Kaiden returned to the world of Revolt the Sun, Solyss. He spawned inside the Solarium of Sunveil, where he had last logged off. His Life Points and condition were fully restored, his body free of any exhaustion or lingering status effects from the previous session.

  He wasn’t here to socialize or wait for Naō he needed answers. His eyes narrowed as he strode through the Solarium, determined to progress the main quest alone.

  Kaiden approached the first NPC bartender, a burly man polishing a glass behind the counter.

  “You’re looking for information on the Omni Clan, huh?” the bartender muttered, his gruff voice laced with wariness. “That’s dangerous business, kid. They don’t take kindly to outsiders meddling in their affairs. Word is, they’ve been selling cursed artifacts on the black market, things that twist plants into beasts.”

  Kaiden leaned against the counter. “Where can I find them?”

  The bartender sighed, setting the glass down. “Rumor has it some of their low-ranking members hold meetings in Evergrove Forest at night. If you’re looking for them, that’s your best bet. But be careful.”

  Kaiden nodded, filing the information away.

  His next stop was an elderly herbalist tending to a display of potions and herbs. She glanced up as Kaiden approached.

  “The Omni Clan?” she echoed, her voice hushed. “A wicked group, that one. They’ve been peddling something sinister. A seed that grows into a creature bound to the will of its owner. If that’s true, it could be catastrophic. No plant should be controlled that way.”

  Kaiden frowned. “Is it true they can be found in Evergrove forest?”

  The herbalist hesitated, then nodded. “That would be correct. A little bird told me they convene after sundown. But beware, young one.”

  Kaiden turned on his heel. That was all he needed.

  Stepping out of the Solarium, Kaiden tilted his head upward. The sky above Solyss had shifted to a deep navy, stars barely flickering beyond the thick treetops in the distance. Night hours had begun.

  He made his way toward the Evergrove Forest. This time, alone.

  Upon entering the Evergrove Forest, Kaiden immediately noticed the shift in atmosphere. The air was cooler, filled with the hum of unseen creatures lurking in the underbrush. The trees cast twisted shadows against the ground, moving unnaturally as though the forest itself was alive.

  His HUD flickered, alerting him to new night-exclusive monsters that had spawned:

  Nocturnbloom (Level 5), a bioluminescent flower that lures prey with its hypnotic glow before attacking with its spore-like tendrils. A Moonthorn Creeper (Level 4), A vine-like predator that slithers across the forest floor, attempting to constrict unsuspecting players.

  And a Duskwither Fungus (Level 6), a rotting fungal growth that releases hallucinogenic spores, disorienting anyone nearby.

  Cells Each: 8

  Kaiden readied himself, shifting into a defensive stance as the Moonthorn Creeper lunged at him from the shadows.

  He dodged, rolling to the side before slashing with his weapon. The vine hissed, coiling back as he chained his attacks, slicing through its stem with precision. [Root Damage: -5]. The Moonthorn Creeper lashed out, its tendrils snapping forward. Kaiden barely managed to sidestep, feeling the sting of a grazing hit against his arm. [LP: -5]

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  Gritting his teeth, he retaliated with a downward strike, severing a section of the vine. The creature’s Root Damage counter dropped rapidly, reaching the threshold for its Stem exposure.

  One by one, he cut through the nocturnal threats, using his skillset efficiently to conserve health items. Without Naō, he had no backup.

  And then, he remembered something. A new skill notification had appeared when he last leveled up, but he’d never bothered to check it.

  A quick scan through his Skill Menu revealed: Shadow Meld: Grants temporary invisibility in dimly lit areas, reducing enemy detection.

  Kaiden smirked. “This’ll do.”

  As another Nocturnbloom emerged from the underbrush, Kaiden activated Shadow Meld. His body faded into the darkness, blending seamlessly with the shadows. The glowing flower hesitated, its tendrils twitching as it searched for a target.

  Kaiden circled around before delivering a strike, cutting through its weak point. The monster disintegrated instantly.

  This skill will come in handy.

  Deeper into the forest, Kaiden spotted movement ahead.

  A group of Omni Clan NPC members stood in a loose circle near a withered tree. Above their heads, their names and levels were displayed:

  Omni Clan Scout (Level 7)

  Omni Clan Supplier (Level 6)

  Omni Clan Enforcer (Level 8)

  Kaiden crouched low. His Shadow Meld skill activated as he crept closer.

  The Scout spoke first, voice sharp. “The shipment will be ready by the time we reach Hollowmere. The boss wants everything in place before the auction.”

  Kaiden’s eyes narrowed. Hollowmere. The next town.

  The Supplier nodded. “And the seed? The buyers are anxious. They want proof that the monster can be controlled.”

  “It’s secure,” the Enforcer assured. “They’ll see soon enough. When the seed fully blooms, the creature will obey its master’s every command.”

  Kaiden’s grip tightened around his weapon.

  The Scout sighed. “We should move before daylight. If any Dayslayers catch wind of this—”

  A sharp chime in Kaiden’s HUD interrupted the conversation.

  [Shadow Meld Expired - Cooldown: 15 secs]

  His body flickered back into visibility.

  “What the—?!” The Enforcer shouted, their weapons instantly drawn.

  “A spy,” the Supplier hissed. “He’s a hired Dayslayer from a rival seller. Take him out before he reports back.”

  Kaiden barely had time to react before the Omni Clan members lunged at him. He deflected the first attack, rolling backward to gain distance. The Scout slashed forward, but Kaiden twisted to the side, countering with a sharp strike

  [Damage: -18]

  The Enforcer swung their axe, narrowly missing Kaiden’s torso. He retaliated with Thorned Strike, sending sharp energy along his blade that shattered through the Supplier’s guard.

  [Damage: -22]

  More figures emerged from the shadows, additional Omni Clan members responding to the scuffle. Kaiden was outnumbered.

  Just as he prepared for a final stand, a familiar voice rang out.

  “You’re making a mess, aren’t you?”

  Kaiden turned to see Ironstride, the female Guardener from before, standing at the edge of the fight. Unlike him, she was completely unaggroed by the clan members.

  Kaiden, dodging another strike, scoffed. “You gonna help, or just watch?”

  Ironstride folded her arms. “I don’t need to fight them. Since I gave the seeds to their buyer, they don’t see me as an enemy. I get to skip this whole hassle. Looks like I took an alternate route, lucky me.”

  Kaiden’s irritation flared. “So what, you pick the Guardener role but refuse to defend anyone? Doesn’t seem like the right job for you.”

  Something in Ironstride’s face twitched, but she kept her composure. “I play how I want.” Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Kaiden surrounded.

  Grinding his teeth, Kaiden refocused. He had no choice but to finish this himself. LP dropping dangerously low, he pushed forward with a final Thorned Strike, cutting through the last enemy.

  [Damage: -30]

  The battle cleared, leaving him standing among the fallen NPCs. A familiar notification appeared before him:

  [Level Up!]

  Kaiden had reached Level 5, his stats increasing accordingly.

  [ Level 5]

  LP: 160/160

  AP: 90

  ATK: 30

  DEF: 20

  DEX: 22

  AGI: 35

  INT: 15

  WIS: 12

  But another notification followed.

  Every five levels, a player can choose between two traits that would shape their path permanently.

  [Trait Selection Unlocked – Choose One]

  Trait 1: Last Slash

  When reduced below 20% LP, your next melee attack deals +100% damage. Cooldown: 5 minutes.

  Trait 2: Momentum Edge

  Each consecutive hit within 5 seconds increases ATK by +1% (stacks up to 10%). Resets if combo is broken.

  He stared at the options before him, regretting not researching which one was the optimal choice.

  After a long pause, he selected his trait, hoping he hadn’t made a mistake.

  Momentum Edge.

  It fit his quick, scythe-based combo style, especially when he was fighting multiple enemies

  As he stepped through the other end of the forest, the next town, Hollowmere, appeared on the horizon.