Chapter Two: Lord of the Morning Star

[Extracting...]
[Extraction complete!]
[Your destiny trait is: Blessing of the Morning Star (Common).]
White text, common...
[Blessing of the Morning Star: Increases Inspiration by 10, and grants increased mental resistance at night.]
Chen Qi felt a chill in his heart, carefully reading over every word.
A fixed increase of 10 to Inspiration, and greater mental resistance at night—neither its growth potential nor its effects were anything special.
Such an ordinary start. Should he restart? But after scanning the interface, Chen Qi couldn't find any option to restart the game.
Just as Chen Qi was troubled, a line of bright blue game text popped up.
[Would you like to expend an extra life to draw a new trait? The new trait will be superior to the previous one and may possess growth potential.]
A blood-for-power deal right at the start!
Chen Qi glanced at the pouring rain outside and considered: if he could gain a better trait and develop faster, he might avoid early death due to lack of progress.
Besides, the first trait was just a common one.
After a moment’s thought, he tapped the screen.
[Yes.]
[Drawing a new trait...]
[Special blessing relic detected...]
Suddenly, under the dim light, the white Morning Star bracelet on his wrist flashed.
Huh?
Chen Qi blinked, but the star-shaped necklace returned to normal.
A trick of the light? His imagination? And what was that special relic mentioned in the text just now?
Suspicion stirred in his heart, but considering the possibility of auditory and visual hallucinations, he glanced at the streetlamp and then back at his phone.
[Extraction complete!]
[Your destiny trait is: Lord of the Morning Star (Hidden, Growth, Unique)]
Chen Qi swallowed hard and read the description of "Lord of the Morning Star." He seemed to feel an intense vitality burning in his chest, and his eyes grew clear.
[Disaster has plunged the world into utter despair and darkness. The lost wander in endless night, but if they look up, amidst the hopeless gloom, a Morning Star still hangs high in the sky, always guiding those who have lost their way.]
[Lord of the Morning Star Lv1]
[1. Appraisal of the Morning Star: In disaster, the Morning Star seeks knowledge.]
[Appraisal of the Morning Star: When you are within a disaster, the Morning Star will provide a basic appraisal of it.]
[2. Seeking of the Morning Star (Core)]
[You can consume 2 Spirit to initiate a search; the Morning Star will guide you to the location of "treasure" or items. Nothing can hinder your observation of the Morning Star, and only you can see it; it cannot be perceived by outsiders.
When you are in a disaster, the range of the Morning Star’s search expands to the entire area affected by the disaster.]
[3. Blessing of the Morning Star: The Morning Star forever blesses you.
Effect: Increases Inspiration by 10, and grants increased mental resistance at night.]
[Inspiration: 25 increased to 35]
[This trait can be upgraded when your level reaches Lv5.]
"Lord of the Morning Star, guided by the Morning Star—a hidden trait!"
This was a supportive trait, but most importantly, it had growth potential and was hidden!
Moreover, it included the Morning Star’s blessing, essentially an ultimate evolution of the previous trait.
Indeed, traits gained by sacrificing life were extraordinary. Chen Qi felt a surge of joy and continued playing.
[Wanderer, congratulations on obtaining your destiny trait. The game continues.]
[Next, you will receive a final blessing, but this will be a trial. The rarity of this blessing will depend on your trial results.]
[Welcome to New City. The trial now begins.]
A particularly glaring line of text appeared.
[There is only one trial: survive the next fifteen minutes.]
A mission? That’s vague. Is a monster coming?

Chen Qi scratched his head, unable to figure out this game.
[You are a night watchman in Heihe Prison. You have already died once.]
[After your soul merged with a bloodstained corpse, you revived, astonished to find your wounds no longer hurt.]
[You open your weary eyes and gaze at the blood-marked underground cell, gradually recalling everything.]
[Your superior, Captain Ford of the night watch, is a burly middle-aged man greedy for money and power.]
[Every week, he deducted one silver coin from your wages for various reasons and oppressed you in many ways.]
[Today, under the usual smiling moon, he lured you to this dungeon under the pretense of repaying money.]
[Of course, his true motive was never money. He knew he was no longer fit to survive in the prison.
His real aim was to cut the blade stone from your body, trade it for the trust of a disaster beast called "Black Rain Shadowbeast," and then set off alone in search of the High Heavens.]
[Wanderer, alas, your superior has stepped onto the path of madness, and you are the first sacrifice he needs to do so!]
[You slowly rise and look at the cell’s only exit. You can already hear your superior’s terrifying growls above. He seems to be searching for something. Soon, he will return to the cell and begin extracting the blade stone from your body.]
[Black rain drips from cracks in the ceiling, the chill of death penetrating your bones. You realize you must act, or you will die!]
[Please make your choice.]
[1. Escape immediately through the exit. (Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to avoid your crazed superior.)]
[2. Play dead and wait. (Perhaps other night watchmen will notice your disappearance and find you in time.)]
[3. Search the underground cell. (You see many discarded and messy items, as if someone had ransacked the place. Maybe you can find a weapon for self-defense.)]
Chen Qi pondered. Judging from the game text, the first option wasn’t ideal; the exit was singular, and the superior was just outside. The second option—playing dead—was just giving up.
The third seemed best, especially since he now had the "Seeking of the Morning Star" trait, perfect for finding things.
Option three.
A Morning Star trait button lit up on the right side.
Chen Qi was about to tap the text to consume 2 Spirit and activate the trait.
Suddenly, a new message appeared.
[You are within the disaster "Black Rain," triggering the trait "Appraisal of the Morning Star."]
[Trait: Appraisal of the Morning Star activated.]
The words "Black Rain" in the text were highlighted, and when Chen Qi tapped, an entry appeared.
[Disaster—Black Rain.]
[Type: Weather.]
[Attribute: Shadow.]
[Level: Four (Wind-level disaster)]
[Description: A common weather disaster at Heihe Prison, manifesting as ceaseless black rain. In the Black Rain, water gathers to spawn monsters called "Shadowbeasts."
Shadowbeasts are agile, entirely black, eyeless and noseless, and attack any creature touched by the black rainwater.]
So he was in a disaster—the Black Rain was outside. Chen Qi could already imagine the battles to come.
He closed the description and tapped "Seeking of the Morning Star."
[Seeking of the Morning Star activated: Searching for treasure.]
[2 Spirit consumed. Current Spirit: 8/10]
Searching.
[You decide to search the room: rusted marks, a collapsed bookshelf, a filthy lab table—you don’t know where to start.]
[Then, in your palm, a brilliant Morning Star leaps forth, guiding you to the treasure’s location.]
[The Morning Star arcs gracefully through the air, stopping at a spot in the brick wall.]
[The surface of the old bricks is perfectly smooth. You tap it but hear no hollow sound.]
[Do you dig through the thick wall? (Requires Strength over 15)]
Of course he would dig.
[You excitedly dig into the wall with your fingers. Inside, you find a skeleton wrapped in black viscous fluid, clutching a jet-black dagger.]
[As you pry open the wall, you seem to glimpse a towering warrior hunting Shadowbeasts in a torrential Black Rain. Even in death, the skeleton’s hatred for Shadowbeasts still burns.]
[You realize this is a rare, special weapon—a weapon a night watchman could never afford in a hundred years. You push aside the black, meaty ooze by the skeleton’s hand and carefully take the dagger from its grasp.]
[Obtained weapon—Shadowpierce Dagger]
[Status: Damaged (Repairable)]

[Description: A pitch-black dagger, its blade mottled with bloodstains and dark red patterns.
You seem to hear countless Shadowbeasts wailing. Undoubtedly, this was the weapon of a mighty hunter. Its presence allows even a mortal to become a slayer in the Black Rain.]
[Base Attack: 3]
[Weapon Trait: Shadow Stab]
[When this weapon pierces an enemy, sharp shadows sprout within the target, dealing an extra 10–15 points of damage, plus an additional fixed 15 damage to Shadowbeasts.]
[Equipment requirement: A complete, flesh-and-blood hand. (It is light enough that even a child could wield it.)]
[Equipment type: Bound to body part—hand. Once equipped, it is bound until the user’s death, and no one else can use its abilities.]
[Value assessment: Rare. This weapon is enough to make others hunt you down for it.]
Chen Qi tapped Shadowpierce Dagger and chose to equip it.
[This weapon is a body-bound type, equipped to the hand. Equipping will involve a certain amount of pain. Are you sure you want to equip it?]
Of course.
[Equip to left or right hand?]
Right hand.
[Equipping...]
[The dagger suddenly plunges into your palm, a stabbing pain shooting through your hand, and you feel the hunter’s intense hatred for Shadowbeasts.]
Even equipping a weapon triggered a text event—no wonder his friends loved this game so much.
Chen Qi admired his new weapon, then glanced at the top right corner: [Trial in Progress].
Where were the monsters?
[The Morning Star reminds you: you are now in the disaster—"Black Rain."]
[Disaster type: Weather (Incomplete).]
[Disaster level: Grade one, weak (Wind-level disaster)]
Hmm? A bug?
Chen Qi was confused—the Black Rain prompt seemed to repeat. Why would it suddenly pop up again?
Bang!
Chen Qi’s pupils shrank; a wave of searing pain shot through his right hand.
His phone dropped to the floor!
"!!!"
Chen Qi’s eyes widened, heart pounding—his right hand, which had been holding the phone, hurt so much he let go.
Pain like nothing he’d ever felt before—far worse than a stomachache, as if a sharp knife was slicing his hand again and again!
Didn’t the text just say my right hand would feel pain?
"Coincidence? Accident? Psychosomatic? Sudden illness?! Or maybe because I equipped the weapon..."
Chen Qi gasped, heart racing; the cinematic turn of events left him stunned.
It was too much of a coincidence—no, it was downright bizarre!
Chen Qi exhaled slowly, trying to compose himself.
But the intense pain made calm impossible!
He had to make sure this wasn’t real!
Gritting his teeth, Chen Qi bent down to pick up his phone.
In that moment, he felt a frigid chill crawl across his left shoulder.
Behind him—
Behind, behind... it seemed something was watching him.
Chen Qi held his breath. A drop of thick, black rainwater slid down his cheek as he carefully turned his head.
A massive, shadowy figure loomed through the Black Rain.
As Chen Qi looked at it, its mouth curved into a semicircular grin, revealing a horrifying, twisted smile:
"Delicious~"