The rain fell in sheets over Neovale City, slicking streets with neon reflections. Towering skyscrapers jutted into the night sky, their lights a dizzying mix of violet, blue, and red. Holographic advertisements flickered on every corner, painting the rain-soaked pavement with the promise of entertainment, indulgence, and power.
Kael Veyra crouched in the shadow of a crumbling overpass, pulling his threadbare jacket tighter around his lean frame. His knuckles ached, and his stomach growled—a reminder that he hadn't eaten in two days. For most of the city's population, the night meant fun and escape; for people like him, it meant survival. The gangs didn't wait, and neither did the predators that lurked in the shadows.
He sighed and adjusted the strap of his bag, inside which lay a few scavenged trinkets and, most importantly, a low-grade electric taser he'd picked up from a black-market dealer last week. Not exactly a weapon to face mages or urban cultivators, but it was better than nothing.
A sudden clatter echoed behind him. Kael froze, heart hammering in his chest. A figure emerged from the alley—broad, masked, and armed with what looked like an energy-bladed bat. The gang's signature.
"Hand over your credits, loser, and maybe we let you crawl home alive," the figure growled.
Kael's first instinct was to bolt. He'd run before, escaped worse odds, but something in the figure's stance made him hesitate. There was… a hum in the air. A pressure he couldn't explain. He clenched his fists.
"Let's see what you've got," he muttered under his breath.
Before the thug could react, Kael's vision blurred. A sudden ping echoed in his head, sharp and digital.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Kael froze mid-step. The rain didn't stop, but the world seemed to slow. Lights streaked like ribbons across the city, and a translucent interface appeared before his eyes.
Welcome, User: Kael VeyraCore Stats:
Strength: 5
Reflex: 4
Intelligence: 6
Luck: 3
System Prompt:You have been chosen to awaken. Complete missions, gain power, survive the urban abyss. Rewards may include skills, wealth, and companionship.
Kael blinked. He rubbed his eyes. "What… the hell?"
System Notification:Your first mission is available. Objective: Survive your first encounter. Reward: Core Skill – Overpowered Reflex.
"What the hell does that mean?" Kael whispered.
The thug lunged. Kael's body reacted before his mind did. Reflexively, he rolled to the side, the energy bat slashing through where he'd been standing a heartbeat ago. Sparks erupted as metal met rain-slick asphalt.
System Notification:Reflex Test: Passed. Reward Applied – Overpowered Reflex.
Kael felt a sudden surge in his legs, a tingling that shot from his feet to his spine. The next swing came, and he dodged it effortlessly. His thoughts were faster. His movements—faster, smoother, sharper.
The gang member stared, bewildered. "What the…?"
Kael didn't hesitate. He grabbed the thug's arm mid-swing and twisted it with a strength he didn't know he had. The energy bat clattered to the ground. The man's eyes widened in shock as Kael shoved him into the alley wall.
System Notification:Mission Complete – Survival Achieved. XP Gained: 50Skill Unlocked: Combat Reflex Enhancement Level 1
Kael staggered back, panting. His heartbeat was still loud, but the fear that had gripped him earlier was replaced with… exhilaration. Power.
Before he could gather his thoughts, the alley darkened further. A second figure appeared—a woman. Black leather, long dark hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes glowing faintly violet, a slender hand raised.
"You… you're not ordinary," she said softly, almost a whisper carried on the rain.
Kael blinked. "Uh… no?"
The woman tilted her head, lips curling in amusement. "Most people don't survive a single swing from them. You… reacted differently. Did you get lucky?"
Kael shrugged, unsure. "Maybe?"
She laughed—a sound like wind chimes in a storm. "Luck rarely saves anyone here."
Before Kael could respond, the first thug scrambled to his feet, rage in his eyes. But the woman's hand flicked. A sphere of violet energy shot out, striking the man squarely in the chest. He screamed, but not like a normal person. His scream was metallic, distorted. When he hit the ground, he convulsed violently—then was still.
Kael's jaw dropped. "Wha… what did you—?"
The woman smirked. "Magic."
"Magic?" Kael repeated. The word felt alien on his tongue. Until now, he'd only heard rumors—stories about cultivators, mages, and power-wielders hiding in the city's underbelly. He never thought he'd meet one.
The woman's eyes scanned him. "And you… have a System."
Kael froze. "How do you—?"
"You reacted when the System activated," she said. "Few have that kind of interface, and fewer survive the awakening. You're… interesting."
System Notification:New Entity Detected – Ally Potential: High
Kael felt a ping in his mind again. "Ally potential?" he murmured. The System's tone had an almost playful edge.
The woman crouched slightly, her gaze sharp. "I'm Selene Arctis. I suggest you leave this alley, quickly. The city… doesn't forgive mistakes."
Before Kael could ask questions, a low growl echoed behind them. From the shadowed alley corner, two figures emerged—not human. Clawed, hunched, eyes glowing red. Something in Kael's gut screamed danger.
"Monsters?" he asked, though his voice was flat, the adrenaline dulling his fear.
Selene's lips curved. "Hunter spawn. Low-tier, but aggressive. They hunt humans for sport. Stay close to me."
Kael didn't hesitate. He fell into step beside her. The creatures lunged. Kael felt another ping in his head.
[SYSTEM ALERT: COMBAT MISSION INITIATED – Survive and Defeat Enemy]
Core Stats Updated:
Strength: 6 (+1)
Reflex: 8 (+4)
Combat Skill: Reflex Mastery Level 1
The first creature lunged at Kael, its claws raking through the rain. But his reflexes were beyond human. He sidestepped with inhuman precision, catching the claw with his hand and twisting. A crack echoed as bone shattered.
Selene's hand moved in an elegant arc. Violet energy lanced from her palm, striking the second creature and sending it flying. The sound of flesh and magic colliding made Kael flinch. He was not prepared for how real—and brutal—this world was.
"You'll get used to it," Selene said calmly. "Or you'll die."
Kael's vision flickered again. The System had a new prompt.
Mission Status:In Progress – Survive the Hunter Spawn*Recommended Action: Use your Overpowered Reflex skill or coordinate with ally for maximum effect.
Kael exhaled and focused. Movements flowed naturally now, a strange coordination he didn't consciously control. He dodged, blocked, countered—each action guided by something deeper. The creatures were fast, but he was faster. Faster than any human had a right to be.
Selene smiled faintly as she watched him. "Not bad for a rookie."
After three minutes that felt like hours, both creatures lay still, twitching, the rain washing their dark blood into the street. Kael staggered, sweat mixing with rain, heart pounding.
System Notification:Mission Complete. XP Gained: 120*Skill Upgraded: Reflex Mastery Level 2*Reward: Minor Mana Pool +10, Core Skill – Magic Resistance Level 1
Kael blinked at the screen overlay in his vision. "Magic resistance? I… have magic resistance?"
Selene's gaze softened slightly. "Your System protects you. It chooses carefully. Not everyone deserves this power."
Kael swallowed. "And the creatures… they're gone?"
"For now," she replied. "But you've made a name for yourself tonight. Keep moving, Kael. The city is watching."
The rain continued to fall, pounding against the rooftops, the streets, and their soaked clothes. Neon lights reflected off puddles, making the world feel like it existed in a dream—or a nightmare. Kael's hands shook slightly, a mixture of fear, adrenaline, and something else… excitement.
The System pinged again.
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]Objective: Seek Shelter, Assess Your Abilities, Learn City Rules]Reward: Core Skill – Urban Navigation + Harem Ally Potential + XP
Kael looked at Selene. "Uh… about that… urban navigation thing. Is that… like a tutorial?"
Selene laughed softly. "You'll learn quickly. Follow me, rookie. The night is far from over."
As they disappeared into the rain-slick streets, Kael felt a strange warmth in his chest—a mix of power, fear, and the thrill of survival. He had awakened. The city had taken notice. And the System, with all its strange rules and temptations, was only beginning to reveal its secrets.
Somewhere above, in the glowing skyline of Neovale City, unseen eyes watched, calculating, judging, and waiting for Kael's next move. The game had begun.
And Kael Veyra had just entered the Urban Abyss.