Shadow Sovereigns : A New Beginning

The early morning sun poured into the small apartment, illuminating the threadbare furniture and the faint sheen of dust on the windowsill. Jin-Woo sat at the kitchen table, sipping a weak cup of coffee as he stared at his System Interface. The glowing blue screen hovered in front of him, displaying his stats and unallocated points.

"Alright," he muttered, setting the mug down. "No more holding back. Let's see what these points can do."

He had saved up 15 unallocated points over his last few level-ups, and it was finally time to spend them. After his first dungeon dive with the System, he knew exactly where to focus. He needed more MP for his shadows and skills, as well as increased Agility and Strength for better combat performance.

Unallocated Points: 15 → 0

• +8 Intelligence

• +4 Agility

• +3 Strength

Updated Stats:

• Strength: 19

• Agility: 24 (+3 from Dual Bleeding Daggers, +2 from Steel-Toed Boots, +1 from Common Goblin Bracelet)

• Stamina: 17 (+1 from Steel-Toed Boots)

• Intelligence: 24

• Sense: 16

HP: 120/170

MP: 160/240

Jin-Woo flexed his hands, feeling the subtle changes as the points settled into place. His mind felt sharper, his movements more fluid, and his MP pool significantly larger. With this much MP, maintaining his shadows during extended fights wouldn't be as much of a problem.

"Not bad," he said, leaning back in his chair. "But I'll need more than stats to get through the next dungeon."

His thoughts were interrupted by the familiar ding of the System.

System Notification:

New Quest Assigned.

Title: Prove Your Strength

Objective: Defeat 50 enemies (Level 6 or higher) within 7 days.

Rewards:

• +300 XP

• Random Item (Tier: Rare or above)

• New Skill Unlocked

Penalty: Lose 50% of current stats if the quest is not completed.

Jin-Woo leaned forward, his brow furrowing as he reread the details. "Fifty enemies in seven days. Level 6 or higher. And if I fail, I lose half my stats? Great. No pressure."

He tapped the notification to bring up his Quest Tracker.

Active Quest:

Prove Your Strength

Progress: 0/50 enemies defeated.

Time Remaining: 7 days.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fifty enemies means I need a decent dungeon. And fast."

Pulling out his phone, he opened the Hunter Network App. It was the easiest way to track dungeon availability and join raids. Scrolling through the listings, Jin-Woo searched for something that fit his current needs.

Dungeon Listings:

1. E-Rank Dungeon – Team Recruitment Open

• Location: Seocho District

• Monster Levels: 8–12

• Status: One Spot Available

Jin-Woo frowned as he scanned the listing. The E-Rank Dungeon was the only viable option. His current rank as an F-Rank Hunter legally restricted him from entering anything above E-Rank, and solo dives weren't an option without sufficient funds to bribe the dungeon regulators.

"One spot left," he muttered. "Guess I don't have much of a choice."

He tapped to reserve the spot, noting the details of the raid. The group was scheduled to meet in the Seocho District within a few hours. It wasn't ideal, but it would get him closer to completing the quest.

Before heading to the raid, Jin-Woo made a quick detour to the Hunter Market in the Association building. His current gear—a mix of Rare and Common items—was serviceable, but he wanted to see if there was anything worth upgrading.

The market was bustling with activity, rows of stalls filled with weapons, armor, and accessories. Jin-Woo wandered through the aisles, scanning the price tags as he went. Most of the items were far out of his price range.

He stopped in front of a stall displaying a sleek black cloak. The tag hanging from it caught his eye.

Item: Phantom Cloak (Rare)

Effect: Reduces noise made during movement by 20%.

Bonus: +4 Agility

Price: 3,000,000 won

Jin-Woo's eyes widened. "Three million won?"

The merchant, noticing his reaction, grinned. "A fine piece, isn't it? Perfect for someone like you—lightweight, boosts your speed, and keeps you quiet during a fight."

Jin-Woo shook his head, stepping back. "I don't have that kind of money."

His entire savings amounted to just over 400,000 won, barely enough to cover basic expenses like rent, food, and his mother's hospital bills. Spending even a fraction of it on equipment was out of the question.

"Maybe next time," Jin-Woo muttered, turning away from the stall. His hands clenched into fists as he walked back toward the exit. "Guess I'll have to make do with what I've got."

The Seocho District was a bustling part of the city, its streets lined with shops and restaurants. Jin-Woo arrived at the designated meeting spot, a small plaza near the dungeon gate. The other members of the raid team were already there, a mix of E-Rank and F-Rank Hunters.

As Jin-Woo approached, a tall man with a broad chest and a massive sword strapped to his back noticed him. "You the last one?" the man asked, his voice gruff.

"Yeah," Jin-Woo replied. "Sung Jin-Woo."

The man nodded. "I'm Hyun-Sik, the team leader. You've got some experience, right?"

"A little," Jin-Woo said, keeping his tone neutral. "I can handle myself."

Hyun-Sik looked him up and down, his brow furrowing slightly. "You don't look like much. But as long as you pull your weight, we won't have a problem."

Jin-Woo smirked. "Don't worry. I'll keep up."

The dungeon gate loomed before the group, its swirling energy casting an eerie glow over the plaza. As they stepped through, the air changed, becoming colder and heavier. The walls of the dungeon were jagged stone, dimly lit by faintly glowing crystals embedded in the ground.

The System immediately registered the dungeon.

Dungeon Notification:

E-Rank Dungeon: Shadow Caverns

Monster Levels: 8–12

Jin-Woo scanned the surroundings, his senses heightened. The Shadow Caverns lived up to their name, the dim light and narrow passages creating a sense of unease. He tightened his grip on his daggers, his gaze flicking to the rest of the team.

"Stick together," Hyun-Sik ordered, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "Watch each other's backs. And don't wander off."

The group moved cautiously through the dungeon, their footsteps muffled by the uneven ground. The faint sounds of growls and skittering claws echoed in the distance, growing louder with every step.

Jin-Woo's heart raced, but it wasn't fear—it was anticipation. He was stronger now, faster, sharper. The monsters ahead didn't know it yet, but they were already his prey.