LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Reaction
Ethan stepped out of the Abyssal Dungeon, the harsh sunlight of Red Leaf Village almost blinding after the oppressive darkness. The village buzzed with activity, but the usual mundane chatter was now punctuated with murmurs of his accomplishment. Players and NPCs alike stopped to stare as Ethan emerged, his Abyssal Harbinger aura radiating power.
The global announcement had reached every player in The New World. Forums exploded with discussions, theories, and debates.
[Forum Thread: "Who Is Ethan Wrynn?!"]
Player1: "He completed the Abyssal Dungeon solo? That's impossible!"
Player2: "Not just completed it. He got unique titles and a relic. What even is an 'Abyssal Harbinger'?"
Player3: "We're still struggling in mid-tier dungeons, and this guy's conquering content we didn't even know existed. Hacks?"
Player4: "No way. If he was cheating, the system would've flagged him. He's just on another level."
Meanwhile, in Red Leaf Village, the NPCs reacted with awe and reverence. Ethan's feat wasn't just a player achievement—it had tangible effects on the world.
"By the gods, you're the one who returned from the Abyss," an elderly blacksmith muttered, his voice trembling. "I've heard tales of that place. No one has ever returned… until now."
Ethan nodded, unsure how to respond. The NPCs treated him with an almost reverential respect. Merchants offered him discounts, guards saluted as he passed, and townsfolk whispered his name like it was that of a legend.
Ethan's items were in a league of their own compared to other players. In the Red Leaf Square, a small group of adventurers gawked as Ethan displayed his gear.
Player1: "Wait, is that the Abyssal Harbinger's Mantle? Look at the stat bonuses—it's insane!"
Player2: "I can't even imagine getting something like that. My best item is a rare-grade sword, and it's nothing compared to his dagger."
Player3: "The Corruption mechanic must have been brutal. How did you even manage?"
Ethan shrugged, not bothering to explain the relentless battles and near-death experiences. "The Abyss isn't forgiving," he said simply.
His mantle, glowing faintly with a dark aura, and his dagger, still gleaming with Abyssal energy, set him apart from the crowd. Other players scrambled to inspect him, only to find that many of his items were marked as "Uninspectable – Unique."
---
Status Comparison: Ethan vs. Average Player
Ethan Cross
Level: 11
HP: 680 / 680
Strength: 90
Agility: 92
Endurance: 81
Unique Relics: 2
Average Player (Level 11)
HP: 350 / 350
Strength: 45
Agility: 40
Endurance: 38
Relics: 0
---
"That gap is ridiculous," muttered a frustrated warrior, clenching his fists. "Even if I grinded for weeks, I wouldn't come close."
Ethan made his way to the Adventurer's Guild, expecting to hear more about the repercussions of his conquest. Instead, the Guildmaster, a stern NPC named Gerald, greeted him with a grim expression.
"Congratulations on your victory, Harbinger," Gerald said, bowing slightly. "But I bring ill tidings."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What kind of bad news?"
"The system still prevents players from logging out," Gerald explained. "Even after the completion of a dungeon as monumental as the Abyssal Dungeon, the barrier remains. Worse yet, we've received no word on the fates of those who've fallen."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "You're saying… no one knows what happens when a player dies?"
Gerald nodded solemnly. "Their bodies vanish from this world. Whether they're truly dead in the real world or trapped in some liminal space, we cannot say. But one thing is certain: the game continues to hold us all hostage."
As the news spread, players reacted with a mix of fear, anger, and despair.
"Does that mean we're stuck here forever?" a mage asked, her voice trembling.
"What about the players who died in battle? Are they… gone?"
Ethan felt the weight of their questions pressing down on him. He had no answers. For all his newfound power, he was as much a prisoner of this game as anyone else.
Ethan retreated to a quiet corner of the guildhall, reviewing his new skills and items. The power granted by the Abyssal Harbinger's Mantle was incredible, but it came at a cost.
Skill: Abyssal Dominion
Reduces Corruption effects by 50%.
Allows access to Abyssal Rifts for further growth.
Ethan clenched his fists. The Abyss had given him strength, but it had also tied him to its dark influence. He couldn't ignore the possibility that it was manipulating him for its own ends.
Ethan stared out the window, watching the players in the square. Most of them were far weaker than him, struggling just to survive. He thought about the final boss's words: "The Abyss does not give freely."
If he wanted answers—about the Abyss, the logout barrier, and the fate of the fallen—he'd have to delve deeper into the game's mysteries.
"I'll find a way out," he muttered to himself. "And I'll make sure no one else has to die here."