We stared at each other across the clearing.
Neither of us moved.
Her cloak was ragged, like she'd been through a fight too. A short blade hung at her side, and her stance was low, balanced, ready. Not a beginner. Not some clueless spawn trying to figure out the world.
She knew what she was doing.
"Are you gonna throw that thing," I asked, "or just keep staring at me?"
She didn't smile. "Depends. You planning to attack?"
"Nope," I said. "I just killed something ten times my size. I'm good for the day."
She stepped forward slowly, eyes locked on mine. No fear, just calculation. "Gorefang Ravager?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You saw that?"
"Heard it."
"Then you know I'm not bluffing."
She gave a small nod, then looked at the black scorch on the ground where the shard had vanished. "You got the kill bonus?"
I didn't answer.
She didn't need me to. Her expression said she already knew. She was sizing me up, trying to figure out what path I'd chosen, how dangerous I was.
"You got a system too?" I asked.
"Everyone here does," she said. "If you didn't get one, you wouldn't still be breathing."
That tracked.
She stopped about ten feet from me. Just outside melee range.
"You're not the only one on this map," she said. "More players are spawning every hour. And some of them aren't as polite."
"Neither am I," I said, "if someone tries me."
That got a small flicker of a smirk. Barely.
"Name's Nira," she said.
"Vaelric."
She scanned the gear at my belt; rusted dagger, bone spear, light armor scraps. "You're moving fast."
"I don't have time to die slow."
She tilted her head. "Void build?"
I didn't answer again.
"You smell like it," she added, before I could say anything. "Blood and shadow."
That was... unsettling.
Before I could ask what she meant, the system pinged again.
[System Notice: Instanced Trial Begins in 10 Minutes]
All players nearby will be pulled into Trial ZoneSurvival required for rewardTier: Group Combat - Level 1-3Optional Objective: Highest Damage Output
"Looks like we're not done for the day," I muttered.
Nira didn't flinch. "It's forcing group contact early. That means the system is speeding up progressions."
"I don't like surprises," I said.
"You better start."
She tapped a small silver disc at her hip, and a screen shimmered open beside her, different from mine. Cleaner. More advanced.
"You've got a custom UI?" I asked.
"Paid version," she said simply.
I frowned. "You can pay for upgrades?"
"In the real world," she said. "If you had credits when the Trial pulled you in, they counted. Some players got premium perks. Others… started with nothing."
"Guess which one I was," I said.
She didn't need to guess.
"You'll live longer than most," she said after a beat. "If you survive this next part."
The sky above us dimmed like someone twisted a dial.
And then the ground started to shake again.
The ground beneath us shifted and blurred, like we were standing on a cracked mirror. The trees around the clearing stretched and twisted, fading away into cold, gray stone walls.
I looked around, breathing hard. This was no longer the forest. We were somewhere else.
Nira stood next to me, eyes sharp, scanning every corner.
[Trial Zone Activated]
Objective: Survive the group combat trialTime Limit: 60 minutesParticipants: 12 players (Level 1-3)Rewards: Massive XP bonus, rare loot drops
The system's voice echoed in my head, cold and emotionless.
Kill or be killed.
The door ahead slid open with a metallic groan, revealing a wide arena filled with rubble and dark shadows. The other players shuffled forward, some looking just as nervous as me, others already sharpening weapons or flexing fingers.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead and gripped my dagger tighter.
"Watch your back," Nira said quietly. "This place will test everything you've got."
We didn't have time to argue or make friends. The system counted down.
[Trial Starts In 5 Seconds]
A horn blasted through the arena, loud and raw.
I dashed forward, eyes peeled.
The others scattered like startled animals, some attacking each other immediately.
A guy with a spiked club charged a smaller kid, swinging wildly. I sidestepped and took a deep breath.
Time to fight.
I spotted a weak-looking opponent near a broken pillar and slipped through the shadows. My dagger glinted in the half-light as I struck.
[25 DMG][Enemy Health: 50 / 75]
He turned with a yell and swung a rusty sword. I ducked, rolled, and jabbed again, hitting his side. He stumbled.
Before he could recover, Nira was behind him with her blade, quick and clean.
He dropped without a sound.
[Enemy Defeated: +45 XP, +1 Skill Point]
The arena erupted into chaos.
Players screamed, weapons clanged, and spells exploded.
I kept moving, fighting smarter, hitting faster. The system pulsed with every kill.
[Combo x3: Attack Speed +15%]
The trial wasn't just about surviving.
It was about proving I belonged.
And I wasn't about to lose.
The arena was a mess. Bodies littered the ground, some twitching, others already dead. The air smelled sharp; like sweat, fear, and blood mixed together.
I wiped a trickle of sweat from my brow and glanced around. Only eight players left. Two of them looked like serious threats, the rest were shaking.
Nira caught my eye from across the battlefield. She didn't smile, just nodded.
This was survival. No friends, no mercy.
A sudden movement caught my attention. A tall guy with a scythe emerged from the shadows. His eyes glowed red, and every step he took sent a chill down my spine.
[Enemy Detected: Crimson Reaper]
Level: 3HP: 250Strength: 22Skill: Life Drain
I felt my heart race. This guy wasn't playing around.
Nira moved beside me. "Stay close," she said. "We can't take him alone."
I nodded.
We circled the Reaper, watching for his opening.
He swung his scythe in a wide arc. Nira dodged, I rolled, and the weapon slammed into the stone where I'd been standing.
"Ready?" I whispered.
She nodded.
I charged first, dagger flashing.
[First Strike: 30 DMG]
The Reaper hissed and countered, swinging the scythe again. This time I caught the edge with my dagger, sparks flying.
Pain shot up my arm, but I held on.
Nira slammed her blade into his side.
He howled and backed off, blood seeping from the wound.
[Life Drain Activated: Reaper Regenerates HP]
We needed to finish him fast.
I blinked forward using Void Step, landing behind him. My dagger bit deep.
Nira followed, slashing twice.
The Reaper stumbled, then roared, trying to swing wildly.
[Combo x5: Damage +25%]
Our attacks landed one after another.
Finally, he collapsed, eyes dimming.
I gasped for breath.
Nira looked at me, expression unreadable.
"We survive," she said. "But this is just the start."
The system pinged again.
[Trial Update]
Players Remaining: 6Time Left: 35 minutesBonus Objective Unlocked: Team Kill BonusRewards: Extra XP and Rare Gear
I looked around at the others.
We were down to six. Half gone.
The trial wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
The system's message blinked in my vision, loud and clear.
Team Kill Bonus unlocked. If players formed temporary alliances and killed others together, the rewards would multiply.
It was a game-changer.
Nira caught my eye again. "We team up?" she asked, voice low.
I nodded. "For now."
Trust was thin here, but I needed every edge I could get.
We moved through the arena like shadows, hunting weaker players, avoiding bigger threats.
At one point, a group of three tried to trap us near a crumbling wall. They had spears and axes, but no coordination.
I whispered, "On my signal."
Nira drew her blade. "Ready."
We struck at once. I threw a quick jab to one guy's side while Nira slashed the other's arm. The third tried to run, but I used Void Step to blink ahead and block his path.
He froze. I smiled.
[Enemy 1 Defeated: +60 XP][Enemy 2 Defeated: +55 XP][Enemy 3 Defeated: +50 XP]
The system cheered with XP bonuses for the team kill.
Our health was low, but the rush was worth it.
"Not bad," Nira said, wiping blood from her cheek.
"We'll need more kills," I said. "The system's watching, and so is everyone else."
She nodded. "Next wave hits in five minutes. Prepare."
We took a moment to rest, catching our breath.
I glanced at my stats. Level 3 now. Attribute points piling up.
Every kill felt like a step closer to something bigger.
Something powerful.
The Trial Zone was no joke, but neither was I.
And this was only the warm up.
The five minutes felt like hours.
Every second ticked by with heavy silence, broken only by distant roars and clashing weapons echoing in the Trial Zone.
Nira and I crouched behind a broken pillar, catching our breaths. Our clothes were torn, blood smeared on our arms, but adrenaline kept us sharp.
"Next wave's coming," she said quietly, eyes scanning the horizon.
I nodded, gripping my dagger tight. "I'm ready."
The sky darkened as shadowy figures appeared at the edge of the arena, new players dropping in.
At least ten of them, armed and dangerous.
I swallowed hard. The Trial was ramping up fast.
[Wave 2: Reinforcements Arrive]
Participants: 10 playersLevels: 2 to 4Equipment: Varied, some with rare gearObjective: Kill or be killed
Nira stood and stretched. "We'll need to move before they find us."
I scanned the area. "We can use the ruins over there for cover."
We slipped between crumbled walls, staying low. I felt the familiar thrill of the hunt building.
The system pinged.
[Void Predator Trait: Brutal Momentum]
Stacks: 3/5Next hit damage increased by 30%
That extra edge was exactly what I needed.
Suddenly, a shout echoed from behind us.
"Ambush!"
A group of five players burst from the shadows, weapons raised.
No time to think.
I dashed forward, using Void Step to teleport past their defenses. My dagger struck fast, then again, exploiting the Brutal Momentum stacks.
Nira covered my flank, cutting down anyone who tried to flank us.
The ambush turned into a slaughter.
[Enemies Defeated: +200 XP Combined]
Breathing hard, I looked around. The other players were scattered, regrouping.
This wasn't just a fight for survival anymore, it was a war. I was ready for it.