The air in the war room felt heavy, laden with the faint scent of blood and sweat from people that had been continuously working to prepare for the next attack wave.. Xander leaned his spear against the wall as he entered what was becoming his customary place for the weapon. The tension was palpable. Around the large oak table, a few of Starlight's leaders had already gathered, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and steely determination. They had survived the first wave, but nobody was under the illusion that the fight was over. Far from it.

JT, standing at the head of the table, glanced up from a spread of maps. Despite the weariness etched into his features, he managed a thin smile as Xander entered.

"Well, look who's back from the brink," JT saidactmz.com. "You're looking a little less like dragon bait."

Xander gave him a faint smile, more out of habit than any actual amusement. "I've had worse."

The dragon encounter was still fresh in his mind, but there was no need to bring it up again. They had already covered the details of that battle, and there was no time for dwelling on past victories or losses.

He took his place beside Harvey, who gave him a brief fist bump of acknowledgment. The hulking fighter sat with his massive war hammer leaning against the table's edge, his posture stiff, his gaze already fixed on the maps spread out in front of him. Across from them, Mason Jones, Captain of the Guard, stood with arms crossed, his expression as hard as the steel armor he wore.

"Where are Thalindra and Enzo?" Xander asked, noting the absence of two critical figures.

"Still out at the wall," JT said, rubbing the back of his neck. "They're overseeing the repairs and setting up new traps. We're going to need every advantage we can get when the next wave hits."

They had less than five hours before the undead regrouped and attacked again. The first wave had tested their defenses, and though they had held, it had cost them. Some of their best fighters were lost, and sections of the walls had been breached. The next wave would be even worse.

"We need to hurry, then," Xander said, leaning forward, his eyes scanning the maps. "What do we know?"

JT's expression darkened slightly as he glanced at Mason, who gave a curt nod, stepping forward.

"We've confirmed that the dragon is dead," Mason said, his voice gruff. "No movement under the rubble. The warehouse you collapsed on it did the job."

Xander exhaled slowly. That was one threat they wouldn't have to worry about, but he knew better than to let his guard down. One victory didn't mean they were out of danger.

JT wasn't done, though. "But here's where it gets interesting," he said, leaning forward, his tone lowering. "The scouts reported back. They think they glimpsed what was controlling the dragon."

Xander frowned, a sharp contrast to the controlled calm he usually wore in these meetings. "What!?"

"The scouts you dropped off on your way through Tolono," JT repeated. "Several came back when they first saw the army, but some of them stuck around to gather additional intel. They were behind the tail of the undead army and caught something interesting."

There was a brief silence as the weight of that revelation sank in. Across the table, Harvey shifted in his seat, his armor creaking as he straightened. "Controlled by what?"

"A Champion. Scouts spotted it at the back of the undead forces. They couldn't get close enough for a proper analysis, but they got a good enough look to know this thing's a real problem." JT said.

"They didn't know it then, but they saw this champion conducting some ritual. Once they got back to Starlight and were debriefed, the timing of that ritual appears to coincide with the dragon rampage."

Xander's mind raced as JT described the Champion. Six feet tall, cloaked in tattered, full plate armor, worn and battered as if it had been through countless battles. The hood it wore obscured its face, except for the eerie green flames that burned in place of eyes. It wielded a massive two-handed maul. Five feet of blackened steel that looked as deadly as the creature that carried it.

"The scouts saw the Champion retreating after the first wave broke off," Mason added. "It went back to a campaign tent they've set up at the rear of their forces."

"A tent?" Xander echoed, his frown deepening. "Well, we knew they had themselves organized."

"More than we thought," JT said, his voice tight with concern. "This isn't just some mindless horde. They've got strategy, leadership."

That changed things. The undead were terrifying enough on their own, but the confirmation of a coordinated force with a tactician at its helm was far worse. If this champion was controlling the dragon, what else was it capable of?

"Could this be the General that everything has been eluding too?" Jo pondered.

"It would make sense, but that isn't what we saw with the attack on Saint Joseph," Xander replied.

"We need to hit that champion before the next wave," Harvey said, slamming his fist down on the table in front of him. "If we can take it out, we might stand a chance of breaking the siege."

"Agreed. If the champion falls, that could be an alternate win condition for the siege quest. No leader, no siege." Xander said.

However, Mason appeared unconvinced. "You and Harvey's teams are our heaviest hitters," he said, his arms still crossed. "If you're out there, who's going to hold the line when the next wave hits? We barely survived the first attack with you both involved in the main fight."

Xander had expected this argument. "We're not soldiers, Mason," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Adventurers like us don't fight well in defensive formations. We hit hard, we move fast. That's what we're good at. If we stay inside the walls, we're wasting our strengths."

"And if you're not here when they attack again?" Mason shot back, his jaw tightening. "You saw how many they sent in the first wave. What if they double that? Who's going to hold the line if you're off chasing this champion?"

Xander held Mason's gaze, unflinching. "Unless we defeat the champion, the number of soldiers holding the line won't matter. The undead will keep coming. Do you honestly think we're going to last another forty hours at this rate? We need to find the 'I win' button and smash it hard."

He didn't say it out loud, but Xander seemed to think that maybe this was what Lyra had been trying to hint at. There were alternate victory conditions to the quest.

"I don't like it," Mason muttered, but his tone lacked conviction.

JT stepped in before the debate could escalate further. "Saint Joseph was different," he said, his voice careful, diplomatic. "From what you've told me, you went into a dungeon to stop a boss monster there. This is a siege. If you go after the champion, it could trigger the next wave early. We might lose the time we need to rebuild or defenses."

Xander considered JT's point. He was right that this wasn't the same as Saint Joseph. "That's the risk we take," Xander said. "But if we wait for the next wave to hit before making our move, we'll be fighting on their terms. I've seen this before. It's better to strike while we still have the advantage."

The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone processed the implications. JT rubbed his temples, clearly feeling the strain of leadership. He looked around at the others, weighing their unspoken thoughts, before finally sighing.

"We've been at this for half an hour," he said, his voice carrying the exhaustion they all felt. "Let's take a five-minute break. Clear our heads, think things through. Then we'll decide."

As the others rose from their seats, Xander remained by the table, staring down at the maps. His mind kept returning to what Lyra had mentioned on the wall. If the Simulation AI wasn't actively trying to wipe humanity off the map, then it only made sense that doing something like defeating the champion of the army would break the siege. If the scouts had confirmed that what they saw was the General that kept getting mentioned in all the world quest updates.

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As the door creaked open and the others filed out into the hallway, Xander allowed himself one final thought: Time was not on their side.

The tension in the war room was palpable as everyone returned from the break. The stakes were high, and everyone in the room knew it. They all had the same goal in mind, but they had different opinions on how to get there.

JT looked more worn than Xander had ever seen him. Layers of exhaustion and strain concealed JT's previous trademark upbeat attitude. He was doing everything he could to hold the Starlight Oasis together, but the cracks were showing. JT resumed his place at the head of the table, his shoulders slumping just a little as he sat. Mason remained by the door, his perpetual scowl deepening as he prepared for what would surely be another round of debate.

Xander knew what he had to do, and that he was right, but convincing the others, especially Mason, was going to be a battle of its own.

Harvey was the first to return to his seat, his armor clinking softly as he settled back into the chair next to Xander. Jo took her place beside Xander without a word, her quiet confidence giving him the extra strength he needed. She didn't need to speak for him to know she was ready to back him up, no matter what. And that's why he loved her. They were a true team.

This was it. Xander leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his hands clasped tightly together. He had one more chance to convince them.

"We need to talk about Lyra," Xander began, his voice steady, but with a current of urgency running beneath it. JT's head snapped up at the mention of the name, and Mason's scowl somehow deepened further. Xander met their eyes directly. "Before the battle started, I was on the palisade with her. She told me something that's been on my mind ever since."

He paused, ensuring he had their full attention before continuing. "She commented it is likely the Simulation AI is testing us. This siege; it's not just about overwhelming us. It's about pushing us to find the solution. The AI is challenging humanity, and like every challenge it's thrown at us, there has to be a way to win."

Mason raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, but remained silent, waiting for Xander to continue. JT's expression was harder to read, though Xander could see the flicker of curiosity behind the weariness. He pressed on.

"I think," Xander said, "that even though the quest notification didn't say it outright, there's a hidden win condition. The champion, the undead general, it's the key. If we take him out, I believe we can break the siege."

Mason's gaze hardened. "You're asking us to risk everything based on the word of someone we can't even confirm exists."

Xander felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He had expected this line of argument, but it didn't make it any easier to counter. He took a breath, careful to keep his voice calm. "I know it sounds risky. But think about it. We've already seen how coordinated the undead are. This isn't a mindless horde. They're being led. We've confirmed that much."

There was a pause, and Xander could feel the shift in the room. Mason's expression remained unreadable, but JT's eyes flickered with interest. The tension between logic and trust warred silently around the table.

Mason's expression softened only slightly. "Let's assume that this Lyra person is real for a moment. You're asking us to trust an unknown entity; someone who doesn't even exist in our records. You understand how dangerous that is? At best, she's a spy, at worst… well, they call it AI for a reason."

Xander met his gaze steadily. "I do. But regardless of who or what she is, the logic still holds. The champion is the key to breaking this siege. If we don't take him out, we're just waiting for the next wave to hit us even harder. And we won't survive that."

Harvey, who had been quiet until now, suddenly stood up. His deep voice filled the room, cutting through the tension. "Xander's right. We've already seen what happens when we try to hold them off. We've only got one shot at this, and waiting for the next attack to hit us won't end well. I say we take the fight to them."

Xander glanced at Harvey, thankful for the support. They'd been through too many battles together for Harvey to doubt him now. Harvey trusted him, and that trust meant everything in this moment.

JT continued to rub his temples, letting out a long breath. He stared at the map for a long moment as if searching for some other answer, something less risky. But there was none.

Finally, JT looked up, his voice heavy with resignation. "I don't like this," he admitted. "It's risky. Hell, it might be suicidal. But Harvey's right. We can't just sit here and wait for the next wave to crush us. If this is our only shot, then we have to take it."

Xander exhaled, feeling a mix of relief and the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. Though unconvinced by the plan, JT was willing to try it, as the alternative was certain death.

"All right," JT continued. "You've got the go-ahead. But if this fails…" He let the sentence trail off, the implication hanging heavily in the room.

Xander said, standing from his chair. "It won't. We'll do this right."

He turned to Jo, who had been quietly listening. Her eyes focused on him with complete trust. "Jo, gather the others. Meet me at the palisade wall in fifteen minutes, please."

Jo stood, reaching out to grasp his hand. "I'll get everyone ready."

Without another word, she left the room. Xander knew that was why she was his rock. She was always ready to call him out on any bullshit, but when the stuff hit the fan, she was right there beside him. He missed the rest of his family and friends, but was thankful every day that he still had her.

As the rest of the group rose from their seats, JT suddenly raised a hand. "Xander, Harvey. Stay a moment."

Xander exchanged a glance with Harvey, who just shrugged back. Whatever JT needed to say, it wasn't for the others to hear. The room emptied, the sound of boots and armor fading into the distance. The heavy door creaked shut, leaving Xander, Harvey, and JT alone in the war room.

Harvey rolled his shoulders. He had the look of someone eager for action. JT, on the other hand, still looked like a man frazzled around the edges. The leader of Starlight Oasis, the man who had once run a truck stop, stood at the head of the table, his hands spread wide as if he was trying to embrace the entire room. "I still have concerns, but we've made the right call from a list of bad choices," JT said.

"I'm glad you trust us, JT," Harvey said. His voice was gruff but resolute. "The undead commander is the key. We take it down, the siege crumbles."

"That's my opinion," Xander replied. His gaze drifted to JT, who was still standing tall, arms crossed now, his face lit in the faint glow of the room's hearth. "But why do I feel like there's more to this than what we discussed in the council?"

JT's smile faltered, just for a second. His eyes flickered away from Xander's, and that slight hesitation told Xander everything.

"There is," JT finally admitted, letting out a slow breath. He leaned forward, bracing his hands against the table. "There's something I didn't want to bring up in front of the council and it's why I ultimately backed your plan, Xander. We need to hurry, not just because of the siege… but because the defenders are in far worse shape than everyone thinks."

Xander felt the hair rising on the back of his neck. He had known things weren't perfect, but worse than they thought?

"We've been seeing equipment failures," JT continued before hesitating for a moment, as if he was reluctant to even say it aloud. "And there's been miscommunication among the ranks. At first, we chalked it up to bad luck or mistakes, but… I believe we are still being sabotaged."

Harvey, who had been listening in stoic silence, spoke up, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "It's the cult, isn't it? The cult just won't give up, will they?"

JT nodded grimly. "The Cult of the Simulation. The saboteur you brought back hasn't been very helpful, but he has let enough slip that it's clear they've been more active than we realized. Undermining the defenses, planting seeds of chaos in our ranks. If they succeed, we won't withstand another assault, not from the undead."

Xander's hand tightened his grip on the edge of the table as JT's words sank in. He'd hoped their plans being thwarted would cause the cult to move on once they regained control of the trains to Starlight. However, it shouldn't have been a surprise that the cult was working against them. Everything they'd uncovered about the cult showed they were playing the long game.

"And that's why you approved the plan to hit the undead commander directly," Xander said, the pieces falling into place. "You're not just worried about the siege. You're worried we will have a fight from within if this continues."

JT straightened up, the faintest trace of strain showing around his eyes. "Exactly. If we take out the undead commander, we buy ourselves time. Time to root out the saboteurs and rebuild the defenses. But if the siege continues, and the cult keeps working behind the scenes, Starlight falls."

Harvey grunted in agreement. "Then we're doing the right thing," he said. "We hit the commander, and we hit him hard. There's no time to waste."

Xander couldn't argue with that. With the siege timer ticking down, and the defenders already compromised, waiting was impossible. But something about the way JT was standing tall but with the faintest tremor of exhaustion made him uneasy. JT was a good leader, better than anyone had expected, but the strain was showing. This was survival, and JT was bearing the weight of the entire city on his shoulders.

"How bad is it, really?" Xander asked, his voice quieter now. "With the Cult, I mean."

JT hesitated again, just for a heartbeat, before answering. "Bad enough. We've lost key equipment and critical resources. But we can handle it. We just need time."

Time. That was the one thing they didn't have. Xander glanced at the timer on his status screen, slowly counting down toward the next siege wave. They had hours, not days.

Harvey clapped his hands together. "We're ready for this. We've fought worse odds before."

JT's voice broke the silence again, and this time, it was softer, more vulnerable than before. "I know this isn't what any of us signed up for. I was supposed to be managing a truck stop, not leading a fortress. But I'm committed to this. Starlight will stand as long as I'm here. I appreciate both of you and your teams standing with me."

Xander met JT's eyes, seeing the resolve there. Despite the strain, despite the exhaustion, JT wasn't backing down. He believed in Starlight, and as much as Xander's doubts gnawed at him, he couldn't deny the effect JT had on people. The leader of the Oasis was more than just a figurehead. He was the glue holding them together.

"Then we'll make sure it stands," Xander said. "We'll take down that commander and buy the time we need to root out the cult. But we'll need everything you can give us for this to work."

JT nodded, already pulling himself back together, the confidence returning to his stance. "You'll have it. Whatever you need, it's yours."

Harvey hefted his war hammer, the weapon catching the light as he turned toward the door. "Let's move. The clock's ticking."

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