The air buzzed with tension as the massive creature, its scaled body covered in jagged armor-like plates, advanced toward them. Its red eyes gleamed with a feral hunger, the beast's breath ragged as it stomped through the forest, shaking the earth beneath its monstrous form.
The girl had already summoned a blast of pure magic, the energy flashing through the air like a comet, but the creature only staggered before regaining its stance, its teeth bared in a vicious snarl.
"How the hell is it still standing?" the girl muttered, her staff glowing with renewed power. She glanced at him, eyes narrowed. "I thought you were supposed to be the 'Shadow Monarch.' Do something!"
His blood was pumping in his veins. A strange, primal urge stirred within him as the creature bared its teeth, its claws scratching against the earth. The cold, calculated persona of the Shadow Monarch had been dormant within him—until now.
He had been weak. Vulnerable. But the surge of energy inside him was different now. It felt raw, untamed. Power and darkness swirled beneath his skin, a force he hadn't fully understood until now.
A deep breath. And then...
"Shadow Surge."
A shadowy tendril shot from his outstretched hand, the energy coiling and twisting like a living thing. It stretched across the ground, wrapping itself around the beast's massive leg, constricting with unrelenting force. The creature howled in surprise as the shadowy tendril squeezed tighter, pulling it to the ground. The impact shook the forest, the beast snarling in fury.
The girl blinked, watching in disbelief as the creature struggled to free itself from the dark tendrils. Her lips parted, as if surprised by his sudden display of power.
"Not bad," she muttered, clearly impressed.
The creature roared in anger and flailed, its claws swiping through the air. It managed to break free of the tendrils with a powerful lunge, charging toward them with terrifying speed.
But he wasn't done.
His fingers twitched, and another surge of dark energy gathered in his hand, this time forming into a ball of dense, swirling shadows. He flung it toward the beast, and it exploded on impact, sending a shockwave that knocked the creature back several feet.
"What is that?" The girl's voice was filled with awe as she took a step back, her staff raised defensively. "Where did you get that kind of power?"
The energy was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was more than just the shadows—it was a manifestation of the fury and vengeance that burned within him. The System was giving him power, but it was up to him to wield it.
His gaze hardened as he stared at the creature, now wounded but far from defeated. The System's message had been clear: "Survive." And to do that, he would need more than just raw strength.
"I need to understand this... system," he muttered to himself, but the girl interrupted him, her voice full of urgency.
"Finish it. It won't be down for long."
Without a second thought, he stepped forward, eyes narrowing. He raised his hand again, focusing on the darkness swirling around him. This time, it wasn't just a random burst of energy—it was controlled, deliberate. His mind reached into the depths of the power he felt, finding its source.
This is what I was born for. He had once commanded armies, decimated foes, and ruled entire worlds. Now, the shadows themselves were his to control.
The ground beneath the beast began to crack, fissures forming as more tendrils of dark energy sprouted, coiling around its limbs like chains. The creature struggled, its claws scrabbling at the earth in a desperate attempt to break free, but it was no use. The shadows were relentless.
With a final, concentrated surge of power, he focused every ounce of his being into the darkness. The tendrils wrapped tighter, crushing the beast's limbs until it could no longer move.
The creature let out one last roar of defiance before it fell silent, its body limp and motionless.
He stood over it, chest heaving with exertion, his hands trembling slightly from the sheer force of what he had just done.
"Impressive," the girl said again, stepping forward cautiously. "But you're not done yet. The system's just getting started with you."
The system. The words echoed in his mind, and he felt a faint pulse from it, as though it was acknowledging his success.
The girl, noticing his preoccupation, spoke again. "You still don't know what this world is, do you?"
He turned his gaze to her, narrowing his eyes. "Enlighten me," he said, his voice cold and commanding.
She smirked. "This world is full of things like that beast you just killed—dungeons, creatures, magic. And there are others like me, Adventurers who live off of quests and exploration. But you... You're something different. The Shadow Monarch. You've got a system all your own, don't you?"
He didn't answer right away. The "System" had been clear about one thing: Restore Power. But how? What were the rules of this new existence he found himself in? The questions were endless.
The girl's smile faded as she took a step closer. "I'll tell you what I know. But you're going to need to get stronger. You're not the only one with power in this world."
His gaze darkened. The fire of ambition burned brighter than ever. "Then I will become stronger.