Chapter 3 – Skill: Corrupted Whisper
Cecilia was shocked to learn about Alex's profession, as there had never been a class with the name 'Abyss' or 'Abyssal' before.
Talk about weird descriptions—there were some bizarre professions too, like the Rainbow Swordmaster, Calamity Doctor, and many more.
But a class associated with the Abyss? That had never existed until Alex awakened.
After careful consideration, his class description was shared with all the generals stationed across the remaining battlefields.
The word Abyss itself was met with disgust—let alone someone having a class related to it. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that people might mistake Alex for a follower of the Abyssal cult.
According to the rules set from the beginning of the war, all deserters were to be executed without question.
"I've informed the other battlefields about your situation, so you're safe for now," she said in her usual icy tone.
"I think the skill you've awakened isn't normal either, right?" A soft voice escaped her lips.
"It's called Corrupted Whisper," Alex replied with a wry smile.
"..."Cecilia's face darkened.
Silence.
"If anyone ever asks about your personal information, you have the right to remain silent. If someone still insists, tell them my name." She sighed again and gestured for him to leave.
Following her instructions, Alex left immediately.
According to general protocol, once someone is sent to a battlefield, they must report to the frontline without delay.
Professionals were expected to figure out on their own how to perform best with their abilities and discover where they truly stood. There were always arrogant greenhorns who looked down on others just because of their higher profession rank. The result was obvious—they didn't last long on the battlefield.
Alex made his way to the central square from where he had arrived and planned to ask for directions to the frontline.
Soon, his efforts bore fruit—he asked a party to take him to the frontline, and they agreed without hesitation.
No one asked about his name, profession, or rank. They simply smiled and carried him like a doll.
The party consisted of seven professionals. There were no healers, tanks, or support classes—only close-combat fighters.
How did Alex know this, even though they hadn't exchanged a single word?
It was the weapons: dual swords, short swords, daggers, and claymores strapped to their backs over robust armour.
Alex himself was wearing novice armour made from an abyssal beast's hide. It was the most basic privilege afforded to new recruits.
During the ride to the frontline, he also examined his awakened skill.
The skill was… unbelievable.
[Corrupted Whisper (Level 1)]Unleash a cursed murmur that corrodes the minds of nearby enemies, dealing minor shadow damage over time and lowering their defence. Absorbs 1% of a random stat from each target hit. Enemies slain while under its effect have a chance to sprout into twisted plant husks, binding the terrain. Small chance to disorient targets for 2 seconds.
"A druid's first awakened skill is Nature's Essence, which helps them bond with and understand nature. But mine turns enemies insane and makes them sprout into plants after death? And there's an extra stat steal too!" Alex screamed internally.
The stats gained from levelling up were fixed at 5 for everyone. But with his skill, he could steal 1% of a stat from every enemy he hit.
Wouldn't that make him stronger with every battle on the frontline?
If he grew strong enough to suppress the beast tides in his battlefield, he could just ask the military to release him from duty when the time was right.
Then, he could live the peaceful life he had dreamed of before awakening.
Good.
"Hehehe…"
Unbeknownst to him, his internal laughter had crept into the real world, drawing surprised glances from the others.
After an hour of travel, they arrived at a dilapidated town. Cracks ran through the walls, and professionals staggered around—some carrying their own severed limbs for healing, others hauling fallen teammates either dead or barely alive.
The cruelty of the battlefield crawled up Alex's spine again, shattering his brief dream and replacing it with a terrifying question:
"Will I even survive this?"
It took him a moment to steady himself.
After reviewing the information shared by the team he travelled with, he quickly reached the beginner-level frontline.
This wasn't the real frontline—just a downgraded version. Seniors ahead filtered out mindless beasts suitable for training the newbies and directed them here from time to time.
Alex stood among hundreds of others. Only a few were his age. He presented himself as a mage-type profession, based on what he had told others.
ROAR!!!
The beast tide had arrived.
Monsters—mutations of cheetahs, tigers, and various other creatures—appeared on the horizon. Some had scales, snake-like eyes, too many eyes, or too many limbs.
Everyone looked tense, but there was also a trace of madness in their eyes.
"KILL!"
No one knew who said it first, but that single word awakened a demon within every professional—urging them to eradicate the invaders.
The grotesque, four-limbed abyssal beasts lunged at their prey, only to be intercepted by a barrage of magic spells that restricted their movements. But these spells only affected the front line of the tide.
The beasts began climbing over their kin and leaping toward the humans, only to be intercepted by tank professions.
Alex launched his own barrage of spells holding a basic mage staff at any target—alive, immobilized, or already dead.
This resulted in...
[Received 0.05 Vitality from Rank 1 Abyssal Beast.]
[Received 0.07 Stamina from Rank 1 Abyssal Beast.]
....