The Tomb of the Forgotten was silent, save for Ethan's ragged breathing. Shadows coiled faintly around his body, dissipating like smoke. He lay sprawled on the cold stone floor, staring at the [Log Out] button in his interface.
[Error: Log Out Unavailable]
Ethan's throat went dry. "What… what do you mean unavailable?"
He jabbed the icon repeatedly. It flashed red, mocking him. His hands trembled as realization set in—he was stuck.
"Calm down. Think."
He sat up, forcing himself to focus. This wasn't the first time a VRMMORPG had encountered bugs. Maybe the developers were fixing it. He'd report the issue later.
Right now, Ethan had bigger problems:
He was low-level.
He was trapped in a dungeon that wasn't beginner-friendly.
And something inside him—this "Abyssal Harbinger"—wasn't normal.
The shadows were proof. Even now, they whispered faintly, tugging at his consciousness.
Ethan opened his [Status Window] again, inspecting the new details that had appeared after obtaining the class.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Ethan Cross
Class: Abyssal Harbinger
Level: 3
Race: Human
Title: None
HP: 150 / 150
MP: 100 / 100
Strength: 15
Agility: 13
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 11
Luck: 5
Charm: 5
Skills:
Abyssal Grasp: Summons a shadow hand to immobilize or damage a target. Damage scales with Intelligence.
Shadow Step: Teleport to a nearby shadow (Range: 3 meters). Costs 10 MP.
Creation of Shadows: Reanimate corpses or bones as Shadow Servants. Strength and duration depend on the user's level.
Items:
Rusty Dagger (Attack: 2)
Explorer's Cloak (Defense: 1)
Effects of Abyssal Harbinger:
Your connection to the Abyss grants you unique shadow skills.
Warning: The Abyss hungers.
---
The Abyss hungers.
Ethan frowned at the ominous line. What did that mean? Would this class have some kind of drawback?
He decided to worry about that later.
Ethan picked up his rusty dagger, looking around the now quiet chamber. The Abyssal Guardian's body had vanished, replaced by a black treasure chest shimmering faintly.
"Loot," he whispered, hurrying over.
He opened it with a creak, revealing items glowing with soft light.
---
[Dungeon Rewards]
1. Darksteel Dagger (Attack: 10, Special Effect: Chance to inflict Bleeding)
2. Shadow Cloak (Defense: 5, Effect: Conceals user in darkness for 5 seconds)
3. Abyssal Core (Quest Item: ???)
---
Ethan's eyes widened. "This is… insane."
The dagger alone was stronger than any starter weapon, and the cloak's stealth effect would be a lifesaver. He equipped them immediately, feeling a sense of security for the first time.
But then his stomach growled.
"Crap. Food."
Game Element Unlocked: Hunger System
Players must eat to maintain stamina and HP regeneration.
Extended hunger leads to stat debuffs.
Ethan cursed under his breath. He hadn't expected survival mechanics in this game.
The dungeon stretched deeper, its hallways twisting like a maze. Ethan moved cautiously, holding his new Darksteel Dagger in one hand and a torch in the other.
He'd encountered Cursed Skeletons—Level 5 monsters—multiple times, barely surviving each fight. His Creation of Shadows skill proved invaluable, letting him raise defeated skeletons to fight for him.
But every time he used it, a strange sensation washed over him—like the Abyss itself was feeding.
As Ethan progressed, he noticed carvings along the tomb walls. Each one depicted robed figures sacrificing humans to a writhing black void.
"The Abyss devours all."
The message was repeated in old, faded letters. It gave Ethan chills.
"What the hell did I get myself into?"
At the end of a narrow corridor, Ethan entered a small circular chamber. At the center hovered a dark crystal, pulsing faintly.
[Quest Activated: Embrace or Resist?]
You have obtained the Abyssal Core. Will you embrace its power, or resist its temptations?
Objective: Make your choice.
Ethan stepped forward, the shadows whispering louder. The core called to him.
Ethan hesitated. Every instinct screamed at him that this was dangerous. Power always came at a price. But what choice did he have? He was Level 3 in a world where stronger players would crush him.
"If I don't take every advantage, I'll be left behind."
He reached out, and the shadows erupted around him.
[You have accepted the Abyssal Core.]
[Warning: The Abyss grows stronger.]
The shadows spread across Ethan's body, changing him. His [Status Window] flickered with strange new text.
But as the core fused with him, he heard distant footsteps echo through the tomb.