When Xarl opened his eyes, his body felt heavy, but it wasn't the physical exhaustion that weighed on him—it was the memory of last night.
The moonlight.Kaelith's glowing silver eyes.His arms catching Xarl like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And then—the pain.
That unbearable static in his head. The way the system screamed inside him like it was short-circuiting.
[Warning: System Interference Detected][Source: Unknown—Proximity Triggered]
But it wasn't unknown anymore.
Every time he got near Kaelith, something buzzed inside him. It wasn't just nerves or awe. It was deeper. Sharper.
Almost… programmed.
[New Quest Unlocked: Social Sync]Objective: Befriend Kor and Vally Reward: Unknown]
Xarl frowned. I thought I was already friends with them…
Then again, Kor barely spoke unless absolutely necessary, and Vally—well, Vally mostly treated him like a half-amusing, half-annoying insect. Only Naeva had shown him trust since day one.
A sudden bell rang, echoing through the dorm halls.
"Breakfast," Xarl muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
In the dining hall, tension clung to the air like smoke.
Most teams were huddled together, whispering over plates of food and open tablets, reviewing strategies for whatever nightmare the instructors would drop next.
But Team 17 sat in silence—four exceptional individuals from entirely different worlds, orbiting one another like mismatched stars.
Kor was chewing a protein bar like it personally offended him. Vally lounged with his boots on the bench, sipping dark bloodtea from a silver thermos and reading what looked like a gothic horror novel. Kaelith sat unnervingly still, staring at a glass of water like he was willing it to combust. Naeva, sitting between them, was chewing nervously.
And Xarl?
He sat there, stabbing at a sad pancake.
The awkwardness was so thick it could be cut with a spoon.
"So," Xarl tried, "uh... sleep well?"
Kor grunted.
Kaelith didn't respond.
"I dreamed of stabbing a ghost with a spoon," Naeva said too quickly, then coughed into her juice.
"Romantic," Vally murmured. "Very you."
A silence followed, and then Naeva forced a bright smile. "Let's do our best today, okay?"
Her eyes flicked to Xarl. "And no more recklessness."
Xarl nodded, a little embarrassed. "No fainting. Got it."
Vally smirked but said nothing.
The arena was filled with students, some tense, others overconfident. Xarl spotted a few nervous first-years biting their nails, and even a couple of senior teams fidgeting with their weapons.
The voice boomed over the sound system once more:
"Welcome to Trial Two: Phantom City."
A glowing hologram flickered above the crowd—a cursed city under a permanent eclipse. Broken buildings leaned like wilted trees. Towering statues with missing heads cast long shadows across shattered cobblestone streets. Blood-red lanterns flickered dimly. Giant claw marks were etched into walls. A decaying cathedral loomed at its center, shrouded in violet fog.
"You will be teleported into this cursed zone. Beware: it is a dead city filled with ghosts, ghouls, undead soldiers, night beasts, and more.
""Objective One: Eliminate 25 enemies of each type as a team.""Objective Two: Locate the treasure hidden in the ruins. It is protected by a shadow entity.""Survive. Or don't."
The teleportation hit like a slap.
One blink—they were gone from the arena. The next—they were standing in the center of a fog-drenched, ruined square under a black, starlit sky.
The city groaned with a life of its own.
The buildings looked ancient, partially crumbled with thick vines crawling across stone. Gargoyles with broken wings peered down from rooftops. A lamppost flickered above them—its glass cracked and light sickly green. The air was cold, biting, and smelled faintly of rust and ash.
No wind. No animals. Just the eerie tick… tick… tick of something unseen.
"Yup," Vally muttered. "Definitely cursed."
Naeva shivered. "I hate the dark," she whispered, gripping her staff tighter.
Kor put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll stay close."
Kaelith didn't say a word, already walking away as his screen marked Team Split Confirmed. He chose the western path.
That left Xarl and Vally.
Vally rolled his eyes. "Well, look at that. Babysitting duty again."
"I'm not a baby," Xarl muttered.
Vally leaned close, a fang just visible. "No, but you do look adorable when you faint."
"I swear to—"
"Careful," Vally said with a wink. "Blushing's contagious."
They began walking through the shadows.
"So…" Xarl started, "About last night—"
Vally grinned, sensing an opportunity. "You mean when you got swept off your feet by Kaelith?"
Xarl blanched. "Don't say it like that."
"Oh come on. It was so romantic. Moonlight. Hair fluttering. You literally fell into his arms."
"Stop."
"I saw your face, sweetheart. If you had a tail, it'd be wagging."
Xarl turned away, red-faced. "You're evil."
"I'm undead. Close enough."
Suddenly, the shadows twitched.
Figures emerged—crooked, moaning, soulless.
A zombie in royal robes dragged a scepter behind it. A ghost in wedding rags hovered above the ground, whispering broken vows. Winged beasts circled above.
Vally sighed. "You take the creepers. I'll handle the airborne drama queens."
He soared upward in a blur of black wings.
Xarl raised his sword.
His brother had trained him well—he remembered every movement, every stance. His sword glowed faintly with an enchantment he cast just before leaving: a simple visibility spell that outlined undead threats.
He darted forward, ducking a claw, slashing a neck, spinning low to avoid the heavy swing of a ghoul.
Ghosts evaporated with well-timed strikes.
From above, Vally spiraled through the sky, slicing through banshees and night crows. He kept glancing at Xarl.
He shouldn't be this good, Vally thought. He's human.
"Watch out!" Xarl shouted suddenly.
Vally jerked left—just in time to avoid a diving phantom.
"Tch. Not bad," he muttered, shaking off the hit. "You are useful."
"Gee. Thanks."
After clearing their quota, the two regrouped at the edge of the mansion.
Its gates groaned open. The air here was colder, the fog thicker. Vines grew across stained windows. The manor looked half-swallowed by the earth, like it was sinking into hell itself.
Xarl frowned. "Why hasn't the quest updated?"
"That," Vally said, nodding to the mansion, "is where the final objective is hiding."
A sudden scream cut through the air.
Naeva.
Both of them dashed forward—but the instant their boots touched the entrance platform, the floor gave way beneath them.
And just like that, they were swallowed by the dark.
No light. No sound. No escape.
And then—
Xarl opened his eyes to a dinner table.His mother sat beside his father.They were smiling. But their mouths were filled with blood.
"You'll marry who we say," his father said .
"You were born to die for us."
Xarl was consumed by darkness ....