Eternal Thief

”The Hunter’s Hunt officially begins now!”

The moment the announcement was made by the Marquis Demonic Fist...

’BOOOOOOOM!’

Every trial ring on the participants’ fingers released a brilliant light, and fresh information flooded everyone’s minds: maps, objectives, contribution systems, battlefield regions, supply points, and strongholds.

Everything that the participants needed appeared instantly.

On the other hand, Marquis Demonic Fist’s figure began to fade, and before disappearing completely, he let out his final words.

”Proceed toward your assigned locations. New strongholds have already been established by the Evernight Council. This trial is now a war.

”A war against the Corpse Clan, and against the Undead Race. The enemy of the Abyss of Wandering Souls.”

His voice carried immense authority, ”The higher authorities of the Evernight Council shall oversee this battlefield. They will protect you from enemies beyond your level.”

A savage grin spread across his face as his final words echoed, ”Now go, earn your glory, your rewards, and survive to see the glory of Evernight Sanctuary!”

The next moment, Marquis Demonic Fist completely vanished, leaving behind tens of thousands of stunned participants as the true scale of the situation finally sank in.

The Hunter’s Hunt was over before it had even begun, and in its place, a real war had started!

After Marquis Demonic Fist vanished, the battlefield fell into a strange silence before chaos erupted.

Countless participants instantly focused on the trial rings on their fingers as they crossed the wasteland, and their expressions shifted among excitement, greed, nervousness, and bloodlust.

Some immediately laughed, others frowned, and many began studying the details with utmost seriousness.

At that moment, a pale-blue screen appeared before Ace as well.

”Evernight Trial: Hunter’s Hunt

”Status: Crescent-Moon Hunter

”Current Rank: Unranked

”Contribution Points: 0

”Battlefield Authority: Basic Hunter Authority

”Faction: Evernight Council Expedition Force No.82

”Rules and Regulations...

”Primary Objectives

”1. Eliminate Corpse Clan Members.

”2. Destroy Corpse Clan Outposts.

”3. Capture Strategic Locations.

”4. Recover Corpse Clan Resources.

”5. Assist Evernight Council Operations.

”6...

”Rewards for Crescent-Moon Hunter

”1,000 Contribution Points: 100 Night Stay Pass in the Evernight Sanctuary!

”2,500 Contribution Points: Add 10 Extra Nights in Evernight Sanctuary Stay Pass!

”5,000 Contribution Points: Add 20 Extra Nights in Evernight Sanctuary Stay Pass!

”10,000 Contribution Points: Add 50 Extra Nights in Evernight Sanctuary Stay Pass!

”15,000 Contribution Points: Add 100 Extra Nights in Evernight Sanctuary Stay Pass, and 10 Evernight Coins!

”...so forth...

”Special Notice: Participants discovering hidden Corpse Clan strongholds, secret passages, strategic facilities, or important intelligence shall receive additional contribution rewards depending on significance.

”Assigned Battlefield Region

”Designation: Deathmist Sector-13

”Location: Marked on Map

”Priority Level: High

”Expected Enemy Strength: Abyssal Guardian, and Abyssal Lord

”Warning: Extreme casualty rate expected!”

Ace’s eyes narrowed when he saw the new details of his previous Ring of Hunt, now the Ring of Crescent-Moon Hunter.

’Where is this Deathmist Sector-13? Could it be?’ His lips curled ever so slightly.

As expected, the Evernight Council had probably assigned him to one of the regions closest to the former Undead Boundary, whether by coincidence or because they wanted additional eyes watching the area, it hardly mattered.

At that moment, Eva’s voice sounded through the Ring of Endearment, ”This is very interesting. Which sector are you in?”

Ace replied calmly, ”Deathmist Sector-13.”

A brief silence followed, and then Eva’s cold yet playful voice sounded again, ”It should be where the Undead Boundary is, right?”

”Exactly!” Ace asked, ”What about yours?”

”Deathmist Sector-2!”

Ace’s eyes flickered as that territory was on the opposite side of the battlefield, very far away from the Deathmist sector-13, far enough that ordinary participants would likely never meet during the entire campaign.

After a moment, Eva softly chuckled, ”I assume we’re both ignoring those assignments?”

Ace smiled, ”Naturally, since we have a more important matter to deal with, not to mention dangerous.”

The maps, objectives, contribution rankings, and rewards to everyone else were opportunities, but to him and Eva, they were distractions, as the true purpose of entering this place had never changed.

The Evernight Sanctuary, the secrets hidden behind it, as for the Corpse Clan, Ace had already taken everything valuable from them, even their lifesaving formation, so the Evernight Council could have the leftovers, he didn’t care at all.

”Let’s move out according to your plan!” Ace transmitted.

Eva’s eyes glowed with a hint of excitement, ”Finally!”

The connection ended, and the next moment, Ace vanished without leaving any fluctuation, movement, or trace, as if he had never existed.

Miles away, Eva also dissolved into darkness, and the black throne beneath her faded into shadows; her figure disappeared with it; not even a strand of aura remained.

Meanwhile, countless participants surged toward their assigned sectors. Among them, thousands stared toward the direction of the former Undead Boundary with burning killing intent.

They had already begun dreaming about contribution points, rewards, rankings, treasures, and glory. None of them noticed that two of the most dangerous people within the trial had already abandoned the battlefield entirely.

---

Far from the trial grounds, within the chaotic space between the Evernight Gate and the Evernight Sanctuary, a colossal abyssal vessel moved silently through the void.

Its size dwarfed mountains as its hull resembled an ancient fortress forged from black star-metal and abyssal crystal, with countless runes glowing along its surface. The surrounding space itself seemed distorted by its existence.

At the vessel’s highest chamber, a solemn meeting was underway with rows of thrones lined the vast hall, and the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

Even Abyssal Grand Lords would struggle to breathe within this place, for upon those thrones sat the most powerful abyssal beings below the Abyssal Kings, the Evernight Dukes!

Dread Duchess sat silently upon her crimson throne. Nearby sat Yin Duchess upon an icy seat of frozen law. Enchantress Demon Duchess lounged lazily, resting her cheek on one hand. Corpse Duke remained motionless like a corpse carved from darkness.

Surprisingly, no one spoke, even the Yin Duchess was behaving herself despite the resentful and venomous glances she gave Dread Duchess every now and then.

Everyone understood that this gathering had been called immediately after the trial’s commencement, while they were all on their way to the Evernight Sanctuary to make sure their disciples were fine and bask in their glory once they reached the top.

Everyone was looking at the very center of the hall, for there stood the three terrifying existences who had descended from the Evernight Sanctuary, the Protector Envoys!