The morning sun cast a pale glow over Valoria City, cutting through the mist that hung above the rooftops.
For most people, it was an ordinary day.
For Lin Xuan, it marked the beginning of his real path.
[ Quest: Path of the Assassin ]
Objective: Register at the Assassin Guild
Reward: Hidden Class Evolution Hint ]
He adjusted his dark jacket, the twin daggers at his waist glinting faintly as he walked through the cobblestone streets.
The guild district was silent—too silent.
The Guild of Shadows
Valoria's Assassin Guild wasn't like the others.
There was no grand sign, no glowing banners, no crowds of recruits.
Just a single iron door at the end of a narrow alleyway, marked with a faint symbol: a dagger crossing a crescent moon.
Lin Xuan stopped before it. The air was colder here.
He placed his hand on the door. The moment he touched the surface—
[ System Verification Detected ]
[ Profession Confirmed: Assassin ]
[ Access Granted ]
The door opened with a low hiss.
Inside, the world shifted.
The interior was far larger than the building should've allowed—an entire underground hall carved into stone, dimly lit by flickering crimson crystals.
Everywhere, figures in dark leather sat quietly, sharpening blades, studying mission scrolls, or watching newcomers with eyes like predators.
A tall woman stood behind the central counter, her face covered by a black half-mask.
"New registration?" she asked without looking up.
"Yes," Lin Xuan said.
"Name."
"Lin Xuan."
Her gloved fingers brushed over a floating crystal tablet.
The System activated.
[ Profession: Assassin (Confirmed) ]
[ Talent: SSS – Silent Killer ]
[ Passive Detected: Soul Assimilation ]
[ Special Notice: Hidden Trait Signature Detected ]
She froze mid-motion.
For a second, her calm expression broke.
"…SSS talent?" she muttered under her breath. Then her tone sharpened.
"Follow me."
The Testing Chamber
She led him through a passage into a stone chamber lined with runes.
Targets—metal constructs shaped like humanoids—stood in rows across the floor.
"This is the Guild's standard assessment," she said. "You'll be ranked based on your speed, precision, and lethality."
She turned, eyes cold behind her mask. "Begin when ready."
Lin Xuan drew his daggers.
[ Guild Assessment Activated ]
[ Eliminate All Targets: 0 / 10 ]
He moved.
The first construct didn't even have time to lift its blade.
[ Shadow Step ]—a blur, a strike, a collapse.
[ +50 EXP ]
He weaved between targets like a shadow, every motion deliberate, every strike clean.
Not a single wasted step.
[ Target Eliminated ]
[ +60 EXP ]
[ +70 EXP ]
[ Skill Progression: Dagger Mastery II → III ]
By the time the last construct hit the floor, less than thirty seconds had passed.
The masked examiner's eyes widened slightly.
"…Impressive. Most E-ranks can't even take down half in a minute."
Then she frowned, reading her interface.
"No record of 'Soul Assimilation' exists in our archives. That ability… it's not a normal passive."
Lin Xuan wiped his blade. "I've noticed."
She studied him a moment longer, then handed him a black token.
[ Item Acquired: Assassin Guild Identification Token ]
[ Rank: Initiate Assassin (E-Class) ]
"Congratulations," she said quietly. "You're now an official member of the Guild."
The Hidden Prompt
As Lin Xuan turned to leave, his System flickered—
a faint golden message appearing in the corner of his vision.
[ Hidden Evolution Path Triggered ]
[ Condition: Perform 100 Perfect Assassinations ]
[ Progress: 3 / 100 ]
[ Reward: Profession Evolution – Shadow Reaper (Locked) ]
His breath caught for a moment.
A hidden evolution—confirmed.
He glanced down at his hands.
Even now, faint traces of energy pulsed beneath his skin.
"So it's real…"
The masked woman spoke again, her tone oddly soft.
"Be careful, Lin Xuan. Power like yours doesn't stay hidden for long."
He nodded once. "I'll remember that."
As he stepped out of the guild hall, sunlight met his face once more.
But even the light felt thinner now—like the shadows had learned his name.
Status Panel
Name: Lin Xuan
Level: 6
Profession: Assassin (E-Class)
Talent: SSS – Silent Killer
Passive: Soul Assimilation (Active)
Hidden Quest: 3 / 100 Perfect Assassinations
Next Evolution: Shadow Reaper (Locked)
Strength: 18
Agility: 22
Perception: 16