Li Ming slipped through the jagged ruins like a shadow given form, his newly strengthened body moving with silent efficiency under the oppressive crimson sky. The watchtower had served its purpose as a temporary vantage point. Now it was time to gather real intelligence on Floor 1. Staying blind here would get him killed faster than any monster. He kept to elevated paths and collapsed corridors, avoiding open ground. The reduced Throne absorption range — now only thirty meters — forced him to stay closer to potential conflicts than he preferred. Every step carried calculated risk. After twenty minutes of careful movement, distant sounds of combat reached him. Li Ming approached a ruined canyon overlook and crouched behind a fallen obelisk. Below, a fierce battle was unfolding. A group of roughly thirty new ascenders — fresh from Floor 0, still wearing mixed scavenged gear — had been cornered by a disciplined patrol of Scarlet Vanguard soldiers. The Vanguard wore blood-red armor with

Li Ming sat motionless in the reinforced basement of the ruined tower, the new Shadow Veil Cloak draped over his shoulders. The fabric felt strangely alive, subtly shifting to match the dim crimson light filtering through cracks in the ceiling. His steel short sword rested across his knees, freshly cleaned after the Sunken Vault dungeon. Level 49. The power was tangible, yet the victory against Chen Xu felt incomplete. The rival had escaped. That loose end gnawed at him. Outside, the Crimson Wastes had grown quieter as night deepened. Occasional distant roars and clashes echoed across the wasteland — other new ascenders learning harsh lessons, or rival factions testing each other’s borders. Li Ming remained still, using the time to consolidate his gains and reflect. He pulled up his full status for the first time in days. Name: Li Ming Level: 49 Strength: 201 Agility: 168 Vitality: 178 Intelligence: 27 Mana: 24 Luck: 19 Dozens of passives and active skills layered within hi

Li Ming stood at the narrow entrance of the reinforced basement, Shadow Veil Cloak blending him seamlessly into the crimson stone. Below, in the sunken ruins surrounding his camp, Chen Xu led twenty fighters forward with purposeful strides. Their dark leather armor bore faint green accents that pulsed with the same energy Li Ming had seen during their previous clash. Chen Xu’s arm was still bandaged, but his eyes burned with cold fury. “Spread out,” Chen Xu ordered, voice carrying clearly. “The shadow is here. Find him. Kill anyone with him. That bastard stole the Sunken Vault rewards from me.” The six survivors inside the camp tensed, gripping their weapons. Zhao Feng looked at Li Ming. “That’s the guy you mentioned? He brought a whole group…” Li Ming’s expression remained icy. “Stay inside the fortifications. Support from range. Do not charge out unless I signal.” He didn’t fully trust them yet, but their lives depended on this fight. They would serve as useful distractions and ex

Li Ming crouched on a narrow ledge overlooking a winding ravine, Shadow Veil Cloak rendering him nearly invisible against the crimson rock. Below, a Scarlet Vanguard supply patrol of eighteen soldiers moved in tight formation, escorting three heavily loaded crystal carts. His six followers were positioned according to his instructions — Zhao Feng and two others on the far side, Su Ling and the rest ready with ranged support. “Patience,” Li Ming whispered, though none could hear him. “Wait for my signal.” This was their third ambush in two days. The strategy was working. Small, precise strikes against supply lines and isolated patrols were slowly draining the Vanguard’s resources without provoking an all-out hunt. Yet. The patrol entered the kill zone. Li Ming activated Brutal Intimidation. The shout echoed through the ravine, stunning the front and rear guards simultaneously. He descended like a crimson ghost — Spiked Charge slamming into the lead cart’s guards, short sword flashin

Zhao Feng slammed his axe into the ground, still buzzing from the latest ambush. “Did you see their faces when the wolves hit? Lin Mei looked like she wanted to kill her own men!”The group had gathered in their newest temporary shelter — a shallow cave system hidden behind a collapsed tower. A small crystal lantern cast flickering red light across their faces. Su Ling was bandaging a cut on one man’s arm while the others counted loot.Li Ming leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, listening.“We’re actually doing it,” said a wiry man named Guo Wei, grinning as he weighed a pouch of Floor Coins. “Three supply convoys in five days. They must be bleeding resources by now.”“Keep your voice down,” Su Ling warned. “We got lucky today. If that wolf pack hadn’t shown up—”“Lucky?” Zhao Feng laughed. “That was the boss’s timing. He always knows when to strike.”All eyes turned toward Li Ming. He met their gazes steadily but said nothing at first. The praise felt hollow. Praise often prec