Darkness surged.
The moment Arjun's hand touched the rising shadow, a violent force exploded outward, sending ripples through the dungeon.
"Ghh—!"
His body shook as the energy tried to push him back.
[Extraction in progress…][Success Rate: 20%]
"…Just 20%…" he muttered, teeth clenched.
The shadow twisted like a living beast, far more unstable than anything he had faced before. It wasn't just resisting—
It was fighting back.
A deafening roar echoed inside his mind.
Not from the dungeon.
From the shadow itself.
Arjun's vision blurred as images flashed before his eyes—
Hunting.
Killing.
Dominating everything in its path.
The will of the Black Fang Beast.
Even in death—
It refused to kneel.
"Submit…"
Arjun's voice was low, strained.
His arm trembled as he forced more strength into the extraction.
"Submit to me."
The shadow lashed out violently, wrapping around his arm like chains, trying to drag him down.
[Stability: 42%… 38%… 35%…]
"Damn it…"
His knees nearly buckled.
If he failed now—
[Failure Penalty: Shadow Collapse]
"…No."
His eyes sharpened.
"I didn't fight that thing… just to lose it now."
Memories flashed.
The betrayal.
The fear.
The moment he was left to die.
The helplessness.
The anger.
That same feeling burned inside him again.
But this time—
It wasn't weakness.
It was strength.
Arjun took a step forward.
Then another.
Even as the shadow tried to pull him down.
"You were strong," he said, voice steady.
"But you lost."
The shadow roared louder.
Violent.
Unyielding.
"And I'm the one who killed you."
A surge of dark energy erupted from his body.
Stronger than before.
He wasn't just resisting anymore—
He was overpowering it.
[Stability: 40%… 52%… 68%…]
The shadow began to shrink.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
As if being forced into submission.
"Bow."
Arjun's voice echoed through the dungeon.
Cold.
Commanding.
Unfamiliar even to himself.
For a moment—
The shadow stopped resisting.
Then—
It collapsed inward.
Condensing into a solid form.
[Extraction Successful]
Silence.
Before him stood a massive figure.
A shadow far larger than his previous soldier.
Its form was sharper.
More defined.
Its glowing eyes burned with deep, controlled power.
[Shadow Soldier Created: Black Fang][Rank: Elite]
Arjun stared.
"…Elite?"
The shadow slowly lowered itself onto one knee.
Acknowledging him.
Accepting him.
A strange pressure filled the air.
Different from before.
Stronger.
Heavier.
"This one… is different."
Arjun could feel it.
This wasn't just another soldier.
This was power.
Real power.
"Stand."
The shadow rose instantly.
Towering over him.
Silent.
Loyal.
Deadly.
A faint smile appeared on Arjun's face.
"For the first time…"
He looked at his hand.
Then at the two shadows now under his command.
"…I'm not alone."
[Level Increased][New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Command]
Arjun exhaled slowly.
The exhaustion finally hit him.
His body swayed.
"…I need to get out of here."
The dungeon was quiet now.
Cleared.
Empty.
But something felt off.
A faint glow appeared in the distance.
At the far end of the chamber.
A gate.
[Exit Portal Opened]
Arjun looked at it.
"…finally."
He turned and began walking toward the light.
His shadow soldiers followed behind him.
Silent.
Like loyal guardians.
🔥 END HOOK
As he reached the edge of the portal—
A final message appeared.
[Hidden Quest Completed][Bonus Reward Unlocked]
Arjun paused.
"…bonus reward?"
The light flickered.
The system glowed brighter.
And something new—
Something unexpected—
Was about to be revealed. 🔥