The world pulsed red as the Blood Moon glared down from the skies, casting long, twisted shadows on the ruined cityscape.
Elias tightened the grip on his newly acquired hammer, his body burning with exhaustion — and exhilaration.
The Watch buzzed urgently.
[Micro Task Completed!]
Bonus Reward: Shadow Step unlocked.
Description: Instantly teleport up to 7 meters away, cooldown 10 seconds.
[New Hidden Stat Upgrades:]
IQ boosted by +10 points.
Charm increased by +5 points.
Physical Strength enhanced.
Agility enhanced.
[Passive Ability "Spatial Awareness" unlocked:]
You can now sense hidden enemies within a 10-meter radius.
---
Elias's mind sharpened immediately.
He could feel it — the shift inside him.
His reactions quickened.
His vision became sharper, almost like the world slowed down around him.
And something else...
A faint shimmer at the edge of his senses.
They're hiding.
---
The ground shivered again.
From the misty edges of the battlefield, a squad of six Watch Bearers appeared — faces twisted with desperation and bloodlust.
But they weren't ordinary.
They moved together, perfectly synchronized.
Tactical. Trained.
Predators.
At their lead was a woman in a black cloak, her Watch glowing a dangerous crimson.
[Scarlet Fang — Assassin Type Bearer Lv. 35]
"Kill him," she hissed, pointing straight at Elias.
The squad scattered, surrounding him.
---
Elias's heart pounded.
But he wasn't the same weakling who started this hellish game.
The Watch flashed:
[Micro Task: Defeat Squad Within 5 Minutes.]
Bonus Reward: Advanced Driving Skill + Mystery Gift.
---
The first attacker came from the left — a blur with twin daggers.
Shadow Step — Activate.
Elias vanished in an instant, reappearing behind his enemy.
Before the man could even realize, Elias drove his elbow into his spine, snapping him forward into the dirt.
One down.
---
Another fighter threw chains at him, trying to entangle him.
Elias ducked low, grabbed the chain mid-air, and yanked hard — pulling the attacker off balance.
He slammed the hammer straight into the man's gut.
Two down.
---
The third and fourth moved together — a spear wielder and an archer.
The archer fired three shots in rapid succession.
Elias dodged the first.
Swatted the second.
And used Shadow Step to blink past the third, closing the distance in a flash.
He delivered a spinning kick that knocked the archer out cold, then disarmed the spear wielder and dropped him with a brutal punch.
Four down.
---
Only Scarlet Fang and her second-in-command remained.
The second-in-command rushed forward, swinging dual swords with deadly precision.
Elias blocked and parried, but the man was skilled — every move sharp and calculated.
Blood trickled from a cut on Elias's arm.
Scarlet Fang stood calmly, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
---
Elias's mind raced.
His new IQ boost allowed him to calculate trajectories and angles with terrifying clarity.
In a flash of inspiration, he used the second-in-command's momentum against him — sidestepping and redirecting his strike straight toward Scarlet Fang.
Caught off guard, she stumbled.
Elias Shadow Stepped behind her —
One brutal punch to her neck.
She crumpled instantly.
Then, a swift elbow to the second-in-command's temple finished the fight.
---
[Squad Defeated — Time Taken: 4 Minutes 12 Seconds.]
[Bonus Reward Unlocked!]
Advanced Driving Skill obtained.
Mystery Gift: Physical Enhancement Serum (Temporary 200% Boost for 1 Hour)
---
Breathing heavily, Elias stood alone amidst the fallen.
His Watch flashed again:
[Skill Evolution Available:]
Shadow Step can evolve into Phantom Blink after repeated use.
[Hidden Quest Triggered:]
Hunt down the Black Bearer behind the Blood Moon event.
Rewards: Unknown.
---
Suddenly, a faint laugh echoed across the battlefield.
"You're getting too good," a distorted voice said from the shadows.
"But let's see if you can survive what's coming next."
The world around Elias shuddered.
A dark portal opened in the sky —
and something monstrous began to crawl out.
---