Chapter Two: The Mark of the Abyss
The glowing panel still hovered in front of Lumian's eyes.
It wasn't a dream.
His heart thundered in his chest as words carved themselves onto the shifting surface, glowing like fire etched into glass.
A cold, robotic childlike voice filled the silence:
[Assimilation Initiated]
[Fragment of the Abyss Detected]
[Host: Lumian Gray]
Lumian stumbled backward, nearly tripping over the cracked floorboards of the bedroom. His throat felt tight, his voice barely escaping in a trembling whisper.
"What the hell is this…?"
But the panel did not vanish. It floated there, unwavering, like it had always belonged. More words began to appear, each one sinking into him like a nail driven into flesh:
[Your mind has been marked.]
A shiver ran through him. His father's ghostly face. The storm that tore through his skull. The black cat with knife-like claws. None of it had been a random nightmare. Something had branded him. Something alive.
"No," he muttered, clutching at his head. "This… this can't be real. It's trauma. Just memories. Hallucinations. That's all—"
Desperate, he reached toward the panel. His hand passed straight through it like mist. His chest tightened.
The panel shifted again, new lines blazing into view:
[Host Name: Lumian Gray]
[Status: Level 0]
[Fragments of the Abyss: 1/10]
[Abilities: Ghost Sense (Level 0)]
[Missions: None]
Then, almost mockingly, another line appeared:
[Mission Initialization… Processing Host Data… 1%… 2%… 3%...]
Lumian's eyes widened. His knees felt weak. "What the hell is happening to me? What even is a 'Fragment of the Abyss'? Sounds terrifying… And this 'Ghost Sense'—does that mean ghosts really exist? Well…" He gave a shaky laugh. "Not like it'd surprise me. I already saw my dead dad earlier."
He ran a hand through his messy hair, his thoughts spiraling.
"And now missions? What is this, some sick game? Why do I feel like I've been dragged into the role of a main character in a nightmare fantasy novel?"
He groaned, pacing the dusty room.
Yet, after minutes of panicked thoughts, he stopped. His breathing slowed. A strange idea crept into his mind.
"…Maybe it's not that bad."
His lips twitched into a bitter smile. "If this is like those fantasy novels, then maybe… I'll get stronger. Power-ups. Abilities. Levels."
The panel flickered at his thoughts, fading in and out as if responding to him. Lumian blinked. He focused again—and it vanished. Then reappeared when he willed it.
"…I can control it," he muttered. "This thing… listens."
For the first time, curiosity nudged aside fear. A wild thought crossed his mind: Should I tell Uncle Joan?
But the image of his uncle's disbelieving scowl flashed before him. He'll just think I'm insane… Maybe even send me to a hospital.
Lumian sighed. "No… I'll keep this to myself."
Still unsettled, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The call connected instantly.
"Wassup, bruh?" came a lazy voice from the other side.
It was Chaco, his closest friend.
Lumian's chest tightened with relief. He almost spilled everything—about the house, the ghost, the panel, the system—when a sudden, searing pain exploded in his head.
"ARGHHH!" He dropped to his knees, clutching his skull.
The robotic child's voice echoed again:
[Warning: Unusual Activity Detected in Host]
[Host Attempting to Reveal System Secret]
Lumian's vision blurred. He gasped, blood filling his mouth. "Hell with this… I can't even talk about it?"
The pain intensified as if invisible claws were tearing his brain apart. He fell forward, his phone slipping in his grip.
On the other side, Chaco's voice grew sharper. "Hello? Hello? Lumian? What the hell's going on—"
Lumian forced himself to grip the phone, trying to speak, to explain—but the agony doubled. Blood sprayed from his lips onto the dusty floorboards.
The voice cut in again, merciless:
[Warning 2: Host Attempting Rule Breach]
[Death Penalty Initiated]
[Countdown: 30… 29… 28… 27… 26…]
Lumian's eyes widened in pure terror. Death? The blood he spat was proof enough. His body was shutting down. This wasn't an empty threat—it was real.
"No… no, no, no—stop!" He ended the call with trembling fingers.
The countdown froze.
Then, with a blink, the numbers vanished.
Silence.
Lumian collapsed against the wall, gasping, sweat dripping down his face. "That… was too close. Damn it. I almost died before I even… lived. I haven't even had a girlfriend yet…"
His bitter laugh echoed in the dusty room.
But the system wasn't done.
The panel reappeared, brighter this time.
[Mission Generation Complete]
[Mission Level: F]
[Objective: Travel to Jade City. Stay inside Evernight Apartment for 5 Hours.]
[Reward: 30 Karma Points, Random Skill]
[Failure: Death]
Lumian froze, the words searing themselves into his mind.
"…Wait. Death? For failing a mission?" His face twisted in horror. "Damn you… you crazy system!"
The glowing panel flickered one last time before fading into the air, leaving Lumian standing in silence—alone, trembling, and branded by something far beyond his understanding.
The abyss had chosen him. And it wasn't going to let him go.