Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains. Kai Draven slowly opened his eyes. For the first time in several days, he wasn't inside a dungeon. He stared at the ceiling for a moment. His body felt light. The constant battles had strengthened him. But it had also been exhausting. Kai sat up and stretched his arms.
"Finally… a break."
A Normal Morning
Kai walked into the small kitchen of his apartment. The place was simple. A couch. A small table. And a television that barely worked. Nothing about the apartment suggested its owner could defeat B-Rank dungeon bosses. Kai poured himself a cup of coffee. The TV was playing the morning news. The reporter spoke excitedly.
"Another dungeon incident occurred
yesterday, but the Hunter Association reported that the gate was cleared by an anonymous hunter team." Kai smirked slightly.
Anonymous team. That was basically him. Director Han had kept his identity completely hidden. Which meant Kai could continue growing quietly. Exactly how he wanted.
Kai sat down and opened his system interface. The familiar dark screen appeared in front of him.
[Level: 20]
[Strength: 48]
[Agility: 52]
[Vitality: 50]
Shadow Soldiers:
Shadow Warlord
Shadow Hound Alpha
Shadow Tyrant
Abyss Points: 150
Kai leaned back in his chair.
"Not bad."
But he knew this was only the beginning. His shadow army was still small. And stronger dungeons existed everywhere.
Later that afternoon, Kai walked through the busy streets of the city. Hunters moved everywhere. Some wore armor. Others carried massive weapons. The city had changed ever since dungeon gates started appearing. Kai eventually arrived at a large building. The Hunter Market. A place where hunters bought gear, potions, and monster materials. Kai entered the building. The inside was crowded. Shops filled the entire hall. Weapons. Armor. Rare monster parts. Everything a hunter needed. Kai walked slowly between the stores. Not because he needed equipment. But because he wanted to understand the hunter world better.
A merchant called out to him.
"Hunter! Interested in a magic dagger?" Kai glanced at the weapon.
The price tag made him raise an eyebrow. "Three million credits." Kai almost laughed. Inside his mind, the Abyss Shop displayed something much better. And much cheaper. Still, watching the hunters bargaining and arguing gave the world a sense of reality.
For a moment…
Kai felt like a normal person again.
Kai eventually stopped at a small ramen restaurant. The owner greeted him warmly.
"Welcome!"
Kai ordered a bowl of ramen.
As he ate, two hunters at the next table were talking loudly.
"Did you hear?"
"One guild cleared an A-Rank dungeon yesterday."
"No way."
"They say the boss almost wiped the entire raid team."
Kai listened silently. A-Rank dungeons. Those would be his targets someday. But not yet.
For now… He was still growing.
Inside the Shadow
As Kai walked home later that evening…
The shadows beneath his feet moved slightly. Inside his Shadow Storage, his soldiers waited.
The Shadow Tyrant stood like a giant statue. The Shadow Warlord rested beside it.
The Shadow Hound Alpha paced slowly.
They were silent. Waiting for their master's command. Waiting for the next hunt.
Kai had just returned to his apartment when his phone rang.
The caller ID showed one name.
Director Han.
Kai answered. "Yes?"
Han's calm voice came through the phone.
"A new dungeon has appeared." Kai smiled slightly.
"I was getting bored." Han continued.
"This one is different." Kai's eyes narrowed.
"How?" Han replied quietly.
"It's not a B-Rank."
There was a short pause. Then Han said something unexpected.
"...It's an A-Rank gate." Kai's smile slowly widened. Because stronger gates meant stronger monsters. And stronger monsters meant… A stronger shadow army. Kai stood up.
"Send me the location."
The hunt was about to begin again.
END OF CHAPTER 24