The Abyss's first floor was shrouded in thick, suffocating darkness. At the center of that darkness stood a small town lit by lanterns.
At the town's entrance, people were rushing back inside. Many moved in groups, while only a few walked alone.
Among the returning crowds, Thoren breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the town gate still open.
He had not expected the night to descend so abruptly. He believed there would be an hour or two before nightfall, but he was wrong.
Walking through the town, he found it bustling with activity. Warriors moved back and forth, their faces split by smiles.
They had survived another day in the Abyss.
He moved quickly through the streets, searching for an inn. Most were full, and at last he found one at the end of a street.
Entering the dilapidated inn, Thoren saw a young, beautiful girl behind the counter.
"Is there any room available?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied with a welcoming smile. "We have a shared room and a single room. Which one would you prefer?"
"Single room," Thoren replied without hesitation.
Why would he share a room with someone he did not know? Besides, he wasn't short on money.
"That will be ten copper coins," she said.
Thoren didn't think twice and pulled ten copper coins from his inventory.
Receiving the money, her smile brightened, and she added, "You must be hungry. Our best meal costs five copper coins."
Looking at her smiling face, Thoren hesitated and shivered slightly. It felt as if he were being watched by a ravenous beast.
"Is she thinking of devouring me?" he wondered, taking a small step back subconsciously.
She noticed his reaction and chuckled.
This was not the first time people had reacted to her in that way, but she didn't care.
As long as she could earn money, nothing else mattered.
"So what do you say? Should I add a meal to it?" she asked.
"Sure," Thoren nodded, still wary.
"Very well."
She could not hide her joy as she rubbed her palms together and accepted the five copper coins.
"Please follow me." She gestured and led Thoren to the second floor.
On the second floor, she guided him to one of the rooms. The room was small but tidy. The bed was compact, like a student bed, and the curtains were clean but faded.
"Wait a moment, I'll bring your meal," she said, departing happily.
Thoren did not respond and entered the room. Though small and a bit worn, it was still manageable.
He sat at the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. He could finally relax his nerves.
He had been working hard to increase his strength. He turned his attention to his stats and could not help but feel proud.
[Name: Thoren Starfall]
[Occupation: Necromancer]
[Rank: Iron]
[Level: 4 (700/1800)]
[Attributes: Strength 6, Agility 8, Constitution 7, Intelligence 14, Perception 10, Charm 12]
[Spirit: 12.49]
[Skills: Undead Summoning, Bone Manipulation Skill]
[Talent: Undead Space]
[Abyss Market: Unavailable (Available at Bronze Rank)]
[Attributes Points: 15]
[Inventory]
"Hm. I'm already close to halfway to reaching level five," he mused, resting a hand on his chin.
At the beginning, leveling up to higher levels was easy, but as the levels increased, the difficulty followed suit.
Now, to reach the next level, he needed twice the experience of Level 4.
What about the higher levels?
He realized why many were stuck on the first floor for years without a chance to ascend.
"No matter how difficult it is, I must clear the first floor in 14 days." His eyes burned with determination.
Just then, a slight knock came from the door. He rose and went to open it. Standing there was the girl with a small tray, carrying a meat soup.
"Please enjoy," she smiled. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to tell me. As long as money is involved, I can help you."
Thoren nodded and accepted the tray. "With such a gaze, I would be crazy to ask for more," he thought, preparing to lock the door when she stopped him.
"I won't charge you for this," she said seriously. "Tonight, the town might not be peaceful, and you must be prepared to defend yourself."
Hmm?
Thoren was stunned but recovered quickly. "What will happen?"
He had thought the area around the town had been conquered by humans and that the town was peaceful, but now… it seemed he had been naive.
Watching his expression, she giggled. "You must be a fresh awakener, right?"
Without waiting for Thoren to respond, she continued. "Just because we're in the town doesn't mean we're safe. Remember that, or you won't know how you will die."
"Little brother, don't die on your first night in the Abyss," she teased and departed.
Thoren stood frozen for a moment before slamming the door shut and locking it. His heart pounded heavily, like a war drum.
He had hoped to be safe in town, but now he realized his thoughts were naive.
He shook his head and decided not to dwell on it. He examined the meat soup, and his stomach rumbled.
Hungry, he sat down and devoured the soup with relish. Although the inn was dilapidated, the meal was delicious.
With his hunger satisfied, he could now focus on surviving the night.
"I need to increase my strength," he mused.
Although a necromancer might be physically weak compared to others, his talent did not carry that weakness.
He did not need to focus on his summons as much as on himself. With fifteen unallocated points, this was a chance to grow stronger.
He began to allocate the points.
[Strength 6 + (8) Agility 8 (+2) Constitution 7 (+3) Perception 10 (+2)]
[Attribute Points: 0]
Instantly, he felt the change in his body. His muscles grew firmer, and he could sense that his blood and bones were more vigorous.
He also discovered he could sense his surroundings better.
Grinning, he felt satisfied with the changes. "Even without my undead army, I can protect myself."
[Name: Thoren Starfall]
[Occupation: Necromancer]
[Rank: Iron]
[Level: 4 (700/1800)]
[Attributes: Strength 14, Agility 10, Constitution 10, Intelligence 14, Perception 12, Charm 12]
[Spirit: 12.49]
[Skills: Undead Summoning, Bone Manipulation Skill]
[Talent: Undead Space]
[Abyss Market: Unavailable (Available at Bronze Rank)]
[Attributes Points: 0]
[Inventory]
With everything set, he lay on his bed and prepared to sleep. "Now, let's see what tonight brings."
*****
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