Yawn...
Opening my eyes, I did a satisfying stretch and let out a contented sigh.
While the Forums were exploding with debates and arguments, I was peacefully sleeping.
"That was a good night's rest..."
Brushing my dark bangs out of my eyes, I lazily rolled out of bed and made my way towards the kitchen.
"Good morning!"
My parents were already sitting by the table, doing their own stuff.
I also sat down and began eating my meal, savoring each bite of the delicious breakfast prepared by my parents.
After the meal was gone from my plate, leaving only crumbs, I wished my parents a good day.
They hadn't eaten anything today as well.
"..."
Throwing a look at their pale faces, I frowned.
I had around 5 years to fix our financial position and prevent 'that' event from happening, however, I was planning to do that within the next few weeks.
Seeing my father's tired eyes and my mother's sunken cheeks I was even more determined to make a change in our lives.
Click...
Closing my room door behind me, I took out my phone and fell on the bed with a sigh.
I spent the next hour writing the info about the [ Fragmental ] before deciding to stop and open my bank account to see the pitiful amount of money left.
The next thing I did was put all of it into the stock market.
I knew the future and I was aware of the major companies that would experience exponential growth in the coming years.
Huff...
After all was said and done, I took a deep breath and climbed into the VR Pod.
I grabbed the headgear under my legs and carefully placed it onto my head.
< Welcome back to Fragmental! >
< Your current Location - Dark Forest >
The world around me began to blur and darkness engulfed everything, however, a few seconds later the light once again flooded my vision and I smiled.
I was still in the Dark Forest, a bit further from the gloomy castle.
Looking around, I noticed a few players walking around the twisted trees and moss-covered rock formations, going straight toward the gloomy castle.
"I shouldn't interact with them..."
Shaking my head, I started walking toward the Demon starting village.
I had made a presumption that people were looking for me and I needed to leave the village as soon as possible or I might be recognized.
Unfortunately, I still had another important thing I needed to do before leaving...
Get the hidden Subclass!
Tap... Tap...
Strolling through the village's gates I went toward one of the abandoned buildings, which one would expect to be haunted by ghosts.
I entered the old house with caution, finding a clean and empty room and taking a seat in the middle of it.
Removing my robe's hood, I purposely broke one of the wooden planks that made up a floor.
"This should do..."
I made sure that its end was sharp enough so it could pierce through something soft.
Throwing a glance at the only window in the room, I made sure that I closed it tightly, blocking any sunlight that could potentially interfere with what I was about to do.
After making sure that I was sitting in the shadow, I tightly clenched the wooden plank in my hand.
Swish...
Without hesitation, I aimed the plank's sharp end toward my stomach, flexing my muscles and driving it deep into the soft flesh.
"Ughhh..."
- 22 HP
Player Leo has suffered From Status Effect < Bleed >
~ Lose 5 HP every minute
~ Duration → 1 min
~~~~
Pulling out the plank, I winced in pain and vomited a few mouthfuls of blood, however, the job was not finished.
I raised my wooden 'weapon' and plunged it into my solar plexus with a calmness that shouldn't belong to someone who just inflicted a self-inflicted wound.
- 31 HP
Player Leo has suffered From Status Effect < Bleed >
~ Lose 5 HP every minute
~ Duration → 1 min
~~~~
Crimson liquid trickled down my robe and hands, creating a gruesome scene in the otherwise empty room.
- 5 HP
Before the whole thing, I put an HP pot nearby me, however, I still haven't used it yet.
With one hand I grabbed the potion while grimacing in pain, my other hand continued to hold the wooden plank firmly.
"This is the last one..."
I took a deep breath and steeled myself for the final plunge.
Swish...
Clenching the wooden plank I pierced my heart.
At the same time, I also drank an HP pot but it didn't heal enough to counter the damage I had inflicted upon myself.
I was slowly dying, my mind became dizzy and I began panicking.
'What if the guy lied? What if the video was staged?'
Doubt began to invade my mind.
< A Deadly Shadow is Looming Above You... >
< The Shadow Is nodding its head seeing your wounds... >
< The Shadow Offers you a Legacy... >
< Become The Shadow of this World! >
< Do you want to Accept the Shadow's Legacy? >
[ Yes / No ]
Slowly raising my weak and trembling hand I managed to press
***
A young man was lying in his own blood pool. His black eyes were wide open, seemingly staring into something in the distance.
Suddenly his body started trembling, his horns shaped like a crown became as black as void and his eyes closed.
***
I couldn't move my body.
I felt myself trembling when my eyes were forcefully closed.
Once again everything around me turned dark but the darkness around was strangely comfortable.
Looking around I noticed some strange shapes dancing in the darkness.
Straining my eyes I finally saw dark silhouettes running around in the darkness.
'Shadows...'
I've thought while watching them running in circles.
Poof...
Suddenly the world around me cracked and I was back in my body.
< Congratulations, You've gotten a Unique Subclass - Shadow Mage! >
< Your Appearance was changed according to your In-game look! >
~~~~
My mood suddenly plummeted.
In panic, I quickly logged out of the game and jumped out of the VR Pod.
Running through the house I rushed to the bathroom. Almost crashing into the mirror I came to a sudden stop and took a sigh of relief.
"I have no horns!"
I mumbled under my breath with a stupid smile.
I knew that this game could change one's facial appearance slightly, but it should only happen after one has reached Lv. 50.
"Hahaha..."
Washing away my worries I leaned on the wall and started inspecting my face.
I still had Dark hair, but some of my hair strands were white in color. My face could be defined as above average before, but now I would call it pleasant to look at.
The biggest change was my eyes.
Previously they were as dark as obsidian, but now my eyes seemed to be deeper and had a strange property to absorb one's gaze.
They were like an endless void.
"I look better at least..."
Shaking my head, I forcefully broke eye contact with myself.
It was honestly distracting.
Flashing a smile, I was already thinking about how to weaponize my gaze.
If used wisely it would be a powerful tool.
Walking back to my room I jumped into the VR Pod and logged back into the game.
< Do you want to announce your Achievement to the World? >
A hologram appeared before my face as soon as I was back in the game.
"This question again..."
Pressing the No button I knew that it would send the forums into chaos once again but I simply didn't care.
My mind was already on another topic thinking about what Subclass perks I just got.
< Congratulation to [ Unnamed Player ] for Getting The Hidden Subclass! >