Shadow Sovereigns : A New Beginning

The oppressive silence of the Shadow Caverns pressed down on the group as they moved deeper into the dungeon. The faint glow of the crystals embedded in the walls barely illuminated the jagged stone corridors, casting long shadows that seemed to shift and writhe when no one was looking. Jin-Woo stayed near the back of the group, his daggers drawn, his eyes scanning every corner.

"Stay close," Hyun-Sik muttered, his massive sword resting on his shoulder as he led the group forward. "These caverns are full of ambush points. Don't get separated."

The team consisted of six members, including Jin-Woo. Most were E-Rank Hunters, with only one other F-Rank besides him—a nervous-looking young man holding a bow. Jin-Woo could feel their gazes flicker toward him occasionally, doubt and curiosity mingling in their eyes. He knew what they were thinking.

"An F-Rank? What's he even doing here?"

They wouldn't say it outright—yet—but Jin-Woo could feel the judgment in their expressions.

"Great," Jin-Woo muttered under his breath, adjusting his grip on his daggers. "My own team thinks I'm dead weight."

The first sign of trouble came in the form of faint, high-pitched screeches echoing through the caverns. Jin-Woo's ears perked up, his enhanced Sense stat giving him an edge in picking up the sound before anyone else.

"Something's coming," Jin-Woo said, his voice low.

The others froze, their weapons at the ready. Moments later, a swarm of Shadow Bats emerged from the darkness, their glowing red eyes and jagged wings cutting through the dim light.

Name: Shadow Bat

Level: 8

HP: 40/40

MP: 10/10

Hyun-Sik cursed, raising his sword. "Bats! Take them down before they overwhelm us!"

The team sprang into action, arrows, spells, and blades flashing in the faint light as they fought to fend off the swarm. Jin-Woo darted to the side, his Agility allowing him to outpace the bats as they swooped down to attack.

He activated Dash, the burst of speed propelling him toward the closest bat. His dagger flashed, cutting clean through the creature's wing and sending it spiraling to the ground. Another quick strike ended its life, the System chiming in his mind.

Monster Defeated: Shadow Bat

+10 XP

Jin-Woo didn't stop to celebrate. Another bat dove toward him, its claws extended. He sidestepped, his movements fluid, and drove his second dagger into its chest. The bat shrieked before disintegrating into black mist.

Monster Defeated: Shadow Bat

+10 XP

The team fought hard, but the swarm was relentless. Jin-Woo noticed the F-Rank Archer struggling to keep the bats at bay, his arrows missing more often than not. One of the bats lunged toward him, claws aimed at his exposed side.

Jin-Woo didn't think—he moved. In a flash, he used Blink, teleporting to the archer's side and slashing the bat out of the air.

Skill Activated: Blink

-15 MP

The archer stared at him, wide-eyed. "T-thanks."

"Don't lose focus," Jin-Woo said, turning back to the fight.

Within minutes, the swarm was defeated, the remaining bats fleeing deeper into the caverns. The group regrouped, their breaths heavy as they took a moment to recover.

Hyun-Sik glanced at Jin-Woo, his expression unreadable. "Not bad, F-Rank. You held your own."

Jin-Woo shrugged, sheathing his daggers. "Bats aren't exactly the toughest enemies."

The compliment was faint, but it was enough to shift the atmosphere. The team seemed less skeptical of him now, though Jin-Woo knew they still underestimated him.

The group pressed on, the air growing colder and heavier the deeper they went. The walls of the caverns became narrower, the shadows darker. Every now and then, Jin-Woo felt the faint tug of his Sense stat alerting him to something just out of sight, but the monsters kept their distance for now.

As they walked, Jin-Woo pulled up the System Interface to check his progress.

Active Quest:

Prove Your Strength

Progress: 2/50 enemies defeated.

XP: 20/600

"Only two down," he muttered to himself. "At this rate, I'll be here all week."

The sound of claws scraping against stone snapped him out of his thoughts. Hyun-Sik raised a hand, signaling the group to stop. The scraping grew louder, closer, until a hulking figure stepped into the faint light.

The Shadow Troll was massive, its gray, mottled skin glistening in the dim light. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto the group, and it let out a low growl, revealing jagged teeth. Behind it, two smaller trolls stepped into view, their claws scraping against the stone.

Name: Shadow Troll

Level: 9

HP: 180/180

MP: 50/50

Name: Shadow Troll Minions (x2)

Level: 8

HP: 140/140

"Spread out!" Hyun-Sik barked. "Take down the minions first! Watch out for the big one!"

The team split into pairs, each focusing on a different target. Jin-Woo found himself facing one of the smaller trolls, its claws slashing toward him in quick, brutal arcs. He activated Dash, weaving around its attacks as he struck back with precise, calculated movements.

Skill Activated: Dash

-4 MP

His daggers cut into the troll's thick hide, each strike chipping away at its HP. The troll roared in frustration, lunging at him with surprising speed. Jin-Woo dodged, sliding under its outstretched arm and driving his dagger into its back.

Critical Hit!

Enemy inflicted with Bleeding.

The troll staggered, its HP bar ticking down rapidly as the bleeding effect took hold. Jin-Woo pressed the attack, his daggers a blur of motion as he finished it off.

Monster Defeated: Shadow Troll Minion

+25 XP

He glanced around, spotting the Shadow Beast he had summoned earlier tearing into the second minion. The shadow moved with brutal efficiency, its claws rending flesh as it overwhelmed the smaller troll. When the minion finally fell, the System chimed again.

Shadow Beast Defeated Monster: Shadow Troll Minion

Shadow Beast Gains XP.

The main troll roared in rage, charging toward Hyun-Sik, who barely managed to block its claws with his massive sword. The rest of the team scrambled to attack from the sides, but the troll's raw strength kept them at bay.

Jin-Woo narrowed his eyes, stepping forward. "Time to end this."

He summoned the Shadow Beast to his side, commanding it to attack the troll's legs while he aimed for its head. The coordinated assault overwhelmed the creature, and within moments, it collapsed to the ground, defeated.

Monster Defeated: Shadow Troll

+50 XP

The group stood in silence, catching their breath as the troll dissolved into black mist. Hyun-Sik turned to Jin-Woo, his expression a mix of surprise and respect.

"You're stronger than you look," he said.

Jin-Woo smirked, sheathing his daggers. "I get that a lot."

As the group continued deeper into the dungeon, Jin-Woo pulled up his Quest Tracker again, satisfied with his progress.

Active Quest:

Prove Your Strength

Progress: 5/50 enemies defeated.

"Only forty-five to go," he muttered. "Piece of cake."

But deep down, he knew the challenges ahead would only get harder. And he was ready for them.