The morning air was cold when Kairo stepped outside.
His body still ached from the Shadow Domain trial, but every movement felt sharper—like his muscles had been reforged in darkness.
Mint City was waking up around him:
Hunters jogging toward guild buildings,
people hurrying to work,
news drones buzzing overhead warning of nearby Gates.
Normal life.
But Kairo no longer felt normal.
A faint shadow pulsed beneath his feet, following his steps like a second heartbeat.
He ducked into an alley and whispered:
"Zero."
The air wavered.
Darkness peeled from the ground like liquid, forming into a towering humanoid figure with glowing blue eyes.
Zero knelt.
"Master."
Even though the shadow's voice was emotionless, Kairo felt a strange familiarity—like a bond already rooted deep.
"You can… talk?" Kairo asked.
"Only to you."
Kairo swallowed. "What… are you now?"
Zero lifted his head.
"Your first soldier.
Forged from the beast you defeated.
Bound by the Shadow Sovereign's will… and yours."
Kairo felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"So you're stronger than before?"
"Much."
"How strong?"
At this, Zero's eyes glowed brighter.
"Strong enough to kill the Hunters who mocked you."
Kairo stiffened.
"No," he said sharply. "We're not doing that."
Zero tilted his head, as if confused.
"Your enemies—"
"They're not enemies," Kairo interrupted.
"They're just… idiots."
Zero paused, then slowly nodded.
"Then I obey."
Kairo sighed in relief.
So the shadows listened—but didn't think the way humans did.
Another thing he'd have to be careful about.
---
The First Command
Kairo turned his palm upward.
"Show me what you can do."
Zero rose silently.
Shadow tendrils rippled across his body as he demonstrated abilities:
Abyssal Slash: a blade of darkness extended from his arm, slicing a brick wall cleanly in half.
Spectral Step: Zero vanished and reappeared behind Kairo without sound.
Shadow Bind: black chains erupted from the ground, grabbing a stray trash bin and crushing it.
Kairo's eyes widened with each technique.
This was a level of power people trained for years to touch… and he had gained it overnight.
The System chimed softly.
[Shadow Soldier: Zero]
Rank: Elite
Loyalty: Absolute
Potential: Ascendable
Skills:
— Abyssal Slash (Lv.1)
— Spectral Step (Lv.1)
— Shadow Bind (Lv.1)
Ascendable…
Meaning Zero could evolve.
Kairo's heart raced.
If he could create one soldier like this…
What would an army look like?
---
A Dangerous Curiosity
Zero suddenly tensed, head snapping toward the street.
"Master.
Hunters approach."
Kairo felt his pulse spike.
"Are they hostile?"
"Not yet."
Footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.
Three Hunters in mid-grade armor appeared—two C-Ranks and a B-Rank carrying a halberd. Their guild patches identified them as Bronze Fang.
"Hey," the B-Rank called out.
"You're Kairo Valez, right?"
Kairo stepped in front of Zero instinctively.
"Yeah. What do you want?"
The Hunters exchanged nervous glances.
"We saw a video," one said.
"From that dungeon last night."
Kairo felt his stomach drop.
Someone recorded that?
The B-Rank took a cautious step forward.
"Those shadows… the way you blocked that attack… what rank are you now?"
Kairo didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Zero shifted behind him, shadows swirling like an animal guarding its territory.
The Hunters went pale.
"A-Alright—we're not looking for trouble," the B-Rank stammered, raising both hands.
"We just wanted to talk. Someone like you… someone who tore a boss monster apart—our guild leader wants to meet you."
Kairo clenched his fists.
This was bad.
He wasn't ready to be exposed.
Not yet.
"Tell your leader I'm not interested."
The Hunters hesitated—then backed away quickly.
When they were gone, Kairo exhaled.
Zero tilted his head again.
"Why not eliminate them?"
Kairo shot him a glare.
"Because we're not killing people at random."
"But they pose a threat."
"They pose questions," Kairo corrected.
"And questions buy us time."
Zero fell silent.
Kairo ran a hand through his hair.
Everything was moving too fast.
If word spread…
If powerful guilds started coming after him…
If the Sovereigns noticed…
He needed to grow.
Fast.
---
The Decision
Kairo opened his System panel.
[Available Missions]
— Solo Dungeon Clearance (Recommended)
— Shadow Fusion Training
— Stat Enhancement Trial
He tapped the first option.
A map unfolded in front of him, marking a low-rank Gate on the east side of the city.
A normal E-Rank Hunter would go there with a team.
But Kairo wasn't an E-Rank anymore.
He glanced at Zero.
"Let's test how strong we really are."
Zero bowed.
"As you command, Master."
Shadows swirled around them—
and Kairo stepped toward the Gate
not as a forgotten Hunter…
…but as a king beginning to rise.