For weeks, Adrian and his new companions had been playing relentlessly, pushing themselves deeper into the game's world. It was a grind fueled by ambition—Ace's relentless pursuit of wealth, Ember's desire to prove herself among high-tier players, and Adrian's quiet determination to master every aspect of combat. Yet cracks began forming beneath the surface, even as their levels climbed and their skills sharpened.
Adrian streamed their adventures regularly, drawing large audiences eager to watch them tackle secret bosses and uncover hidden mechanics. At first, it felt natural—a way to share their journey with others who shared their passion for the game. But then Ace started suggesting they sell recordings of rare encounters, including footage of elusive secret bosses that only a handful of players had ever seen.
"This is how you make real money," Ace explained one evening after defeating a particularly challenging foe. "People will pay top dollar for exclusive content like this. Why just stream when you can monetize?"
Invisible Adrian watched from the sidelines, observing his past self nod thoughtfully at Ace's words. On-screen, chat exploded with complaints. Some accused him of greed; others defended him, arguing that he deserved compensation for his efforts. The invisible Adrian clenched his fists tightly, frustration bubbling within him. He remembered all too well the consequences of exposing secrets meant to remain hidden. And yet, here he was again—feeding into the cycle.
As the days turned into weeks, another realization gnawed at him: Sarah and Alice. A month had passed since he'd last contacted them. An entire month without so much as a message or a casual check-in. How had he let that happen? Had he really become so consumed by his new group that he forgot the people who mattered most?
One fateful day, everything changed. They found her standing alone atop a hill overlooking a desolate battlefield. She wore a black face mask that obscured her features, save for piercing violet eyes that glimmered beneath short, dark hair tipped with purple streaks. Her attire was sleek and tactical, blending seamlessly with the shadows around her. This woman wasn't just any player—she was one of the strongest in the game, renowned not only for her level but also for her innate ability: Illusion Mastery. Few could acquire such a skill, requiring completion of a grueling chain quest that took weeks to finish. Those who succeeded became legends.
But what caught Adrian's attention wasn't her reputation—it was the ring on her finger. Its description whispered rumors of divine craftsmanship, crafted by none other than the Goddess of Fortune herself. With a staggering 200% Luck buff and increased consistency for low-percentage skills, it was an artifact coveted by nearly every player in the game. And she wore it proudly, daring anyone to try taking it from her.
Ace made the decision before anyone else could speak. "We're going for it," he growled, cracking his clawed gloves menacingly. "Nobody owns something like that forever."
Ember nocked an arrow, her crimson eyes narrowing as she aimed directly at the woman's chest. Without hesitation, she released the shot. The arrow zipped through the air, swift and deadly—but the woman simply sidestepped, barely moving more than necessary to avoid the strike.
Before Ember could react, Ace charged forward, his claws gleaming ominously under the dim light. He swung with ferocity, aiming for her shoulder—but once again, the woman dodged effortlessly. Then, almost casually, she leapt upward, delivering a devastating kick toward Ace's face.
"Mmh?" Adrian gasped aloud, shocked by her speed. Even knowing what came next, he couldn't help but marvel at her precision. Reacting instinctively, he stepped in front of Ace, blocking the brunt of the blow with his forearm. Pain surged through him, but the attack was mitigated enough to prevent serious injury.
The woman stepped back, tilting her head slightly as if amused by Adrian's intervention. Before she could press further, another arrow whistled toward her face. Again, she evaded with ease, though this time she didn't counter immediately. Instead, she raised her weapon—a slender blade imbued with faint magical energy—and slashed vertically through the air.
A deafening crack echoed across the battlefield as a bolt of lightning descended from above. Rather than dodge, the woman met the spell head-on, cleaving straight through its core. When the dust settled, she stood unscathed, her stance unwavering.
"She countered magic with a sword…" Adrian murmured, stunned. Countering physical attacks with weapons was common among experts, but neutralizing spells outright? That was unprecedented.
The woman clapped her hands together mockingly, then vanished in an instant. Invisible Adrian watched as she reappeared silently behind Michael, humming softly while tossing a dagger between her fingers. In one fluid motion, she hurled it at Michael's exposed hand. The blade struck true, embedding itself deep into his flesh.
"Michael!" Adrian shouted, rushing to his fallen ally. The summoner collapsed, clutching his bleeding hand as his health bar plummeted dangerously low. His small blue wyvern chirped frantically, circling above him protectively.
Before Adrian could assess the damage, chaos erupted. Two identical figures materialized—one real, one illusion—and both advanced simultaneously. Adrian moved to block, but the mimicry was flawless. One of the women landed a precise strike, slicing cleanly across Michael's throat. Red light engulfed him as he disintegrated into particles, signaling his death.
"No!" Adrian roared, spinning wildly to retaliate. But before he could land a hit, the second figure closed in on Ember. There was no hesitation—no mercy. With a single swift motion, the woman ended Ember's life in an instant, leaving Adrian and Ace as the sole survivors.
Invisible Adrian stared in horror, memories flooding back with vivid clarity. He remembered the confusion, the disbelief, the sheer terror of watching his teammates fall one by one. But now, witnessing it unfold again from the outside, he saw things differently. The original Adrian hadn't understood how she did it—how she moved so quickly, how she manipulated illusions with such precision. But now… now he recognized the signs. The subtle shifts in posture, the faint shimmer of displaced air. She wasn't just skilled; she was operating on an entirely different plane of existence.
Back in the present moment, the surviving Adrian turned to Ace, his voice trembling with urgency. "Adrian, cover me again, okay?"
"Okay," Ace replied grimly, gripping his claws tightly. "I got you."
As they prepared to face the woman once more, Invisible Adrian felt a pang of guilt. Somewhere along the line, he had lost sight of what truly mattered—not power, not fame, but connection. The bonds he'd forged with Sarah and Alice were fading, replaced by fleeting alliances built on greed and ambition. And now, faced with the consequences of those choices, he wondered if it was already too late to turn back.
The woman rushed toward Ace with terrifying speed, her movements fluid and precise. Before anyone could react, she hurled a dagger directly at him. The blade whistled through the air, its metallic gleam catching the dim light as it closed in on its target.
"Damn it!" Invisible Adrian muttered aloud, his voice laced with irritation. He remembered this moment all too well now—the way everything spiraled out of control so quickly. Watching it unfold again felt like reliving a nightmare he couldn't escape.
Ace, however, didn't falter. With reflexes honed by countless battles, he raised his clawed gauntlet just in time to deflect the incoming dagger. It clattered harmlessly to the ground behind him. But before he could press his advantage, the woman was already moving—closing the distance between them faster than anyone could track.
Adrian charged forward alongside Ace, their teamwork kicking into gear despite the chaos. Yet, even combined, they were no match for her raw skill and unpredictability. In one swift motion, the woman dropped low, spinning beneath Adrian's guard. Her own dagger came up in an instant, stopping mere inches from his chin. Adrian barely managed to dodge, but not without cost—the sharp edge grazed his neck, leaving a thin line of blood that shimmered faintly under the moonlight.
A notification flashed before his eyes:
Poison Damage Active – HP -5/sec
"Poison!" Adrian shouted, his voice cracking with urgency. "She's poisoning us! That's why we're losing HP so fast!"
His warning came too late. By the time the words left his lips, the woman had already shifted her focus, launching a knee kick aimed squarely at Adrian's torso. He reacted instinctively, bringing up his shield to block the blow. The impact rattled him, forcing him back several steps, but he held his ground long enough to regroup.
As she straightened herself, her movements casual yet deliberate, she reached up with one hand and pulled down her face mask. For the first time, they saw her clearly—a striking figure with sharp features, piercing violet eyes, and lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"You've got some nice eyes, kid," she said, her tone teasing. "Wanna join my party? I can give you a class-changing item. Hell, I've got plenty if you want."
"What?" three voices echoed simultaneously—Adrian, Ace, and even Invisible Adrian, who stood frozen in disbelief.
Invisible Adrian shook his head, muttering under his breath. "Oh yeah, she really did say that. Did I pick this assassin path because of her?" His memories were hazy before this fight, fragmented like shards of glass scattered across time. But now, staring at her smug expression, pieces began slotting together in ways that unsettled him deeply.
Ace, enraged by the taunt, lunged forward with a roar, swiping his claws toward her face. She dodged effortlessly, sidestepping with the grace of someone dancing rather than fighting. Without missing a beat, she grabbed Adrian, who still clutched his shield, and used his momentum against him, hurling him straight into Ace. Both men collided violently, their health bars dropping drastically from the force of the impact.
Seizing the opening, the woman leapt high into the air, twin daggers glinting ominously as she descended. Before either Adrian or Ace could recover, she landed with brutal precision, driving both blades deep into Ace's neck. A flash of red light enveloped him as he collapsed, lifeless.
"No!" Adrian screamed, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He swung wildly at the woman, desperation fueling his strikes. But she moved like water, slipping past his defenses with ease. In one fluid motion, she stepped inside his reach and plunged a dagger into his neck, triggering another poison effect.
Poison Damage Active – HP -7/sec
Her work done, the woman took a step back, tilting her head slightly as though admiring her handiwork. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she waved goodbye. A soft glow emanated from the ring on her finger—the Ring of Fortune—as she vanished in a burst of light blue energy, leaving Adrian alone amidst the carnage.
Invisible Adrian stared at the scene,his mind racing. How had things gone so wrong? And more importantly, what had drawn him to this path in the first place? As the echoes of battle faded, only silence remained—a heavy, suffocating quiet that weighed heavily on his chest.