MMORPG: REBORN MARK ADVENTURE IN ONLINE GAME

The cavern fell eerily silent. The only sounds were their heavy breaths and the slow, rhythmic dripping of water from stalactites above. The battle had been brutal, but the Venomfang Widow now lay lifeless, its massive, twisted body sprawled across the cavern floor.

Daniel groaned as he finally freed himself from the thick webbing, rolling his shoulders. "That thing was a pain in the ass."

Ana, still shaking from the adrenaline, dusted off the lingering silk strands. "Yeah, but we won."

Liz smirked, nudging Ana with her elbow. "Barely. Next time, let's not get caught in a giant death trap?"

Raven, however, wasn't paying attention to their banter. His sharp gaze was locked on a deeper section of the cavern. A passage, previously hidden by layers of thick webbing, had been revealed.

The Widow had been guarding something.

---

The Hidden Chamber – Discovering the Widow's Hoard

The cave's floor sloped downward, leading to a narrow passage, its entrance partially hidden by sticky strands of silk. A faint, almost unnatural glow emanated from within.

Raven moved first, slicing through the webs with his dagger. As he stepped inside, the air thickened—heavy and suffocating, as if something unseen lingered in the shadows.

Then, he saw it.

A massive hoard, scattered across the chamber floor.

Gold coins gleamed beneath the dim light. Broken weapons and rusted armor lay among the remains of unfortunate adventurers. Strange, pulsing stones—infused with magic—rested atop piles of treasure.

Ana's eyes widened. "Holy shit."

Daniel let out a low whistle. "Jackpot."

Liz crouched beside a pile of loot, inspecting a rusted sword. "Looks like we're not the first ones who thought they could take on the Widow."

---

[Loot Acquired]

400 Silver Coins

Venomfang Widow's Fang (Rare Dagger Material – Can be used to craft a deadly poisoned weapon.)

Toxic Silk (High-tier crafting material for durable, poison-resistant armor.)

Venomous Core (Alchemy Material – Unknown Effects.)

Engraved Ring (Unidentified – Requires Appraisal.)

Old, Dusty Journal (Belonged to a long-lost researcher.)

Skill Book: Poison Arrow (Teaches the active skill [Poison Arrow] – Imbues arrows with venom, dealing damage over time.)

Daniel's eyes lit up as he picked up an old, tattered book with a serpent emblem on the cover. He flipped through the pages, a grin forming.

"Hell yeah," he said. "This is a skill book."

Ana peeked over his shoulder. "What's it for?"

"Poison Arrow," Daniel replied. "Lets me coat my arrows with venom. Perfect for softening up enemies before they even get close."

Liz smirked. "You? Using poison? You already fight dirty enough."

Daniel laughed. "Hey, no such thing as 'dirty' in a fight. Just winning."

---

Raven's Attention Caught by an Old Journal

While the others divided the loot, Raven picked up the old, leather-bound journal. The cover was worn, its title barely legible. As he flipped through the yellowed pages, his eyes narrowed.

The writing was a mix of hastily scrawled notes and detailed diagrams. Some pages were filled with alchemical symbols, while others described strange occurrences deep within the cave.

"This isn't just any journal," he muttered.

Ana leaned over his shoulder. "What's it about?"

Raven's fingers tightened around the book.

---

[The Forgotten Researcher's Journal]

Mentions an Alchemy Experiment Gone Wrong.

References a Hidden Chamber Beneath the Cave.

Warns About 'The Slumbering One' – Something Sealed Inside.

Liz noticed his expression shift. "Raven… you look like you just read something bad."

Raven closed the book. "We need to move. Now."

Daniel frowned. "What? We just won. Let's enjoy it."

Raven shook his head. "No. We've been making too much noise… and something is waking up."

---

Raven's instincts screamed that someone was watching them. His eyes scanned the surroundings, but he saw nothing. Still, a lingering unease gnawed at him.

"Daniel," Raven said in a low voice, "shoot an arrow there." He pointed to a seemingly empty spot near the trees.

Daniel didn't question it. He nocked an arrow and fired. The moment it flew, a figure flickered into existence—a player in dark robes with a sly grin.

[System Notification: Player "??? (Hidden)" has been revealed!]

The arrow barely missed, but the player didn't seem concerned. He raised his hand, and strange energy crackled around him.

"A good guess," the player said, his voice amused. "But not good enough."

[??? - Level 4 Magician (Trickster Exclusive Class)]

Raven's eyes narrowed. A special class? Only available from Trickster? That meant one thing—this guy was dangerous.

Raven's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise.

Mist Low.

Back in his past life, Mist Low was a nightmare for super guilds—a ghost no one could catch, a magician who bent the system to his will. Yet, despite all the efforts to hunt him, no one had ever even touched a hair on his head.

But that was the past.

Right now, in this timeline, no one knew about Mist Low. He was just another unknown player, hidden in the shadows.

Raven exhaled slowly. If he's here, that means something big is about to happen.

Mist Low chuckled, his fingers playing with the hem of his robe. "You're looking at me like you've seen a ghost." His smirk deepened. "Or maybe… you remember something you shouldn't?"

Raven stayed silent. He couldn't let on that he knew anything. Instead, he tilted his head. "Should I know you?"

Mist Low shrugged. "Not yet." Then, he snapped his fingers—his body flickered, and suddenly, there were five of him standing there.

Daniel's grip on his bow tightened. "Raven?"

Raven narrowed his eyes. This guy is a problem.

The Battle Begins

Mist Low's illusions flickered, each moving in a different direction, making it impossible to tell which was real.

Raven didn't hesitate. "Daniel, rapid shots. Aim for all of them!"

Daniel grinned. "On it."

He let loose a flurry of arrows, each one striking a different figure. Two illusions disappeared in wisps of smoke. The remaining three moved unpredictably—one dodged unnaturally fast, another stepped into the shadows, and the last one raised a glowing hand.

"[Phantom Veil]"

A pulse of mana surged, and all the figures blurred again.

"Tch." Raven activated [Stealth] and disappeared from sight, circling around. He needed to find the real body.

Daniel, unfazed, fired another volley, this time with his passive skill [Hawk's Eye], which improved accuracy. His arrow found purchase in one of the figures—a real body.

"Got him!"

Mist Low twisted at the last second, minimizing the damage, but he clicked his tongue. "Sharp eyes. I like it."

With a flick of his wrist, Mist Low's cloak shimmered, and his body split into six more copies.

Raven, still hidden, crept closer, daggers in hand.

He's stalling for something…

But before he could strike—

"Hey, what's going on?"

Liz and Ana arrived.

Mist Low, who had been entirely focused on the fight, suddenly froze.

Then, as if a switch flipped, he dropped his battle stance entirely and smoothed back his hair. His entire demeanor changed in an instant.

"Ah… ladies~" He adjusted his robe, flashing a charming grin. "Such beauty in the midst of battle? Truly, I must be blessed today."

Daniel blinked. "Wait, wait—what the hell just happened?"

Mist Low ignored him. He dramatically stepped forward, hand over his heart, and gave Liz and Ana a deep bow. "Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Mist Low, magician, gentleman, and occasional heartbreaker."

Ana raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Liz crossed her arms. "Uh-huh. And what was that whole 'trying to kill my friends' thing?"

Mist Low gasped, feigning deep offense. "Me? Harm them? Oh no, no, no. That was merely… a friendly spar. A way to test the waters, so to speak."

Raven rubbed his temples. He's just like Daniel… great.

Daniel, arms crossed, clicked his tongue. "Oi, quit copying my style. The 'flirty rogue' act is mine."

Mist Low grinned, throwing an arm around Daniel's shoulder. "Oh, my dear archer, you are but a fledgling in the art of charm. Observe and learn."

Daniel shoved him off. "Get lost."

Mist Low sighed dramatically. "Alas, rejection. A wound deeper than any blade…" Then, in a whisper to Ana and Liz, he added, "But I shall endure."

Liz smirked. "He's an idiot. I like him."

Ana giggled. "Yeah, this one's funny."

Raven sighed. This is going to be a problem.

Raven's eye twitched. He suddenly remembered something from his past life—

Mist Low wasn't just a master of tricks. He was also a playboy.

Every time he encountered female players, his entire personality flipped. The moment Liz and Ana showed up, his battle mode completely vanished, replaced by a flirtatious, dramatic persona.

Raven clenched his fists in frustration. Of course. Of all the people to show up, it had to be him…

Mist Low, meanwhile, was fully in performance mode. He leaned casually against a tree, flashing Liz and Ana a roguish grin. "So, my dear ladies, what brings such radiant beauties to a place like this? Surely, fate has conspired to bring us together."

Ana chuckled. "Oh? And what exactly does fate want?"

Mist Low placed a hand over his chest, as if wounded. "Only a moment of your time. A small price to pay for the company of a legendary magician, wouldn't you agree?"

Liz smirked. "Legendary? You got shot in the back like a chump."

Mist Low gasped, clutching his heart. "Ah! A savage tongue! My greatest weakness!"

Daniel groaned. "Oh god, there are two of me now."

Raven exhaled sharply. We were fighting a second ago, and now this clown is flirting? His patience was wearing thin.

Mist Low suddenly turned to Raven, grinning. "You seem annoyed, my friend. Could it be… jealousy?"

Raven's dagger twitched in his hand. "No. I'm annoyed because we were in the middle of a fight, and now you're wasting my time."

Mist Low shrugged. "Ah, but is time truly wasted when spent in good company?"

Raven pinched the bridge of his nose. I swear to god, I'm going to stab him.