The Shadow Thief
In the city of Gravif, Axel, a notorious thief, 'stumbles' upon a powerful artifact. Upon unlocking its abilities, the artifact corrupts his mana, causing it to plummet to -1. With this strange glitch, Axel becomes an unstoppable force. However, Axel, preferring to operate under the radar, opts to conceal his new abilities, not one for unwanted attention. Yet, luck proves to be against him as the city of Gravif and its lurking demons have alternative plans. --- I'll keep writing 'The Blood Magic User' and release one new chapter every day. This is another project I'm working on, experimenting with the system tag and adding my own spin. Thank you for reading!
THE DUNGEON
Aera waved at me as soon as she saw me enter the tavern. I slowly walked toward her table, my neck gaiter down and my hands in my pockets. She was drinking orange juice and eating pine nuts.
The tavern had a rustic charm, with wooden beams overhead and candlelit lanterns casting a warm glow. The air was filled with the smell of roasting meat and cheaply made beer. Wooden tables and benches were scattered around, and the walls were full with old maps and hunting trophies. One stuck out to me most: a rhino head. It was just above the entrance, hanging from the wall.
"So?" Aera asked, watching me sit down. "What happened?"
"I talked to her." I began to explain. "She wants to save her sister Myata. She's eight years old and our 'King' wants her in his bed."
"W-what? Ugh – it makes my stomach churn!"
"Yeah. Apparently, she's being held in the dungeon of the King's palace." I continued. "Man… rich and their weird fantasies. I swear to god."