The Dungeon Guardian slowly raised its massive sword.
Blue flames burned inside its hollow eyes as it stared directly at Arin.
"You carry the power of shadows," the guardian said in a deep metallic voice.
The surviving hunters froze.
Monsters speaking was already rare. But the way this creature spoke sounded almost… intelligent.
Arin felt the Shadow System flash inside his mind.
[Warning]
[High-Level Enemy Detected]
[Dungeon Guardian – Rank: A]
[Recommendation: Extreme Caution]
Arin's eyes widened.
"A-Rank…?"
Even Mira, an A-Rank hunter herself, tightened her grip on her sword.
"This dungeon is completely broken," she muttered.
A D-Rank gate should never contain something this powerful.
The guardian slowly stepped forward.
Each step made the ground tremble.
"You should not exist," it continued.
"The power of the Shadow King vanished centuries ago."
Its burning eyes glowed brighter.
"Yet you carry it."
Before anyone could react—
The guardian disappeared.
"WHAT—?!"
In the next instant it appeared directly in front of Arin.
The massive sword came crashing down.
CLANG!
Arin barely managed to jump backward in time.
The blade smashed into the stone floor and shattered it.
The impact sent a shockwave across the chamber.
"Arin!" Mira shouted.
But Arin was already moving.
His body reacted faster than his thoughts.
The Shadow System enhanced his senses so sharply that every movement of the guardian felt slightly slower.
Still…
The enemy was terrifyingly fast.
The guardian swung its sword again.
Arin ducked and rolled across the ground.
The blade passed just inches above his head.
The shadow soldier suddenly stepped forward.
"My King."
The massive shadow monster raised its giant arm and blocked the guardian's next strike.
BOOOM!
Dark energy exploded from the collision.
The two giants pushed against each other.
The dungeon shook violently.
The guardian's eyes flared with blue flames.
"A shadow servant…"
It pushed forward with incredible strength.
Arin's shadow soldier slid several meters backward across the stone floor.
Even as a shadow, the creature struggled against the guardian's power.
Arin clenched his fists.
If the shadow soldier lost…
Everyone here would die.
The system suddenly flashed again.
[New Skill Unlocked]
[Shadow Command]
[Allows the host to strengthen shadow soldiers temporarily.]
Arin didn't hesitate.
"Shadow… Command!"
Dark energy burst from his body.
The shadows across the chamber suddenly expanded like living smoke.
His shadow soldier roared.
The creature's body grew darker and more solid.
Purple energy crackled across its massive arms.
The guardian tilted its head slightly.
"Interesting."
The two giants clashed again.
BOOM!
This time the impact was even stronger.
The shadow soldier grabbed the guardian's sword arm and twisted violently.
CRACK.
The guardian staggered slightly.
Arin's eyes widened.
It worked.
"Press the attack!" Mira shouted.
The remaining hunters quickly joined the battle.
Lightning spells and fire magic exploded against the guardian's armor.
But the creature barely reacted.
Instead it swung its free arm.
A powerful shockwave blasted several hunters across the room.
Mira blocked the attack with her sword but was pushed back several steps.
"This thing is insane…" she growled.
The guardian suddenly grabbed the shadow soldier by the throat.
With terrifying strength, it lifted the giant creature into the air.
Then it slammed it into the ground.
BOOOOM!
The floor cracked apart.
The shadow soldier struggled to rise again.
Arin felt a sharp pain in his chest.
The connection between them meant he could feel some of the damage.
If the shadow soldier was destroyed…
He might lose it forever.
The guardian slowly turned toward him.
"You are the source."
Its sword lifted again.
"If I kill you… the shadow disappears."
Arin's heart pounded.
The creature was right.
Everything depended on him.
But instead of fear…
A strange excitement began to rise inside him.
Only a few hours ago he had been the weakest hunter alive.
Now he was fighting an A-Rank guardian.
The Shadow System appeared again.
[Combat Analysis Complete]
[Enemy Weakness Located]
[Guardian Core: Neck Joint]
Arin's eyes locked onto the glowing blue line at the guardian's neck.
"That's it…"
He turned toward his shadow soldier.
"Hold it!"
The shadow monster immediately obeyed.
Despite its injuries, it lunged forward and wrapped both arms around the guardian.
The two giants struggled violently.
The guardian tried to break free.
But the shadow soldier held it in place.
Arin ran forward.
Every step felt faster than the last.
The guardian saw him approaching.
"Foolish."
It raised its sword.
But the shadow soldier tightened its grip.
The blade stopped halfway.
That moment was enough.
Arin jumped.
He climbed onto the guardian's armored shoulder.
The creature roared furiously.
"GET OFF!"
But Arin had already seen the glowing crack in the neck joint.
The broken dagger was still in his hand.
He raised it high.
"This ends now!"
Then he drove the blade straight into the glowing core.
CRACK.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then—
A massive surge of blue energy exploded from the guardian's body.
The entire chamber shook.
The guardian froze.
Its sword slipped from its hand.
Then its glowing eyes slowly dimmed.
"You…"
The voice grew weaker.
"…are truly… the Shadow King…"
The guardian collapsed.
BOOOOM.
The ground trembled as the massive body hit the floor.
Silence filled the dungeon.
Then the system appeared again.
[Dungeon Guardian Defeated]
[Massive Experience Gained]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
Arin fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
He had done it.
The A-Rank guardian was dead.
But the system wasn't finished yet.
Another message appeared.
[Shadow Extraction Available]
[Would you like to extract this shadow?]
Arin slowly looked at the guardian's corpse.
If this worked…
He would gain another shadow soldier.
A far stronger one.
He smiled slightly.
"…Yes."
The shadows around the guardian's body began to move.
And a new power started to rise inside the dungeon.