Abyssal System

Chapter 1: The Abyssal System

The world had abandoned Wolfgang Mozart.

Or perhaps it was Wolfgang who had abandoned the world. No village, no family, no allies—just an exile trudging through a dead forest. Shadows danced between gnarled trees as the wind howled like a chorus of mourning ghosts.

His lantern flickered as he stepped into the ancient ruins.

The entrance to the Forgotten Dungeon yawned before him like the mouth of a sleeping beast. Its stonework was carved with forgotten runes, long since eroded by time, but the darkness within seemed alive—watching.

"Strength lies here," Wolfgang thought, his lips curling into a grim smile.

He didn't care about the whispers of curses or mad tales of those who ventured in and never returned. Weakness was the real curse, and Wolfgang had been damned long enough.

He descended the stone steps, the light of his lantern fading inch by inch.

The Chamber of Whispers

The silence was unnerving. No footsteps echoed against the stone. It felt as though the dungeon had swallowed the sound itself. Wolfgang's instincts screamed that this was a place where death thrived, yet he pressed on.

Hours passed—or maybe just minutes. Time had no meaning in the abyss.

Then he heard it.

A voice. It didn't echo in the air but resonated deep within his mind, a cold, hollow whisper.

"Do you seek power?"

He froze. The dagger in his hand trembled for a moment before he steadied himself. His sharp blue eyes scanned the darkness, but nothing stirred.

"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice firm.

The whisper laughed softly. It was not human.

"Touch the Abyss, and be chosen."

Suddenly, the darkness before him melted away, revealing a chamber. At its center, a pedestal rose from the stone, ancient and cracked. Upon it sat an orb—a crystal of black and crimson, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Wolfgang's breathing slowed. His instincts screamed danger. But his ambition drowned out every warning.

"Power lies there."

He stepped forward, his boots scraping against the stone. The closer he came, the more the orb's light pulsed, as though it was alive, reaching for him.

"Touch it," the voice whispered again, colder now, sharper.

Wolfgang smiled faintly, a cruel determination glinting in his eyes. "I've come this far."

He reached out.

The moment his fingers touched the orb, a storm of shadows exploded outward, swallowing him whole.

Welcome to the Abyssal System

Pain.

Wolfgang fell to his knees, gasping as the shadows twisted around him. His skin burned like fire, and his mind felt as though it would shatter. The voice echoed louder now, no longer a whisper but a roar.

"Wolfgang Mozart, You have been chosen "

Words—no, system messages—appeared in his mind like burning letters:

[System Initialization…]

[Welcome to the Abyssal System.]

[Objective: Survive. Grow. Conquer.]

[Failure: Death.]

Wolfgang's body stopped trembling. Slowly, he rose to his feet, the pain fading into a lingering hum. A sudden influx of clarity washed over him.

His vision flickered, and a status window appeared before him:

[Status Window]

Name: Wolfgang Mozart

Level: 1

Health: 100/100

Mana: 50/50

Strength: 10

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 15

Corruption: 0%

Abilities:

• None.

Wolfgang stared at the window, a sharp grin curling on his lips. "A system…? A game-like power?"

It was more than he had ever dared to hope for. In a world where strength ruled, this was the edge he needed.

But then another message burned into his mind:

[First Quest Initiated]

Quest: Prove Your Worth

• Objective: Defeat the Dungeon's Guardian.

• Reward: Abyssal Skill: Soul Rend.

• Penalty for Failure: Death.

Time Limit: 2 Hours.

Wolfgang's grin disappeared. The temperature in the chamber dropped, and a low rumbling shook the stone beneath him. From the shadows beyond the pedestal, something moved.

Glowing crimson eyes opened in the dark. A monstrous figure stepped forward—massive, with claws like swords and skin armored in obsidian. Its growl reverberated through the dungeon.

The Guardian had awakened.

Wolfgang's heart raced, but his mind was sharp, focused. "So this is the price of power," he muttered, raising his dagger. "Fine. I'll take it."

The Guardian roared, charging forward with earth-shaking speed. Wolfgang dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's claws as they carved deep gashes into the stone.

He rolled to his feet, his cunning mind already racing through possibilities.

"I don't need to win with brute strength," he thought, his gaze locking onto the shadows that clung to the chamber's corners.

A plan was forming.

The monster lunged again, but Wolfgang was ready. He moved with ruthless precision, darting toward a crumbling stone pillar. The beast's momentum carried it into the pillar, shattering it and sending debris crashing to the ground.

Wolfgang didn't waste a second. He dashed behind the monster, his dagger flashing in the faint light as he slashed at the back of its knee. The blade bit into flesh, and the Guardian let out a deafening roar of pain.

A notification blinked in his mind:

[Damage Inflicted: -20 HP]

"Not enough," Wolfgang snarled, his mind racing. "I need more."

Suddenly, the voice returned—calm, cold, and instructive.

"Use your environment. Shadows are your ally here."

Wolfgang's eyes widened, the words igniting an idea. The Guardian turned, its claws rushing toward him again, but Wolfgang sprinted for the far side of the room, toward the darkest shadows.

As soon as he stepped into the void, the Guardian paused, growling in confusion.

Wolfgang felt the shadows around him, cool and alive.

"From the Abyss, power is born."

A new window appeared:

[Skill Acquired: Shadow Step]

- Ability to teleport short distances through darkness.

The Guardian turned, its glowing eyes scanning the chamber—too late.

Wolfgang materialized behind it, his dagger raised high.

"For power!" he roared, driving the blade into the base of the monster's skull.

The Guardian froze, its roar dying into a wheeze.

[Dungeon Guardian Defeated.]

[Quest Complete.]

[Reward Unlocked: Abyssal Skill - Soul Rend.]

Wolfgang stumbled back, panting as the beast collapsed to the ground. Silence returned to the chamber, broken only by the sound of his ragged breaths.

His mind filled with a dark, triumphant whisper:

"Welcome to the Abyss, Wolfgang Mozart. This is only the beginning."

Wolfgang grinned through the sweat and blood on his face. "Then let the beginning be glorious."