Hyde practised swinging his Morningstar as he walked along the dirt path. As far as he was aware, he was alone. He could see nobody ahead or behind him. And that worried him. It was a prime environment for Outlaws to strike. Granted, most were low level players looking to make an easy score, but there were the few high levels that worried Hyde. He kept his wits about him, checking over his surroundings every few minutes to make sure he wasn't being followed or something was lurking in the bushes on either side of the road, waiting for him to drop his guard and move in for the kill.

Hyde checked his messages and notifications as he went along. Nothing except that announcement from the Black King that Hyde still disbelieved ever so slightly, yet he was still heading off on his way to check it out. He wasn't planning on joining, but if he liked what he saw, he probably would end up doing so. Hyde closed the messages, closed his eyes and yawned. He'd been walking for a good half an hour. But when he opened his eyes, his worst fears were standing ahead of him. Three Outlaws, confirmed by the icon above them.

They were NPCs, and relatively low levelled, so Hyde wasn't too worried about the oncoming fight. He took up a fighting stance, Morningstar raised, ready to strike. They began to advance, and Hyde steeled his nerves. But then they seemingly began to teleport all over the place. Hyde didn't know what to do. Was this some kind of new attack style? Were they hackers disguised as NPCs? His questions were answered in big red letters plastered in front of him moments later.

[center][h2][color=ed1c24][b]Attention! Attention! All Players will be forcefully logged out of Deep Ground Online due to internal errors and damages! Attention! Attention! All Players will be forcefully logged out immediately![/b][/color][/h2][/center]

And with that, Michael was booted out of the game and back into reality. He sat up on his bed, and headed out of his room and onto the landing. He didn't know what to do. Nobody was home since every member of his family worked late. He sighed, headed into the living room and turned on the TV, but then the chip in his head began emitting a noise, followed by a speech.

[color=8493ca][b]"Attention all students of Purple Crown  Academy and of the World Interface. Please, do not be alarmed by the sudden technical difficulties we are enduring right now. Our team is investigating the matter thoroughly and it appears that it was only a massive lag caused by an influx of enemy NPCs. Deep Ground Online will be functional again in the following afternoon. However, it would seem that any Players who died in DGO before the crash are still able to log on to the system."[/b][/color]

The following afternoon? That seemed like a lifetime.

[color=8493ca][b]"And now, a message from the Black King. She deeply apologizes for the missed opportunity for the majority of you in meeting her. However, she states that for all of those who pledge allegiance to the Ebony Strykers, the next Guild meeting shall be tomorrow within the Black Kingdom, the same as today. And….the Black King has made her first orders to her new Guild. She desires for all of her followers to hunt down any stray Outlaws still remaining in the Black District as soon as possible. That is all. Thank you for your time and patience. Oh…and welcome to the Ebony Strykers."[/b][/color]

Once the speech had finished, Michael realised the announcement from the Black King was not faked, and was indeed very much real.