Liam moved quickly through the market, stopping only to sell off the random loot he had picked up. A few weapons, monster parts, and herbs—things he had no use for. After repairing his gear, he was left with twenty four gold coins, enough for the next phase of his plan.
The S-Rank quest was no joke. Shadowfang, the Ravine Terror, was a Level 50 World Boss, and Liam was only Level 20. No player at this stage could take it down alone or even with a party. Normally, the best move would be to form a party after reaching level 50 to attempt to defeat this boss.
But Liam had no intention of teaming up with others. Guilds, alliances—he had no interest in doing any of that.
Not after the recent betrayal.
Instead, he would contract a high-level beast as a temporary companion. Spirit beasts were strong, leveled with their master, and unlike players, they wouldn't stab him in the back.
To do that, he needed a Spirit Taming Charm—an item that could only be found in illegal networks.
That meant heading to the Black Market.
-------------------------------------------
Liam slipped through the slums, moving past beggars and shady NPCs, before stopping at an unmarked door between two buildings. A masked guard nodded as he entered, leading him down a narrow passage into a hidden underground chamber.
Inside, merchants whispered among themselves, dealing in rare goods—restricted weapons, cursed scrolls, stolen artifacts. Unlike the lively town market, there were no loud voices here. Business was done quietly, away from prying eyes.
Liam navigated through the maze of stalls, searching for a vendor who dealt in spirit taming.
Then, just as he turned a corner—
Bam!
He collided into someone.
The impact was brief. A hooded figure in dark robes staggered but recovered quickly. Just for a second, the cloak shifted, revealing a pair of sharp silver eyes.
Liam froze.
Where have I seen her before?
Before he could react, the girl tensed, then darted away into the crowd.
Liam frowned but didn't chase her. Instead, he focused back on his goal.
Liam scanned the dimly lit stalls, searching for someone who dealt in spirit taming artifacts. It didn't take long. A vendor sitting behind a table filled with strange talismans and old parchments raised an eyebrow as Liam approached. His wrinkled hands slowly shuffled through his wares, his snake-like eyes observing Liam carefully.
"You seek something, traveler?" the old man rasped, his voice barely above a whisper.
Liam didn't waste time. "I need a talisman strong enough to tame a Level 50+ beast."
The vendor stilled. For a moment, silence hung between them. Then he let out a dry chuckle.
"Sure, why not? What do you intend to tame with this?"
"Why so many questions?" Liam cut him off. "Can you get it or not?"
The vendor leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Possible… but not without risk." His fingers tapped the table, as if weighing something in his mind. "Twenty gold coins. But I require a deposit—ten gold coins now and the rest on delivery."
Liam expected as much. Without hesitation, he pulled out 10 gold coins and handed it over to the merchant. He had no doubt that the merchant will not try anything to rip his money off.
The Black Market wasn't a place for deception. Unlike the outside world, where players scammed and manipulated each other freely, here, the rules were absolute.
The owner of the Black Market was a name spoken only in hushed whispers, a force hidden in the shadows. There were rumors of people who tried to cheat or betray the system, only to vanish without a trace.
Even in his previous life, no one knew who was truely behind the Black Market. But anyone who had crossed them, players and NPCs alike, were swiftly dealt with.
Liam knew the risks. He had no intention of crossing them.
"Come back in three days," the vendor murmured, slipping the coin into his robes. "Your talisman will be waiting."
Liam didn't bother replying. The deal was sealed.
It was done.
Liam turned to leave.
-------------------------------------------
As Liam stepped out of the market, movement in the alley caught his attention.
A group of masked figures surrounded someone—the girl from before.
She twisted and struggled, but the men had her completely trapped.
"You sneaky fox," one of them sneered. "You've given our cult a lot of trouble."
The girl gritted her teeth, her silver eyes burning with defiance.
"Bastards," she spat. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."
The leader of the group stepped forward—a tall, broad-shouldered man clad in dark robes. His mask only covered the lower half of his face, leaving his sharp, calculating eyes exposed.
The girl didn't hesitate—she spit right in his face.
For a second, everything went deathly silent.
Then—CRACK.
A brutal backhanded slap sent her crashing to the ground.
She tried to push herself up, but the leader stomped down on her wrist, pinning her in place.
"Tsk. Such a wild little thing," he mused, wiping his face. "No wonder the higher-ups want you gone."
The girl's breathing was ragged, but she still glared up at him, pure hatred in her eyes.
The leader sighed. "Enough of this."
He crouched down and struck a precise nerve point on her neck. Her body stiffened for a moment—then went limp.
"Tie her up. We're leaving."
The other cult members hoisted her unconscious body and quickly disappeared into the shadows.
Liam watched silently from a distance.
Level 40. Level 45. Level 45. Too strong for a direct fight.
Instead, he trailed them quietly, following their winding path through the dark forest until they reached an abandoned cave hidden deep in the wilderness.
He crouched behind a tree, eyes narrowing.
Now, what the hell do I do?
Liam kept his distance as the cultists carried the first kidnapped girl through the winding cave. Dim torchlight flickered on wet stone. He pressed against the wall, tension coiled in his muscles. Every step felt like a risk.
After a few minutes, the narrow tunnel opened into a vast chamber. Its center held a circular altar etched with red runes. Crude statues loomed in the corners, shaped like twisted beasts. A cluster of robed figures stood around the altar, chanting low and steady.
Liam lowered himself behind a collapsed pillar. "This is definitely the Cult of Black Ember," he thought in horror.
He recalled rumors of forbidden rituals and sacrificed victims. A chill swept through him.
"So that is why the girl was so familiar earlier! She was the vessel for the lord of Black Ember, a level 300 boss monster that was found in the Black Ember dungeon!"
Suddenly, a System Notification flashed:
Ding!
[Emergency New Quest: 'Dark Ties Beneath the Earth']
Difficulty: SS-Rank
Objectives:
Thwart the Cult of Black Ember's ritual and escape the underground temple.
Rewards: ????
Restrictions:
No exit until the quest is completed.
Penalty:
Character Death for 30 days, complete reset on revival
Liam cursed silently, the penalty was too steep. And he had no real way to fight the entire cult with his pitiful level 20
But just when he was about to try to get out, an iron grate slammed down behind him, cutting off his retreat.
"They've sealed the way out... typical of this game indeed."
Liam pulled out his system interface and opened the system shop.
"I want to buy a teleport scroll."
Ding!
1 teleport scroll - 10 gold coins.
Are you sure you wish to purchase?
[Yes/No]
Liam gritted his teeth, seeing this on the system interface.
Each item could only be purchased once from the system shop, and the prices of items are 10 times the market price
A teleport scroll would normally cost only 1 gold coin.
Liam knew this, so he wanted to buy some scrolls right after placing the order in the black market. However, he got trapped in this mess.
[Yes]
Ding!
1 teleport scroll purchased
"Teleport me to Duskwind Village," Liam mumbled, praying that it would work
Ding!
Teleporting.... Teleportation failed. Restrictions applied due to ongoing quest.
Recommended to complete the quest first.
Damn it!
"Looks like I have to look for another way out. How did I get myself into this mess? A level 50+ dungeon? Are you kidding me..."
Dejected, Liam went back to observing the temple around him.
He peeked around the altar. A kidnapped girl lay bound, her tear-streaked face twisted in terror. A tall figure in black robes raised a knife over her chest.
"Lord Malachar, we are ready," one cultist said.
The tall man—likely the High Priest—grunted. "Begin," he commanded.
The chanting rose. Blood-red energy swirled above the altar. The girl screamed as the knife plunged down. A horrifying shriek tore through the chamber. Then, a flash of crimson light erupted, so bright that Liam had to shield his eyes.
When he looked again, the altar was soaked in dark fluid. The girl's body twitched but then went still. A black haze spread around her. For a moment, Liam thought she might rise like an undead creature. Instead, the haze faded, and her form slumped lifeless.
"It's a failure!" shouted a robed acolyte, voice trembling. "The vessel couldn't withstand the demonic essence."
"Worthless," the High Priest spat. "All that preparation... wasted!"
Realizing that this person was probably someone important, Liam quickly checked his stats
Malachar, High Priest of the Temple of Black Ember
[Level: 150]
HP: ???/???
F*ck....
Malachar looked around, fury twisting his face. "Bring me the other one. We do not stop until the ritual succeeds."
A moment later, more cultists entered from a side passage, dragging in the second captive—the silver-eyed girl Liam had followed. She was gagged, her wrists chained behind her back. Her stare burned with defiance despite her predicament.
The High Priest's eyes lit with triumph. "At last. This one… yes. She'll do better."
"But, my lord," said an underling, hesitant. "Shouldn't we rest? The altar is damaged, and the demonic aura is unstable."
Malachar nodded slowly, glancing at the motionless body on the altar. "True. Reset the ritual site. Lock this girl in the holding cell until I'm ready."
Two guards hauled the silver-eyed girl off to a thick iron gate on the opposite side. She shot them a glare, but the chains clinked, preventing any struggle.
Liam exhaled. "They're aiming to use her to bring back the lord of black ember...." he thought. "And if I am not mistaken, this time they will succeed, and I'm stuck in here with them."
"Oh for fucks sake…"
A direct battle with even a single cultist- let alone the entire cult - was suicide.
Yet the quest's condition was clear: no exit until the cult is destroyed or the ritual is stopped.
He clenched his fists, hearing the High Priest barking orders. The robed figures bustled about, setting up new candles, chanting soft incantations.
Liam grimaced. "I can't beat a level 150 demon in a fight," he muttered. "But if I do nothing, I am dead anyway."
He forced himself to stay calm. He needed a plan—maybe sabotage the ritual or free the girl before they completed the ceremony. The system message lingered at the corner of his vision, the meaning clear: He would have to find a way out… or die here.