Prologue


    Initializing Dive…


    Connection Established.


    MOTD: Welcome, Player.


    A deafening buzz filled Cedric’s ears, followed by the familiar sensation of weightlessness. His HUD flickered, data scrolling in the periphery of his vision.


    > [System Override]: Unauthorized Entry Detected


    > [WARNING]: Deep-Dive Stability at 89%


    > Destination: Unknown Instance – Classified Zone


    Suddenly, the world snapped into focus.


    Cedric stepped out of the swirling vortex of energy, boots landing on cold stone. Behind him, the arcane portal shimmered and collapsed with a hiss, leaving him in an eerie, unlit chamber. His Minimap pulsed in the top-left corner of his HUD—blank. No connections. No signals. Not a single waypoint.


    "Great. Another blackout zone."


    He tightened his grip on his [Silver Dagger], scanning the empty room. Years of experience had taught him that places like this never stayed quiet for long. He crouched, slid his linen Sack off his back, and reached inside.


    > [Inventory Opened]…


    > Selected Item: [Flash Crystal] x2


    Pulling out a small, translucent stone, he covered his eyes and tossed it onto the floor.


    > [Item Activated]: [Flash Crystal]


    > Effect: Emits 5-second burst of intense light


    A sudden explosion of brilliance filled the chamber. In that moment, Cedric caught a glimpse of stone walls, a stairway descending into darkness, and a single wooden table covered in dust. Then, the light faded, leaving only a dim glow from the dying crystal.


    > [Quest Updated]: [One Last Dive]


    Retrieve the ancient tome for The Watch. Reward: [UNKNOWN]


    "One last dive…” Cedric muttered.


    That’s what he always told himself. That this was the last job. That he’d retire after this. But his [Reputation: Notorious] suggested otherwise. He moved quickly, descending the stairs with practiced ease.


    The Flash Crystal finally burned out, plunging him into darkness.


    > [WARNING]: No Light Source Detected


    > Visibility Reduced: -50% Perception


    With a sigh, he pulled another [Flash Crystal] from his sack and activated it. As the light flared to life, he spotted an opening in the wall—a narrow crawlspace barely wide enough to squeeze through.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Just my luck!" He thought to himself.


    Cedric sheathed his dagger, dropped to his hands and knees, and crawled forward.


    > [Environment Hazard]: Confined Space


    > Agility Check Passed!


    A minute later, he emerged into a grand library, its towering bookshelves stretching into the darkness beyond. Unlike the previous rooms, this one was fully illuminated by floating orbs of blue light. At the far end of the room, a single book lay open on the wooden table. And beyond that, a pair of reinforced basement doors stood shut.


    His Quest Log pinged.


    > [Objective Updated]: Retrieve the book.


    "This is too easy..." Cedric smirked. Moving through the rows of shelves, he mindlessly grabbed any book that looked valuable, stuffing them into his sack.


    > [Inventory Updated]:


    > [Rare Codex: Elemental Theory]


    > [Ancient Scroll: Forbidden Summoning]


    > [Tattered Journal] (Unreadable)


    He reached the table and glanced at the open book. Gold-lettered script on a black leather cover read:


    > [Necromancy: The Dark Art]


    > [WARNING]: High-Level Magical Disturbance Detected!


    As soon as his fingers touched the cover, a piercing shriek filled his head. His vision blurred. The room around him twisted.


    A Vision Sequence had begun.


    > [Vision] Activated…


    > Location: The town of Litharious – Post-Annihilation State


    The town was gone. Fire raged through the streets. Demonic creatures clawed at the screaming townsfolk, tearing them apart with ravenous hunger. At the heart of the carnage stood a tall, robed figure, his skeletal hands raised over the kneeling survivors. The air around him cracked with unstable necrotic energy. Cedric tried to move—tried to run—but his body was frozen in place.


    The robed figure turned. Two glowing red eyes burned beneath the hood.


    The vision snapped out of existence.


    Cedric stumbled backward, gasping for breath. He looked down—his hands trembled violently.


    > [Status Effect] Applied: [Terror]


    > Debuff: -25% Reaction Time, -10% Accuracy (1 Minute)


    His Minimap flickered, and a New Objective appeared.


    > Deliver the book.


    "If this thing is what The Watch wanted… maybe I shouldn’t be handing it over."


    Before he could decide, a raspy voice shattered the silence. "Thieving scum!"


    Cedric spun around, dagger in hand.


    A frail man in tattered robes emerged from behind a bookshelf. His Nameplate flickered—[Unstable NPC: ???]—and his Threat Level was… unknown.


    "This isn’t good." He muttered to himself.


    The NPC''s eyes burned with desperation. "Drop the book! You have no idea what you''ve done!".


    Cedric’s Battle HUD flickered into view.


    > [Combat Initiated]


    > Opponent: [Unstable NPC: ???]


    > Status: Agitated


    Cedric tightened his grip on his dagger. "Stand down and walk away."


    The man lunged.


    Cedric reacted on instinct.


    > [Attack]: [Dagger Strike]


    > Critical Hit!


    The blade plunged deep into the NPC’s throat. Blood sprayed as the man collapsed, his mouth opening and closing in a silent scream.


    A system notification popped up:


    > You have killed [Unstable NPC: ???].


    > No XP earned (Non-Combatant).


    "Shit!"


    Cedric retrieved his bag, but before he could move—A low growl rumbled through the chamber. The basement doors shook.


    Suddenly, they burst wide open.


    A wave of pure darkness surged outward, carrying an unholy screech that rattled the walls. Cedric staggered backward as his HUD glitched, error messages filling his vision.


    The corpse of the man he had just killed began to convulse. Cedric watched in horror as bones tore through flesh, as muscle and sinew peeled away, as a bloodstained skeleton sat upright.


    Its empty sockets filled with burning red light… A horrible scream filled the air.


    > [WARNING]: Boss Encounter Initiated!


    > Opponent: [The Necromancer]


    > Threat Level: LETHAL


    From the depths of the basement, a towering figure emerged. The same robed being from the vision. It lifted a skeletal hand and pointed at Cedric.


    "Whose blood stains my sanctuary?" The voice was deep, layered with something that wasn’t human. "Who dares awaken me?"


    Cedric’s HP bar plummeted as a green energy blast tore through his chest.


    > You have been inflicted with [UKNOWN SKILL].


    > HP Critical.


    Cedric collapsed. His vision darkened. His body was paralyzed. The last thing he saw was the Necromancer looming over him.


    > [Fatal Error]: Data Corruption Detected


    > Player Connection Terminated.


    Darkness swallowed him whole. And as the world faded, his last thought echoed in his mind—


    "No... Not like this..."


    GAME OVER