The world had always been ordinary. At least, that's what Jian Yu had believed. Born to working-class parents and raised in a small, unremarkable apartment, he had never known what it was like to have more than what he needed—never had the luxury of wishing for something greater. But all of that changed the day the sky tore apart.
It was a day like any other when Jian was at his usual delivery job, moving packages between districts. He wasn't in a rush. There was no reason to hurry. Yet, when the sky darkened, as if the sun had chosen to forsake the earth, Jian felt a coldness ripple through the air. He stopped, looking up at the clouds swirling with unnatural speed.
In the distance, he saw it—the Rift. It appeared like a tear in the very fabric of reality, jagged and deep, growing larger with every passing second. As the sky split further, the ground beneath his feet trembled, causing cracks to spread through the city's pavement. People screamed and ran in every direction, but Jian stood frozen, heart pounding as a feeling of dread washed over him.
A voice, calm yet filled with unimaginable power, echoed through the very air itself.
"The Abyssal Arbiter System is now active."
Jian barely understood what he was hearing. A system? What does that mean? The words carried weight that he couldn't comprehend. They felt... ominous. He instinctively reached for his phone, but the screen was blank, the device useless in the face of this cosmic disturbance.
Seconds turned to minutes, and in those fleeting moments, the world shifted. The Rift began to pulse, then slowly contracted into a swirling black orb, descending toward the city. As it touched the ground, a heavy pressure filled the atmosphere, pushing everything downward, as if the weight of existence itself had suddenly become too much to bear.
Before Jian could make sense of the bizarre event, a notification appeared before him, hovering like an unyielding specter.
Abyssal Arbiter System - Activation Complete
You have been selected as one of the few to enter the trials of the Abyss. Every living soul on Earth will receive 1 Abyss Coin. You must now live or die by the choices you make.
Current Coin Balance: 1 Abyss Coin
Warning: Failure to accumulate more Abyss Coins within 24 hours will result in immediate death and soul collection.
Jian blinked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. The notification didn't vanish. It hovered there, and with it came the sinking realization that the world as he knew it was gone.
"1 Abyss Coin?" he murmured under his breath, a cold shiver creeping down his spine. He had heard rumors about the supernatural, but nothing could have prepared him for this. Everything was changing too quickly, and he was powerless to stop it.
His phone flickered to life, only to show an eerie, cryptic message: "You are special. The world has been reshaped, and the Abyss will guide you to your fate." The words seemed to burn themselves into his mind.
Before he could process more, another notification appeared, more personal this time.
Special Bonus - Trillion Abyss Coins Awarded
Jian Yu - Special Participant
1 Trillion Abyss Coins granted.
Additional rewards granted based on individual need and ability to adapt.
Jian's heart skipped a beat as his eyes widened in disbelief. 1 Trillion Abyss Coins? A figure so absurd it seemed impossible. He stared at the number, not sure whether to laugh or scream. Was this some kind of joke? He looked around, his eyes catching the expressions of the people nearby. No one else had this. The others, all around him, were just receiving the standard 1 Abyss Coin. But he had been given a fortune, an overwhelming and terrifying fortune.
As panic began to rise, Jian couldn't help but feel the weight of his sudden fortune. His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the status window. The message that followed was both a warning and an opportunity.
Abyss Coin Use:
Abilities: Unlock skills from the Abyss, such as necromancy, elemental control, or enhancements. Artifacts: Obtain rare equipment that can alter your fate. Sanctuary Access: Trade coins for protection from the horrors lurking in the Abyss Zones. Lifespan Extension: Coins can be spent to extend your life, or risk losing it completely.
Jian's eyes flicked to the number of Abyss Coins again, a sense of dread pooling in his gut. Was this a blessing or a curse? The sheer weight of this power, the unknown dangers that came with it, overwhelmed him. He couldn't even begin to fathom the responsibility, let alone the enemies he would make for possessing such an immense amount.
But survival... survival was the only thing that mattered now.
Jian's mind raced as the world around him seemed to tremble with unease. This wasn't a game—this was real. No matter how much wealth he had, it wouldn't protect him from the horrors of the Abyss. He needed to adapt, fast.
"Hey!"
A voice broke his thoughts. Jian turned to see a man, probably in his late twenties, staring at his own status window, a single Abyss Coin blinking in front of him.
"Where did you get all that?" the man asked, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"I... don't know," Jian answered, his voice shaking slightly. "It just appeared. I... I have no idea what's happening."
The man's gaze hardened, and Jian could see the greed flicker in his eyes. "Don't lie. You're not the only one here, you know. People are gonna come after that."
Jian's heart skipped a beat. He knew that this man was right—his wealth made him a target. But more importantly, it made him vulnerable.
"I didn't ask for this," Jian muttered, already feeling the weight of the decision looming over him. He had no choice but to play this game, to survive the trials, to gather power, and to make sure no one took away the one thing that now mattered most: his life.
As the man took a threatening step forward, Jian knew he had to act. With a mental command, he summoned a Status Window, his Trillion Abyss Coins flickering like a flame.
Jian Yu's Status
Name: Jian Yu Current Coin Balance: 1 Trillion Abyss Coins Abilities: None unlocked (Special Bonus Pending) Lifespan: 90 years (Subject to changes based on Abyss Coin usage) Morality: Neutral Faction: None Special Title: Chosen Arbiter
"Stay back," Jian warned, his voice now firm, and with it, his newfound resolve. He had to survive, to understand the rules of this game. He wasn't going to waste this chance. Not after everything he had been through.
The man scoffed, "You think you can just command everyone with those coins? You're going to find out that nothing comes free in the Abyss, especially not a Trillion Abyss Coins."
Jian's mind raced. The Abyss Coins gave him power, but they came at a cost. Nothing was free.
"I'm not interested in anything you have to offer," Jian said, backing away. His Trillion Abyss Coins would make him a target, but as long as he survived, he could grow stronger. "I'll figure this out on my own."
With that, he turned and walked toward the Sanctuary Haven—a place he had heard rumors of where people could trade for protection. He wasn't foolish enough to stay exposed. The first step was to survive, to gather as much power as he could, and to prepare for whatever nightmares lay ahead.
Jian's eyes darted to the horizon as he approached the gateway of the sanctuary, its towering gates looming ahead like a final bastion of hope in a crumbling world. His mind was filled with questions. How far would the Abyss take him? How much would he have to sacrifice to make sure he was one of the last standing?
With each passing moment, the realization grew stronger. He wasn't just surviving anymore. He was playing the game—and in the Abyss, only the strong survived.
End of Chapter 1.