Felix barely slept after the Titan of Ash fell. His screen still glowed with the Godfall Arena victory notification, Raze's name etched at the top of the contribution board. Level 100 on launch week was unheard of, and the game's community was ablaze. Forums and X posts buzzed with theories—some called Raze a prodigy, others a cheater. Felix knew the truth, and it sat like a stone in his gut. The bug that let him level up with every hit was his golden ticket, but it was also a ticking bomb.
He logged back in at noon, the familiar hum of his PC grounding him. The Dawnspire plaza was packed, avatars clustering around the central fountain to trade loot from the World Event. Raze, now clad in the Ashen Monarch Cloak—a legendary reward from the Titan—drew stares. Its ember-trimmed edges flickered as he moved, and his Viperfang Blades pulsed with a faint green sheen. Felix felt a rush of pride, but he kept Raze's movements casual, blending into the crowd.
The bug hadn't been patched yet. Felix tested it that morning in a low-level zone, letting a stray Thornling nick Raze. Sure enough, a notification flashed:
Level Up! You are now Level 101.
His heart skipped. The devs either hadn't noticed or were too swamped with launch issues to care. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on him—virtual or otherwise.
A new quest popped up: "The Shattered Crown." It directed Raze to the Obsidian Reach, a volcanic zone for Level 50+ players. The lore hinted at a relic tied to the game's titular Godfall, a cataclysm that fractured the world. Felix accepted, eager to push Raze's limits. But first, he checked the Arena Rankings. Ironclad had reclaimed the top spot, now Level 35 with a slew of duel wins. Raze was second, his World Event points keeping him close.
"Gotta stay ahead," Felix muttered, queuing for a 3v3 Arena match. His teammates were a Level 40 Starlit Mystic named "Lunareth" and a Level 38 Iron Sentinel called "Stoneforged." Their opponents: three Level 45s—a Reaver, a Wanderer, and a Mystic. The map was Frostfang Rift, a snowy canyon with icy platforms and narrow chokepoints.
The match started fast. Lunareth unleashed a meteor shower, forcing the enemy Reaver to dodge. Stoneforged taunted the Wanderer, soaking hits with his shield. Felix hung back, letting the enemy Mystic's frost bolts graze Raze. Levels ticked up: 102, 103, 104. His stats surged, making Crimson Tempest hit like a freight train. Raze spun into the fray, shredding the Reaver in one combo. The Wanderer fell next, unable to outrun Raze's Godfall Strike. The Mystic tried to flee, but Lunareth's snare locked them down for Raze's finishing blow.
Victory! +150 Arena Points.
Lunareth typed in team chat: "Raze, you're a monster. Level 105 now? How?"
Felix typed back: "Just know the game well." It was a weak excuse, and Stoneforged's silence felt heavy. He left the lobby quickly, heart pounding. People were noticing.
The Obsidian Reach was his next stop. The zone was a hellscape of lava rivers and blackened cliffs, the air shimmering with heat. Felix guided Raze across a basalt bridge, dodging gouts of flame from fissures below. The quest marker led to a cavern called the Ember Vault, guarded by Ashkin—skeletal warriors wreathed in fire. They were Level 60, a challenge for most, but Felix saw opportunity.
He let an Ashkin's spear scrape Raze, dropping his health to 80%. Level Up! You are now Level 106. Another hit, another level. By the time he cleared the pack, Raze was Level 110, with enough skill points to max out Reaver's Gambit for better dodges and Blood Rush for insane attack speed. The Ember Vault's interior was a maze of molten traps, but Raze's agility made it trivial. Felix looted a Cinderheart Amulet, boosting his damage by 15%.
At the vault's core was the boss: Kaltharax, a draconic golem forged from obsidian. Its eyes glowed like furnaces, and its roar shook the cavern. Felix grinned—this was what he lived for. Kaltharax's tail swipe hit Raze for 30% health, spiking him to Level 115. A lava breath attack pushed him to 120. Felix danced around the golem, letting attacks clip him just enough to keep the bug humming. Raze's Godfall Strike carved chunks from Kaltharax's armor, and after ten minutes, the beast shattered.
Victory! Ember Vault Cleared.
Reward: Obsidian Shard, 1000 Gold.
The shard was a quest item, but Felix's inventory was starting to look like a museum. Rare weapons, armor, even a Flamewisp Mount from a side quest—Raze was a walking arsenal. Back in Dawnspire, he turned in the shard to an NPC loremaster, who spoke of the Godfall's origins: a betrayed deity whose crown split the world. The next quest pointed to the Skyspire Peaks, but Felix paused. His inbox had a new message, flagged with a dev logo.
Subject: Account Review
Player Raze, your activity has flagged our anomaly detection. Please explain your progression rate in a reply by 23:59 UTC tomorrow. Failure to comply may result in a temporary suspension. —Godfall Arena Team
Felix's stomach dropped. "They know." He reread the message, hoping it was a bluff. Maybe they were fishing, unsure if he was cheating or just skilled. He considered his options: deny everything, claim he'd found a legit exploit, or come clean and beg for mercy. None felt safe. A ban would kill his momentum, and Raze's legend would be dust.
He needed advice. Logging out, Felix opened X and searched for Godfall Arena glitch reports. Most posts were about minor bugs—clipping issues, UI glitches—but one thread caught his eye: "Anyone else leveling too fast?" The poster, "AnonGrinder," described gaining levels from environmental damage, like lava pits. The replies were skeptical, but a few players claimed similar experiences. One comment chilled Felix: "Devs are cracking down. My friend got banned for exploiting a quest bug."
Felix closed the tab, mind racing. The bug wasn't unique to him, but he'd pushed it harder than anyone. Level 120 was absurd, and his Arena wins made him a beacon. He needed to lay low, but the Skyspire Peaks quest tempted him. It promised a Crown Fragment, a key to the game's endgame. If he could grab it before a patch—or a ban—he'd cement Raze's legacy.
He logged back in, steering Raze to a quieter zone: the Mistveil Marshes. It was a Level 30 area, perfect for testing the bug without drawing eyes. The enemies—bog wraiths and venomous leeches—were weak, but their hits still triggered levels. By dusk, Raze was Level 130, with a new skill, Soulrend Slash, that drained enemy health. Felix felt invincible, but the dev message loomed like a guillotine.
In the marshes, he ran into Shadowveil, the Ashen Wanderer from launch day. Now Level 45, Shadowveil was hunting a rare mob. They teamed up, and Felix played conservatively, avoiding damage to keep his levels static. Shadowveil's voice came through proximity chat, sharp and curious. "You're everywhere, Raze. Forums can't shut up about you."
Felix laughed nervously. "Just having fun."
"Fun, huh? Nobody hits Level 130 in a week without… help."
Felix froze. "What's that mean?"
Shadowveil's avatar shrugged. "Means you're either a genius or something's fishy. Watch your back—people are jealous."
They parted ways, but the warning stuck. Felix couldn't trust anyone, not with the devs circling. He decided to skip the Skyspire Peaks for now and focus on Arena matches, where he could control the spotlight. He queued for a 5v5, landing on a team with Lunareth and three strangers. Their opponents included Ironclad, whose shield now glowed with runes.
The map, Sunken Citadel, was a maze of flooded ruins. Ironclad's team played tight, coordinating strikes to lock down Felix's allies. Felix let a Mystic's chain lightning hit Raze, pushing him to Level 135. His stats dwarfed everyone's, and Soulrend Slash tore through Ironclad's defenses. The match ended in a rout, with Raze's team on top.
Ironclad messaged him after: "You're good, but nobody's that good. What's your secret?"
Felix didn't reply. He logged off, pulse hammering. The devs, Shadowveil, Ironclad—everyone was closing in. He had one day to respond to the account review. Part of him wanted to push Raze to Level 200, damn the consequences. Another part screamed to quit while he was ahead.
Lying in bed, Felix stared at the ceiling. Godfall Arena was more than a game now—it was his shot at greatness. But greatness came with a cost, and he wasn't sure he could pay it. Tomorrow, he'd decide: fight for Raze's legend or vanish before the hammer fell.