Jisoo sat on the floor of his small apartment, staring into the glowing System interface. The cold light from the screen reflected in his wide, tired eyes. His fingers shook as he scrolled through the information.
SYSTEM NOTICE
Learned Skill: Shadow Bind
Description: Conjure ethereal chains that bind enemies. Works against low-class enemies.
Cooldown: 10 seconds. Mana Cost: 5.
Kalix lounged on the edge of the table, kicking his tiny clawed feet. "So, master, you're officially a Demonologist. Pretty neat, huh?"
Jisoo scrunched up his face. "Neat? I almost died, and now I'm stuck with... this." He waved his hand toward the System interface.
"Hey! You're stuck with me," Kalix said, mock-offended. "And let's not forget who saved your sorry behind back there."
Jisoo sighed, leaning his body weight back against the peeling wall. It all seemed so surreal—night goblins, glowing rifts, and the System's voice cold in his head. Yet the dull ache in his side and the acrid smell of sulfur hanging in the air made it inescapably real.
"What happens now?" Jisoo asked quietly.
Kalix beamed. "Now, it's training. Tons of it. Spells to learn, mana to manage, and dungeons to raid. Unless you want to end up as goblin chow again, you've got to toughen up—and fast."
Kalix hopped down from the table and stretched his leathery wings. "Alright, let's start with the basics. You've got a shiny new skill—Shadow Bind. Why don't you give it a shot?"
Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "On what? You?"
Kalix laughed. "Cute, but no. Pick something expendable, like that cockroach over there."
Jisoo followed Kalix's pointed claw and spotted a cockroach scuttling across the floor. He grimaced. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Kalix replied, crossing his arms.
With a reluctant sigh, Jisoo focused on the cockroach. The System's interface pulsed in response to his will, and a tingle ran down his spine. He raised his hand, feeling the spell's energy gather at his fingertips.
"Shadow Bind!"
A thin, smoky chain shot from Jisoo's hand and latched onto the cockroach, freezing it in place. The ghostly binds shimmered faintly as the insect wriggled, unable to move. Jisoo blinked in surprise.
"Hah! Not bad for your first try," Kalix said, nodding approvingly.
Jisoo opened his mouth to reply but stopped as a wave of exhaustion hit him. His vision blurred, and his knees buckled. He caught himself on the edge of the table, panting.
"What... what was that?"
Kalix shrugged. "Welcome to mana drain, my friend. Every spell you cast pulls from your energy reserves. And until you toughen up, it's going to feel like running a marathon every time you use one."
Jisoo groaned, mopping sweat from his forehead. "Ridiculous."
"Ridiculous or not, it's your reality now," Kalix said, unusually somber. "You've got power, but power comes at a price. Learn to manage it, or it will destroy you."
The next morning, Jisoo sat at the corner of his bed, staring at his phone. News reports about the dungeon outbreak filled every channel. The headlines blared:
"Minor Rift Incident in Gangseo District."
"Adventurers Save the Day."
"Increased Dungeon Activity Predicted in Seoul."
Jisoo scrolled through the reports, but there was no mention of the goblin pack that had attacked him. No mention of the people who hadn't made it out alive.
He ground his teeth and slung the phone onto the bed. "Adventurers save the day, huh? Where the hell were they last night?"
Kalix, sitting on the windowsill, snorted. "They don't bother with small fry like goblins. Not worth the effort. That's where we come in."
Jisoo gave him a tired look. "We?"
"Of course! You're the master, and I'm your ever-loyal demon sidekick." Kalix grinned. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing this out of charity. But we're stuck together now, so we might as well make the most of it."
Jisoo let out a deep sigh, his head falling back against the wall. The weight of his new reality pressed in on him, heavy and suffocating.
Later that night, Jisoo stood in front of his bathroom mirror, staring at the reflection. Dark circles framed his eyes, and his face was pale, but there was a spark of determination in his gaze.
"I can't keep living like this," he said softly. "Scraping by, running from every threat. If the System's given me this... power, I might as well use it."
Kalix appeared in the doorway, arms folded. "Finally growing a spine, are we?"
"Shut up," Jisoo said, tugging on a jacket. "If I'm going to survive, I need to figure out what I can do. And the best place to do that is..."
"...a dungeon," Kalix finished, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Now you're talking, master. Let's find ourselves a nice, low-tier rift to break in those shiny new skills."
Jisoo's hand paused on the doorknob as a vision of goblins flashed through his mind, sending a cold shiver down his spine. He dismissed his fear.
"I'm not going to be a victim anymore," he said firmly.
Kalix snickered. "That's the spirit! Let's see what kind of trouble we can stir up."
As they stepped out into the cold night air, Jisoo felt the faintest flicker of hope. He didn't know what awaited him in the dungeons, but one thing was certain: his journey as a Demonologist had just begun.
Jisoo and Kalix stared into a small, sputtering rift at the outskirts of an abandoned construction zone. It pulsated, jagged around the edges as if alive, glowing faintly. The city lights around them felt like a world away, swallowed up by the rift's strange, eerie presence.
"This is a Level 1 dungeon," Kalix said, stretching out his wings lazily. "Low-tier stuff. Mostly goblins, and maybe a slime or two if you're lucky. Ideal for a novice like yourself."
Jisoo gripped the rusty crowbar he'd brought tightly. "And what if it's not perfect? What if I get overwhelmed?"
Kalix smirked. "That's what I'm here for. Don't worry, master. I've got your back... for now."
"Comforting," Jisoo muttered, his heart racing in his chest. He breathed in deeply, bracing himself. "Alright. Let's do this."
His foot just brushed against the portal when the System's cold voice rang out in his mind:
"Dungeon detected: Lesser Abyss."
"Enter?"
It was an abrupt question, and Jisoo hesitated before nodding. The portal flared, engulfing him and Kalix in a brilliant flash.
As the light faded, Jisoo stood in a cavernous space filled with darkness. The walls throbbed faintly, vermilion veins running through the stone. The air was heavy and suffocating, carrying a faint, rotting smell.
"Welcome to your first dungeon," Kalix said, upbeat. "Charming, isn't it?"
Jisoo looked around nervously. The cavern was quiet except for the sound of dripping water echoing far away. Shadows whipped at the edges of his vision, and he gripped the crowbar tighter.
"Keep your wits about you," Kalix said, hovering alongside him. "These monsters aren't strong, but they're still threats if you're careless."
The deeper they ventured, the more it felt like something was skittering nearby. Jisoo froze, his heart pounding.
"There they are," Kalix said, pointing ahead.
Three goblins emerged from the darkness, their hunched shapes glowing with red eyes. They carried crude weapons—rusty knives, crooked scraps of metal. One growled, baring sharp teeth, and the others followed, closing in slowly.
Jisoo's hands trembled as the goblins approached. His pulse throbbed in his ears, muffling Kalix's voice. He felt like that terrified nine-year-old boy again, hiding while monsters raged through his world.
"Focus, master!" Kalix snapped, bringing him back to reality. "Use Shadow Bind! Hold them down!"
Jisoo swallowed hard, lifting his free hand. He focused on the lead goblin, summoning the chains from earlier. A familiar tingle ran down his spine as the System responded.
"Shadow Bind!"
Chains like smoke blasted from his hand, wrapping around the lead goblin's legs. The creature screeched, its movements suddenly sluggish. The other two goblins paused, distracted by their companion's struggle.
"Good! Now follow through!" Kalix shouted, throwing himself at one of the remaining goblins.
Jisoo rushed the bound goblin, swinging the crowbar awkwardly. The strike connected with the creature's head, and it collapsed.
Kalix toasted the second goblin with fire, and the third tried to flee, but Jisoo intercepted it with another swing of his weapon. He panted as the goblin fell lifeless to the ground.
"Not bad, for a beginner," Kalix said, landing beside him.
Jisoo wiped sweat from his brow, his arms shaking. "That was... terrifying."
"Learn to live with it," Kalix said. "This is just the start."
The goblins' bodies dissolved into motes of light, and the System interface appeared.
"Enemies defeated: 3."
"Rewards: 5 Experience Points, 10 Coins."
"Loot: Rusted Key."
Jisoo frowned. "A key? What am I supposed to do with that?"
Kalix shrugged. "Dungeon logic. Keys usually mean there's a door nearby, and behind that door? Something shiny. Keep moving."
Jisoo pocketed the key and followed Kalix deeper. The walls seemed to narrow, leading to a larger chamber.
The chamber opened into a circular arena, the floor marked with faint runes. At the center stood a larger goblin, wielding a jagged iron club. It growled, slamming the club into the ground as it locked eyes with Jisoo.
Kalix whistled. "A Goblin Chieftain. Tougher than the others, but nothing we can't handle. Ready, master?"
"No," Jisoo said, clutching his crowbar.
"Close enough," Kalix grinned. "I'll distract it. You bind and strike."
The chieftain bellowed and charged. Kalix flew up, hurling fireballs to divert it. Jisoo cast Shadow Bind again, chains wrapping its legs. The chieftain snarled, tearing free with brute force.
"It's stronger!" Jisoo shouted.
"Then hit it harder!" Kalix swooped to claw at its face.
Summoning his courage, Jisoo bound the chieftain's arms. The chains slowed it enough for Kalix to land a decisive strike. The chieftain stumbled, and Jisoo charged forward, swinging the crowbar with all his strength. It fell and dissolved into light.
The System interface reappeared.
"Mini-Boss defeated: Goblin Chieftain."
"Rewards: 50 Experience Points, 100 Coins."
"Loot: Minor Mana Potion, Worn Pendant."
Jisoo picked up the glowing pendant etched with faint runes. "What's this?"
Kalix nodded. "It boosts mana capacity. Not bad for your first dungeon."
Jisoo stared at the pendant, realizing he had fought, survived, and gained something in return. For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of hope.
"Let's get out of here," he said, slipping the pendant on.
Kalix smirked. "You're starting to sound like a real Demonologist."