Shinon cautiously made his way through the abandoned streets of the post-apocalyptic city, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of a usable weapon. He knew that without a weapon, he was vulnerable to the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
"Shoot, nothing here either."
Every 'weapon' he came across was either broken or too rusted to be of any use. The rusted gear could have been repaired if he had a workstation, but his skills were useless without a forge. His search proved fruitless despite searching through abandoned buildings, old cars, and even dumpsters.
Shinon's frustration grew with each passing moment, and he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of despair. He knew that he was a sitting duck without a weapon, waiting to be attacked by any zombie or other danger that crossed his path.
The shadow abilities were deadly, but Shinon still needed to learn how to use them effectively. That's why he decided to look for a weapon instead of depending on some unknown strength.
"Goddamnit!"
As the sun began to set, Shinon slumped against the wall of a building, feeling defeated. He had searched every corner of the city and had found nothing. He closed his eyes and tried to gather his thoughts, wondering if he could survive in this harsh and unforgiving world.
"Who would've thought a billionaire would die like this?" Shinon chuckled.
He had never taken his wealth for granted, as he was taught by his parents. That said, it would be an understatement to say he wasn't a spoiled brat who was meant to face hardships in his life.
"Alright, enough resting... I should find someplace to spend the night."
Having little to no information about the world he was stuck in, sleeping under the night sky wasn't a wise choice. Not to mention, he had no idea how the nightlife was in the unknown place.
The zombies may grow stronger in the dark or something. In that case, it wasn't wise to rest without some weapon by his side.
"I guess there's no more young master plot armour for me." Shinon laughed before wiping off the dust from his clothes.
But even amid his despair, Shinon refused to give up. He took a deep breath and stood up, his eyes scanning the surroundings again. He knew that he couldn't afford to give up and that he had to keep searching for a weapon, no matter how slim the chances were.
***
"Just my fucking luck..."
Not even ten minutes had passed, and Shinon was already in a tight spot. While looking around a building, he saw a horde of zombies rushing towards him.
A mass of decayed flesh and tattered clothing that shambled forward with relentless determination. The sound of their moans and groans filled the air, an eerie chorus that sent chills down the spines of any living person who heard it.
The horde moved in a loose, chaotic formation, with individual zombies stumbling and tripping over one another as they pressed forward. Their arms reached out in front of them, clawing at the air as if searching for something to grasp onto.
Each zombie in the horde was unique in its own grotesque way, with pale, sunken faces that seemed frozen in a perpetual state of decay. Some had gaping wounds that revealed bone and sinew, while others had missing limbs that dangled uselessly at their sides.
"Just looking at them makes me want to puke."
Unfortunately, Shinon had no weapon to fight them with. He knew his powers could help him, but he had never before used his abilities to fight the undead.
"Time to hide." He mumbled as he channelled the shadow ability to take shelter in the darkness.
However, it seemed someone else had other plans.
__
You have been assigned a surprise quest!
[Corwardice]
Defeat the zombie horde!
0/7 defeated.
Condition for failure: Escaping the scenario or dying.
Punishment for failure: The user's stats will be reduced to 0.
Reward for success: One of the user's skills will be upgraded.
__
"What the hell?" Shinon was taken aback by the flashing screen in front.
Although he had heard about Dungeon Divers being assigned some quests once they entered the dungeon, it was his first time experiencing something like it.
As much as Shinon wanted to escape, he knew the system never lied. As such, losing whatever power he had could prove deadly.
"Looks like I'm out of choices. God, I hope this works."
Taking a deep breath, Shinon closed his eyes and focused his mind. He visualised the shadows around him, picturing them as tendrils of darkness that he could control and manipulate.
It's the same thing he used to do before forging any equipment. His experience in forging was the only experience he had. As such, he applied it to his new powers, hoping they work.
Slowly, he began to feel the shadows responding to his thoughts, twisting and writhing as he willed them to do his bidding.
With a flick of his wrist, Shinon sent a thick, dark tendril toward the nearest zombie. The creature stumbled back, and its eyes popped out of the sockets as it was enveloped in the shadowy mass.
[Progress: 1/7 zombies slain. Domination +1.]
"Woah!"
Buoyed by his success, Shinon continued to experiment with his powers. He sent bolts of shadow tentacles hurtling towards the zombies, causing them to stumble and fall as they were struck by the dark force.
But the zombies were relentless, and their numbers seemed to grow by the moment. Shinon knew that he needed to end the battle quickly, or he risked being overwhelmed.
"I wonder if I can do 'that'."
With a fierce determination, Shinon summoned all of his power and focused it into a single, concentrated burst of darkness. The shadows swirled around him, coalescing into a massive, dark wave that swept over the remaining zombies, engulfing them in an impenetrable wall of darkness.
As the shadows dissipated, Shinon stood panting and covered in sweat. He had never before used his powers in such a way and knew that he had tapped into a wellspring of potential that he had never realised he possessed.
Following the silent explosion, he noticed the tattered remains of the undead sprayed all around him.
[Progress: 11/7 zombies slain. Domination +7]
[Extra domination points will be awarded for rare achievement! Domination +7]
[You have levelled up!]
[Current level: 2]
[Skill: Shadow Mimic has been upgraded to level 2!]
[Upgrded effect: (Passive) The user retains 4% of the target's stats permanently.]
"I forgot to... use that skill. I'm such a moron..."
Shinon's body trembled with the exertion of controlling the shadows. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his breathing was ragged. He realised that he couldn't sustain this level of power for long, and he needed to find a weapon soon. Thankfully, his search lasted only a short time.
The shadowmancer's eyes scanned the surrounding area for any sign of a usable weapon. Shinon spotted a metal rod lying nearby a zombie's remains and quickly made his way towards it.
As he picked it up, he felt a sense of relief wash over him.
The metal rod was old and rusty but would serve as a makeshift weapon. Shinon gripped it tightly and moved cautiously, wary of any more potential threats.
As he made his way through the deserted city, Shinon couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that these zombies were just the beginning and that more dangers were lurking in the shadows.