The dungeon's oppressive silence hung heavy as they made their way back through the crumbled remains of the monolith chamber. The light of the shattered artifact had faded, but its lingering energy clung to the air, thick and unsettling.
The girl walked behind him, her staff at the ready, her eyes darting to every shadow that seemed to twitch unnaturally.
"You haven't said a word since the fight," she ventured cautiously. "Are you sure you're okay?"
He stopped abruptly, his shoulders tense. "Something's… wrong," he muttered.
The notification had appeared just moments ago, but it hadn't faded.
[System Notice: Unknown Entity Detected. Begin Integration? Y/N.]
The words pulsed faintly at the corner of his vision, their presence unnervingly persistent. His instinct told him to ignore it, but there was an undeniable pull, like the system itself was daring him to make a choice.
"What do you mean wrong?" she asked, her tone edged with concern.
He glanced back at her, his expression unreadable. "I've been feeling it since we broke the monolith. There's… something inside me now. Watching."
Her face paled. "Watching? What does that even mean?"
Before he could respond, a searing pain shot through his chest, forcing him to his knees.
[System Notice: Integration Commencing. This process cannot be interrupted.]
"What's happening?!" the girl cried, rushing to his side.
He didn't answer. His vision blurred as the world around him seemed to dissolve into darkness.
He stood in a void, an expanse of endless shadow that stretched infinitely in all directions. The oppressive stillness was broken only by a faint whisper, growing louder with each passing second.
"So, you are the one chosen by the shadows..."
The voice was deep, ancient, and resonated through the very fabric of the void. From the darkness, a figure emerged—a towering silhouette cloaked in writhing shadows, its eyes glowing a piercing white.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the void's suffocating pressure.
The figure's gaze bore into him. "I am a fragment of what you will become. The monolith you destroyed was not merely a prison—it was a beacon. And now, I am bound to you."
[System Notice: Shadow Monarch Fragment Bound. All shadow-based abilities will receive a 20% enhancement. New skills available.]
He clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "I don't want you bound to me. Whatever this is—undo it."
The figure chuckled, a sound that sent chills through him. "You don't understand, child. The shadows are not a gift you can reject. They are a part of you now. Deny them, and they will devour you."
The void began to ripple, and the figure started to dissolve. "Embrace the power, or let it consume you. The choice is yours."
With a gasp, he was back in the dungeon, the girl's worried face inches from his own. "Are you even listening? What happened?"
He shook his head, trying to steady himself. "It's… nothing," he lied. "We need to keep moving."
She frowned, unconvinced, but followed as he stood and began walking again.
They emerged from the dungeon into the fading light of dusk. The cool air was a relief after the suffocating atmosphere below. The girl took a deep breath, but her relief was short-lived as she noticed his unusual silence.
"You're hiding something," she said flatly.
He paused, his back to her. "I'm fine."
"You're lying." She stepped closer, her voice softening. "Whatever happened back there, you don't have to face it alone. I need to know what we're up against if we're going to survive."
He turned to her, his eyes darker than she remembered. "You wouldn't understand."
Before she could argue, a new notification appeared before both of them.
[System Notice: New Event Unlocked – Shadow's Call.]
Description: The power of the shadows draws enemies from across the realm. Survive the onslaught to claim your rightful place as the Shadow Monarch.]
Her eyes widened as she read the notice. "An event? Outside the dungeon? That's not supposed to happen."
He exhaled sharply. "It's because of me. Whatever I became in that dungeon, it's not done yet."
The sky darkened unnaturally, clouds swirling as if summoned by an unseen force. The air grew thick with tension, and the faint sound of distant howls echoed through the forest.
"What's coming?" she asked, her voice trembling.
He drew the shadow blade, its surface gleaming with an otherworldly light. "Everything."