The air inside the dungeon was heavy, almost suffocating. Every step they took echoed off the stone walls, the sound swallowed by the darkness that seemed alive around them. The girl moved ahead, her staff faintly glowing, casting a dim light that barely pushed back the shadows.
For him, the darkness felt different—welcoming. The shadows whispered at the edges of his mind, offering their aid, promising power. But he knew better than to trust blindly. Whatever this force was, it wasn't entirely his to command—yet.
"Stay close," the girl muttered, her voice low. "Goblins are clever. They like to set traps and ambushes in the early chambers."
He nodded silently, his senses attuned to the faint flickers of movement in the distance. His body felt lighter, more responsive, as if the shadows themselves were guiding his steps.
[System Notice: Ability Activated – Shadow Step.]
Description: Utilize the shadows to move instantaneously across short distances. Cooldown: 15 seconds.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. The system wasn't just a burden; it was a weapon.
The girl halted suddenly, raising a hand. "Do you hear that?"
He listened. Faint shuffling, almost imperceptible, echoed down the corridor. It was coming from ahead—a group, moving cautiously.
"Goblins," she whispered. "Five, maybe six. They'll rush us the moment we're in range."
Her grip on her staff tightened as she prepared a spell. But he stepped forward, his voice calm. "I'll handle it."
She frowned. "Alone? Are you serious? Goblins are—"
"They're nothing," he interrupted, his tone cold and final.
Before she could protest, he vanished, his body dissolving into shadows.
The goblins were huddled in a rough semicircle, crude weapons clutched in their clawed hands. They grunted and snarled, their sharp eyes scanning the darkness. But they never saw him coming.
He reappeared behind them, the shadows coalescing around him. A tendril of dark energy lashed out, wrapping around the first goblin's neck and yanking it backward with a sickening crunch. The others whirled around, snarling in panic.
One of them lunged, its rusty blade aimed for his chest. He sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Another tendril shot from his hand, slamming the goblin into the wall with bone-crushing force.
The remaining goblins hesitated, their primitive instincts recognizing a predator far beyond their understanding.
"Run," he said, his voice low and menacing. But before they could act, he raised his hand, and the shadows surged forward like a living tide, swallowing the goblins whole. Their screams echoed briefly before the dungeon fell silent once more.
He reappeared beside the girl, his expression unreadable. She stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What... what was that?"
He didn't answer immediately, brushing past her and continuing down the corridor. "Keep moving. The real fight hasn't started yet."
The next chamber was larger, the air colder. The faint glow of the dungeon's core pulsed in the distance, casting an eerie light over the jagged walls. At its center stood a figure—a hulking, armored beast twice the size of the goblins. Its eyes glowed an unnatural green, and its massive battle axe gleamed with deadly intent.
[System Notice: Dungeon Guardian Detected.]
Name: Groth'gar the Enforcer.
Rank: D-Class.
Objective: Eliminate the target.
The girl cursed under her breath. "A Guardian this strong in a beginner's dungeon? This place is rigged."
He stepped forward, his eyes locked on the creature. The shadows around him seemed to stir, responding to his growing resolve.
"Stay back," he said without looking at her.
She hesitated. "You can't be serious. That thing will kill you."
He turned slightly, a faint smirk on his lips. "Watch and learn."
The Guardian roared, its voice reverberating through the chamber. It charged, the ground shaking with each step. He stood his ground, waiting until the last possible moment before activating Shadow Step.
In an instant, he was behind the creature, his hand wreathed in dark energy. He struck, the shadows slicing through the Guardian's armor like a blade. It roared in pain, swinging its axe wildly, but he was already gone, disappearing into the shadows once more.
The battle was a dance of light and darkness, the Guardian's brute strength clashing with his agility and precision. Every time it swung its axe, he was a step ahead, his movements seamless as he weaved through its attacks.
The girl watched, her mouth slightly agape. She had seen powerful adventurers before, but this... this was something else entirely. The way he moved, the way the shadows obeyed him—it was as if he was born for this.
The Guardian roared again, its green eyes glowing brighter as it summoned a surge of energy. The dungeon walls trembled as a wave of force shot outward, knocking him off balance.
For a moment, he faltered, the shadows around him flickering.
The Guardian seized the opportunity, raising its axe for a killing blow.
"Watch out!" the girl shouted, her staff glowing as she prepared a spell.
But he didn't need her help.
The shadows surged once more, stronger than before. He raised his hand, and a massive tendril shot upward, wrapping around the axe and yanking it from the Guardian's grasp. The creature snarled, but he was already moving, his hand plunging into the beast's chest.
Dark energy exploded outward, the force of it shaking the chamber. When the dust settled, the Guardian was gone, its massive body reduced to ash.
[System Notice: Quest Complete.]
Reward: Shadow Weaponry Unlocked.
He stood in the center of the chamber, his breathing steady, the shadows coiling around him like loyal servants. The girl approached cautiously, her eyes filled with a mixture of awe and fear.
"You're not human, are you?" she asked softly.
He turned to her, his expression cold. "Not anymore."
The faint glow of the dungeon's core grew brighter, and a new path opened before them. The girl hesitated, but he stepped forward without a word, the shadows following in his wake.
This was just the beginning.