⚔️ Chapter 6: The Archbeast Awakens
The dungeon air thickened with every step Jin took. The walls seemed to breathe, pulsing like veins of a living creature. His shadow trailed behind him — unnaturally long, even in the dim light. Something had changed since his last battle. Something deep.
His hand gripped the Eclipse Dagger, its edge humming with black light — forged from both the System's material and a shard of his shadow soldier's core. He had made it himself. No blacksmith. No aid.
Behind him, three shadow soldiers followed silently — the knight Barok, the assassin Vex, and a new addition: Karga, a shadow-bear beast whose roars once shook mountains.
> "Status window," Jin whispered.
A transparent screen opened in the air.
---
Name: Jin
Level: 28
Title: Monarch's Heir
Class: Shadow Monarch (Evolving)
HP: 4,350 / 4,350
MP: 6,200 / 6,200
Strength: 240
Agility: 212
Intelligence: 197
Vitality: 205
Sense: 184
Shadow Soldiers: 9 / 20
New Skill Unlocked: [Soul Chain Lv.1]
---
He clenched his fist.
> "I'm ready."
The final room loomed ahead, its giant stone doors etched with beast claws and ancient demonic glyphs. As he stepped closer, the shadows began to whisper.
> "Do not enter."
"You are not ready."
"Turn back."
Jin smirked. "That's how I know I'm going the right way."
He kicked the door open.
And then…
---
🐉 BOSS ROOM – THE ARCHBEAST
The ground trembled.
From the shadows of the massive chamber rose a beast unlike any Jin had seen — a colossal wolf-dragon hybrid, covered in black scales, with molten gold eyes that pulsed like suns. Four horns. Steel jaws. Magic swirling from its body like a hurricane.
Its name appeared in red text above its head:
---
[Archbeast Fen'Drak – Calamity Class Boss]
LV: ???
Danger: SSS-Rank
Status: Sealed – Awakening in 60 seconds
---
> "Perfect timing," Jin said.
But the System chimed in with a warning:
> ❗ New Quest: Survive the Archbeast for 5 Minutes
❗ Failure Condition: Death
❗ Bonus Reward: Shadow Core (Fen'Drak), Title Upgrade
---
💥 BATTLE BEGINS
"Barok! Engage it from the front!"
"Karga, roar and distract its magic charge!"
"Vex, shadow behind and target its legs!"
Jin charged in last — teleporting via Shadow Exchange to appear behind the boss just as it turned.
BOOM!
The archbeast roared, sending out a wave of sound that shattered the nearby pillars. Karga was thrown into a wall. Barok lost his arm. Vex barely dodged with shadow form.
> "Too strong. Too fast…"
But Jin's heart was calm.
> "Let's test my new trick."
He activated Soul Chain.
A dark red link of energy wrapped from his body to the beast's chest.
> "Now, if I die, so do you."
The beast hesitated — confused.
That's when Jin stabbed the dagger into its heart.
It didn't die. But it screamed. Blood sprayed like black fire.
And the countdown hit 0.
---
🕯️ THE AWAKENING
Chains fell from the beast's limbs. Its mana spiked. Runes burned away. Fen'Drak awakened.
And it laughed.
> "So… a new Shadow Monarch dares challenge me. Then come, Jin of the Broken System. Let me taste your soul."
But Jin was already mid-air, surrounded by his summoned shadows. His eyes glowed purple.
> "ARISE."
Even the broken parts of the dungeon floor began rising — becoming weapons in the air.
---
💀 FINAL STRIKE
Jin teleported above the beast, creating a fusion blade of shadow and lightning. Barok grabbed its throat. Vex struck its rear leg. Karga bit its wing.
Jin screamed as he drove the blade downward.
> "Fall to your King!"
A flash of black and violet.
The beast collapsed.
Silence.
Then, the System voice whispered:
---
> ✅ Quest Complete.
🏆 Bonus: Shadow Core (Fen'Drak) acquired
🎖️ New Title: "Calamity Breaker"
🔓 New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Flight
---
🌌 END SCENE
As Jin walked out of the collapsing dungeon, shadow wings spread from his back.
He didn't walk anymore.
He flew.
> "I'm not weak anymore."
And far away…
A red-haired woman named Lira stared at a crystal screen showing his battle.
> "Who are you, Jin? What are you becoming?"
---
⚡ End of Chapter 6