The insistent buzz of the intercom sliced through the pre-dawn gloom of Ethan's apartment. He squinted at the monitor, the pixelated image showing two men in crisp, dark suits standing in the hallway. Their faces were expressionless, almost unnervingly so.

"Ethan Blackwood?" one of them asked, his voice devoid of warmth. "We're here on behalf of OmniTech Solutions. We need to speak with you."

Ethan's gut clenched. He'd been expecting something like this, but that didn't make it any easier. He glanced at the small, stone golem sitting silently on his workbench, a faint, earthy scent emanating from it. He'd been refining the process of materializing them, learning to minimize the power drain, but the risk of discovery had been weighing on him heavily.

"What about?" he replied, stalling for time. He needed to assess the situation, try to understand what they knew.

"It concerns certain…anomalies…related to your energy consumption," the man said, his gaze sweeping over the security camera. Ethan could almost feel him analyzing the feed, cataloging every detail of his cluttered apartment. "And some…unusual online activity. We'd prefer to discuss it in person."

Ethan knew that ‘unusual online activity’ was code for ‘Aethelred’. They knew. How much, he couldn't be sure, but they definitely knew something. The casual mention of energy consumption was likely a smokescreen. They were here because of Aethelred, because of the Awakened he was pulling through the veil.

"I'm not really dressed for visitors," Ethan said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Maybe you could schedule an appointment through my lawyer?"

The man's lips thinned. "Mr. Blackwood, we have reason to believe this matter requires immediate attention. We can obtain a warrant if necessary, but we'd prefer to resolve this amicably."

Ethan sighed. Amicably. That was rich. He knew that tone, the veiled threat beneath the polite veneer. He knew it from his time in the military, from dealing with politicians and bureaucrats. They wanted something, and they weren't afraid to play hardball.

"Give me five minutes," he said, reluctantly hitting the buzzer to unlock the outer door of the apartment building.

He scrambled to clear the most obvious evidence. He shoved the partially disassembled power regulator he'd been using to channel energy to the golem under a pile of clothes. He quickly wiped down his workbench, trying to erase the faint residue of minerals and arcane dust that clung to the surface. He activated a camouflage routine on his computer, masking the Aethelred interface with a dummy spreadsheet.

Five minutes wasn't nearly enough. The apartment still reeked of ozone and earth, the telltale signs of his transdimensional tinkering. But he had to face them. Running would only make him look guilty, and he needed to know exactly what OmniTech was planning.

When the knock came, Ethan took a deep breath and opened the door. The two men stood there, imposing in their dark suits. The taller one, the one who had spoken, had cold, grey eyes that seemed to dissect him with a single glance. The other was broader, more physically imposing, with a barely concealed bulge beneath his jacket that suggested a firearm.

"Mr. Blackwood," the taller man said, extending a hand. "I'm Agent Davies, and this is Agent Miller. We appreciate you making time for us."

Ethan reluctantly shook Davies' hand. His grip was firm, almost painful. Miller remained silent, his eyes scanning the apartment.

"Come in," Ethan said, stepping aside.

The agents entered, their presence instantly filling the small space. Davies paused, his gaze lingering on the stone golem. "Interesting…decoration," he said, his voice betraying nothing.

"A hobby," Ethan replied, trying to keep his tone casual. "I dabble in sculpture."

Davies nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the golem. "So, Mr. Blackwood," he said, turning his attention back to Ethan. "Let's get down to business. We're aware of your involvement with Aethelred."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Ethan’s heart hammered against his ribs.

"Aethelred?" he said, feigning ignorance. "I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

Davies raised an eyebrow. "Please, Mr. Blackwood. We're not fools. We've been monitoring your activity within the game. We know about your…unique approach to unit evolution."

Ethan cursed inwardly. They knew about Unit 734, about the Stone Guardian, about the Clockwork Alchemist. They knew about his resource gathering, about the subtle manipulation of the game's engine.

"It's just a game," Ethan said, trying to sound convincing. "I enjoy strategy games. I'm a bit of a power-gamer, I guess."

Davies chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "A 'power-gamer' who somehow manages to draw enough energy to power a small factory from his apartment? A 'power-gamer' who leaves behind trace amounts of exotic minerals after dismantling his…'sculptures'?"

Ethan’s face was grim. "Look, I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe there's a problem with the wiring in the building?"

Davies stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper. "We know Aethelred is more than a game, Mr. Blackwood. We know it's a conduit, a bridge between realities. And we know you're exploiting it."

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. They knew far more than he had anticipated.

"And what if I am?" Ethan challenged, deciding to abandon the pretense. "What if I've found a way to do something extraordinary?"

"Extraordinary is not the word I would use," Davies said, his eyes hardening. "Dangerous. Unstable. Potentially catastrophic. Aethelred is a volatile system, Mr. Blackwood. It's not meant to be manipulated the way you're manipulating it. You're playing with forces you don't understand."

"I understand enough," Ethan retorted. "I understand that it's real. I understand that I can create things, that I can protect myself. And I understand that you're scared of what I can do."

Davies ignored the taunt. "OmniTech is prepared to offer you a substantial sum to cease your activities immediately. We can ensure your silence, and we can provide you with a…comfortable relocation."

"You want to buy me off?" Ethan said, incredulous. "You think I'm just going to walk away from this? From something this…powerful?"

"It's for your own good, Mr. Blackwood," Davies insisted. "And for the good of the world. The Convergence is coming, whether you like it or not. The only way to ensure any sort of control is to let OmniTech manage the situation."

The Convergence. Ethan had read about it in the hidden lore within Aethelred, the ancient war between factions of Awakened, the looming threat of realities merging. He had dismissed it as just another elaborate game narrative, but now…now, it seemed terrifyingly real.

"Manage it?" Ethan scoffed. "You want to control it. You want to weaponize it. I've seen what companies like yours do with power. You're not protecting the world, you're exploiting it."

Davies’ expression turned dark. "You're making a mistake, Mr. Blackwood. A grave mistake. You have no idea what you're up against."

"I have a pretty good idea," Ethan said, his voice hardening. "I'm up against you. And I'm not backing down."

"Very well," Davies said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "You've made your choice. Agent Miller, secure the premises."

Miller moved with surprising speed, pulling a taser from beneath his jacket.

Ethan reacted instantly. He grabbed the stone golem from the workbench and hurled it at Miller. The golem struck Miller in the chest, sending him staggering backward. The taser clattered to the floor.

Davies swore and reached for a weapon of his own, but Ethan was already moving. He grabbed a wrench from his toolbox and swung it at Davies' head. The wrench connected with a sickening thud, and Davies crumpled to the floor.

Ethan stood over them, panting, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had just assaulted two corporate agents. He was officially in deep trouble.

But he didn't regret it. He knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, that he had made the right decision. The stakes were far higher than he had ever imagined. Aethelred wasn't just a game. It was a key, a gateway, a weapon. And OmniTech wanted to control it all.

He glanced at the inert bodies of the agents, a grim determination hardening his gaze. He was no longer just a disillusioned coder haunted by his past. He was something more. He was a Warlord, a protector, a reluctant guardian of a world on the brink of chaos. And he wasn't going to let OmniTech, or anyone else, destroy it.

He knew he couldn't stay here. They would be back, and next time, they wouldn't be so…civil. He had to move, to find a safe place to plan his next move. And he had to find out more about the Convergence, about the forces at play within Aethelred, about the ancient war that threatened to engulf two worlds.

He looked around his apartment, a place that had been his sanctuary, his refuge, for so long. Now, it was just a trap. He had to leave it behind. He grabbed his laptop, his backpack, and the small, self-repairing wrench that had accidentally manifested from the Clockwork Alchemist’s toolkit. He took one last look around, a mixture of regret and resolve swirling within him.

He was stepping into the unknown. But he wasn't afraid. He was ready.

He was the Warlord of the Awakened, and the battle had just begun.