Day & Night (3)

The night was still young, and Bruce stood at the edge of the rooftop overlooking the noble district. His newly modified suit hugged his younger frame perfectly, offering flexibility without sacrificing protection. Beside him, Lyra crouched, her dark leather armor blending into the night. She tested the balance of the throwing knife Bruce had handed her earlier, twirling it with practiced ease.

"You sure about this?" Lyra whispered, glancing down at the patrolling guards outside the Black Serpents' hideout.

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," Bruce replied, his voice low and steady.

Lyra scoffed. "Always so confident."

"Calculated."

Bruce activated Silent Step, his footsteps becoming soundless as he leaped down from the rooftop. Lyra followed, albeit with slightly less grace, landing in a crouch behind him.

Two guards stood at the entrance. Bruce motioned for Lyra to stay back. She gave a faint nod, and he slipped forward, emerging from the shadows.

The first guard barely had time to react before Bruce grabbed him from behind, applying pressure to his neck and rendering him unconscious in seconds. The second turned, but Bruce was already moving, sweeping his leg and pinning him to the ground with a swift strike to the ribs.

Lyra stared. "You make it look easy."

"It is," Bruce muttered, dragging the unconscious men into the shadows.

....

Inside, the interior was dimly lit, with crates and barrels stacked against the walls. Bruce's gaze swept the room, his Perception stat allowing him to catch even the smallest details—the scrape of boots on stone, the faint clink of glass, and the low murmur of voices deeper inside.

He motioned for Lyra to follow, keeping low as they advanced.

"You're really good at this," Lyra whispered.

Bruce didn't respond. Instead, his eyes landed on a map pinned to the far wall. Symbols marked key locations across the kingdom—supply routes, hidden caches, and meeting points.

'They're more organized than I thought,' Bruce noted grimly.

Suddenly, footsteps approached. Bruce signaled Lyra to hide, and they slipped behind a stack of barrels.

Two men entered, carrying a locked chest between them.

"Another shipment's ready for transport," one said.

"Good. The buyer's expecting it by dawn."

Bruce's eyes narrowed. The crate radiated a faint, dark energy—Abyssal corruption.

Bruce moved first, throwing one of his newly acquired knives. It struck the lantern, plunging the room into darkness.

Before the men could react, Bruce emerged, taking down the first with a precise strike to the jaw. Lyra joined in, using her knife to disarm the second before Bruce incapacitated him with a quick elbow to the ribs.

"Well," Lyra huffed, stepping over the unconscious bodies. "That went smoother than expected."

Bruce ignored her, crouching beside the chest. He examined the lock, pulling out a thin piece of wire to pick it. Within moments, the lock clicked open, revealing the contents inside—more Abyssal shards and vials of an inky black substance.

"What is that?" Lyra asked, leaning closer.

"Trouble," Bruce muttered. "And it's spreading."

[System Notification]

[Quest Chain Progression: Investigation - Phase 2 Complete.]

[Reward: +150 XP, 30 Gold Coins, Skill Upgrade - Shadow Cloak (Level 2).]

Bruce felt the familiar sensation of the system's upgrade pulsing through his body. Shadow Cloak extended his ability to blend into darkness, rendering him nearly invisible under low light.

"Another skill?" Lyra asked, noting the faint glow in his eyes.

Bruce ignored her, shutting the chest and sealing it.

"We're taking this with us," he said.

"And the rest?" Lyra gestured to the unconscious men.

"They'll wake up wondering what hit them."

.....

Later That Night.

Back at his rented room, Bruce set the Abyssal shard on the desk and leaned back in his chair. Lyra paced the room, clearly unsettled.

"This is bigger than we thought," she said.

Bruce didn't respond, his focus fixed on the shard.

[Shadow Points Available: 12]

He pulled up his stat screen, assigning points carefully:

• Strength: +2

• Agility: +4

• Endurance: +3

• Intelligence: +3

[Status Updates]

His body tingled as the enhancements took effect, muscles tightening and reflexes sharpening.

[Daily Quest Completed: Night Patrol.]

[Reward: +75 XP, Random Item—Smoke Bomb (x3).]

Bruce stood, testing the fluidity of his movements. The improvements were noticeable, but his mind remained sharp.

Lyra finally stopped pacing. "So, what's the plan?"

Bruce glanced at her. "We keep pushing deeper. Whatever this corruption is, it's not stopping here."

"And if we get caught?"

Bruce's lips curved slightly.

"We won't."