Aurora's banner didn't even last an hour before the city responded.
Not with fireworks.
With footsteps.
The first visitors weren't enemies. Not openly.
They were the kind of people who smiled too easily and asked questions that sounded friendly but weren't.
A pair of players approached the courtyard gate just after noon, both wearing the same crest on their shoulders—an iron-scaled dragon wrapped around a coin ring.
Not one of the top three guilds.
But established enough that nobody ignored them.
One of them called out politely, "Guild Aurora?"
Cyberius was the first to answer, because of course he was.
He stepped into view wearing his white fox mask with brown markings and leaned on the courtyard railing like he owned the street.
"Yeah," he said. "We're open. We sell trauma and bad decisions."
Nyx's white mask with pink markings appeared behind him. "What do you want?"
The visitor smiled. "Greetings. New guilds are rare in Stone Dragon City now. Especially after Phase Two."
His partner's eyes kept sliding past them, trying to see deeper into the hall.
Counting.
Measuring.
Recording.
Blade stepped into view last.
White mask. Gold markings. Calm posture.
The moment the visitors saw him, their friendliness tightened.
The bridge story had reached everyone.
The spokesman cleared his throat. "We represent Ironscale Exchange."
Cyberius whistled. "That name screams 'we charge interest.'"
Nyx didn't react. "Speak."
The man kept the smile. "Ironscale Exchange values cooperation. Stone Dragon Empire is changing. Routes are contested. Wells are contested. If a new guild rises, it's safer to align early."
Cyberius laughed once. "That's a nice way to say 'join us before we decide you're annoying.'"
"No offense meant," the spokesman said quickly, still smooth. "We're only offering a partnership. Trade access. Safe route sharing. Mutual support."
KODA's white mask with purple markings appeared at the hall entrance. He didn't speak, but his presence made the visitors adjust again.
NEO stood beside him, white mask with red markings, staff resting lightly in hand.
ART lingered near the doorway too, white mask with black markings, posture relaxed but ready.
Seven masks.
Seven proofs.
The visitors swallowed.
The spokesman recovered fast. "Impressive roster."
Cyberius waved. "We're cute, yeah."
Blade spoke, tone even. "We don't merge."
The spokesman blinked. "Then—"
"We trade," Blade said. "If you have something worth trading."
The partner finally spoke for the first time, voice careful. "Stone Dragon doesn't like independents."
Nyx answered him flatly. "We're not independent."
That line landed heavier than it should have.
The spokesman nodded slowly. "Understood."
He stepped back, smile still there, but more careful now.
"We'll speak again," he said. "Ironscale Exchange prefers neighbors over rivals."
Cyberius waved lazily. "Depends what kind of neighbor you are."
They left.
The moment they were out of sight, ART exhaled. "That was… fast."
Nyx answered, "That was polite."
ART blinked. "Polite?"
Optimus stepped into view, white mask with blue markings like his, one sword at his side. "Polite means they didn't test us."
NEO's voice stayed steady. "They were scouting."
KODA nodded once. "Information visit."
Cyberius stretched. "Congrats. We're officially relevant."
Blade looked up at the banner.
"Visitors are normal," he said. "Pressure comes next."
As if the Realm wanted to prove him right, a system chime hit everyone in the guild hall at the same time.
Guild Base Established Bonus Activated:
Storage slot unlocked
Crafting station slot unlocked
Defensive structure slot unlocked
Guild questline available
Cyberius' tone turned pleased immediately. "Oh, perks."
Nyx didn't care about perks. Her pink markings angled toward Blade. "Guild questline means attention."
Blade nodded once. "Good."
He opened the new guild questline panel.
It wasn't "kill ten wolves."
It was a city-level directive.
Guild Quest: Prove Presence
Objective: Claim an official Route Token from a contested path
Time limit: 48 hours
Reward: Guild rank growth, banner reinforcement, base upgrade options
NEO's gaze hardened. "So the city wants us to fight for territory."
Optimus' voice was calm. "Or fight for the right to move."
KODA stared at the details. "Contested path means another guild already holds it."
Cyberius grinned. "Perfect. We just opened our doors and the world already wants a show."
Blade closed the panel and looked at the team.
"Tonight," he said, "we move."
Nyx's sword shifted slightly. "Who's holding the route?"
Blade's gold-marked mask tilted.
"We'll find out," he said.
And outside Aurora's courtyard walls, Stone Dragon City kept breathing—banners fluttering, guilds plotting, players chasing power.
But now one more banner stood among them.
A white fox head in open daylight.
And the empire had begun deciding what Aurora would be allowed to become.