The figure in the silver mask stood perfectly still, yet Christian felt the weight of their gaze like a blade at his throat.
"Christian Wyatt," the voice repeated, soft but sharp enough to cut through the dim warehouse air. "You survived the Trial of the Abyss. Few do. Even fewer walk away unmarked."
Christian's grip tightened around his newly acquired dagger. "And you are…?"
The masked figure ignored the question. Instead, they slid a black envelope across the table. The paper felt heavier than it should, as if something inside was weighing it down.
"If you're interested in earning more than silver coins and common trinkets, meet me where the moonlight doesn't reach."
The man from the Harbor — the one who had given Christian his first contract — said nothing, but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes. As Christian turned to leave, the masked figure spoke again:
"One warning. In the Abyss, there is no respawn. Fail us once… and your name will be erased from every world."
Back in his rented room, Christian opened the envelope. A small obsidian coin slid out, etched with a single crescent shape. When it touched his palm, his interface flickered:
[Quest Received: The Abyss Beckons] Type: Hidden Faction Initiation Objective: Reach the Abyss Gate without being seen by any NPC or Player. Time Limit: 1 in-game hour. Failure Penalty: Class Lockout – Abyss Assassin Reward: Entry into the Abyss Order
Beneath the system text, a small compass icon appeared, pointing toward the southern district.
The southern district was nothing like the bustling markets near the Adventurer's Union. The streets narrowed into twisting alleys, the walls leaning in close enough to block out most of the moonlight.
Christian crouched in the shadows, watching a pair of patrolling city guards. Their armor clinked faintly as they passed, halberds gleaming in the torchlight.
He activated Shadowstep, blinking behind a barrel stack to cross the street. Every skill he used drained a small amount of stamina — a resource that wasn't infinite in Shadow Nexus. He'd have to pace himself.
Twice, he ducked into abandoned shops to avoid groups of late-night NPC drunks. Once, he froze as two real players ran past, laughing about a botched dungeon run. If they saw him sneaking around like this, they might follow — and blow the mission.
With only five minutes left on the timer, Christian reached the southern wall. A single archway of black stone stood between two crumbling warehouses. The compass icon pulsed faster.
Up close, the archway was covered in carvings that shifted when viewed from different angles — faces screaming, hands reaching, blades cutting. Inside the archway shimmered a curtain of pure shadow.
As Christian stepped through, the world went silent.
The other side was a circular chamber lit only by flickering candles. The floor was patterned in concentric rings, each ring etched with blades pointing inward. At the center stood the silver-masked figure.
"You've proven you can move unseen," they said. "Now prove you can kill unseen."
From the darkness, six silhouettes emerged — not NPC guards this time, but hooded assassins, each carrying a different weapon: twin daggers, curved sword, short spear, throwing knives, crossbow, and bare hands wrapped in iron wire.
System Prompt:
[Initiation Phase 2: The Silent Hunt] Objective: Eliminate all six targets without taking more than 20% HP damage. Bonus Objective: Perform at least 3 Stealth Kills. Reward: Abyss Order Membership / Abyss Assassin Skill Upgrade The Silent Hunt
Christian's mind snapped into combat mode. The chamber's pillars and shadows gave him cover — perfect for stealth kills. He started with the crossbow wielder, who was scanning the room from a balcony.
Shadowstep up the wall → hand over the mouth → dagger into the spine.
The body dissolved silently.
[Stealth Kill – Bonus XP Awarded]
Next, he baited the twin-dagger assassin into a narrow gap between crates. One quick sidestep, a slash to the Achilles, then Silent Kill to finish.
The others became harder — the spear wielder kept his distance, forcing Christian to dash in under a flurry of jabs. A feigned stumble drew the spear point high, leaving the ribs exposed.
By the time the last enemy — the bare-handed strangler — fell to a swift cut across the throat, Christian's HP had dipped to just 18%. He'd barely cleared the threshold.
The masked figure stepped forward, clapping slowly.
"You move like someone who has lived in the dark for years. Good. We need such hands."
They produced a dagger with a blade of pure obsidian, its edge almost humming.
[You have received: Abyss Fang (Epic)] Attack: +15 | Crit Chance: +10% | Special Effect: 5% chance to inflict Shadow Bleed
"From this moment, you are not merely a player. You are a blade in the dark, unseen but unstoppable. You are Abyss Order."
A final system prompt appeared:
[Quest Complete: The Abyss Beckons] Reward: Abyss Order Membership New Skill: Shadow Meld Lv.1 – Become invisible in darkness for 6 seconds. Cooldown: 30s.
As Christian accepted the dagger, the masked figure leaned in close.
"Your first mark awaits. But this one… ."
The shadows surged around Christian, and the chamber dissolved into black.