Kang Min-jae's heart still raced, the echo of the shadow wolf's dying howl ringing in his ears. The black crystal shard—the Shadow Essence—pulsed in his trembling hand, its faint whisper ("Deeper… deeper…") burrowing into his mind. He knelt in the writhing black mist, his torn school uniform clinging to his sweat-soaked skin. The air of the Order of Shadows, or "Shadows" as Eun-ha had called it, was thick, pressing against his lungs like a living thing. The violet stars above watched, their cold light unyielding.
Eun-ha stood before him, her silver eyes glinting with an unreadable mix of amusement and scrutiny. Her black robe swayed, though no breeze stirred the stagnant air. "Not bad, kid," she said, her voice a velvet blade. "Most crumble in their first trial. You're… different." Her smirk sharpened, as if she knew something he didn't.
Min-jae's breath hitched. "Different how?" His voice was hoarse, defiance battling exhaustion. He pushed himself to his feet, clutching the crystal tighter. "And what's this thing? What's it for?"
Eun-ha tilted her head, her raven hair catching the starlight. "Curious, aren't you? That's dangerous in Shadows." She stepped closer, her presence chilling yet electric. "The Essence is power. Absorb it, and you'll grow stronger. Ignore it, and you'll stay weak. Your choice."
Min-jae stared at the crystal, its pulse syncing with his heartbeat. Something about it felt alive, almost hungry. "And if I don't want it?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
Eun-ha's laugh was soft, menacing. "Then you die. Shadows doesn't coddle the weak." She gestured to the mist, where shadowy shapes slunk just out of sight. "More trials are coming. You'll need every edge."
His stomach twisted. The memory of the wolf's crimson eyes, its claws tearing his uniform, flashed through his mind. He didn't want to die again. Not after surviving that truck, that crushing darkness. Gritting his teeth, he pressed the crystal to his chest. It dissolved into his skin, a cold surge flooding his veins. His vision flickered, and a blue hologram materialized.
Oath of Judgment
[Summoned: Kang Min-jae]
[Rank: 1]
[Role: Unassigned]
[Attributes: Strength 6, Agility 8, Intelligence 10, Shadow Affinity 16]
[Authority: Shadow Spark (Basic)]
[New Trial: Navigate the Veil of Trials. Find the Shadow Gate. Limit: 12 hours.]
[Choice: Wilt thou trust the Arbiter's guidance, or forge thine own path?]
Min-jae's eyes widened. "Shadow Spark? What's that?" The hologram's archaic tone—wilt thou—felt like a judge peering into his soul.
Eun-ha's smirk faded, replaced by a calculating gaze. "A spark of the Order's power. You'll figure it out… or you won't." She turned, her robe trailing mist. "Follow me. The Veil awaits."
Min-jae hesitated. Trust her? Her cryptic words and sharp smiles screamed danger. But the mist stirred, and a low growl rumbled in the distance. He had no weapons, no map, only the faint black aura flickering at his fingertips. Swallowing his fear, he followed.
The landscape shifted as they walked. The mist parted, revealing a labyrinth of jagged obsidian spires, their surfaces etched with glowing runes. The ground pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. Min-jae's sneakers sank into the soft, black earth, each step heavier than the last. "Where are we going?" he asked, his voice small in the vastness.
"The Veil of Trials," Eun-ha said without looking back. "The first layer of Shadows. Pass its tests, and you'll reach the Shadow Gate. Fail, and…" She glanced over her shoulder, her silver eyes glinting. "You know."
Min-jae's chest tightened. "And you're just… helping me? Why?"
Eun-ha stopped, her expression unreadable. "Let's say I'm invested in your potential. Or maybe I'm bored." Her voice dipped, almost a whisper. "Don't trust me too much, kid."
Before he could respond, the ground quaked. A rift tore open ahead, spewing black mist and a swarm of shadow creatures—spider-like, with too many legs and glowing red eyes. Eun-ha didn't flinch. "Your second trial," she said, stepping aside. "Show me what that Shadow Spark can do."
Min-jae's heart pounded. He had no idea what "Shadow Spark" meant, but the creatures skittered toward him, their claws clicking. Instinct took over. He thrust his hands forward, and the black aura surged, forming a shimmering veil of shadows around him. The creatures slammed into it, screeching as the veil burned their limbs.
"Whoa," Min-jae gasped, his hands shaking. The veil flickered, draining his energy. He couldn't hold it long. One spider lunged, its claw grazing his arm. Pain seared through him, but he focused, willing the aura to shift. It twisted into a jagged blade, slashing the creature in half. Black mist exploded, and the others hesitated.
Eun-ha clapped slowly. "Not terrible. But you're slow." She raised a hand, and silver light flared, incinerating the remaining spiders in a burst of radiance. Min-jae stared, awestruck and uneasy. She was powerful—too powerful.
"Keep moving," she said, her tone flat. "The Gate's close."
They pressed on, the labyrinth growing denser. Min-jae's arm throbbed, but the Shadow Spark felt… alive, whispering in his mind. He experimented, forming a small shadow dagger, then a whip. Each attempt drained him, but excitement flickered beneath his fear. He was changing.
A massive obsidian arch loomed ahead—the Shadow Gate, its surface swirling with dark energy. But a figure blocked their path: a boy, maybe seventeen, with spiky red hair and glowing amber eyes. Scars on his hands pulsed with faint flames.
"Who's the kid?" the boy sneered, eyeing Min-jae. "Another lamb for Shadows to slaughter?"
Eun-ha's smile returned, cold and sharp. "Tae-ho, meet Min-jae. Play nice."
Tae-ho snorted. "Nice? In Shadows? He won't last a day." Flames sparked at his fingertips, and Min-jae tensed, his shadow dagger reforming.
"Enough," Eun-ha snapped, her silver light flaring. Tae-ho backed off, muttering. She turned to Min-jae. "The Gate's your next step. Enter, and the Order will assign your role. But…" Her eyes darkened. "Roles come with costs."
Min-jae's throat tightened. "What kind of costs?"
Eun-ha leaned close, her whisper chilling. "Your humanity, maybe. Or your soul."
The Gate pulsed, its energy pulling at him. Min-jae glanced at Tae-ho's smirk, Eun-ha's unreadable gaze, and the labyrinth's shadows. Fear and resolve battled within him. He'd survived the wolf, the spiders. He'd survive this, too.
Clenching his fists, he stepped toward the Gate, the whispers of Shadows growing louder.