The cavern was quiet again. The corpses of the Shadow Hounds lay scattered across the stone floor. Dark blood slowly flowed through the cracks in the ground. At the center of the battlefield stood Kai Draven. Beside him were his two shadow soldiers: the towering Shadow Warlord and the newly created Shadow Hound Alpha, its body made of dark mist and glowing purple eyes. Kai looked around the cavern calmly. The dungeon was nearly cleared. But what mattered more… were the bodies. A lot of them.
Kai raised his hand slightly. "...Devour." The shadows beneath Kai suddenly expanded. Black tendrils shot across the cavern floor. They wrapped around the fallen monsters. One by one, the corpses dissolved into dark energy. The power flowed into Kai's body like a rushing river. The system began flashing rapidly.
Devour Successful
Agility +2
Strength +1
Devour Successful
Vitality +1
Agility +2
The messages continued appearing. Kai closed his eyes briefly. The abyss inside him felt like it was expanding, growing deeper, hungrier.
Level Up
Level 15 → Level 16
Kai exhaled slowly. His muscles felt lighter, stronger. But the system displayed something else.
Abyss Energy Increased
Abyss Level: 6%
Kai smiled slightly. "So that's how it grows." Every monster he devoured strengthened the abyss. And when the abyss reached certain thresholds… evolution would happen. Kai glanced at the two massive shadow soldiers standing behind him. They were too large to walk around the city freely.
Kai spoke quietly. "Shadow Storage." The ground beneath the shadows rippled like liquid. The Shadow Warlord slowly sank into Kai's shadow. Its giant body disappeared into darkness. The Shadow Hound Alpha followed next. Within seconds—both monsters vanished. Now they rested inside Kai's Shadow Storage, a hidden abyss space connected to his shadow, ready to be summoned instantly.
Kai nodded in satisfaction. "This ability is convenient." Kai walked deeper into the cavern. At the end of the tunnel, a glowing crystal floated in the air. The Dungeon Core. Destroying it would close the gate. Kai raised his dagger. Crack. The blade struck the crystal. The core shattered instantly. Purple light exploded across the cavern. The dungeon began collapsing.
Dungeon Cleared
Kai turned toward the exit portal. A faint smile appeared on his face. The first secret dungeon was finished, and his power had already increased. But the real growth had only just begun.
Outside the Gate
A few minutes later, Kai stepped out of the dungeon. The underground station was silent. Waiting for him was a small team from the Hunter Association. One of the staff members approached him. "The dungeon?"
Kai replied calmly. "Cleared." The staff looked relieved. They immediately began sealing the gate. Behind them stood Director Han, watching quietly. Han glanced at the mana monitor. Then he looked at Kai again. "...Your energy increased."
Kai didn't deny it. Han smiled slightly. "Good." Then he handed Kai another tablet. "Your next dungeon."
Kai looked down. The information appeared.
Dungeon Classification: B-Rank
Status: Confidential
Location: Mountain Region — Sector 3
Kai's eyes showed a hint of excitement. A stronger dungeon. Stronger monsters. Better devours. Han spoke calmly. "You wanted to grow stronger."
Kai nodded. "Yes." Han turned and began walking away. "Then prepare yourself."
"Because the next dungeon…"
"...won't be easy."
Kai looked toward the distant mountains displayed on the screen. Inside his mind, the system appeared again.
New Objective
Devour stronger enemies. Expand Shadow Army.
Kai smiled slightly. "Good." "Let's keep hunting."
END OF CHAPTER 19