I’m practically busting my ass for scraps.” The mission was standard—eliminate rebels, secure the sector. But lately, everything had felt… off. The glitch was getting worse, and he had the unsettling feeling that the Conglomerate wasn’t being entirely honest with him. He equipped his Kinetic Blade and slung his Pulse Rifle over his shoulder. Both weapons hummed with energy as they powered up, ready for action. His armor, while durable, felt heavier every day, a reminder of the countless missions he had survived.

[Skill Activated: Combat Reflex Boost]

[Neural Stability Boost +3% for 10 seconds]

A brief flash of clarity surged through him as the skill took effect, but the relief was temporary. The glitch wasn’t going away. If anything, it was getting stronger. SYNTHIA’s voice chimed in once more. “Commander, this mission is of high importance. Failure to comply will result in immediate disciplinary action.” “Failure’s not on the agenda, SYNTHIA.” Aklion fastened his gauntlets and gritted his teeth. “Just keep me alive long enough to finish this.”

The drop ship was already humming when he arrived at the bay. Freshly-dosed Paxxers stood ready, their eyes glazed over from the latest batch of INPAXX, their minds as hollow as their expressions. Aklion used to be like them—obedient, emotionless, efficient. But the glitch was changing that. Every day, he felt a little more… human. And it scared the hell out of him.

As the drop ship lifted off, the ruins of NEOTROY stretched out beneath them—once a beacon of Conglomerate expansion, now a smoking wasteland of rebel resistance. Aklion’s HUD flickered, displaying the mission objective.

[Objective: Eliminate Rebel Leaders in West Sector]

[Target 1: Vectora (Level 35)]

[Target 2: Pharos (Level 30)]

“Great,” Aklion muttered. “I’m hunting ghosts again.” His HUD glitched for a moment, a brief flash of static and something else—a face, distorted and flickering like a broken transmission. He blinked, and it was gone. “SYNTHIA, run a diagnostic,” Aklion commanded, unease creeping into his chest.

“All systems are operating within normal parameters,” SYNTHIA replied, her voice cold and unyielding. “No anomalies detected.” “No anomalies?” Aklion frowned. “Then why the hell am I seeing things?”

“Your neural instability is within acceptable limits,” SYNTHIA responded. “No interference detected.” Aklion grunted in frustration, rubbing his eyes. “Sure, no interference. Just a fucking glitch.” The drop ship rumbled as it descended, nearing the West Sector. As they approached the drop point, the air grew thicker with the smell of smoke and destruction. NEOTROY was a graveyard, and Aklion was one of its grim reapers.

When the doors opened, Aklion stepped into the night, the cool air biting against his skin. His Pulse Rifle hummed as he scanned the area for hostiles, but all that greeted him was silence.

[Objective: Eliminate High-Priority Rebel Targets]

Aklion moved swiftly through the debris-littered streets, his HUD flashing occasional updates. The further he went, the more the glitch pulsed in the back of his skull. It wasn’t just static anymore—it felt… alive, like something was watching him.

Suddenly, his HUD blinked red.

[Hostile Targets Detected]

[XP Gained: 50 for Discovery]

A group of rebels appeared in the distance, their makeshift armor clattering as they moved through the rubble. Aklion gripped his Kinetic Blade and prepared for combat.

[Skill Activated: Tactical Precision]

[Agility +15% for 20 seconds]

He surged forward, his blade slicing through the first rebel’s armor with ease. Sparks flew as the rebel collapsed, his health bar evaporating into nothing.

[Enemy Defeated: Rebel Soldier]

[XP Gained: 500]

But as Aklion cut down the remaining rebels, the glitch hit him again—harder this time. His vision warped, the world around him flickering like a broken simulation. And then he heard it.

“Aklion…”

He froze. The voice was faint, but it was there, woven into the static of the glitch. His Kinetic Blade hovered in the air as his mind raced. “What the fuck?” The rebels pressed their attack, and Aklion was forced to focus, cutting down two more before the glitch surged again. This time, the voice was clearer. “Aklion… they know.” His heart pounded as he glanced around, trying to make sense of what was happening. “SYNTHIA, what the hell is this?”

“Your neural instability is increasing. Recommend immediate reset.” “No reset!” Aklion snapped, pushing forward as the last rebel fell. “I’m not doing this right now.” But SYNTHIA remained silent, and the voice lingered in his mind, gnawing at him. As Aklion moved deeper into the West Sector, his thoughts returned to the glitch. Something wasn’t right. The voice wasn’t SYNTHIA, and it sure as hell wasn’t a malfunction. The Conglomerate was hiding something from him, and the more the glitch grew, the more he felt like he was just a pawn in a larger game.

[Objective: Proceed to Sector Command—Distance: 500 meters]

His next checkpoint was close, but the unease gnawed at him. He wasn’t just fighting rebels anymore—he was fighting the glitch, fighting his own mind. Suddenly, another flicker of static. And this time, the face was clearer. It wasn’t just static. It was something—someone—watching him.

“Aklion…”

His vision warped again, the streets of NEOTROY twisting around him like a bad dream. He gripped his Pulse Rifle tighter, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “SYNTHIA… what the hell is going on?”. But SYNTHIA remained silent. And the voice whispered, “They know.”