The Goblin King froze.
For a brief moment, the massive monster looked confused.
Just seconds ago, the human lying on the ground had been barely alive.
Broken ribs.
Crushed lungs.
Blood pouring from his mouth.
Now…
that same human stood behind it.
Alive.
Unharmed.
And surrounded by something unnatural.
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
The pain that had filled his body moments ago was gone.
Not completely.
But enough that he could stand.
Dark shadows flowed around him like black smoke.
They twisted around his arms.
His legs.
His chest.
Even the ground beneath him seemed darker.
Kael looked at his hands.
"…What is happening?"
A soft mechanical sound echoed in his mind.
DING
A blue screen appeared in front of his eyes.
Floating in the air.
Just like a hologram.
[Forbidden Shadow System]
[Host: Kael Draven]
[Level: 1]
[Rank: F]
[Shadow Energy: 3]
[Skill: Shadow Devour (Lv.1)]
Kael stared at the screen.
"…A system?"
His voice trembled slightly.
He had heard rumors about strange awakenings before.
Hunters gaining unique abilities.
Rare powers.
But something like this…
felt unreal.
Before he could think further—
The Goblin King roared.
"ROOOOOOOAAARRR!"
The monster spun around instantly.
Its massive red eyes locked onto Kael.
Hatred burned within them.
The creature raised its giant bone club.
Then swung it down with terrifying force.
Kael reacted instinctively.
His body moved before his mind could think.
He stepped sideways.
The club slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
Stone exploded everywhere.
Kael blinked in shock.
"…I dodged?"
Another system message appeared.
[Shadow Energy enhancing host physical abilities.]
[Speed +15%]
[Strength +10%]
Kael's heart began racing.
"So that's what this power does…"
The Goblin King attacked again.
But Kael was already moving.
His body felt lighter.
Faster.
It was as if the shadows themselves were guiding his movements.
The club smashed into the cave wall.
BOOM!
Kael slipped behind the monster.
Then stabbed his dagger forward.
The blade struck the Goblin King's thigh.
This time—
It pierced deeper.
Dark blood splashed across the ground.
The monster screamed.
"SKRRRAAAHH!"
The Goblin King spun around violently.
Its giant arm swung toward Kael.
BAM!
Kael blocked the impact with his arms.
But the force still threw him backward.
He rolled across the cave floor.
Then stopped beside several goblin corpses.
Kael coughed.
Blood stained his lips.
"…Still too strong."
The Goblin King roared again and began walking toward him.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Each step shook the ground.
But Kael noticed something strange.
The shadows around the dead goblins…
were moving.
Slowly.
Like black smoke crawling across the cave floor.
The system reacted instantly.
[Shadow Energy detected.]
[Absorb nearby shadows?]
Kael hesitated.
"…Absorb?"
Another message appeared.
[Dead monsters contain residual shadow energy.]
[Absorb to strengthen host.]
Kael whispered quietly.
"…Do it."
The shadows suddenly rushed toward him.
They entered his body like cold water.
[Shadow Energy +1]
[Shadow Energy +1]
[Shadow Energy +1]
The numbers kept rising.
Kael felt warmth spreading through his muscles.
His body felt stronger.
Much stronger.
The Goblin King roared and charged again.
But Kael no longer looked afraid.
For the first time since entering the dungeon…
He smiled.
"…Now we fight properly."
The Goblin King rushed forward again.
The monster's red eyes burned with rage.
Moments ago, the weak human before it had been dying.
Now that same human was standing calmly.
Even smiling.
That enraged the creature even more.
"ROOOOAAARRR!"
The Goblin King lifted its massive bone club and swung downward.
BOOM!
The ground shattered.
Stone fragments flew everywhere.
But Kael was already gone.
He moved to the side with unnatural speed.
Even Kael himself looked surprised.
"…I'm faster."
The system confirmed it instantly.
[Shadow Energy enhancing host body.]
[Speed increased.]
[Reaction time increased.]
Kael turned his head toward the Goblin King.
The monster was already turning toward him again.
But something had changed.
Before the system activated, Kael had always felt fear when facing monsters.
A deep instinctive terror.
But now…
That fear had disappeared.
Instead…
He felt excitement.
The Goblin King charged again.
Its massive body moved like a raging beast.
The club swept sideways.
Kael ducked under it.
The wind pressure alone was strong enough to shake the cave walls.
Kael stepped forward.
His dagger flashed.
SLASH!
The blade cut across the Goblin King's arm.
Dark blood spilled across the cave floor.
"SKRRRRAAAHH!"
The monster screamed.
It tried to grab Kael with its free hand.
But Kael jumped backward instantly.
The system window appeared again.
[Enemy HP: 81%]
Kael blinked.
"…It shows health too?"
That made the situation far easier.
If he could see the monster's remaining strength…
He could plan his attacks.
The Goblin King roared and rushed forward again.
This time its attack was faster.
The club crashed downward again.
BOOM!
Kael rolled to the side.
The cave floor exploded where he had been standing.
The monster attacked again.
And again.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Each strike shook the cave violently.
But Kael avoided every attack.
His body moved smoothly.
Like a shadow slipping through darkness.
The Goblin King became even more furious.
The creature roared and charged directly at him.
This time it abandoned its weapon.
Its massive claws reached toward Kael.
Kael saw his opportunity.
He stepped forward.
Then jumped.
Higher than he had ever jumped before.
His dagger aimed for the monster's neck.
The blade plunged deep.
"ROOOOOOAAARRRR!"
The Goblin King screamed in agony.
Kael landed behind it.
But the monster spun around instantly.
Its arm struck Kael's chest.
BAM!
Kael was thrown across the cave again.
He hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through his ribs.
But before the monster could reach him—
The shadows around the goblin corpses began moving again.
More of them this time.
Dozens of shadows crawled across the ground.
The system responded.
[Shadow Energy detected.]
[Absorb nearby shadows?]
Kael nodded immediately.
"Yes."
The shadows rushed toward him.
They flowed into his body like a dark river.
[Shadow Energy +1]
[Shadow Energy +1]
[Shadow Energy +1]
[Shadow Energy +1]
[Shadow Energy +1]
The numbers climbed rapidly.
Kael felt power spreading through every muscle.
His wounds began healing slowly.
His breathing stabilized.
His mind became sharper.
The system updated again.
[Shadow Energy: 21]
[Physical enhancement increased.]
Kael stood up slowly.
Across the cave…
The Goblin King was breathing heavily.
Blood poured from the wound in its neck.
Its red eyes glared at Kael with pure hatred.
But Kael now understood something important.
The monster was strong.
But it was also bleeding.
And its movements were slower.
Kael tightened his grip on the dagger.
"…Now the real fight begins."
The Goblin King roared one last time and charged again.
But this time…
Kael ran toward it.
Kael ran straight toward the Goblin King.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't running away from a monster.
He was running toward one.
The Goblin King roared furiously.
The massive creature raised its club again.
Then brought it down with all its strength.
BOOM!
The ground shattered.
But Kael had already moved.
He slid across the cave floor and passed under the monster's arm.
Then stabbed upward.
The dagger pierced into the Goblin King's side.
Dark blood sprayed across the ground.
The monster screamed in rage.
"SKRRRRAAAHH!"
It swung its arm wildly.
Kael jumped backward before the attack could reach him.
His breathing was steady now.
His mind calm.
Another system window appeared.
[Enemy HP: 46%]
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"So you're already halfway dead…"
The Goblin King roared and charged again.
But this time Kael didn't dodge immediately.
He waited.
The monster swung its club.
At the last second—
Kael stepped forward instead of backward.
The attack missed him completely.
He was now inside the monster's guard.
Kael thrust his dagger forward again.
This time—
He aimed for the creature's throat.
The blade sank deep.
The Goblin King's roar turned into a choking scream.
Kael twisted the dagger before pulling it out.
Blood poured from the wound.
The monster staggered.
But it wasn't finished yet.
With a desperate roar, it grabbed Kael.
Its giant hand crushed around his body.
Kael felt his ribs creak under the pressure.
"…Damn."
The Goblin King lifted him into the air.
Then slammed him toward the ground.
But before it could—
Kael stabbed the monster's hand.
The blade pierced between its fingers.
The creature screamed again and loosened its grip.
Kael fell free.
He rolled across the ground and stood up instantly.
The Goblin King was bleeding heavily now.
Dark blood covered its chest and neck.
Its breathing had become uneven.
Another system message appeared.
[Enemy HP: 12%]
Kael took a deep breath.
"…Time to finish this."
The Goblin King roared and rushed forward one last time.
But Kael didn't move.
He waited calmly.
The monster raised its club.
The weapon came crashing down.
BOOM!
At the last second—
Kael stepped to the side.
Then jumped.
Higher than he ever had before.
His dagger flashed.
The blade plunged deep into the Goblin King's throat.
This time—
It pierced completely through.
Silence filled the cave.
The Goblin King froze.
Its massive body trembled.
Then slowly…
The monster collapsed.
THUD.
The cave shook as its enormous body hit the ground.
Kael stood there breathing heavily.
For several seconds…
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
DING
System notifications exploded in front of him.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Shadow Devour Activated]
Dark shadows burst from the Goblin King's corpse.
They rushed toward Kael like a storm.
The energy entered his body.
It felt like fire running through his veins.
[Shadow Energy +50]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
Blue screens filled Kael's vision.
[Level 1 → Level 2]
[Level 2 → Level 3]
[Level 3 → Level 4]
His body felt completely different.
Stronger.
Faster.
More powerful.
Another message appeared.
[New Skill Unlocked]
[Shadow Extraction]
Kael read the description carefully.
[Shadow Extraction: Extract shadows from defeated enemies and turn them into shadow soldiers.]
Kael slowly turned his head toward the corpse of the Goblin King.
His heart began beating faster.
"…Shadow soldiers?"
He raised his hand slowly.
"Shadow Extraction."
For a moment…
nothing happened.
Then the shadow beneath the Goblin King's corpse began shaking.
The darkness twisted.
Then rose from the ground.
A massive shadow figure slowly formed.
The shape looked identical to the Goblin King.
But its body was made entirely of black shadow energy.
Its eyes glowed bright blue.
The creature slowly knelt before Kael.
The system confirmed it.
[Shadow Soldier Created]
[Name: Goblin King Soldier]
[Rank: C]
Kael stared at the monster in disbelief.
"…You're my soldier now."
The shadow creature stood silently beside him.
Awaiting orders.
Kael slowly looked around the cave.
Dozens of goblin corpses covered the ground.
Then he had an idea.
He raised his hand again.
"Shadow Extraction."
One by one…
The shadows of the goblins rose from the ground.
Dark soldiers formed from the darkness.
Soon…
Ten goblin shadow soldiers stood behind him.
The cave that had once been filled with enemies…
was now filled with his army.
Kael looked at the monsters standing behind him.
The Goblin King shadow.
Ten goblin shadow soldiers.
The weakest hunter in the world…
now commanded monsters.
But as Kael stood there, another system message appeared.
[Warning]
[High Level Energy Detected Deeper in Dungeon]
The cave trembled slightly.
BOOM.
Kael slowly turned toward the darkness deeper inside the cave.
Something was waking up.
Something far stronger than the Goblin King.
And it had sensed Kael's power.