Shawn stood at the edge of the mini-gate, the air around him thick with dark energy. It pulsed like a heartbeat, hungry and alive. The nearby street was empty, save for a few pigeons startled into flight by the residual shadows from his earlier battle.
"Alright," he muttered under his breath, "time to see what a real dungeon feels like."
Beru shifted beside him, towering and ready, while Igris slinked along the shadows, eyes glowing faintly blue. Shawn felt a surge of power—calm, commanding, and terrifying all at once.
> [Shadow Monarch System Alert]
Dungeon Detected – Level: Low Elite
Recommended Shadows: Knight to Marshal
Shawn nodded. Low Elite. Not too dangerous, but enough to test the limits of his control.
"Formation Alpha," he thought, sending the mental command to his shadows. Beru moved to the front as the shield and hammer of the army. Igris spread out to flank. Smaller shadows—Knights he had extracted earlier—scattered strategically, covering angles he couldn't monitor alone.
The gate shimmered and erupted, monsters spilling out. They were grotesque: humanoid but malformed, teeth jagged, claws twitching, skin slick with black ichor. They hissed in unison, eyes locking on Shawn as the source of the intrusion.
Shawn felt the system interface pop up in his mind:
> [Combat Analysis]
Monsters Detected: 12 – Elite Grade
Threat Level: Moderate
"Go," Shawn commanded internally.
Beru leapt forward, the ground shaking beneath his massive paws. A monster lunged at him, but Beru's claw caught it mid-air, snapping its body in two. Igris slid along the shadows, appearing behind another, cutting cleanly through its spine.
Shawn's heart pounded, but his mind was clear. Every movement of his shadows was precise, almost like a dance. He barely needed to think; the connection was instinctual.
> [Shadow Synchronization: 98%]
[Experience Gain: 350]
The remaining monsters swarmed. A hulking brute emerged, larger than the others, with glowing red veins pulsing across its body. Shawn froze slightly—this was a mini-boss, no doubt.
"Beru, Igris… focus on it," he commanded.
The two shadows obeyed instantly. Beru charged head-on, drawing the brute's attention. Igris darted in from the side, slashing with shadow blades that bit into its armor-like skin. Shawn focused, sending pulses of his own dark energy into Beru, enhancing his strikes.
> [Mini-Boss Defeated]
[Experience Gain: 800]
[Shawn Level Up: 6 → 7]
The remaining monsters, seeing their leader fall, hesitated. Shawn didn't need to issue more commands. The shadows coordinated themselves, finishing off the stragglers with ruthless efficiency.
The mini-gate flickered and collapsed, leaving the street eerily quiet. Shawn exhaled, feeling a new confidence. He had commanded a battle from start to finish and had emerged victorious.
> [Shadow Monarch System Alert]
First Dungeon Cleared – Shadows at Full Combat Efficiency
Next Objective: Improve Tactical Coordination
Shawn glanced at Beru and Igris. The two beasts regarded him with an almost sentient understanding. He couldn't help but smile faintly.
This… this is just the beginning.
He turned back toward the city, shadows silently following. The ordinary life he once knew had ended. The world had grown larger, darker, and infinitely more dangerous—and he was ready to face it.