Chapter Two — Chaos Wears Her Name

  Lyra hit the ground hard enough to rattle her teeth.

  Dust exploded around her as she rolled, skidding to a stop against something that definitely wasn’t soft. A wooden crate. Or, judging by the splinter now lodged in her shoulder, a poorly made one.

  “Okay,” she groaned, staring up at a sky the color of molten rust. “Zero stars. Would not recommend crash?landing.”

  The game didn’t respond. Not even a polite beep.

  Lyra pushed herself upright. The air smelled like campfire smoke and metal shavings. Somewhere nearby, someone was shouting—angry, chaotic shouting—and her instincts said she should not be standing still.

  Across her vision, glowing red text flickered:

  STARTING ZONE: REDMAW FRONTIER FACTION ALIGNMENT: CHAOS WARNING: HOSTILE AREA

  “Chaos, huh?” She cracked her neck, smirking. “Guess the system knows me well.”

  She opened the menu out of habit. The Logout button was missing, just like Aiden’s.

  Her stomach dropped.

  “Aiden?” she called into the empty air.

  A crackle of static answered. No voice. No connection.

  Lyra swallowed hard. Panic threatened to claw its way up, but she shoved it back down. Aiden needed her steady. Always had.

  A shadow fell over her.

  “Oi,” a gravelly voice growled. “You the idiot who dropped outta the sky?”

  Lyra turned slowly.

  Three figures approached, each more unfriendly-looking than the last. Rough leather armor. Wicked knives. Tattoos that pulsed faintly, like living ink. Bandits—she’d played enough RPGs to recognize the starter trouble.

  The tallest, a woman with a scar splitting her lower lip, tapped the blade of her axe against her palm. “Gear. Now.”

  Lyra’s mind raced. She had nothing. No weapon. No armor. Not even a tutorial.

  But she did have something else—an interface window that flashed suddenly and unexpectedly.

  NEW INSTINCT DISCOVERED: Reckless Improvisation

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Skill Description: When cornered or unarmed, you gain a temporary spike of agility, luck, and combat intuition. The less prepared you are, the stronger it becomes.

  “Well,” Lyra muttered. “That’s convenient.”

  The scar-lipped bandit stepped closer. “Last chance. Hand it over.”

  Lyra smiled sweetly. “I would, but I don’t think I ordered the mugging DLC.”

  They lunged.

  Lyra didn’t think—her body moved before her brain did. She ducked under the woman’s swing, swept her leg out, and sent the bandit crashing into a crate with a satisfying crunch. The second attacker swung wildly; Lyra slipped past him and grabbed his wrist, pivoting with a burst of speed she didn’t entirely control.

  He went flying.

  The third bandit hesitated. “What the hell is she—?”

  Lyra leapt.

  A punch connected, surprisingly solid for someone who had never won a real-life fight in her life. The man toppled backward, unconscious before he hit the ground.

  Lyra stared down at her hands.

  “…Did I just get a tutorial through attempted homicide?”

  A notification chimed.

  KARMA SHIFT: +12 CHAOS ACTION TYPE: Unprovoked Combat (Amusingly Executed)

  “Hey! I provoked myself,” she protested.

  Another notification appeared:

  NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Chaotic Momentum Your abilities strengthen the longer a fight goes off-script. Expect unpredictable results.

  Lyra dragged a hand down her face. “I am going to be a menace.”

  A slow clap echoed from behind her.

  She spun.

  A tall figure lounged atop a ruined wagon, balancing a dagger on one fingertip. He wore mismatched armor, a grin made of trouble, and eyes too bright to be safe.

  “Well, well,” he said. “Fresh spawn takes out a whole scouting trio? That’s either raw talent… or wildly irresponsible luck.”

  “Why not both?” Lyra crossed her arms.

  He hopped down, landing lightly. “Name’s Kael. Acting commander of the Redmaw Irregulars. And you just beat the snot out of three of my people.”

  Lyra tensed. “Uh. Sorry?”

  “Don’t be.” Kael’s grin sharpened. “Chaos loves initiative.”

  He held out a hand.

  Lyra hesitated—but something in the air tugged at her. A warm, reckless pull. Her interface even flickered with a suggestion:

  FACTION PROPOSITION AVAILABLE: REDMAW IRREGULARS Alignment Fit: HIGH

  “What exactly do the Irregulars do?” she asked.

  “Whatever we want,” Kael said simply.

  Lyra blinked. “…Damn, that’s a good sales pitch.”

  She took his hand.

  The moment their palms touched, a surge of energy raced up her arm—wild, electric, alive. A new notification burst across her vision:

  CHAOS AFFINITY: ACTIVATED Your actions may now distort probability, terrain, and event outcomes. Warning: Effects are unpredictable.

  Kael released her and stepped back. “Welcome to the Frontier, Lyra. Let’s see what kind of storm you’re going to be.”

  Lyra tried not to smile too wide.

  Because somewhere deep in her chest… she felt it.

  Aiden was out there.

  And she would burn through every ounce of Chaos this world had to find him.