Chapter 127: Nightmare for Humanity, A Hunt for Aiden

Underground Karst Cave — Dark Abyss Safe House.

The atmosphere here was remarkably different.

Aiden, Silas, and Luna had finished reading the announcement, but neither panic nor confusion lingered on their faces.

Silas was the first to break the silence.

"Undead and Orcs, huh?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The Undead sound annoying, especially if they can summon more enemies. As for the Orcs..." His grin widened. "Well, as long as they can fight, I’m interested."

Luna gave him a sidelong glance.

"You do realize they’re supposed to be stronger than ordinary monsters of the same level, right?"

"That’s what makes it interesting."

She sighed before turning toward Aiden.

"Sir Aiden, how should we prepare? We have only one week."

Aiden dismissed the announcement with a flick of his hand.

He had expected this development.

In fact, the invasion had been one of the events he had been waiting for since returning to the past. Its arrival was slightly earlier than he remembered, but the difference was inconsequential.

The important part was that the invasion had begun.

"The alien invasion will be a catastrophe for most players," he said calmly. "But for us, it’s an opportunity to widen the gap between ourselves and everyone else."

Silas immediately straightened, while Luna’s expression became attentive.

They had learned that when Aiden spoke with such confidence, he usually knew something they didn’t.

"First, we have an advantage that no amount of grinding or preparation can easily overcome."

Aiden summoned a holographic map of the region surrounding Ashford City.

"Information."

His fingers moved across the display, marking several locations.

"I know where several of the initial Undead and Orc strongholds are likely to appear. I also know what we’ll find inside them, who’s guarding them, and which targets are worth our time."

Silas leaned forward.

"You’re saying you already know where the strongholds will appear?"

"Not every stronghold in the world," Aiden clarified. "But enough to give us a significant advantage in this region."

He enlarged the first marked location.

"Take the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, northwest of Ashford City. In my previous life, it became a medium-sized Undead stronghold. Its commander was a level-25 boss known as the Skeleton General."

A detailed marker appeared above the ruined battlefield.

"The Skeleton General is dangerous, particularly because of its control over surrounding undead forces. However, the real prize isn’t simply the experience or ordinary equipment it drops. There’s a high probability that defeating it will yield a material called Deathtide Water."

Luna’s eyes widened slightly.

"Deathtide Water? What is it used for?"

"Crafting high-tier shadow resistance potions and certain dark-attribute equipment. At our current stage, obtaining a reliable supply would give us a considerable advantage against Undead enemies."

He moved to the next location.

"The Roaring Wilderness, east of the city. That’s where an Orc raiding camp is likely to appear. Its leader is a Berserk Warlord, and the camp contains several captured Goblin Engineers."

Silas frowned.

"Goblins? I thought we were dealing with Orcs."

"We are. The Orcs captured them."

Aiden continued without elaborating further.

"Rescuing the engineers can trigger a chain of hidden quests. The rewards include engineering blueprints and, potentially, the manufacturing technology for basic siege equipment."

He marked several additional locations, explaining the likely enemies, valuable drops, and hidden opportunities associated with each one.

Some held rare crafting materials. Others contained special quest objectives, captured NPCs, or resources that would become extraordinarily difficult to obtain once the invasion spread.

Every location represented an opportunity that most players wouldn’t even know existed until it was too late to exploit it properly.

Silas stared at the map, his earlier excitement growing into genuine astonishment.

"With information like this, we could get ahead of every other guild in Ashford City."

"That’s the idea," Aiden replied. "But knowing where the rewards are isn’t enough. We need to secure them before our competitors arrive, and we must be capable of surviving the process."

His expression became more serious.

"Which brings us to the second point: timing."

He highlighted the countdown displayed in the corner of the map.

"The system says the first wave will arrive in one week. However, the invasion won’t reach its full intensity the moment the countdown expires. The vanguards will need time to establish their teleportation nodes, secure their initial positions, and organize their forces."

He paused briefly.

"Based on what happened in my previous life, the first few days after their arrival should provide us with a narrow window to act before the situation becomes considerably more dangerous."

Aiden enlarged the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and Roaring Wilderness markers.

"That’s when we’ll strike. Our first objective is to eliminate at least one high-value stronghold, secure its resources, and establish an advantage before the major guilds fully understand what’s happening."

He turned toward Silas.

"Your priority is defense. Undead enemies rely heavily on shadow and frost attacks, summoning, and control effects. Holy and fire-based protection will help against certain undead creatures, but don’t neglect your physical defenses. The Skeleton General won’t give you time to stand around experimenting with your equipment."

Silas nodded seriously.

"I’ll focus on survivability and resistance. With the right preparation, I should be able to hold the frontline."

"Good. I’ll prepare suitable enchantments and potions for you."

Aiden then looked at Luna.

"Your situation is different. Your elemental versatility gives you more options against both races, but you need to use those options intelligently."

Luna listened carefully.

"Your lightning and fire spells can be particularly effective against certain Undead enemies, while ice-based attacks may help disrupt Orc formations and interfere with some shamanistic abilities. Don’t assume every enemy will respond the same way, though. We need to exploit individual weaknesses rather than rely on a single elemental combination."

"I understand."

"And there’s your Heavenly Karmic Dice."

Luna instinctively touched the object associated with her unique ability.

Aiden’s gaze sharpened.

"Luck-based mechanics may interact with unusual enemy abilities or hidden combat conditions. I can’t guarantee the outcome, but I want you to test the limits of your ability carefully. If it can influence even one critical encounter, it may prove invaluable."

Luna nodded, her nervousness gradually giving way to determination.

"Understood, Sir Aiden."

"Finally, we need to prepare for what comes after the first wave."

Aiden returned his attention to the map.

"The invasion isn’t a one-time event. This is merely the beginning. More alien races will appear in the future, and some will be far more dangerous than the Undead and Orc vanguards we’re about to encounter."

He highlighted several territories around Ashford City.

"Our objective isn’t simply to survive the first attack. We need to use this opportunity to strengthen Dark Abyss, expand our influence, and secure the resources we’ll need for the battles ahead."

His instructions came quickly.

The Ember Guild would be tasked with organizing personnel to eliminate scattered alien units and occupy suitable minor resource points. This would allow its members to accumulate merit and gain combat experience without immediately confronting the most dangerous enemies.

Meanwhile, the Dark Abyss black market would begin purchasing scarce materials and supplies useful against the incoming invaders. Holy-attribute scrolls, armor-piercing potions, area-of-effect dispelling items, and other specialized resources were all to be acquired whenever possible.

Aiden also instructed Blazewind and the three intermediaries to coordinate their respective operations through encrypted channels. Their immediate priority was to gather information, secure supplies, and ensure that Dark Abyss could respond quickly once the invasion began.

He didn’t intend to expose every advantage at once.

Information was valuable precisely because his competitors didn’t possess it.

There was no reason to share that advantage with the world.

After issuing his instructions, Aiden left the holographic map behind and approached the underground spring.

An alchemical formation maintained the water’s clarity, allowing the cold stream to flow undisturbed through the cave.

He cupped his hands, scooped up some water, and washed his face.

Droplets slid along his jaw before falling back into the spring.

For a moment, he simply stood there, studying his reflection in the rippling surface.

In his previous life, the alien invasion had been one of the most devastating periods in human history. Entire settlements had fallen, countless players had died, and even powerful guilds had struggled to maintain their positions.

Yet the invasion had also created opportunities on an unprecedented scale.

Powerful individuals had risen from obscurity, rare treasures had emerged from previously inaccessible locations, and achievements that would otherwise have taken years to accomplish had become possible within weeks.

Damien had been one of the greatest beneficiaries.

Through several strategically timed rescues and decisive defensive battles, he had earned widespread recognition. His victories had strengthened the Dragon Sovereign Guild, rallied numerous factions behind him, and eventually helped establish his position as one of humanity’s foremost leaders.

He had also obtained several opportunities that played crucial roles in his subsequent rise.

In Aiden’s previous life, those achievements had helped turn Damien into a figure that countless survivors admired and trusted.

This time, things would be different.

Aiden had no intention of allowing Damien to monopolize the opportunities created by the invasion. More importantly, he wasn’t interested in merely taking another man’s achievements and claiming them as his own.

He wanted something greater.

He wanted Dark Abyss to become a force that no guild could ignore, no faction could easily undermine, and no future crisis could casually destroy.

He wanted to build a foundation of power strong enough to withstand the upheavals still to come.

And if the invasion provided the means to accomplish that, he would exploit every advantage it offered.

External pressure often accelerated the collapse of an established order. Old alliances fractured, established powers weakened, and those who adapted fastest seized opportunities that would never have existed under ordinary circumstances.

The coming invasion would be no exception.

Across the world, players were still arguing about the announcement, guild leaders were scrambling to prepare their forces, and countless survivors were wondering whether seven days would be enough to save their lives.

Aiden, however, was already planning beyond the first battle.

The countdown continued.

167:59:59.

Seven days remained until the first wave of invaders crossed the boundary.

And while the rest of the world struggled to prepare for an unknown enemy, Dark Abyss had already begun positioning itself to harvest the opportunities they would bring.

The invasion was coming.

For humanity, it might mark the beginning of a nightmare.

For Aiden Cross, it was the beginning of another hunt.