Harper raised an eyebrow, both amused and incredulous. "Seriously? You're that cautious, Slash?" RageSlash adjusted his gear with quiet precision. "Do what I told you. First, we grind. I need to see for myself what makes this game so d*mn special." With that, he started toward the wasteland's edge, his boots crunching over the cracked ground. The rest of the squad fell in line behind him without a word. His warning hadn't fallen on deaf ears. Everyone moved sharply now, eyes scanning every shadow, fingers ready on their triggers. RageSlash wasn't the only one with instincts that sharp. Anyone who'd climbed their way to the top in a brutal world like "Doomsday" had that same survival radar wired into their bones. By the second day, players everywhere were catching on—this wasn't the average MMO. Those with ambition were already setting traps, forming alliances, and stacking early advantages like chess masters. ...Spawnpoint 9527. "Yo, no freaking way! It's only day two and someone's already hit Level 10—right here in our spawn point! "If we can team up with that guy, Piper, we're golden. Then maybe rich boys like Aiden can sit and watch from the bottom for once." Martin clenched his fist as the broadcast echoed in his headset, his excitement boiling over. He still wore his starter rags, but in his mind, he was already leveling up in life. Ever since leaving the hospital the day before, something about "Doomsday" had been nagging at him. It doesn't add up. No game feels this real. That morning, he'd hauled Piper out of bed, pawned her designer bag for a quick payday, and spent it all on gaming rigs. The moment he logged in, a global broadcast rolled across the screen, and adrenaline hit him like a freight train. For a heartbeat, he could almost see it—his name lighting up that same leaderboard. He grinned, chest swelling. Feels like destiny finally threw me a bone. Piper shot him a side-eye. "It's just a game, Martin. Aiden wasting his time on this crap is his problem. Don't start acting like a fool, too. You really think some fantasy grind is your big break?" "You don't get it." Martin thumped his chest like he was trying to prove something. "This is different. My gut's never wrong." Piper let out a dry laugh. "Whatever." Then his eyes lit up, remembering something. "Oh, right—you were supposed to text Aiden, get him to join up with us. That guy's loaded; he could've bought us gear without blinking. Did you?" Piper folded her arms, scoffing. "Not happening. You want him to carry you; call him yourself. I'm not that cheap." Martin frowned. "You sure about that? Rent's due next week. 200,000 doesn't grow on trees." She brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Relax. He always shows up with the money when it matters. Same as before." He nodded slowly. "Yeah, true. He's still crazy about you. Give it a few days, he'll come crawling again." "Please." Piper rolled her eyes. "He's exhausting. Honestly, it's nice not having him hover around for once. Might as well see what gaming's about while I'm free." "Then we level up," Martin replied with a grin. "Fastest way to the top." They talked through their strategy, mapped out their first dungeon, and headed toward the nearest field to grind mobs. ... Back in the Trial Dungeon, Aiden remained unaware of the commotion beyond its walls. The air inside hung thick with silence, pressing down like a weight. The Rogue's body faded into digital dust: no loot, no gold, nothing but a shard of pale light drifting to the ground. He reached out and caught the glowing shard as it drifted down. A system message instantly flashed before his eyes. 'You have obtained Abyss Stone, Fragment 1. Rank: Unknown. Appraisal unavailable.' Aiden turned it in his hand, eyebrows knitting together. "A shard?" There wasn't even a description, just that bare line of text.He stared at it for a long moment. Never heard of anything like this before. "Could it be... only the final boss in an Abyss Tier Advancement Trial drops one?" He spoke quietly, thinking out loud. "That's why I never saw it in my last run." The thought lingered as he looked around the hall. The world of "Doomsday" was enormous—bigger and deeper than most players could ever comprehend. The legends at the top used to say that reaching god-tier wasn't the end; it was just the first chapter. Mysteries hid in every corner. Not recognizing an item like this? Pretty standard, actually. He still couldn't shake the frustration of getting no real loot, though. Boss fights like that don't end with junk. This thing has a purpose. I just don't get it yet. He gave the hall one last scan to make sure nothing else was hidden, then stepped into the glowing portal. A flash of white swallowed him whole. When the light faded, a tall figure materialized in the center of Spawnpoint 9527's Trial Temple. The guard stationed nearby blinked twice, confused. System notifications only went to players. As an in-game NPC, he had no idea someone had just cleared an Abyss Tier Advancement Trial. To his knowledge, no contact from headquarters had warned him of anything unusual either.