Nyxaris descended the spiral staircase, his amorphous body shifting slightly with each step. The deeper he went, the more the air grew heavy—not just physically, but metaphysically. It was as if reality itself was pressing down on him.
The glowing sigils lining the walls pulsed faintly, casting eerie blue light through the corridor. Occasionally, strange whispers echoed, but they weren't words. They were fragments of thoughts, remnants of something ancient.
The system didn't give him a clear difficulty rating for this place, which meant either it was unknown or it was beyond classification.
"Great. Just great."
Despite his victory over the Veil-Touched Wraith, Nyxaris knew he was still weak. His status barely changed from before, and his skills needed more refinement. He couldn't afford to be reckless.
Before moving forward, he brought up his status screen.
[STATUS – NYXARIS]
Race: ??? (Unidentified Variant)
Level: 5 → (Increased after being Named)
Title: Veilborn One (Temporary)
HP: 320/350
MP: 220/250
STR: 18
AGI: 22
VIT: 20
INT: 25
"Oh wow I unlocked some new status" he said.
Skills:
Fluid Morphology (Lv. 1) – Ability to reshape body to fit specific environments (Minimal manipulation).
Predatory Absorption (Lv. 1) – Absorb low-tier materials or abilities; minimal transformation.
Ethereal Sense (Lv. 1) – Detect faint energy signatures in the surroundings.
Abyssborn Resilience (Lv. 1) – Basic resistance to void-based environmental effects.
Abyssborn Sovereignty (Unique Skill, Unstable) – Temporary control over Veil-Touched energy for passive environmental awareness.
The last echo of his Naming Ceremony still buzzed through Nyxaris' newly formed body.
His body—once resembling a simple, amorphous shape—was now more subtle and defined, with dark streaks of energy flowing through his gelatinous form. It was still far from the intense, powerful Veilborn essence he'd glimpsed in the system descriptions, but it was a start. A foundation.
The thought crossed his mind: Just how much did this name really change me?
[System Update – Quest Reward Processed]
Ancient Shard of Remembrance Acquired
Rare Currency Bonus: 1,500 Gold
Item Bonus: Veilwoven Relic (??? – Unidentified)
Nyxaris blinked. The amount of gold wasn't massive, but it was a start.
[Gold: 1,536]
He also had the option to exchange it for real-world currency if he chose, but right now, it didn't seem like the ideal time to do so.
He also had the option to exchange it for real-world currency if he chose, but right now, it didn't seem like the ideal time to do so.
The fact that he could exchange this gold for real money, though, was a fascinating aspect of the game's design. This wasn't just some fantasy RPG—it was integrated into the real world. The game blurred the line between fantasy and reality in a way he had never imagined.
The map of the game world unfolded before him. His eyes scanned the newly unlocked territories—each one different from the last, with varying levels of difficulty, rewards, and dangers.
Available Destinations:
The Shrouded Expanse (Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate) – A mist-covered wasteland with occasional hostile creatures.
Crimson Sky Bastion (Difficulty: Intermediate) – A besieged fortress filled with hidden treasures and dangers.
The Cursed Abyss (Difficulty: Advanced) – A dangerous, unknown zone where the Veil has consumed everything.
Celestial Rift (Difficulty: Advanced) – A fractured sky, impossible gravity, and warring factions of energy.
Eclipsed Ruins (Difficulty: Beginner) – A partially ruined city overtaken by Veil-born corruption.
Nyxaris hesitated as he looked over the choices.
He was still not entirely familiar with his new powers, so venturing into the most difficult zones wasn't the best option. The Eclipsed Ruins seemed the safest for now, but the pull of the Shrouded Expanse intrigued him.
It seemed like a place where his new abilities—still raw and unrefined—might come in handy. The sense that he could grow there called to him.
With a deep breath, he selected the Shrouded Expanse.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: LOCATION CONFIRMED]
Transporting in 3... 2... 1...
The transition was instantaneous, and Nyxaris found himself in a dense fog, the kind that seemed to go on forever. The air was thick and heavy, with an otherworldly chill that seeped into his very core.
It was eerily silent. The sounds of distant creatures—the rustling of unseen things—made his senses tingle. He felt vulnerable, aware that his current abilities would only get him so far in this new environment. The fog, thick and suffocating, made it hard to tell where he was going. His body, still fluid-like, could change shape or alter his form slightly, but it wasn't like he could suddenly morph into something monstrous.
Instead, he had to rely on his instincts and the abilities he had been granted. As he moved, the Ethereal Sense skill flickered to life, revealing faint distortions in the mist, guiding him toward a weak energy source nearby.
He approached cautiously, making sure to stay low to avoid detection.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: QUEST OBJECTIVE – ACTIVE]
Retrieve the Ancient Artifact hidden in the Shrouded Expanse
Current Goal: Locate the Source of Disturbance
Quest Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate
Remaining Time: 12 Hours
Nyxaris' heart raced. The fog shifted as he moved, and a faint glow from a small artifact—half-buried under the mist—caught his eye. It had a strange aura surrounding it, giving off an ancient yet unfamiliar power.
Just as he reached for it, a soft growl broke the silence.
Suddenly, he was surrounded by dark, shadowy figures—small, quick, and seemingly formed from the mist itself. Monsters? Were they corrupted by the Veil?
His Fluid Morphology skill activated without him fully intending it. His body shifted, becoming slick and harder to target as the shadow creatures lunged at him. They were fast, but he was faster, dodging and sliding between them.
With a sudden surge of MP, Nyxaris unleashed his Predatory Absorption skill on one of the creatures, absorbing its essence into his form. The creature dissolved in an instant, and a surge of strength washed over him.
But it was barely enough.
He absorbed a small part of the creature's power, and for a moment, he felt more in tune with the environment, the very fog around him pulsing as if it were alive. But it wasn't enough to fully take control. He was still weak, still learning.
It was a small victory.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: COMBAT RESULT – SUCCESS]
Predatory Absorption (Lv. 1) – Level Up
Gold Gained: 350
Experience Gained: 1,500
Nyxaris caught his breath, cautiously holding the Ancient Shard in his hand as he surveyed the battlefield.
He had won this small battle, but he knew better than to get cocky. The Shrouded Expanse was just the beginning.
As Nyxaris continued his journey, he understood one thing: his power would grow gradually. Every battle, every quest, would sharpen him further.
But it would take time.
For now, he was just starting to walk the path of the Veilborn One.
And each step forward brought him closer to the mysteries of Evolvera Online and the power he was destined to unlock.