The ground trembled as the walls of Blacksite-7 groaned, dust and debris raining from the ceiling. Seun's breath came in ragged gasps, his body still burning from the System's forced awakening. Ji-Ah's grip on his wrist was ice-cold, her hollow eyes wide with something between fear and fury.
**"He's coming,"** she whispered.
Seun didn't need to ask *who*.
The shadows around them *writhed*, as if the facility itself were alive—breathing, *hungry*.
Dr. Voss's laughter echoed through the crumbling halls, his voice warped, *multiplied*.
**"Did you really think you could leave, little shadow?"**
---
### **The Warden's True Form**
The ceiling *exploded*.
A monstrous figure descended—Dr. Voss, but *wrong*. His limbs stretched too long, his fingers now gnarled claws. His lab coat had fused with his flesh, the fabric peeling back to reveal pulsating veins of black mana. His jaw unhinged, rows of needle-teeth glistening.
**[Dr. Elias Voss – Final Form]**
**[Rank: A]**
**[Abilities: Necrotic Regeneration | Soul Parasite | Dungeon Core Assimilation]**
Seun's System flared in warning.
**[WARNING: HOSTILE DUNGEON CORE DETECTED]**
**[ADAPTATION REQUIRED]**
Ji-Ah shoved Seun back, her skeletal body flaring with spectral energy. **"Run! He'll *consume* you!"**
Seun didn't move.
His dagger hummed in his grip, his shadows coiling at his feet.
**"No,"** he said. **"I'm done running."**
---
### **The Breaking Point**
Voss lunged.
Seun barely dodged, the doctor's claws gouging the ground where he'd stood. The Voidfang Alpha snarled, leaping at Voss's throat—only for the doctor to *grab* it midair, his fingers sinking into its shadow-flesh.
**"Cute,"** Voss sneered—before *ripping* the shadow beast in half.
Seun's vision flashed white as agony lanced through his skull. The Voidfang Alpha's death scream echoed in his mind, its essence dissolving into smoke.
**[Shadow Minion Lost: Voidfang Alpha]**
Voss licked his fingers. **"Delicious."**
Seun's body *locked*.
For the first time since he'd gained the UnRuly System—
He felt *fear*.
Then Ji-Ah was there, her skeletal hands pressing against his chest.
**"Take it,"** she hissed. **"Take *my* shadow!"**
The System *screamed*.
**[SHADOW EXTRACTION AVAILABLE: SUBJECT ZERO]**
**[WARNING: SOUL INTEGRATION MAY CAUSE INSTABILITY]**
Seun didn't hesitate.
**"Extract."**
---
### **The Evolution**
Ji-Ah's body *dissolved* into black mist, her essence surging into Seun's veins. The pain was *unreal*—like his bones were being reforged, his blood set ablaze.
**[SHADOW MONARCH CLASS EVOLUTION: 45%]**
Voss's grin faltered.
Seun's shadow *detonated* outward, a tidal wave of darkness that swallowed the room. When it receded, his body had changed.
His muscles were denser, his aura oppressive. His eyes—once ordinary—now glowed faintly violet, like embers in the dark.
**[RANK UP: D → C]**
**[New Passive: 'Soul Resonance' – Can temporarily wield fallen enemies' abilities.]**
**[New Active Skill: 'Shadow Reaping' – Steal a portion of a foe's strength on hit.]**
Voss took a step back.
Seun *smiled*.
---
### **The Reckoning**
The fight was brutal.
Voss was fast, his claws shredding stone like paper. But Seun was *faster*.
**[Shadow Step]**
He appeared behind Voss, his dagger carving a deep gash across the doctor's spine.
**[Shadow Reaping: Activated]**
Voss *howled* as tendrils of his own mana were *ripped* free, absorbed into Seun's blade.
**"You *thief*!"** Voss snarled, whirling to strike—
Only for Seun to *grab* his wrist.
**"Thanks for the power,"** Seun said—before unleashing **Ji-Ah's spectral scream**.
The sound *shattered* the room. Voss's body convulsed, his flesh peeling back like rotting fruit.
**[Soul Resonance: 'Neural Overload Scream' – Success]**
Seun didn't let up.
He *pounced*, his dagger plunging into Voss's chest—not stopping until the hilt slammed against bone.
Voss gasped, his body crumbling to ash.
**[Target Eliminated: Dr. Elias Voss]**
**[Reward: 1,500 DP | 'Dungeon Core Fragment' Acquired]**
Silence.
Then—
A weak laugh.
Ji-Ah's voice, faint, from somewhere inside him.
**"Told you… you were hungry too."**
---
### **The Aftermath**
The facility collapsed around him as Seun staggered outside, dawn's light burning his enhanced eyes.
The System pulsed.
**[Main Quest Updated: 'Uncover Project Lazarus' – 60% Complete]**
**[New Lead: Director Ko's Private Files – Hunter Association HQ]**
Seun exhaled, flexing his fingers.
He was stronger now.
But he wasn't done.
Not even close.