Days later, Leo found himself lingering outside the library on campus, his mind still wandering through the visions he’d seen. The entire experience in The Lost Megalith had been surreal, almost as if he’d lived it rather than played it. For days, the impact of what he’d seen and learned had weighed on him, distracting him from the daily grind of classes, his side jobs, and the ever-present responsibilities of real life.

  But today was different.

  Leo barely noticed the jocks gathered by the steps until one of them, Brent, spotted him. Brent was broad-shouldered, with the easy swagger of someone who expected attention.

  “Hey, Adams!” Brent’s voice rang out with exaggerated enthusiasm. “I heard you found that secret monolith in The Lost Megalith. Congrats, dude. Big win for… a solo player.”

  The others snickered, exchanging glances.

  Leo glanced up, surprised. He hadn’t even realized his achievement was public knowledge. The Lost Megalith was a standalone bonus game, a challenge that gave skilled players extra perks. He’d forgotten that it was linked to the real prize—the MMORPG Stone Chronicles: Veil of Titans.

  Brent smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “Guess you missed the announcement, huh? Name like yours in bright lights across Stone Chronicles—‘First Key Found by Leo Adams.’ So now you’ve got a single key. Cool, right? Problem is, solo players don’t last long in the big leagues, man. Gonna need a team if you wanna compete in the real thing.”

  Leo blinked, a mixture of surprise and irritation bubbling inside him. Stone Chronicles had never been on his radar as something he’d commit to. His hands had been full with the standalone challenge, which he’d tackled on his own. But he’d always felt a pull toward hidden mysteries, and with the way the trials had seemed to speak directly to him, it was hard to resist. Still, he hadn’t anticipated that his name would go public. Or that the next step would thrust him into an even bigger game, one with the weight of a true journey.

  One of Brent’s friends chimed in, “You know, if you’re serious about getting to the Lost Megalith, you’re gonna need a team of at least five. And you’d better be good, or you’ll fall straight into the ‘loser pack’—all the wannabes that try, fail, and get stuck at low XP.”

  Leo kept his expression steady, not giving them the satisfaction of seeing him react. But inside, the mention of a “Lost Megalith” had caught his attention.

  “What’s the Lost Megalith?” he asked, keeping his tone casual.

  Brent raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise. “Wait, you didn’t know? That’s the final boss of Stone Chronicles—the Lost Megalith. They say it holds crazy bonuses, power-ups, and unique abilities, things no one else in the game has access to unless they find it first. And because you’ve got the first key, you’re one of only five players that can unlock it. But it’s no solo mission. You’ll need teammates—strong ones.”

  Leo’s pulse quickened. The Lost Megalith had felt like a journey, a rite of passage that had tested his mind, instincts, and resolve. Now he realized it was just the beginning, a way to gain entry to something even larger.

  Brent’s friend nudged him. “Yeah, Leo. The big players are already assembling their teams for Stone Chronicles: Veil of Titans. You know, the people who can actually finish the game. It’s not for loners.”

  Ignoring their laughter, Leo gave them a dismissive nod and walked away, their mocking voices trailing behind him. But as he walked, his thoughts raced. Stone Chronicles wasn’t just another game. It was a sprawling MMORPG, where entire realms of mythical lore and team-based challenges awaited. Each of the ten mythical locations held secrets, battles, and mysteries—places as enigmatic as the trials he’d faced.

  With his first key, he already had access to one of the ten legendary realms. But to unlock the Lost Megalith, he’d need to find all five keys. Suddenly, Brent’s words had a new significance.

  Five keys, ten mythical megaliths, Leo thought. And somewhere, a final hidden location.

  He found himself outside, pacing as the enormity of it all sunk in. He’d unlocked the first key, and with it, a status that came with an implicit invitation—an invitation to compete, to explore a game world that might echo the same ancient mysteries he’d just uncovered in The Lost Megalith.

  Mythical Key Locations in the VR Game Stone Chronicles. Veil of Titans.

  He pulled out his phone, his curiosity growing. Searching the Stone Chronicles forum, he scanned the lore behind the ten legendary realms, each one an echo of places and mysteries from ancient myth. They were places that beckoned him to explore their hidden depths, worlds inspired by real-world myths and locations.

  

  
1. The Arctic. Veil of the Eternal Aurora.


  

  Beneath the Northern Lights lies a frozen world of crystalline beauty, steeped in the ancient myths of Hyperborea, the land of eternal spring. Inuit legends of Sedna, the sea goddess, merge with tales of mystics who guard glistening ice peaks, their secrets written in the shifting patterns of the aurora. The Arctic beckons only the most determined seekers to uncover its eternal wisdom.

  

  
2. Chile. The Lava Lands of Rapa Nui.


  

  Chile’s volcanic regions and the enigmatic Easter Island (Rapa Nui) merge in this fiery realm of charred plains and obsidian towers. Moai-like statues rise hauntingly from the blackened earth, seemingly watching over a land scarred by ancient eruptions. The Mapuche legends of Pillán, the fiery volcano spirit, whisper of protectors who roam the lava flows, ensuring their secrets remain undisturbed.

  

  
3. Sicily. Atlantis of the Mediterranean.


  

  Sicily, with its submerged ruins and ties to Mount Etna, forms a gateway to the myths of the lost empire of Atlantis. Beneath the Mediterranean waves, golden temples and statues lie in eerie silence, their unfathomable expressions glowing in fractured sunlight. The Greek myth of Typhon, the titan trapped under Mount Etna, breathes life into stories of warriors guarding these ruins, ever-watchful of those who dare trespass.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  

  
4. Giza. The Shifting Sands of Duat.


  

  The Giza Plateau, home to the Great Pyramids, takes on an otherworldly aura as a desert kingdom steeped in myth. The pyramids are not just monumental tombs but celestial star maps guiding the souls of the departed to the afterlife in the Duat. Legends of shifting sands revealing hidden pathways during astrological events resonate with ancient Egyptian beliefs in the interconnectedness of the heavens and the earth, with the pyramids as cosmic beacons.

  

  
5. Sacsayhuamán. The Moonlit Fortress of the Andes.


  

  The megalithic site of Sacsayhuamán in Peru, perched high above Cusco, emerges as a misty realm of ancient carvings and celestial reverence. Its precision-cut stones bear lunar symbols, evoking the worship of celestial cycles by the Inca. Shadowy forms, perhaps aya (restless spirits), are said to wander its terraces under the full moon, guardians of the secrets of this fortress in the clouds.

  

  
6. Chichén Itzá. The Sky-Watchers’ Ruin.


  

  Nestled in the Yucatán jungle, Chichén Itzá is a city of pyramids built to commune with the heavens. The towering El Castillo, aligned with celestial events, reflects the Mayan obsession with the cosmos. Legends of Huracan, the storm god, and aluxes (spirit guardians) intertwine with the ruins, whose whispers and shifting shadows evoke a sense of eerie watchfulness.

  

  
7. The Amazon. Karandor, Empire of Living Stone.


  

  Deep within the Amazon jungle lies a mythical city shrouded by colossal stone guardians and overgrown with vines. This realm recalls El Dorado and the terra preta, the mysterious fertile soil created by ancient Amazonian societies. Legends tell of a society that blended botanical science with spiritual rituals, their secrets locked away behind the roots of towering trees and the claws of their stone beasts.

  

  
8. Gunung Padang. The Valley of Thunder.


  

  Gunung Padang, a megalithic site in Indonesia, rises as a realm of mystery and power. Known for its towering stone terraces, this ancient valley is said to have been scorched by a cataclysmic lightning storm. Charred ruins and blackened monoliths whisper of rituals dedicated to fire and storms. The voices of the past flicker like ghostly flames among the ruins, testing the courage of those who dare enter.

  

  
9. The Starlit Abyss. Atlantis of the Unknown.


  

  The fabled Atlantis exists not in a single place but in the dreams of seekers who follow the stars. This undersea metropolis of phosphorescent spires and crystalline structures remains visible only when specific constellations align. Guided by celestial maps, adventurers are drawn to its glowing depths. Legends say only those ready to confront its truths will see its light, and those unworthy are left adrift in the ocean’s endless expanse.

  

  
10. Antarctica. The Frozen Runes of Ultima Thule.


  

  Antarctica’s labyrinthine ice caves hold the ancient secrets of Ultima Thule, a mythical land at the edge of the world. Massive runic symbols etched into the ice form an undeciphered language, telling stories of a civilization lost to time. Known as the “City of Stone Words,” this tundra realm tests adventurers with its bitter cold and cryptic patterns, offering its truths only to those who can endure its icy embrace.

  Reading through the lore, Leo’s heart raced. Each location was a journey, a challenge far beyond what he’d experienced. And Veil of Titans was more than just a game; it was a gateway to ancient mysteries. And it was clear he’d only scratched the surface. Teams were allowed to have at least five players and a maximum of seven players per team.

  The final entry, describing the elusive Lost Megalith, intrigued him the most. This mythical eleventh site held powers unknown to even the game’s most seasoned players. Whoever located it would gain abilities that transcended anything in the standard gameplay. But it was locked, hidden within the ten realms, and only those who acquired all five keys could access it. After that, anyone would be able to find it, but the first team would get exclusive rewards and bonuses.

  Leo let out a breath, his mind spinning. He hadn’t intended to be pulled into a new game, to be thrust into a world where ancient secrets were waiting to be uncovered, where his own journey felt like a reflection of something even larger. Yet here he was, drawn in, on the brink of something extraordinary.

  For the first time, he felt the weight of his accomplishment. He was no longer just Leo, the solitary player. He was now Leo Adams—the first to unlock the key, the seeker of the first path to the Lost Megalith.

  The question was, could he face what was waiting for him in Stone Chronicles: Veil of Titans?

  The Unexpected Fame of LeoAdams1

  As soon as Leo logged in, a loud ping sounded through his headset, followed by another and then another. He blinked as a cascade of notifications poured in, filling his screen with dozens of messages. He’d set up his gaming profile without much thought, listing his real name and a simple handle: LeoAdams1. No fancy pseudonym, no hiding behind an alias—just him, assuming he’d be one of countless players journeying in relative anonymity.

  But now, millions of players across the world knew his name. Leo Adams was the first player in the history of Stone Chronicles to have found a key to the legendary Lost Megalith, and the game’s automatic notifications had broadcasted his success to every player. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know him, to connect with him, to share in the glory. His inbox was flooded with messages ranging from congratulations to offers of friendship, partnership, and, of course, requests to join his team.

  His phone buzzed nonstop, emails pinged with offers from gaming guilds, even his social media lit up with messages from strangers tagging him, celebrating his achievement, and speculating about the Lost Megalith. The notifications felt relentless, each new message a reminder of how suddenly visible he’d become.

  He opened a few, skimming through the chaos.

  “Dude, are you really Leo Adams? The FIRST keyholder? Let’s team up!”

  “Bro, I’m on a top-ranked guild. You need a team? We got you covered.”

  “Hey Leo, I’ve been gaming for years. You and I would make an unstoppable duo. DM me if interested!”

  Each message pushed him to make a choice he’d been delaying—assembling a team. Brent and his friends had taunted him for not having one, but now that he’d unlocked the key, the necessity of a team was unavoidable. Stone Chronicles wasn’t just a place for lone adventurers; it was a team-based MMORPG, where players who didn’t join forces fell behind, eventually sidelined as low-level players. If he wanted to uncover the mysteries of the Lost Megalith, he’d need four other players who could match his intensity, players who were as drawn to the game’s secrets as he was.

  Luckily, he had time. With winter break stretching before him, he’d committed himself to this journey. For the next few weeks, there was nothing holding him back—no classes, no job, nothing but him and the unexplored world of Stone Chronicles.

  To be continued...

  Stay Tuned. Awaiting the 90-day term (February 14 for The Lost Megaith) with KDP Select to continue this series. In the future, i.e., books 3-6 will be released without KDP Select.

  https://veiloftitans.com/join to support us and become an active member of our VOT community. If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider purchasing or reviewing Veil of Titans: The Lost Megalith on Kindle for just $0.99.