Dawn's artificial light filtered through cracked skylights above the Undercity Markets. Malcolm leaned against a pillar, drinking synth-coffee. His phone showed the bounty payout: 20,000 credits. Enough for rent and ammo. But the whispers of a "Necromancer" lingered—something was orchestrating the undead surges.
Elara approached, bow across her back.
Elara: "You're brooding again, Thorne."
Malcolm:"This Necromancer—who are they?"
Elara:"Old Guild files mention a lich sealed beneath the city. Lately, sealed things have been waking up."
Malcolm:"And the Guild?"
Elara:"They're offering Tier S bounties. Million-credit range. But they want proof first."
Malcolm's HUD pinged.
Guild Alert: Tier S Bounty – Investigation of Necromancer Activity. Reward: 500,000 credits. Recommended Level 10+.
Malcolm: "I'm in. But I need to hit Level 10 fast."
Elara:"The Deep Vaults under Sector 13. Experimental mana crystals there boost experience. Dangerous as hell."
Malcolm finished his coffee."Point me."
She transferred coordinates. "Be careful. The Vaults don't forgive mistakes."
He restocked—enchanted rounds, mana potions—and took a mag-lev to Sector 13. The entrance was a rusted hatch beneath an old substation. Malcolm sliced through decayed wards with Shadowfang and descended into darkness.
Emergency lights revealed corridors of shattered glass tanks and skeletons in lab coats. Skeletal drones attacked, chittering in binary. Malcolm used Void Cloak and Shadow Strike, cutting them down.
+120 EXP. Progress to Level 9: 12%.
Deeper in, a vast chamber held a pulsing violet mana crystal, guarded by wights with necrotic fire in their eyes. Malcolm cloaked, but they sensed him. He fought, pistol and blade, but they were too many. He reached the crystal and touched it.
Raw mana surged through him.
Mana Crystal Absorption Initiated. Experience multiplier: x5 for 10 minutes.
He became a storm. Void arrows rained. Shadowfang drank soul essence. A wight's claws raked his side; he drank a potion and fought on. The crystal dimmed. The last wight fell.
Level Up! Level 9 Achieved.
New Skill: Shadow Step.
The crystal cracked. Alarms blared. A guardian construct emerged—fused flesh and machine, eyes red lasers.
Guardian: "Intruder detected. Purge protocol."
It charged. Malcolm used Shadow Step, teleporting behind it. The fight was brutal. He teleported, evading crushing blows, carving at cables and joints. He combined Umbra Vortex with pistol fire, overloading its shields. A final Shadow Step, and his blade plunged into its core.
It exploded.
+850 EXP. Level Up! Level 10 Achieved.
New Perk: Necrotic Resistance 20%.
Tier S Bounty Access Granted.
He slumped against the crystal, wounds bleeding, power humming in his veins.
His phone connected.
Tier S Lead Confirmed – Deep Vault Breach. Anomalies detected in Sector 0 Spire.
Sector 0—the city's central spire, the heart of Neo-Eldoria.
Malcolm: "Straight to the top, huh?"
He gathered crystal shards and limped toward the exit. A final notification arrived.
Guild Private Message – Elara: "Thorne, get topside fast. The Spire's under siege. Alphas inside the walls. It's happening now."
To be continued...