The air changed.
Subtly at first…
Then completely.
---
Yassin felt it immediately.
A pressure.
Heavy.
Crushing.
---
"…Something's coming."
---
The ground trembled.
Cracks spread beneath their feet.
The darkness ahead began to twist… gathering into something deeper.
Something… alive.
---
"W-What is that feeling?"
"I can't breathe…"
The hunters stepped back instinctively.
Fear returned.
Stronger than before.
---
Then—
👹 A roar echoed.
Not loud.
But deep.
Ancient.
---
From the depths of the Gate…
It appeared.
---
A massive figure stepped forward.
Twice the size of the previous monsters.
Black armor-like skin.
Glowing purple veins running across its body.
Eyes…
Burning with intelligence.
---
"…Boss monster."
The leader's voice trembled.
---
"No way… this is supposed to be a low-rank gate!"
"We're dead…"
---
The creature looked at them.
Then—
It smiled.
---
💀 "Intruders."
---
It spoke.
---
Silence.
Absolute silence.
---
"R-Retreat!!" someone screamed.
---
Too late.
---
The boss moved.
---
💥 BOOM!
---
In a single step, it crossed the distance.
A hunter didn't even have time to scream—
---
CRUSH!
---
Gone.
---
"RUN!!"
The team broke.
Total panic.
No formation.
No control.
Only survival.
---
Yassin didn't move.
---
His eyes were locked on the boss.
Analyzing.
Watching.
---
"…So this is the real fight."
---
His shadow soldier stood beside him.
Silent.
Ready.
---
👁️
Enemy Detected: Gate Boss
Threat Level: High
---
A notification appeared.
---
Emergency Mission Triggered
Survive or eliminate the Boss
Reward: ???
Failure: Death
---
Yassin exhaled slowly.
---
"…Heh."
---
Instead of fear—
He felt excitement.
---
"Let's see… how far I can go."
---
The boss turned toward him.
Not the others.
Him.
---
"Interesting…"
Its voice echoed.
"You're different."
---
Yassin said nothing.
---
"Come."
---
The boss raised its arm—
And the ground shattered.
---
Yassin moved.
---
Shadow Step.
---
He vanished.
Reappeared to the side.
---
Too slow.
---
The boss was already there.
---
💥 IMPACT!
---
Yassin was thrown across the ground.
---
"Ghh—!"
Pain exploded through his body.
---
Stronger.
Much stronger.
---
"…Good."
---
He stood up.
Shaking.
Bleeding.
Smiling.
---
"Now it's fun."
---
"Shadow—attack."
---
The shadow soldier lunged.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
---
SLASH!
---
The boss blocked.
Bare-handed.
---
CLANG!
---
"…Weak."
---
With a single motion—
It grabbed the shadow.
---
CRUSH!
---
The shadow shattered.
---
Yassin's eyes widened.
---
"…It destroyed it?"
---
👁️
Shadow Soldier destroyed
Cooldown: 30 seconds
---
"…So that's the limit."
---
The boss stepped forward.
Slowly.
Confident.
---
"You rely on borrowed power."
---
Yassin wiped the blood from his mouth.
---
"…Maybe."
---
He tightened his grip on the dagger.
---
"But I'm still standing."
---
The boss smiled.
---
"Then show me."
---
Yassin's eyes glowed.
Purple.
Darker than before.
---
The shadows around him began to move again.
---
Not one.
Not two.
---
But many.
---
👁️
New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Resonance
---
"…Let's try something new."
---
The ground beneath him darkened.
The shadows twisted.
Merged.
Expanded.
---
And for the first time—
The boss's smile faded.
---
🔥 End of Chapter 4