Absolute Cheater

In actuality he don't need anything from here, but why waste the chance to get something free?

Asher scanned the options, his fingers brushing over a darksteel cloak—woven with shadow magic, it could help him move unseen. He took it without hesitation. Next, he grabbed two vials of crimson elixir, powerful restoratives that could accelerate healing.

Then his gaze fell upon a pair of enchanted gauntlets, lined with runes that enhanced grip strength and reflexes. He picked them up, feeling the surge of energy as they adjusted to his hands.

Finally, his eyes landed on a sealed black dagger—its edge laced with an unknown, shifting energy. He could feel its power even through the scabbard.

Garrick raised an eyebrow. "That one's… unstable."

Asher smirked. "Good."

He took the dagger, fastening it to his belt. With his gear secured, he turned back to Garrick.

"That everything?" the quartermaster asked.

"For now," Asher said, adjusting his cloak. "If I survive, I might be back for more."

Garrick chuckled. "Then try not to die. I hate paperwork."

Asher exited the armory, his new equipment settling comfortably around him. The Forsaken Ruins were his next destination, but he had a few loose ends to tie up before heading into the unknown.

First, information.

Evelyn had given him the mission details, but there were always hidden dangers in places like the ruins—things the Organization wouldn't tell him upfront. And he had an idea of who might know more.

The Archive

The underground base had many sections, but the Archive was one of the most guarded. It housed the Organization's records, detailing everything from historical events to forbidden knowledge. If there was anything about the Forsaken Ruins, it would be here.

Asher walked through dim corridors until he reached a massive iron door. A single guard stood outside—tall, clad in dark robes, their face obscured by a silver mask.

The guard's voice was low and distorted. "State your business."

"I need access to records on the Forsaken Ruins," Asher said plainly.

Silence.

The masked figure seemed to study him for a moment before stepping aside. The iron door creaked open, revealing rows upon rows of ancient books, scrolls, and crystalline memory shards.

The air inside smelled of dust and old ink. Scholars in dark robes moved between the shelves, murmuring incantations as they preserved delicate pages. Asher's eyes scanned the vast collection before approaching the main desk, where an elderly scribe sat hunched over a tome.

"I need everything you have on the Forsaken Ruins," Asher stated.

The scribe didn't look up. "That knowledge is restricted."

Asher sighed. "I was sent there on a mission by Evelyn. Rank 7." He tossed his badge onto the desk.

The scribe hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Very well."

He gestured, and a series of books floated from the shelves, landing on the desk with a soft thud. Asher opened the first one and began scanning the contents.

The Truth Behind the Forsaken Ruins

The ruins were once a grand citadel, home to an ancient faction that dabbled in forbidden magic.

A disaster wiped them out centuries ago—no survivors.

The area is now cursed; those who enter rarely return.

Some reports mention a guardian entity—an unknown force that hunts intruders.

The relic he was sent to retrieve? It was sealed away to prevent something worse from escaping.

He closed the book and stood up. "Thanks for the help."

Finally, he emerged from the base, taking a deep breath of the fresh air outside.

"Now, let's see what this entity really is," he murmured to himself.

Before departing, he sent a secret message to Serena, explaining that he was leaving for a mission. He instructed her not to follow him and to act as usual to avoid suspicion.

With his message sent, Asher pulled up the hood of his darksteel cloak and set off toward the Forsaken Ruins. The journey wouldn't be easy—hostile creatures, unpredictable terrain, and whatever entity lurked within the ruins all stood between him and his objective.

The ruins lay deep within the Black Hollow Wastelands, a desolate and cursed region far from the Organization's stronghold. Asher traveled swiftly, using lesser-known routes to avoid unnecessary fights. Despite his precautions, the wastelands were anything but silent.

Howls echoed in the distance.

Shadows moved unnaturally.

Even the air felt wrong, as if the land itself was rejecting his presence.

After hours of travel, he reached the Outer Edge of the Forsaken Ruins. The remains of ancient structures stood like broken skeletons, crumbling under time's weight. The ground was littered with shattered stone and rusted weapons—remnants of past battles long forgotten. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

Asher took a step forward.

The moment his foot touched the ground, a chilling wave of energy pulsed through the air.

"Hmm, a dead land," Asher mumbled, sensing the eerie energy around him.

Dead lands were like forgotten graves—places where the deceased had been neglected for too long. The accumulation of excessive death energy caused corpses to reanimate, turning the area into a haven for the undead. The longer such a place was left undisturbed, the more powerful the undead within became.

Asher moved forward cautiously, his eyes scanning the ruins for any signs of movement. The air was thick with death energy, causing an unnatural chill to settle over the land. His boots crunched against the brittle remains of old bones and shattered stone, the echoes fading into the eerie silence around him.

The deeper he ventured, the more the land seemed to reject him. The energy here wasn't just stagnant—it was hungry.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled.

Asher halted, tightening his grip on his scythe. He could sense it—a presence lurking beneath the surface.

A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air.

Then, the earth split open.

A massive skeletal hand burst from the ground, fingers clawing at the sky. Moments later, a towering figure emerged—an undead warden, its body wrapped in decayed armor, glowing runes pulsating across its bones.

Its hollow eyes locked onto Asher, radiating pure malice.

So this is what happens when a dead land is left unchecked…