Chapter 26: The New Threat
The town was still in chaos.
Broken buildings lined the streets, and smoke slowly rose into the night sky. Guards rushed around helping the injured, while adventurers worked together to clear the debris.
Arif stood silently in the middle of the street.
His eyes were fixed on the sky where the portal had disappeared.
The Shadow King…
Just thinking about him made Arif feel uneasy.
The system screen suddenly appeared.
[System Notice]
[New Threat Detected]
[World Danger Level Increased]
Arif frowned.
"World danger level?"
Before he could think further, footsteps approached him.
It was the guild master, a tall middle-aged man with a serious expression.
"Arif."
Arif turned.
"Guild Master."
The guild master looked around the destroyed town.
"This… is worse than anything we've seen before."
Arif nodded.
"That wasn't just monsters. That was something bigger."
The guild master looked at him carefully.
"You fought him, didn't you?"
Arif stayed silent for a moment.
"Yes."
The guild master's eyes widened slightly.
"And?"
Arif clenched his fists.
"He's… far stronger than anything I've faced."
The guild master sighed.
"That's not good."
Suddenly—
A loud horn echoed through the town.
All adventurers turned toward the guild building.
The guild master spoke quickly.
"Emergency meeting. Come with me."
Inside the guild hall, dozens of adventurers gathered.
Everyone looked serious.
The guild master stepped forward.
"Everyone, listen carefully."
The room fell silent.
"What happened tonight was not a normal monster attack."
Murmurs spread through the room.
"The sky broke open," one adventurer whispered.
"I've never seen monsters like that," another said.
The guild master continued.
"We believe this is the start of something bigger… a world-level threat."
The room became quiet.
Then one adventurer spoke.
"What about that figure in the sky?"
The guild master looked at Arif.
"Arif, explain."
All eyes turned toward him.
Arif took a deep breath.
"That person… called himself the Shadow King."
The room exploded with shock.
"Shadow King?!"
"That sounds dangerous!"
"What kind of monster is that?!"
Arif continued.
"He's not just strong… he's on another level."
The guild master nodded.
"That's why we must prepare."
Suddenly—
The door burst open.
A guard rushed inside.
"Guild Master!"
Everyone turned.
"What is it?"
The guard looked worried.
"Another gate has appeared!"
The room fell silent.
"Where?" the guild master asked.
"Near the northern forest!"
Arif's eyes narrowed.
"So soon…"
The guild master turned to the adventurers.
"All available adventurers, prepare to move!"
Arif stepped forward.
"I'll go first."
The guild master nodded.
"Be careful."
Minutes later, Arif arrived at the northern forest.
A smaller portal floated in the air.
Dark energy leaked from it.
Monsters slowly stepped out.
Arif cracked his knuckles.
"Let's see what you've got."
The first monster rushed toward him.
Arif activated Shadow Step.
He appeared behind it instantly.
"Shadow Blade."
One slash.
The monster disappeared.
But more monsters kept coming.
Arif moved quickly.
Shadow energy filled the forest.
Monsters fell one after another.
But suddenly—
The system alerted him.
[Warning]
[Elite Monster Detected]
Arif stopped.
The ground trembled.
A large figure stepped out of the portal.
It looked like a knight made of shadow.
It held a giant sword.
Arif smiled slightly.
"Finally… something interesting."
The Shadow Knight charged forward.
Arif dodged.
Their blades clashed.
Dark sparks flew.
The monster was strong.
But Arif had grown stronger too.
He moved quickly.
"Shadow Armor."
Dark armor formed around him.
The Shadow Knight attacked again.
Arif blocked.
Then he countered.
"Shadow Blade!"
The slash cut deep.
The Shadow Knight staggered.
Arif jumped forward.
"Shadow Strike!"
The final blow landed.
The monster shattered.
The portal began closing.
Arif exhaled slowly.
"That was fast…"
But suddenly—
A dark symbol appeared in the sky.
Arif froze.
"That symbol…"
It looked like a crown made of shadows.
The system displayed a message.
[Shadow King Mark Detected]
Arif's eyes widened.
"This gate… was his doing."
The symbol slowly disappeared.
Arif clenched his fists.
"So this is how it's going to be…"
The Shadow King wasn't attacking directly.
He was testing him.
Preparing something bigger.
Arif looked toward the sky.
"I'll be ready."
The wind moved through the forest.
Somewhere in the distance…
Darkness gathered again.
The war between shadows had just begun.
To Be Continued…