A World of Divides

Azure Sky City stood as a symbol of both greatness and cruelty. Towering skyscrapers stretched toward the heavens, their glass windows reflecting the golden light of the city's wealth. The upper districts were filled with luxury—elegant streets lined with designer stores, grand mansions hidden behind steel gates, and people who carried themselves as if they were untouchable.

But beneath this dazzling facade lay the lower district—a world forgotten by those above. Cracked pavement, rusting streetlights, and buildings barely standing with walls covered in faded posters. The scent of dampness, metal, and old smoke filled the air, a stark contrast to the perfume and fresh air of the rich.

It was in these streets that Shi Shen lived.

A young man, seventeen years old, with black, messy hair and sharp, piercing eyes. His clothes were old, barely holding together, yet he walked with quiet confidence. His steps were light, his movements precise—like someone who had long learned to blend into the shadows.

An Unwanted Attention

Shi Shen had always kept his head down. Survival meant staying unnoticed.

But fate had different plans.

He had been walking along the side of a busy street, avoiding eye contact with the passing elites, when a voice called out.

"Hey. You."

Shi Shen slowed but did not immediately turn. He already knew who it was.

Lin Yu.

The heir to the Lin family, one of the wealthiest families in the city. Dressed in a spotless white suit, hair neatly combed back, his every movement oozed arrogance. Behind him stood two bodyguards—men built like stone walls, dressed in black, their eyes sharp and assessing.

Shi Shen remained silent, but he could feel their gazes weighing on him.

Lin Yu smirked. "You're from the lower district, aren't you? A beggar trying to walk among kings?"

Shi Shen didn't respond. There was no point.

Lin Yu took a step forward, his polished leather shoe tapping against the pavement. "You see, I had a bad day today. And when I have a bad day… I need something to entertain me."

With a snap of his fingers, the two bodyguards moved.

Shi Shen reacted instantly.

As the first guard reached for him, he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the grasp. His foot pivoted against the cracked pavement, and he slipped between the two men in a single, fluid movement. It was an escape technique he had perfected over the years—light, efficient, and completely instinctive.

But Lin Yu only laughed.

"Not bad," he said, clapping slowly. "But let's see how well you move inside the Abyss Dungeon."

Shi Shen's breath slowed.

The Abyss Dungeon.

It was a place no ordinary person could survive. A vast underground ruin filled with unknown dangers, where the city sent criminals, debtors, and the unwanted.

He had heard of it before—no one who entered had ever returned.

A Descent Into Darkness

The journey to the Abyss Dungeon was silent.

Shi Shen did not struggle. He knew that fighting back on the surface would be foolish. His mind was already working, calculating his best course of action.

The entrance loomed before him—a massive iron gate built into the ground, surrounded by glowing blue runes carved into ancient stone pillars. A group of armored guards stood watch, their faces expressionless.

One of Lin Yu's bodyguards handed them a slip of paper.

"Prisoner?" one of the guards asked.

"No need for details," the bodyguard replied. "Just throw him in."

The guards didn't question it. They never did.

The gate groaned open, revealing a long, dark staircase leading into the depths below. A gust of cold air rushed upward, carrying the scent of earth, damp stone, and something… old.

Before Shi Shen could react, he was shoved forward.

He stumbled, catching himself against the rough walls as the gate slammed shut behind him.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

The First Hunt

Shi Shen exhaled slowly, letting his eyes adjust to the dim glow of the underground. The air was colder here, the silence unnatural.

Then—a sound.

A low growl.

He turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he spotted movement in the shadows.

From the darkness, two yellow eyes appeared. Then another. And another.

Three Shadow Beasts.

Large, wolf-like creatures with jet-black fur that blended into the dark, their movements silent as death itself. Their claws scraped against the stone floor, their fangs gleaming.

The first beast lunged.

Shi Shen moved before his mind could even process it.

His body twisted to the side, barely avoiding the snapping jaws. His feet landed lightly, his balance perfect. He reached out, fingers brushing against the cold steel of something buried in the ground—an old rusted dagger.

It wasn't much. But it would do.

The second beast charged.

This time, Shi Shen didn't retreat.

Instead, he stepped forward.

The beast wasn't expecting it. Its momentum worked against it—Shi Shen ducked under its attack, thrusting the blade upward into its exposed throat.

A sickening piercing sound filled the air.

The beast let out a gurgled cry, collapsing in a heap.

Shi Shen pulled the dagger free, his breath steady.

The remaining two beasts hesitated, sensing something different about him.

Shi Shen could feel it too.

There was no fear.

No hesitation.

Only clarity.

His body had changed, even if only slightly. The way he moved, the way he reacted—it was as if his instincts had sharpened.

He looked at the remaining beasts, his dark eyes gleaming faintly in the shadows.

For the first time in his life, he wasn't running.

Instead, he smiled.

Because he finally understood—

This was only the beginning.

End of Prologue