The air in the Valley of Shadows was heavy, suffocating, and reeked of decay. Jagged cliffs jutted out on either side, their sharp edges cutting through the dense fog that clung to the ground. Jin Seo's heart pounded as his eyes darted around, searching for any sign of movement. The only sound was the faint whistle of the wind and the distant growl of something lurking in the darkness.
The system notification appeared before him, stark and unfeeling.
[Ascension Trial: Eliminate the Shadow Pack]
He swallowed hard. "Shadow Pack… What the hell am I supposed to do against a pack?"
As if in answer, a low, guttural growl came from the mist. Jin froze, his grip tightening on the empty air. Then, in a flash of light, his blade materialized in his hand. It was the same sleek, dark weapon he'd used against the Last Queen Flame Dragon, but now it felt more familiar, more like an extension of himself.
[Skill: Dash Activated]
Before Jin could process what was happening, a black wolf leapt from the shadows, its purple eyes glowing with malevolence. Its massive jaws snapped inches from his face. Instinct took over, and Jin dashed to the side, the world blurring around him as he reappeared behind the beast.
His blade flashed, slicing cleanly through the wolf's side. It let out a pained yelp before collapsing into the dirt.
Jin didn't have time to catch his breath. Two more wolves lunged at him from opposite directions. He barely managed to dash backward, their claws swiping through the air where he had just stood.
"This is insane!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the valley.
But as he faced the two wolves, his fear began to fade. The adrenaline coursing through his veins sharpened his senses, his focus narrowing to a razor's edge. With a growl of his own, he dashed forward, slicing through the first wolf's neck before pivoting and driving his blade into the second's chest.
Both fell to the ground, lifeless.
Jin straightened, his chest heaving, and looked at the blood-soaked blade in his hand. Despite the overwhelming odds, he wasn't shaking anymore.
In fact, he felt… calm.
"Three down," he muttered, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I might just be getting used to this."
The growls grew louder, echoing all around him. The fog shifted, revealing dozens—no, hundreds—of glowing purple eyes staring at him from the darkness.
The Shadow Pack emerged from the mist, their sleek black bodies blending seamlessly with the shadows. They were massive, their fangs glinting in the dim light, and they moved as one, a terrifying tide of death and destruction.
Jin tightened his grip on his blade. "You've got to be kidding me…"
The wolves charged all at once, a wall of fur, fangs, and claws. Jin's mind raced, but his body moved on instinct.
[Skill: Dash Activated]
He disappeared in a blur, reappearing above the pack. Swinging his blade in a wide arc, he cleaved through several wolves as he landed. Blood sprayed across the ground, but the rest of the pack didn't falter.
They surrounded him, snarling and snapping, their eyes glowing brighter as if feeding off each other's rage. Jin's breathing was steady, his mind clear.
"Come on, then," he muttered.
The first wolf lunged, and Jin sidestepped, slicing through its side before spinning and driving his blade into another's throat. Another wolf pounced from behind, but Jin dashed forward, its claws barely grazing his back.
For every wolf he killed, two more seemed to take its place. The ground was slick with blood, his clothes soaked in it, but Jin didn't falter.
The battle raged on, a blur of movement and steel. Jin's blade sang through the air, cutting down wolf after wolf. His body moved with a speed and precision he didn't know he possessed.
The wolves tried to overwhelm him, their sheer numbers threatening to crush him, but Jin adapted. He dashed between them, striking with deadly efficiency. His blade found throats, hearts, and legs, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
At one point, a particularly large wolf lunged at him, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Jin dropped to the ground, sliding beneath it and slashing its belly open. He rolled to his feet just in time to block another wolf's attack, driving his blade through its skull.
Hours seemed to pass, though it could have been minutes. The fog was thick with the stench of blood and death. Jin stood in the center of the carnage, his chest heaving, his blade dripping with black and red blood. Around him, the bodies of the Shadow Pack lay piled, their glowing eyes dimmed forever.
His hoodie was in tatters, his body covered in cuts and bruises, but he was alive.
And for the first time in his life, Jin felt powerful.
The system notification appeared before him, cutting through the silence.
[Defeated the Shadow Pack]
[Title Earned: Shadow Pack Slayer]
[Skill Upgrade: Dash – Level 3]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Predator's Instinct – Heightened senses in combat]
[Active Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step – Allows the user to move through shadows undetected]
[Ascension Progress: 10%]
Jin stared at the notifications, his mind struggling to process everything. His blade dissolved in his hand, disappearing into nothingness, but the weight of it still lingered.
He looked down at himself, at the blood and dirt covering his body. His hands were trembling, but not from fear.
"Did I… really just do that?" he whispered.
He glanced around at the battlefield, at the countless wolves he'd defeated. For the first time, he felt like he'd truly accomplished something.
The system spoke again, its voice calm and unfeeling.
[Trial Complete. Returning to original location.]
The world around him began to shift and blur. Jin barely had time to react before the jagged cliffs and mist faded away, replaced by the familiar sight of his tiny apartment.
He was lying on the floor, staring up at the cracked ceiling. His body felt heavy, his muscles screaming in protest, but he was alive.
Jin let out a shaky laugh, his voice hoarse. "What the hell just happened to me?"