Chapter 3: Arise, My Shadows
The battlefield was silent.
The Stone Golem's shattered body lay still, cracks glowing faintly as steam rose from its core. Jin stood over it, panting, blood dripping down his arm.
Then — the System's voice returned, cold and emotionless.
> [Boss Defeated.]
[Tutorial Completed.]
[Shadow Extraction Skill: Now Active.]
Jin blinked. A shadow beneath the golem began to ripple, moving unnaturally — like black water boiling under his feet.
The System asked again:
> [Do you wish to extract this shadow?]
[YES] / [NO]
Jin raised his hand.
> "...Arise."
---
🟣 Scene: The First Shadow Soldier
The shadow twisted, stretched upward like smoke, forming a tall figure — the shape of the fallen golem.
> CRACK.
It opened glowing purple eyes.
Then it knelt before Jin.
A message appeared:
> [Shadow Extraction Successful.]
[Name this soldier?]
Jin stared into its face. It wasn't like the monster anymore — it had armor, strength, but also loyalty.
> "I'll call you… Stone."
The golem grunted in approval.
His first Shadow Soldier was born.
Jin smiled faintly.
> "I'm no longer alone."
---
🌀 Scene: The World Returns
Light exploded around him. The Tutorial Zone faded like smoke. When Jin opened his eyes again…
He was back in the real dungeon — the one where his teammates betrayed him.
But something was different.
The bodies were gone. The gate was closed.
He was alone in the darkness.
> [You have returned.]
[You are now a Player bound to the System.]
[All actions from this point forward will affect your world.]
Then, a final message appeared:
> [Quest Unlocked: Hunt the Traitors]
[Optional Objective: Spare or Kill]
Jin stared at the words, his eyes narrowing.
> "So it begins."
---
🏠 Scene: Return to the City
Jin limped out of the gate. He didn't look like the same person.
Hunters near the dungeon stared.
> "Wait… wasn't that the guy who went in with Rago's team?"
"He's alive?! No way!"
The Hunter Association officers ran up to him.
> "You—Jin, right? What happened in there?"
Jin glanced at the reporter drones above. He stayed silent.
> "Nothing happened," he said calmly. "The dungeon was empty."
He walked away, leaving everyone speechless.
---
🏠 Scene: Family Moment
That night, Jin returned home. He tried to sneak in, but the door opened.
> "Jin!!"
Rina jumped into his arms. "You're okay! You didn't message us for three days!"
His mother rushed over. "You're hurt! Sit down — now!"
Even his father looked up from his tools and muttered, "You're late."
Jin smiled faintly.
> "I'm stronger now. I'll protect all of you."
His mother paused, staring into his eyes. "...Something changed in you."
Jin looked outside, where a shadow moved silently across the rooftops behind him.
> "Everything changed."
---
🐺 Scene: Shadow in the Dark
Far away, in a private hunter guild hall, Rago was drinking with his remaining teammates.
> "That fool Jin? Dead meat. The kid was weak anyway."
Suddenly, the lights flickered.
A black mist rolled across the floor.
From the corner… something stepped out of the wall.
Stone — Jin's shadow golem.
Rago stood, confused. "What the—?"
The golem pointed at him… and a voice echoed from nowhere:
> "I remember everything."
---
⚔️ To Be Continued...