Nightmare Herald (Shadow Slave)

Amidst the dim cave's uneven ground and a rock poking beneath him, Alex turned and twitched, attempting to find a more comfortable position to rest in the disorienting virtual reality. He regretted trusting the game company and vowed to sue them, his mind already envisioning the substantial compensation he would demand.

Upon entering the mythical easter egg dungeon, Alex not only lost most of his gears and abilities but also discovered the log-out button missing. With no way to escape, he ventured deeper into the eerie cave, hoping to find a way out or unravel the mystery that held him captive.

However, as he descended further, the cave seemed to loop endlessly, disorienting him further. To make matters worse, he encountered nightmarish apparitions, the boundaries between virtual and real blurring with each frightful encounter.

In the midst of hopelessness, a glimmer of reassurance shone through a system prompt that addressed him as an "Aspirant" and welcomed him to the "Nightmare Spell." Although unsettling, the prompt gave him a sense that, despite the terrifying ordeal, his life was not at risk in the real world.

[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trail…]