The streets of Jiang City pulsed with life even as midnight draped its veil over the skyline. Neon signs flickered on every corner, casting kaleidoscopic reflections onto the rain-slicked asphalt. Qin Han adjusted his threadbare jacket, his breath puffing in small clouds as he trudged through the cold. The weight of the day pressed heavily on his shoulders—another rejected job application, another overdue rent notice. The world didn't care for a dropout with no connections or prospects.
He passed an alleyway, the faint hum of voices catching his ear. Glancing sideways, he spotted three men huddled around a glowing crystal shard, their whispered words tinged with urgency. He frowned. Drugs? No, something was... off. The shard's light was alive, flickering with an unnatural rhythm, and the air around it seemed to ripple like heatwaves.
"Move along," one of the men snapped, his eyes flashing with a glint of crimson.
Qin froze. That wasn't a reflection. The man's irises glowed faintly, like embers in the dark. Unease prickled at his skin, but his legs obeyed, carrying him forward. As he turned the corner, a sharp metallic clang rang out from behind him, followed by a guttural growl that sent shivers down his spine. He quickened his pace, resisting the urge to look back.
Jiang City wasn't normal.
For as long as Qin could remember, there had been whispers of strange occurrences: shadows that moved on their own, people disappearing in broad daylight, and the occasional report of glowing symbols etched onto walls that vanished by sunrise. But those were tales for the gullible or drunk. Qin had bigger problems—like finding dinner tonight.
The familiar glow of a 24-hour convenience store appeared ahead. As Qin entered, the bell above the door jingled, and the clerk—a girl in her early twenties with dyed purple hair—looked up from her phone.
"Back again, Qin?" she teased, popping a bubble of gum.
"Yeah, Li Mei. Just grabbing—" His voice trailed off.
The air shifted, heavy with something indescribable. His eyes flicked to the corner of the store. A man in a black trench coat stood there, unmoving. His face was obscured by shadows despite the fluorescent lighting. Qin blinked. The figure wasn't there anymore.
"You okay?" Li Mei asked, her tone suddenly cautious.
"Yeah... just tired." He shook his head, dismissing the unease.
He grabbed a cup of instant noodles and placed it on the counter. As Li Mei rang him up, the fluorescent lights overhead flickered violently. A loud crack of thunder boomed outside, and the store plunged into darkness.
"Damn it, not again," Li Mei muttered, fumbling for a flashlight.
Before Qin could respond, the glass windows shattered inward with an ear-splitting crash. A gust of freezing wind tore through the store, sending shelves toppling. Qin shielded his face as shards of glass rained down around him.
When the chaos subsided, a chilling silence followed. Qin lowered his arm and saw... nothing. The street outside was eerily empty, devoid of cars or people. The only movement came from the flickering neon sign of a diner across the road.
"Li Mei?" he called out, but there was no response.
He turned and froze.
Standing at the entrance of the store was a creature that defied explanation. Its humanoid frame was twisted and gaunt, its skin a sickly gray that shimmered like oil. Two glowing white eyes stared at him, unblinking. The thing opened its mouth, revealing rows of needle-like teeth, and let out a guttural hiss.
"Run!" a voice roared from behind him.
A woman dashed forward, her long black coat billowing like wings. She moved with inhuman speed, a dagger glinting in her hand. With a fluid motion, she slashed at the creature, sparks flying as her blade connected. The monster screeched, recoiling as dark ichor dripped from the wound.
"Don't just stand there!" she barked, her sharp eyes locking onto Qin. "Move!"
Qin stumbled back, his mind racing. Who was she? What was that thing? Before he could process, the creature lunged again, this time at him. Time slowed as its claws gleamed under the flickering light.
And then—
A cold voice echoed in his mind.
[Abyssal Sovereign Interface Initiating...]
Host Selected: Qin Han
Mission: Survive.
Reward: Basic Combat Prowess.
Penalty: Death.
Qin felt a jolt of electricity surge through his body. His muscles tensed, his vision sharpened, and a flood of unfamiliar knowledge filled his mind. As the creature closed in, he moved instinctively, sidestepping its claws with precision. His hand shot out, grabbing a broken metal rod from the debris.
With a roar, he swung it, striking the creature's head. The impact sent it staggering back, but not down. The woman glanced at him, her eyes narrowing in surprise.
"You're not useless after all," she muttered before charging back into the fray.
The fight ended as abruptly as it began. The creature let out a final screech before disintegrating into black smoke, leaving only the faint stench of sulfur behind. The woman sheathed her dagger, turning to Qin with a calculating gaze.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice trembling.
"Your life just got a lot more complicated," she said flatly, ignoring his question. "What's your name?"
"Qin Han. What the hell was that thing?!"
"A Shade. And it won't be the last." She stepped closer, her expression unreadable. "The real question is, what are you?"
Before Qin could answer, the voice in his head returned.
[Congratulations! Mission Complete.]
Reward: Basic Combat Prowess unlocked.
New Mission: Survive for the next 24 hours.
Penalty for failure: Termination.
Qin's blood ran cold as the words etched themselves into his mind. The woman sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You're not ready for what's coming, but you don't have a choice anymore." She extended a hand. "Zhao Yue. If you want to stay alive, you're coming with me."
Qin hesitated, glancing at the wrecked store and the strange symbols now glowing faintly on the walls. He didn't know what was happening, but one thing was clear: life as he knew it was over.
Gripping her hand, he muttered, "Fine. But you'd better start explaining."
Zhao Yue smirked, pulling him to his feet. "Welcome to the real Jiang City, rookie."