Back in his dimly lit room, Eagan sat at his desk, the Shadow Node glowing faintly in front of him. He placed the Hundred Faces Mask over his face, feeling a cool, otherworldly energy seep into his skin. His reflection in the nearby mirror shimmered, and the mask's surface rippled like liquid before settling into a plain, featureless visage.
"Arianna," Eagan said, his voice distorted slightly through the mask, "activate the Shadow Node."
The device pulsed as dark energy coalesced around it, creating a swirling vortex of crimson and black light. Lines of encrypted text scrolled rapidly across the system screen, followed by a single message:
"Welcome, Faceless One. Access granted to the Shadow Web."
The interface shifted, revealing an endless expanse of dark screens connected by glowing red threads. Each thread represented a different section of the shadow web—illegal quests, black-market auctions, encrypted messages, and bounty boards.
The ominous atmosphere around the web was almost tangible.
"This is it," Arianna whispered. Her voice was quieter than usual, as though even she was wary of their new surroundings. "Search for the Tear of Umbralis quest. Be cautious, Eagan. Every click leaves a trail."
"The node is connected to you; should it be traceable still?" Eagan asked curiously.
"It's a new function for me, and I'm yet to find out, but we still need to be careful; we can leave any chances," Arianna warned.
"Alrighty," he replied and began navigating through the interface with deliberate care, scrolling past suspicious listings and cryptic job offers.
"Escort the shipment of weapons—one million dollars," he read, his eyes widening at the ridiculous pay behind such a simple job of escorting.
"Assassinate the Rogue Hunter—five million dollars and you get to keep their weapons." He continued.
"Harvest Blood Crystals from the Abyssal Caverns—five hundred thousand."
"How come I didn't know about such a thing in my previous life?" He muttered. "I feel like I missed a whole lifetime to make a fortune."
"The shadow web is a very secretive organisation," Arianna replied. "Their members join through connections. You only learnt about them because of my and my wife's connection to your world."
"Here it is," Eagan muttered as his eyes locked onto the quest Arianna had mentioned.
Quest: Retrieve the Tear of Umbralis
Location: The First Destroyed City
Reward: 10,000 shadow coins, fifteen million dollars, and any uncommon artefact of your choice.
Warning: High Risk. Only hunters with a death wish need apply.
"Such warning even exists?" Eagan mumbled as he tapped on the quest, and the screen expanded to reveal more details. The requirements were straightforward: retrieve the Tear of Umbralis and deliver it to an anonymous person at a designated drop-off point.
No questions, no witnesses, and no room for failure.
"Accept the quest," Eagan said.
Arianna hesitated. "Eagan, once you confirm this, you'll be marked. Others on the shadow web will know you're competing for the Tear, and some might try to eliminate you before you even reach the First Destroyed City."
"I know the risks," Eagan replied, his voice steady. "Do it."
The moment he accepted, the screen pulsed with a sinister glow, and a new message appeared:
"Quest Accepted. Coordinates uploaded to your system. Beware: other seekers have already been dispatched."
Arianna's voice cut through the tension. "Coordinates locked. You're officially in the race now. I'll guide you to the First Destroyed City, but the rest will be up to you."
Eagan removed the mask, his expression hardened. He strapped on his gear, his mind focused on the mission ahead.
"Time to move," he said, grabbing his sword Alastair's jacket. "I need to finish this before Alastair's raid is done."
The journey to the first destroyed city was anything but straightforward. The coordinates led Eagan to an abandoned highway that stretched into the distance, flanked by crumbling skyscrapers and rusted vehicles frozen in time.
The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional howl of distant creatures.
Arianna's voice echoed in his mind. "You're nearing the city limits. Be prepared—my scans detect multiple lifeforms ahead, but their energy signatures are unstable. They could be mutated beasts or worse."
Eagan tightened his grip on his sword, the blade humming faintly with latent power. As he ventured deeper, the landscape grew more twisted.
The remnants of the apocalypse were evident—trees warped into grotesque shapes, buildings half-consumed by pulsating, otherworldly growths, and pools of black sludge that hissed when disturbed.
A sudden noise caught his attention—a low growl emanating from the shadows. Eagan froze, his senses on high alert.
From the darkness emerged a monster. Its body was a patchwork of decayed flesh and jagged metal, with glowing red eyes that burnt with malice. "An apex chimaera," Arianna warned. "Highly aggressive. This must be one of the guardians of the city's perimeter."
Eagan smirked, raising his sword. "Guess it's time to warm up."
The chimera charged, its claws slicing through the air with lethal strike. Eagan dodged, his movements swift and fluid, as he countered with a powerful slash that sent a shockwave rippling through the ground.
The battle was fierce; each strike met with equal ferocity. The chimaera's mechanical limbs clanged against Eagan's blade, sparks flying in every direction. Finally, with a decisive blow, Eagan plunged his sword into the creature's core, shattering its energy crystal.
As the chimaera collapsed, Eagan felt a surge of power flow through him.
"Experience Gained: five thousand XP."
"Not bad," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Arianna chipped in. "You're making progress, but next time do not destroy the core. It will be useful later." She warned.
Eagan paused, glancing at the shattered remains of the chimaera's core. The faint glow it once emitted had faded, leaving behind jagged fragments. He frowned, feeling a pang of regret.
"Useful, how?" he asked, wiping his blade clean on the creature's decayed flesh.
"The cores of creatures like this are imbued with raw energy," Arianna explained. "They can be used to power certain artefacts, enhance weapons, or even as currency in places like the shadow web. Destroying it means you've wasted a valuable resource."
Eagan sighed. "Noted. Next time, I'll keep the core intact—if it doesn't try to kill me first."
He sheathed his sword and moved forward, the city's outline growing sharper against the ominous space. The First Destroyed City was closer now, its jagged skyline a stark silhouette against the blood-red sky.
Arianna spoke again, her tone serious. "Eagan, I'm detecting multiple energy signatures converging on your location. They're moving fast—too fast for ordinary creatures. It's likely other seekers."
Eagan's eyes narrowed. "So, they're already here."
"Yes," Arianna confirmed. "And they're closing in on your position. You'll need to either avoid them or deal with them directly."
Eagan crouched low, his senses on high alert. The remnants of the apocalypse provided ample cover—crumbling walls, overturned vehicles, and shadows that stretched unnaturally long. He darted into an alley, his footsteps silent as he pressed himself against a broken wall.
Moments later, three figures emerged onto the highway. They were cloaked in dark robes, their faces obscured by masks that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Each carried a weapon—a serrated spear, a glowing crossbow, and a staff crackling with blue energy.
"Seekers," Eagan muttered under his breath.
One of them, the tallest, spoke in a low, gravelly voice. "The apex chimaera was just taken down. The energy signature points to someone nearby."
"Do you think it's another one of us?" The one with the crossbow asked, their voice lighter and almost amused.
"Does it matter?" The staff wielder replied. "If they're after the tears, they're competition. We take them out."