Nyxaris followed the guild leader into the dimly lit hideout, the air thick with the scent of burning wax and old parchment. The walls were lined with maps, daggers, and stolen goods, while rogues and mercenaries lurked in the corners, watching him with silent suspicion.
The guild leader, Dain Ironveil, gestured for Nyxaris to sit at a table.
"You want information, but in this city, nothing comes for free." Dain leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "If you want our trust, you'll have to earn it."
A system notification flashed before Nyxaris.
[New Quest: Shadows of Astralis]
Difficulty: Hard
Objective: Investigate the disappearances in Astralis and uncover the truth behind the Phantom.
Rewards: 1,000 Gold, ??? (Unknown Skill), Black Dagger Guild Favor.
Nyxaris raised an eyebrow. "Disappearances?"
Dain nodded. "People vanish in the night. No bodies, no traces. Just… gone. The nobles pretend it isn't happening, but we know better."
Aeryn, the rogue who attacked him earlier, crossed her arms. "Some say it's a monster. Others say it's a curse. But if you want to prove yourself, find out what's really happening."
Nyxaris smirked. "Sounds like fun."
Dain chuckled. "Spoken like a true fool. Welcome to the game, Nyxaris."
Nyxaris left the hideout and entered the midnight streets of Astralis. The city was alive with murmurs—shady figures dealing in back alleys, drunken nobles laughing in lantern-lit courtyards, and the distant sound of a bell tolling from the grand cathedral.
He had three leads to follow:
The Docks – Several workers had vanished near the abandoned warehouses.
The Noble District – Rumors of a noble involved in dark magic.
The Catacombs – A hidden underground network beneath Astralis.
Nyxaris decided to start with…
→ The Docks.
The docks were eerily silent, the sea breeze carrying the scent of salt and decay. Broken crates and forgotten cargo littered the area, while shadows moved unnaturally between the abandoned warehouses.
Nyxaris crouched behind a stack of barrels, scanning the area. His Slime Vision helped him see faint traces of magical residue leading toward one of the old warehouses.
Inside, the air was thick with something… wrong.
He moved carefully, his steps silent. Then—
A low growl.
Nyxaris froze as a creature stepped into view.
It was twisted, humanoid, but wrong. Skin stretched too tightly over its elongated limbs, its eyes black voids. A Mark of Chains glowed on its chest.
[Monster Identified: Bound Thrall]
Level: 12
Weakness: Fire, Holy Magic
Nyxaris cursed. "That's higher than my level."
The Bound Thrall lunged.
He barely dodged, rolling aside as its claws slashed through the air.
He activated [Shadow Step], moving behind it in an instant. His dagger sank into its back, but the creature barely reacted.
"Tch, not enough."
The Thrall twisted unnaturally, arms stretching as it swiped at him again.
Nyxaris had to think fast. Then he remembered—Zeraldris.
"Hey, old dragon, any tips?"
The dragon's voice echoed in his mind. "Use my power sparingly, whelp. Try channeling my flame."
Nyxaris focused, drawing a tiny ember of Zeraldris' power. His dagger flared with blue flames, and this time when he struck—
The Thrall screamed.
It stumbled back, black smoke rising from the wound.
"Bingo."
With quick movements, he dashed around it, striking again and again. Each flaming cut weakened the creature, until finally, it collapsed into a heap of ashes.
[Quest Update: Shadows of Astralis]
Objective Complete: Investigated the docks.
**Discovered: The Thralls are bound by magic. Who is controlling them?
Rewards: 300 Gold, Minor Fire Resistance.**
Nyxaris exhaled, pocketing his dagger.
One clue down. Two more to go.
But unknown to him… something watched from the rooftops, glowing eyes tracking his every move.
The game's creators were watching too—and they were no longer just observing.
Nyxaris shivered as an odd sensation crawled up his spine. Someone—or something—was watching him.
He turned sharply, scanning the rooftops, but saw nothing. The feeling lingered, like an unseen predator lurking just outside his vision.
Then, a whisper echoed in his mind.
"Interesting… so this is the one who walks an unwritten path."
Nyxaris clenched his fists. "Who's there?"
No response. Only silence.
In a hidden underground server room, the developers of Evolvera Online gathered in a frenzy. Monitors flashed warnings, lines of code updated in real-time, and a massive screen displayed Nyxaris' avatar in-game.
"This isn't supposed to be happening!" one developer shouted, slamming their keyboard.
"How the hell did he even find Zeraldris?! The dragon was meant for an endgame event!"
"Not just that—he absorbed him! That shouldn't even be possible at his level!"
The lead developer, a man known only as The Architect, sat calmly in his chair, fingers steepled. His piercing gaze never left the screen.
"We underestimated him." His voice was quiet but carried authority. "This player is rewriting the game itself. Our system can't predict his choices anymore."
One of the coders gulped. "Should we… intervene?"
The Architect shook his head. "No. The rule stands. We do not interfere. That is the law of Evolvera Online."
Silence filled the room.
Then, one of the analysts spoke hesitantly. "Then what do we do?"
The Architect's lips curled into a smirk. "We watch. And we prepare."
Back in Astralis, Nyxaris moved cautiously through the streets, heading toward his next destination—the Noble District.
The bound Thrall at the docks had left behind a crucial clue: It bore the Mark of Chains. That meant someone was controlling these creatures.
Someone powerful.
As he approached the district, he heard a muffled scream from a nearby alleyway. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the sound.
There, a young girl was cornered by two masked figures. Their daggers gleamed under the moonlight.
"Let her go," Nyxaris growled.
The taller of the two figures turned. "Oh? And who might you be?"
A system prompt flashed.
[New Sub-Quest: The Crimson Veil]
Difficulty: Medium
Objective: Rescue the kidnapped girl from the Crimson Veil Assassins.
Rewards: 250 Gold, ??? (New Skill), Reputation Boost.
The assassins moved fast, but Nyxaris was faster.
Activating [Shadow Step], he blinked behind them, slashing at the first attacker. His blade bit deep, and the figure let out a choked gasp before collapsing.
The second assassin lunged at the girl, trying to take her hostage.
Big mistake.
Nyxaris threw a slime tendril, wrapping around the assassin's wrist and yanking them back. The girl scrambled away as Nyxaris finished the job with a precise, burning slash.
The system flashed again.
[Quest Complete: The Crimson Veil]
Rewards: 250 Gold, New Skill Acquired: Veil Piercer (Passive: Increases damage against cloaked or hidden enemies), +5 Reputation in Astralis.
The girl looked up at him, wide-eyed. "T-Thank you, sir!"
Nyxaris gave a small nod. "You okay?"
She wiped her tears. "Yes! My name is Elara. My father is a merchant—I got lost while he was working."
Nyxaris sighed. "Alright. Let's get you home."
As he guided her back to the market square, he couldn't shake the feeling that something far bigger was unfolding.
And somewhere, watching from the unseen corners of the game, the Architect smiled.
"Let's see how far you go, Nyxaris."