The warehouse plunged into near silence, broken only by the faint hiss of something crawling—something inhuman. Qin's knuckles whitened as he gripped the metal rod tighter, his pulse hammering in his ears. Zhao Yue stood in front of him, her sword raised, her stance steady despite the oppressive darkness.
"Breathe," she whispered. "The Shades can sense fear. Stay calm, or you'll be their first target."
Easy for you to say, Qin thought bitterly, his stomach churning. The glowing eyes in the shadows moved closer, and with each second, the air grew colder. His breath fogged in front of him, but he forced himself to inhale slowly, trying to follow Zhao's advice.
Then it happened.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind, as clear as if it had spoken aloud:
[Emergency System Activation Detected.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Abyssal Sovereign's Talent Tree.]
[Host Granted Emergency Combat Protocols for Trial Purposes.]
[Temporary Skill: Shadow Surge.]
A rush of energy surged through Qin's body, nearly knocking him to his knees. His muscles tingled, and his vision sharpened, slicing through the darkness like a blade. He could see every movement of the Shades now—three of them, their twisted forms slithering closer, limbs distorted like they were being pulled apart and reassembled in real time.
"Qin?" Zhao Yue glanced back at him, startled by his sudden change. "What—"
"Behind you!" he shouted.
The first Shade lunged, its claws gleaming like obsidian. Zhao spun with blinding speed, her sword cutting through the air in a clean arc. The blade met resistance, sparks flying as the creature's limb was severed. Black ichor spilled onto the ground, sizzling like acid. The Shade screeched and fell back, writhing in pain.
But two more surged forward.
Qin didn't think—he acted. His body moved on instinct, the System's influence guiding him. He swung the metal rod with all his strength, and to his astonishment, it crackled with a dark energy. When it struck the nearest Shade, the creature was sent flying, crashing into the wall with a guttural roar.
"What the hell?" he muttered, staring at the faint tendrils of shadow still coiling around the rod.
"Focus!" Zhao barked, dispatching the second Shade with a precise thrust. "They're not done yet."
The remaining Shade reared back, its glowing eyes narrowing as it assessed the situation. Then, without warning, it let out a bone-chilling scream. The sound was deafening, and Qin felt it reverberate through his skull, threatening to tear his mind apart.
[System Alert: Mental Corruption Detected.]
[Activating Host's Willpower Buffer.]
The pressure eased, and Qin staggered, shaking his head. Zhao, however, showed no signs of faltering. She charged forward, her movements fluid and deadly, her blade cutting through the Shade like it was paper.
When the final creature dissolved into black smoke, the warehouse fell silent once more.
"Is it over?" Qin asked, his voice trembling.
"For now," Zhao replied, wiping her sword clean before sheathing it. She turned to him, her expression unreadable. "You fought well. Better than most first-timers."
"That wasn't me," Qin admitted, his hands shaking. "It was... the System."
Her gaze narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Before he could answer, the voice returned.
[Trial Completed: Survival.]
[Rewards Granted:
Skill Upgrade: Shadow Surge (Tier 2).
New Feature: Talent Tree Access.
50 Abyssal Points.]
Qin winced as a faint glow appeared in his vision, a transparent interface filled with branching paths and glowing icons. At the top, a single word: Talent Tree.
"What the..." Qin muttered, staring at the screen only he could see. Each branch of the tree was labeled with cryptic terms: Shadow Manipulation, Combat Instincts, Void Resistance, and more. At the very bottom, a notification pulsed faintly.
[Abyssal Sovereign Talent Tree Unlocked.]
[First Skill Node Activated: Shadow Surge (Tier 2).]
"What's happening?" Zhao asked, watching his face carefully.
"I... I see something," he said, trying to make sense of it. "A map, almost. With skills. And points? I think I can choose how to get stronger."
Zhao's lips pressed into a thin line. "A custom System," she muttered. "That's rare. You're either the luckiest guy alive, or the unluckiest."
Qin barked out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, I'm leaning toward unlucky."
Before she could respond, the warehouse door creaked open. Qin spun around, raising his weapon, but Zhao lowered his arm.
"Relax," she said. "It's just Feng Lan."
A woman stepped into the light, her presence commanding. She was tall and elegant, with sharp features and piercing amber eyes. Her tailored suit was immaculate, and her heels clicked against the floor as she approached.
"Zhao Yue," she said, her voice smooth and confident. "You've been busy." Her gaze shifted to Qin, appraising him like a predator sizing up its prey. "And who's this?"
"This is Qin Han," Zhao replied. "He's... new."
"Clearly." Feng Lan's lips curved into a faint smile. "I felt the ripples from across the city. You've made quite an impression, Qin."
"What do you mean, ripples?" Qin asked, feeling like he'd just been thrown into a den of wolves.
"Every time the barriers weaken, it leaves a mark," Feng Lan explained. "And tonight, the mark was you. Whatever you did out there, it wasn't subtle."
"I didn't do anything!" Qin protested. "It was the System!"
Feng Lan's eyes flickered with interest. "A System, you say? Intriguing. Perhaps this one might actually survive."
"Enough," Zhao cut in. "We don't have time for games, Feng. He's marked now. We need to move before the bigger fish start circling."
Feng Lan's smile widened, but she nodded. "Very well. Bring him to the tower. We'll keep him safe... for now."
"What tower?" Qin asked, glancing between the two women.
"You'll see," Zhao said, already heading for the door. "Welcome to the deep end, rookie. Try not to drown."
As they stepped out into the rain-soaked streets, Qin couldn't shake the feeling that he was being drawn into something far bigger than he could comprehend.
But deep down, beneath the fear and confusion, a small spark of determination began to burn. He didn't know what the System wanted or why it had chosen him, but if surviving meant mastering this strange new power, he would do whatever it took.
For the first time in years, Qin Han felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: a sense of purpose.
And with it, the faintest flicker of hope.