"Eternal Dread: The Nether Coin Gamble"

Jian leaned back in his chair, the words from Kael and Lyric still hanging heavily in the air. The tension in the room was palpable, but Jian was focused on the bigger picture. He could feel the weight of the situation settling on him—alliances and betrayal, the pursuit of power, and the looming threat of the Abyss. There was no room for hesitation now. His clones were powerful, but his own strength—his personal abilities—needed to be enhanced if he was going to make it through the challenges ahead.

The map on the table seemed to pulse with hidden knowledge, the swirling scribbles and marks drawing his mind into a feverish state of planning. But something else was calling to him, something he had ignored in the heat of the moment: his status window.

It's time, he thought. He could feel the urge to see where he truly stood.

With a focused effort, Jian called up his status window, his eyes flicking over the familiar interface that appeared in front of him. It was a bit of a habit at this point, something he had grown used to since his first awakening in the Abyss. The status window didn't lie—it showed everything: his stats, abilities, and the ever-growing influence of his clones.

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Jian Li-Wei

Race: Human

Class: Abyss Walker (Level 18)

Title: Unseen Challenger, Power Seeker

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HP: 1020/1020

Mana: 480/480

Stamina: 620/620

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Strength: 64

Agility: 70

Endurance: 58

Intelligence: 90

Perception: 75

Charisma: 47

Luck: 60

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Skills:

Cloning Mastery (Level 5)

Abyssal Insight (Level 4)

Shadowstep (Level 3)

Willpower (Level 2)

Artifact Binding (Level 1)

Deception (Level 1)

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Abilities:

Clone Creation (Max Level: 18) - Create a number of clones equal to your current level. Each clone can possess independent abilities.

Mana Surge (Level 3) - Temporarily boost your mana regeneration by 25%.

Cloak of the Abyss (Level 1) - Cloak yourself in shadow, increasing stealth by 30% for 30 minutes.

Abyssal Intuition (Passive) - A slight increase in perception when dealing with danger or hidden threats.

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Status Effects:

Doubt (Minor) - Uncertainty lingers. Negative effects on social interactions and decision-making.

Focused - Increased clarity and sharpness in decision-making. 10% boost to all abilities.

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As Jian's eyes scanned the information, he mentally calculated his next steps. His level was low compared to some of the others in the Sanctuary, but the power of his Clone Creation ability could offset that. His clones were versatile and invaluable tools. However, some of his other skills, like Artifact Binding and Deception, were still in their infancy. They could be used to manipulate situations, but they needed more time to develop.

I need more power. More options. More skills, he thought.

He pushed his chair back and stood, already considering the dungeon Kael had mentioned. If he could acquire whatever artifact was hidden within, it could give him the edge he needed in this game of shadows.

His clones would be invaluable for scouting, gathering intelligence, and perhaps even executing his orders with less personal risk. But there was something else in the Abyss that caught his eye—a potential power source he hadn't tapped into yet.

His Abyssal Insight skill had grown considerably, and he could already sense a few things in the area—the subtle ripple in the air around the corner of the room, the way Kael's hand hovered near the map as if searching for something, and Lyric's too-casual posture that betrayed a mind constantly calculating the angles of every conversation.

Jian's hand subconsciously tightened into a fist as he looked around the room. The Abyss was a place of manipulation, but if he could stay one step ahead, he could be the one pulling the strings.

"Jian?" Kael's voice broke through his thoughts.

Jian turned to face him, his mind still working through the possibilities. "I'm ready."

Kael's smile widened slightly, sensing that the younger man was more than just a player in the game. "We'll be leaving soon," he said. "The dungeon's location isn't far, but the challenges within are unpredictable."

"I'll be ready," Jian replied. He didn't need to explain further. His clones were ready, his abilities were ready, and more importantly, he was ready.

The world of the Abyss was one of treachery, and Jian was no stranger to it. But now, armed with his status window and all the information it provided, he was more prepared than ever to turn the tides in

his favor. It wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about taking control.

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End of Chapter 5.