Alex made his way back through the twisted forest, his fingers clutching the three black keys tightly in his hand. The trials had been grueling, and even though his level remained unchanged, the experience he gained from battling the shadow creatures left him feeling more capable than ever. He had survived two brutal encounters and outsmarted a creature nearly eight levels above him. Now, it was time to reap the rewards.
The eerie, cloaked NPC he had met earlier stood waiting in the same spot where they had first crossed paths. The hooded figure was still, its glowing red eyes watching Alex as he approached.
"I see you have returned," the NPC rasped, its voice as dry as dead leaves. "And with all three keys, no less. Impressive… for one so young and inexperienced."
Alex smirked, holding out the keys. "I told you, I'm not like most players. So, what's my reward?"
The NPC reached out with a gnarled hand, taking the keys from Alex. Its fingers brushed against his for a brief moment, sending a chill through his body. The NPC turned, raising the keys into the air. They glowed with an unnatural light, then dissolved into a swirl of shadow and mist that surrounded Alex.
"For surviving the Shadow's Trial, you are granted the power of the shadows themselves. Wield it wisely, for such power can be a great boon or a terrible curse."
Alex's game interface blinked open, revealing his new skill:
New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Walk
Allows the user to blend into the shadows for a short period, becoming invisible to enemies and reducing aggro. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Alex's eyes widened. "Invisibility?" This was a game-changer. He hadn't expected such a valuable skill so early on.
"Nice," Alex muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "This will definitely come in handy."
The NPC's glowing eyes narrowed. "Do not be so eager to use such power. It comes with a price. The more you rely on the shadows, the more they will cling to you, until eventually, you may find it difficult to step into the light."
Alex nodded, understanding the warning, though he wasn't too concerned. In a world like The Infinite Quest, power always had its risks. And if he wanted to get ahead, he needed every advantage he could find.
"Thanks for the heads-up," Alex said, stepping back from the NPC. "But I think I'll manage."
The NPC gave a low chuckle, its form fading back into the mist. "We shall see, Void. We shall see."
-----
Back in Valewood Village, the atmosphere felt entirely different from the oppressive weight of Darkwood Grove. Players wandered through the streets, chatting, trading, and preparing for their next quests. Alex had returned just as the sun was beginning to set, the orange glow of the horizon casting long shadows across the village.
He opened his inventory and checked his spoils from the trial. Along with the new Shadow Walk skill, he had received a decent amount of gold and a couple of rare items: Nightbane Cloak—a dark, lightweight cloak that increased stealth abilities—and Cursed Dagger, a weapon that dealt extra damage to shadow-type enemies.
Not bad for a few hours of work.
As he admired the items in his inventory, Alex's mind raced with possibilities. He could sell these items for a hefty profit or use them to gain an edge in future battles. But beyond that, something bigger had sparked in his mind. If he was already discovering hidden quests like the Shadow's Trial, there had to be hundreds—maybe thousands—of other secrets scattered throughout the game. Secrets that most players wouldn't find unless they knew exactly where to look.
The potential was limitless, and Alex knew it.
-----
Later that night, Alex sat at his desk in his apartment, logging out of the game for the first time in hours. His body was exhausted, but his mind was buzzing with excitement. He had a plan—a way to turn his in-game knowledge into real-world profits.
After grabbing a quick bite to eat, Alex returned to his computer. But this time, instead of logging back into the game, he opened up a video editing software and began piecing together footage from his adventures. His hands moved quickly, cutting and stitching clips of his journey through Darkwood Grove, his fights against the shadow creatures, and, of course, his final victory over the Shadow Guardian.
He blurred his in-game avatar's face and changed his voice settings, ensuring that no one would recognize him. He planned to keep his real identity a secret for as long as possible. The last thing he wanted was for people to connect "Void" with Alex's real-world self.
When the video was finished, Alex uploaded it to his new VTube channel, titling it:
"Void's Secret Guide to the Shadow's Trial – Hidden Quest Walkthrough!"
He watched as the upload processed, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. There were already thousands of gaming channels out there, and plenty of players had probably already started posting guides and tips for The Infinite Quest. But Alex had something special—information that only a few players had discovered.
And he wasn't just going to stop at one video. He had plans to upload more walkthroughs, strategies, and tips about hidden quests, rare items, and secret skills. As the game continued to grow, so would his channel. And as more players watched his videos, the gold would start rolling in.
But that wasn't the only way Alex planned to make money. He had another idea—something that would help him get rich both in-game and in the real world.
-----
The next day, Alex logged back into The Infinite Quest as Void. His goal was simple: find valuable items, complete rare quests, and sell the information to other players.
While walking through Valewood Village, he overheard two players discussing a quest they couldn't seem to complete.
"It's just impossible. We've tried it three times already, and that boss keeps wrecking us," one of the players grumbled.
Alex's ears perked up. He walked over to the pair, flashing them a friendly smile. "What quest are you guys stuck on?"
The player sighed. "It's the Cursed Crypt quest. We've got the map, but the traps and monsters inside are brutal. We can't get past the second chamber without dying."
Alex pretended to think for a moment, though he already knew the solution. He had read about the quest earlier on a forum and even found a hidden mechanic that would allow players to bypass most of the traps.
"I might be able to help you out," Alex said casually. "For a small fee, of course."
The players looked at each other, then back at Alex. "How much?"
"Fifty gold for the full walkthrough," Alex replied. "Or I can join you in the dungeon for a hundred gold and guide you through it myself."
One of the players groaned. "That's a lot of money, dude."
"True," Alex said, shrugging. "But think of it this way—how many times have you died already? How many more times will you die if you don't know what you're doing? Time is money, right?"
The players exchanged another glance, then reluctantly nodded. "Fine. We'll pay you fifty gold for the walkthrough."
Alex grinned. "Deal."
He pulled out a piece of parchment and quickly sketched out the key details of the dungeon: which traps to avoid, the boss's attack patterns, and the hidden switch that disabled most of the crypt's defenses. As the players handed him the gold, Alex felt a rush of satisfaction. This was only the beginning.
-----
By the end of the day, Alex had sold information to three different groups of players, each for a decent sum of gold. His in-game wealth was growing steadily, and so was his real-world bank account. The views on his VTube video were slowly climbing, and he knew it wouldn't be long before more players discovered his channel.
But Alex wasn't content to stop there. He had bigger plans. He wanted to create a network of information—gathering intel on hidden quests, rare items, and secret mechanics—and sell that knowledge to the highest bidders. And as Void, he would become one of the most sought-after players in The Infinite Quest.
With each new quest, each new piece of information he discovered, Alex's grip on the game tightened. He was going to become rich—both in-game and out.
And no one would even know who he really was.
.
.