As the first light of dawn crept into the room, Jin Mo sat in silent contemplation. The previous night's battle had left behind more than just bruises and exhaustion—it had left questions. His heart still pounded at the thought of the ambush, at how efficiently the enemy had moved. There was an unease coiling within him, whispering doubts into his mind.
Nyx's voice broke through the silence, her tone light and playful. "What do you think about last night's attack?"
Jin Mo blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts. He turned toward her, watching as she floated in lazy circles around him, a small smirk playing on her lips.
"I don't know… something about it doesn't sit right with me," he admitted. "Why did they attack?"
Nyx chuckled, her form glowing faintly in the dim morning light. "You're asking the right question, but you're looking for answer in the wrong place."
Jin Mo frowned. "What do you mean?"
She stopped floating and leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Information is power, Jin Mo. If you want to get ahead of your enemies, why not have spies among them?"
Jin Mo's eyes widened. "Spies?"
Nyx grinned, tapping a finger against her chin. "Yes. Infiltrate their ranks, gather intelligence, and always stay one step ahead. Lucky for you, I know just the right tool."
Jin Mo felt the answer click in his mind. "Nightcrawler," he said, his voice filled with realization.
"Bingo." Nyx's eyes sparkled with mischief. "A shadow demon that blends into the darkness, unseen and unheard. Perfect for espionage."
Jin Mo nodded. It made sense, but there was one problem. "I don't have the skill yet."
Nyx rolled her eyes. "And? You've been hoarding those Nyx Coins for a while now. You should have enough to buy it from the store."
A slow smile spread across Jin Mo's lips. "You're right. Let's do it."
He took a deep breath and commanded, "Open store."
A glowing interface materialized before him, displaying various categories:
Store:
Skills
Weapons
Potions
Artifacts
Jin Mo selected Skills, quickly scanning the list until he found the search bar. He typed in Nightcrawler, and the result appeared instantly:
Nightcrawler (1 Star) – 300 NC
Summons a shadow demon to blend into the darkness, becoming a master of spies.
Without hesitation, he pressed Buy.
Ding!
Acquired new skill: Nightcrawler (1 Star)
Nyx clapped her hands. "Nice. Now, summon it."
Jin Mo activated the skill. A chilling wind swept through the room as a dark mist coiled from the ground, twisting into a shadowy form. The creature emerged slowly, its body shifting like liquid darkness.
It had a sleek, ghostly frame, long tendrils of shadow flowing from its form. A pair of glowing violet eyes flickered within the abyss of its face. A misty aura surrounded it, its body pulsing with an eerie presence. It bowed low before Jin Mo, a silent pledge of loyalty.
Ding!
Succesfully Summoned: Nightcrawler (1 Star)
Reward: 100 NC
Jin Mo watched it in fascination.
Jin mo: "It looks incredible."
Nyx crossed her arms. "Of course, it does. Now, name it."
Jin Mo studied the creature, considering its dark and enigmatic nature. After a moment, he smirked. "How about… Darkie?"
Nyx froze, her face twisting in sheer disbelief. "Darkie?"
Jin Mo chuckled. "What? It fits!"
She sighed dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. "Fine, whatever. Your creature, your choice."
Jin Mo looked back at the Nightcrawler. "From now on, your name is Darkie."
The creature responded with a low, almost pleased sound, its form swirling around him in acknowledgment. Jin Mo pulled up its status screen.
I. User Info
Name: Darkie
Race: Lowest-Rank Demon
Class: Nightcrawler
Star: 1 Star
Health: [500/500] (Can regenerate using Qi)
Qi: [100/100] (Regenerates naturally)
II. Stats:
Stamina (STA): 13
Qi (QI): 10
Strength (STR): 11
Agility (AGI): 15
Vitality (VIT): 14
Intelligence (INT): 15
Perception (PER): 12
III. Abilities:
Active Abilities:
Shadowstride: Allows Darkie to traverse short distances instantly, avoiding detection and striking from unexpected angles.
Passive Abilities:
Eternal Shadow: Enables Darkie to seamlessly merge into shadows, rendering it nearly invisible.
IV. Unique Abilities:
Re-summon: Allows Jin Mo to summon Darkie at will.
Jin Mo's grin widened. "He's stronger than I expected."
Nyx nodded approvingly. "A perfect spy for the job."