Chapter 38: The First Ripple

Shaking his head with satisfaction at that regeneration boost, Aiden immediately slipped the [Glimmering Bracelet] onto his right wrist.

A faint, continuous sensation spread from his wrist through his body.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but the feeling was undeniably there.

His body recovery speed had increased by a lot.

Aiden nodded in satisfaction before turning his attention to his personal terminal.

Although the network signal was being heavily interfered with and remained extremely unstable, the player forum built into the rules of Eclipse Online had miraculously survived.

At this stage, it was perhaps the most important information exchange platform available to players.

They used it to share discoveries, seek help, exchange information, recruit teammates, and arrange trades.

The interface was crude, and the forum was already overflowing with chaotic posts.

[Help! A large number of spider monsters have appeared on East District Commercial Street!]

[Buying any equipment that increases attack power. Price negotiable!]

[’War Wolf’ Guild is recruiting! Generous benefits! Level 2 or higher required!]

[Does anyone know where to find a blacksmith? My weapon is about to break!]

[Breaking! Someone just soloed the ’Abandoned Subway Station’ dungeon! Did anyone else notice the system announcement getting cut off?]

Aiden ignored the flood of posts, instead he entered anonymous posting mode.

His fingers moved rapidly across the terminal as he composed a post.

The title was concise. But the information contained within was explosive enough to attract attention from anyone who understood its value.

...

[Abandoned Subway Station (Normal) Speedrun Guide, Hidden BOSS Trigger Conditions + Equipment for Sale]

Content:

Selling a complete text guide for the Abandoned Subway Station, Normal Difficulty.

The guide includes:

, Monster distribution , Trap locations , Final Boss mechanics , Hidden areas , Precise trigger conditions for the hidden BOSS, Fallen Engineer

[Authenticity guaranteed: Private message to verify selected information.]

Equipment for sale:

[Vine Staff] Quality: Uncommon Spell Power +3 Spirit +1 , Price negotiable.

Materials for sale:

[Thick Bearing] Quality: Common , Engineering material. , Discount available for bulk purchases.

[Viscous Poison Gland] Quality: Common , Alchemy material. , Discount available for bulk purchases.

Payment: Game gold coins or rare item trades only.

Serious inquiries only.

Contact: Anonymous private message through the forum.

After confirming the transaction, specific coordinates for an offline trade will be provided.

[Limited to Ashford City area.]

, Reaper

The post was concise and contained no unnecessary chatter. Yet the information packed inside it was enough to cause a storm.

A complete dungeon guide. And not merely a guide to the ordinary dungeon.

It contained the precise conditions required to trigger a hidden BOSS.

There was also an Uncommon-quality mage weapon for sale. And then there was the name appearing for the first time.

Reaper. A cold and ominous codename that immediately invited speculation.

Aiden had deliberately omitted the fact that he had soloed the dungeon.

There was no reason to reveal that information yet.

But the very existence of such a detailed guide, and his possession of an Uncommon-quality weapon, already implied an extraordinary level of strength and knowledge.

Anyone who saw the post would inevitably begin filling in the blanks themselves.

How had he obtained the information?

How far had he progressed?

How strong was he?

And most importantly.

Who exactly was the Reaper?

Aiden glanced over the post one final time. Then he pressed send, and just like that, the post went live.

The post instantly appeared at the top of the forum.

Because Aiden had posted anonymously, there was no way for anyone to trace the account back to his real identity.

For the first few seconds, nothing happened.

Then as more players noticed the post, the replies began pouring in like a rising tide.

@DefinitelyNotA_Simp:[First?! A hidden BOSS?]

@MomSaidIm_Special:[Holy crap! "Reaper"? That codename is badass! Which big shot is this?]

@BrokeButAmbitious:[An Uncommon staff?! How is someone selling Uncommon equipment already?!]

@TakeMyMoneyPls:[How much for the guide? I’m seriously interested in buying it!]

@Professional_Carried:[Big shot, please carry me! This little brother is willing to do anything!]

@TrustIssues_Level99:[Is this a scam? How could anyone have a hidden BOSS guide this quickly?]

@CommonSense_IsRare:[Idiot above, look at the posting time and what he’s selling. Does any of this look like a scam?]

@ProsperityGuildAdmin:[Big shot Reaper, our Prosperity Guild is interested in purchasing both the guide and the staff. We’ll make sure the price satisfies you. Please contact us.]

[...]

The comment section exploded. There was doubt, shock, excitement, purchase requests, and recruitment offers.

Before long, Aiden’s anonymous private-message icon began flashing frantically, with new messages pouring in one after another.

He skimmed through them.

Most were simple inquiries or attempts to probe for information. A few came from people claiming to represent major guilds. Their wording was polite enough, but Aiden could easily detect the underlying intent.

They were testing him. Some wanted to recruit him.

Others wanted to determine how much information he actually possessed.

And naturally, there were those who simply wanted to know what else he had.

Aiden didn’t reply to anyone. Not yet. He needed to let the post circulate.

The longer the information remained in the public eye, the deeper the name Reaper would become associated with three things: Mystery, power, and rare information and resources.

He closed the forum interface, leaving the private-message notification flashing quietly in the background.

Aiden knew this move would inevitably attract attention.

Especially from the large guilds.

Guilds like Prosperity would never overlook an opportunity to recruit a powerful player or obtain scarce resources.

And then there was another possibility.

The organization that would eventually become the Dragon Sovereign, the force Damien Bale would build in the future.

If Damien had already begun laying its foundations, they would be even more interested in someone capable of producing a hidden BOSS guide this early.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. Mystery could provide deterrence. But it could also attract covetous eyes.

Fortunately, that was exactly what he wanted. A lamp in the darkness could illuminate the path ahead. It could also attract moths. And Aiden was prepared for both.

He needed resources. He needed information. And, eventually, he needed a platform through which he could infiltrate, and ultimately dismantle, Damien Bale’s forces.

The Reaper was only the first step. Aiden leaned back in his seat and glanced at the flashing notification one last time.

"Reaper..." He murmured the name softly. His eyes were cold and unfathomably deep. "From today onward, this name will become a nightmare that lingers in the hearts of those who stand against me."

He started the vehicle. The Rezvani’s engine roared to life, its deep rumble cutting through the surrounding silence.

"Next, I’ll use that key and see what other surprises are waiting inside the locker."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"And after that..."

His gaze sharpened.

"It’s time to find my future Bluebird and Butcher."

The off-road vehicle pulled away from the bridge tunnel and once again merged into the flow of the apocalypse.

Behind him, the forum continued to explode with activity. And somewhere within that chaotic stream of players, a new name had begun to spread.

Reaper.

Like a stone thrown into a still lake, its appearance had created only the first ripple.

Soon, those ripples would become waves.