Evolution Candidate Detected
The sky above Sector 13 darkened.
Crimson lightning crackled through the swirling vortex in the clouds—a Gate had opened. Not just any Gate. A Trial Gate—classified S-rank, deadly enough to wipe out an entire city sector.
Inside his safehouse, Liu Xuan felt the pulse before he saw it.
His Shadowblood System vibrated in his veins like molten fire.
> [SYSTEM ALERT]
A Trial Gate has opened nearby.
Synchronization reading: 89% match with host.
Warning: You have been detected.
[You are an Evolution Candidate.]
Xuan's brows furrowed.
"Detected… by what?"
Before the system could respond, the shadows around his feet stretched unnaturally—shivering like ink in water.
A figure emerged from the corner of the room.
Tall. Cloaked in robes of ash and smoke. Its face hidden behind a horned mask. Its presence… felt ancient.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Then—
> [Unknown Entity Detected: ???]
Threat Level: ???
Identity: Shadow Envoy
Affiliation: Bloodline Council of Origin
Objective: Appraise Evolution Candidate
The masked entity didn't move. But its voice echoed in Xuan's mind.
"You absorbed the Seed. You carry the Shadowblood. Yet you walk as a mortal?"
Xuan's hand went to his blade, but the system screamed at him.
> [Combat Not Recommended]
Probability of Survival: 0.3%
"Relax," the being said, as if amused. "I am not here to kill. Not yet."
It tilted its head. "You are unrefined. Incomplete. But you show potential… You are hereby chosen to participate in the Shadow Trials."
> [Shadow Trials Invitation Received]
Accept?
Reward upon success: Rank Upgrade, Skill Core, Shadow Crest
Penalty for refusal: Forced Extraction of Shadowblood Core
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Xuan growled.
The masked being raised a hand, and a swirling portal opened behind it—pure darkness spiraling inward like a black star.
"Enter before the Gate stabilizes. Or your core will be ripped out and returned to the Council. We do not waste our gifts."
And with that, the entity vanished—leaving only the echo of its threat behind.
Xuan stood still for a second, heart thumping.
His fingers clenched into fists.
He wasn't ready. He hadn't even explored the system fully. And yet—refusal meant death.
He took a breath.
Then tapped ACCEPT.
The world twisted.
—
[ENTERING SHADOW TRIALS – FLOOR 1: THE PIT]
The moment his feet hit the stone ground, Liu Xuan dropped into darkness.
He landed hard, dust billowing around him.
A stone coliseum, circular and vast, stretched around him under a black sun. Dozens of shadow beasts paced the perimeter—hulking, malformed, with glowing blue veins and red eyes.
Each one radiated death.
> [Objective: Survive 5 Waves]
Current Buff: +10% Speed
Bonus Reward: Complete without taking damage
A countdown began over his vision.
3… 2… 1…
The first wave rushed him.
Six-legged, saber-mouthed beasts screeched and leapt.
He didn't back down.
> [Skill Activated: Death Step Lv.1]
[Passive: Beast Instinct Lv.1]
[Shadow Merge Ready]
Xuan vanished into the shadows underfoot—reappearing behind the first beast with a cold grin.
His blade danced once. The monster fell apart.
Another swiped from behind—he ducked low, rolled, and sliced its ankle tendons. It screamed and fell.
Then the last three came in a pack.
He leapt up, kicked off one's head mid-air, spun—
SLAASH!!
All three split in half mid-charge.
Blood soaked the ground.
> [Wave 1 Cleared]
[EXP Gained]
[Level 6 Reached]
[+5 Attribute Points]
[New Skill Fragment: Shadow Dive Lv.1]
"Too easy," he muttered.
But then the ground shook.
A massive gate opened across the arena.
From it crawled the Wave 2 Boss—a Shadow Ogre, three meters tall, dragging a flaming black hammer.
> [Level 20 – Elite Shadow Ogre]
[Weakness: Mobility]
"Alright," Xuan whispered, smiling now. "Let's test how far I can go."
—
The ogre roared, charging forward, each step like thunder.
Xuan dashed at it head-on.
It swung.
He slid under the hammer, slashed the tendon behind its knee, then used Shadow Merge to leap into the ogre's shadow—and emerge behind it.
He stabbed upward, his blade digging into its spine.
The ogre howled, whirling to smash him—too slow.
> [Skill Activated: Beast Instinct Lv.1]
[Passive Counter: Predator's Flow]
Xuan ducked and drove both blades into its chest—right into the heart core.
The ogre's roar died in its throat.
It dropped to its knees, then collapsed.
> [Wave 2 Cleared]
[New Trait Unlocked: Shadow Hunter Lv.1]
Critical damage against enemies with shadow affinity increased by 15%.
Xuan stood in the silence, blood dripping down his cheek.
He didn't feel tired.
He felt alive.
For the first time since his father vanished.
For the first time since the world spat on him.
For the first time since being called trash.
He had power.
And he was going to use it.
—
Far beyond the Trial Gate…
In a floating fortress above the clouds, Tianlong Guild Leader Qian Ren stared at the blinking report in front of her.
"Shadowblood Resonance Detected. Evolution Candidate Identified: Liu Xuan."
She frowned.
"Didn't that one get abandoned at Sector 13?"
Another figure—older, cloaked, eyes glowing with silver—stepped forward.
"The Shadowblood chooses its vessel. He may be the first since the Dark Sovereign."
Qian Ren stood silently for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Then let's prepare the world. Because if he survives the trials…"
"…he won't just change the game."
"He'll be the game."