Lord Of The Lost

William felt an intense, chilling gaze pierce through him, sending a shiver down his spine. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and his heart pounded wildly as he realized they were no longer alone. Whatever was watching them from the shadows wasn't human or anything close.

"Run!" he shouted to his companions, his voice barely holding back the terror he felt. The three of them bolted from the courtyard, their footsteps echoing through the cold, stone hallways of the castle. There was no time to think, no time to look back. They could feel the oppressive presence pursuing them, filling the air with a suffocating dread that seemed to sap the strength from their legs. They ran faster, panic gripping their chests, until finally, they burst through the castle gates and sprinted out into the open, gasping for air.

"This place… it's a nightmare!" one of them panted, his voice trembling.

William didn't reply. His mind was fixed on one thought, escape. They fled down the winding road, not stopping until the eerie silhouette of the castle was far behind them. Only when they reached the border town did William feel the terror begin to fade, replaced by the safety of distance and the bustling noise of the village.

Exhausted, he logged out of the game, letting the adrenaline drain from his body.

Game Notification:

[You killed the forbidden creature (Shadow)]

A message popped up, flooding his screen with new information.

[Forbidden Creature: When the forbidden power of the castle spreads outward, even the noble and elegant vampires cannot escape its curse. This power taints all life, corrupting them with the essence of darkness.]

William's eyes widened as he scanned through the notifications, each more intriguing than the last.

[Your talent has absorbed the characteristics of the Vampire Clan.]

[Your talent has absorbed the Shadow characteristics.]

A chill ran through him. He knew these were no ordinary gains; they were rare, coveted abilities that could change the trajectory of his character. He continued reading, captivated.

[Shadow Characteristics: Shadows are born not from light, but from the depths of pure darkness. Only in the absence of light can true shadows exist. Those who wield this characteristic can become 'Shadows.']

[Game Tip: The world cannot fully absorb the essence of darkness, so it takes a lesser form. The Vampire Lord accepted this power, and Shadow Castle was swallowed by darkness.]

[Game Tip: You have come into contact with forbidden power. Shadow is merely a facet of the greater darkness, a mysterious force that exists beyond this world...]

The notifications kept rolling, each one adding layers of complexity and mystery to the power he'd just acquired.

[Professional Tip: You now have a choice. Pursue the transcendent path of 'Shadow,' or become a devoted follower of darkness, praying to it from this day forward.]

[Job Transfer Tip: Accumulate fifty Shadow Extraordinary Characteristics to complete the task required for the transformation into a 'Shadow.']

Progress: Shadow Characteristics 24/50.

William's mind raced, considering the implications. With each step he took along this dark path, he was moving closer to becoming something… otherworldly. But the notifications weren't finished.

[Vampire Clan Characteristics: The supernatural essence of the Vampire Clan. Blood is life's currency, and the Vampire Clan are its masters. They draw power from blood, and those who possess this characteristic may join their ranks.]

[Game Tip: The ancestors of the Vampire Clan drank the blood of their own kind, birthing a cursed lineage. They are creatures of the night, shunned by the sun, hiding their fangs from ordinary people. Only by staying hidden, by lying in wait, can the Vampire Clan continue their existence.]

[Job Transfer Tip: Accumulate fifty Vampire Extraordinary Characteristics to complete the transformation into a vampire.]

Progress: Bloodline Characteristics 24/50.

William felt a thrill of excitement. Not only had he gained a foothold on the Shadow path, but he also held the potential to transform into a vampire, wielding the dark allure and terrifying power of the Vampire Clan.

He opened his eyes, his mind sharp, analyzing every line of information that had flooded his screen. The hints provided more than just guidance, they revealed a world of possibilities. This wasn't merely about defeating monsters or leveling up anymore. It was about becoming something extraordinary, something that blurred the line between life and death, light and shadow.

The forbidden creature he had slain had bestowed upon him not one, but two supernatural abilities: the path of Shadow, and the power of the Vampire Clan. According to Metatron, creatures within the cursed walls of Shadow Castle couldn't provide experience points, but William's unique talent, [Killing to Prove the Way], had allowed him to absorb their extraordinary characteristics instead.

"So… two extraordinary paths," he murmured, a smile of anticipation tugging at the corner of his mouth.

With each kill, with each new characteristic absorbed, he was slowly transforming, inching closer to becoming a transcendent figure of the night. Shadow, vampire… these were more than just titles. They were destinies, paths carved by forbidden power, waiting for him to take his first true step into darkness.

Although William wasn't entirely sure what had just happened, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. Thankfully, the extraordinary characteristics he had absorbed hadn't somehow come alive or rebelled within him.

Otherwise, he might have been forced to make an emergency job change right there on the spot.

But there was an even worse scenario: if the two awakened supernatural properties had conflicted, he, acting as the host; would likely have been the first to fall victim to their clash. A grim thought, but one that kept him wary of the path he was treading.

Just as he allowed himself a moment of calm, William felt it again, a piercing, almost predatory gaze. It was as if something ancient and sinister was watching him from the shadows, studying him. His instincts told him it had something to do with the unique nature of this "shadow" power.

Shaking off the unnerving feeling, William logged into the discussion forum, hoping to find some clarity. To his relief, the avatars of Forum Master and Metatron were lit, showing they were online. However, the icons for Gambler and Alex remained dim.

The Breeze Across the Hills: "Are they still not online?"

Forum Master replied with characteristic brevity, "Death penalty."

A quiet sigh escaped William's lips. "I guess we'll have to wait until they're back."

Needing a break from the game's intensity, William stood up and headed out. The recent battle, with its high-intensity moves like [Piercing Attack], had left him utterly drained. His limbs felt like lead, his mind was hazy, and, worst of all, he was starving. Not just hungry, but ravenous.

He made his way to a nearby buffet restaurant, a place known for its endless array of high-calorie dishes. Finding a table, he scanned the spread, zoning in on meat and anything that promised a hefty dose of energy.

The loss of his in-game attributes had left him feeling weakened even outside the virtual world. It was as though his very vitality had been sapped, and he needed to replenish. So, he did what any starving player would do.

"I eat! I eat like there's no tomorrow!"

William dug in with abandon. He piled his plate high with steak, ribs, and slabs of meat, devouring each bite as if it held the key to his survival. He wolfed down over ten pounds of steak and meat slices, tearing into the food with an intensity that shocked even him.

The restaurant staff exchanged wide-eyed glances, murmuring in hushed tones as they watched him polish off plate after plate.

Finally, William leaned back, letting out a satisfied burp as he patted his now full belly. He got up, a smirk on his face as he noticed the waiters still staring at him in awe. "Guess I'd better try a different buffet next time," he thought, chuckling to himself as he strolled out.

Refreshed, he returned home and reopened the forum, hoping to see his companions online. Sure enough, Gambler and Alex had finally logged in.

Gambler: "Ugh, that death penalty was brutal. And my talent's backlash isn't helping. Right now, I feel like I'm barely alive. Sequential Game says I'm locked out for the next two days."

Gambler's frustration was clear. William knew about the talent Gambler used, [Gambler's Dice]—a mysterious ability that involved rolling a dice, though no one was entirely sure how many sides it had. Some said it was a six-sided die; others suspected it had far more possibilities. Whatever the case, Gambler had certainly rolled high during that final confrontation in Shadow Castle.

William suspected that Gambler's roll not only boosted his physical abilities but also amplified his mental and energy capacities, allowing him to unleash an overwhelming force. But that power came with a steep price.

At Gambler's current level, a typical death penalty shouldn't have put him in such a dire state. For a Level 1 player, the death penalty usually meant being barred from the Sequential Game for three days. But things changed as players climbed to higher levels.

Players at Levels 7 and 8 faced a harsher penalty. The higher you climbed, the more severe the cuts. While advanced players had a greater pool of resources and resilience, the penalties also became harsher, proportional to their power.

William pondered this for a moment. Despite the death penalty's toll, high-level players like Gambler had enhanced base attributes, which made them more resilient. But the recent battle had shown that no amount of strength or resilience could fully insulate them from the dangers lurking within Shadow Castle. In this game, power always came at a cost and sometimes, that cost was more than anyone was willing to pay.