The cold air around the South District Rift buzzed with tension as Juno stood at the edge of the waiting zone, eyes locked on the swirling vortex of the dungeon gate. The metal gate shimmered in eerie hues of violet and green, like it pulsed with a heartbeat of its own. His fingers twitched around the strap of his bag, and the system window hovered before his vision.
[New Mission: Join D-Rank Raid Team – Accept/Decline]
Juno tapped "Accept." He needed the experience, needed the dungeon kills—and more than anything, he needed to understand what "Shadow Extraction" truly meant.
A voice called out.
"You the E-rank joining us?"
Juno turned to face five strangers in battle-ready gear. The leader was a tall man with silver hair slicked back, holding a great sword almost as long as Juno was tall.
"I'm Goro. These are my teammates—Sena, Tyke, Kellan, and Hael." He gestured to a woman with a staff, two brawny guys with axes and knives, and a quiet boy standing awkwardly to the side.
"I'm Jaemin," the boy said softly, giving Juno a small nod. "First dungeon."
"Same," Juno lied. "I'm Juno."
They passed the usual hunter check-ins and stepped through the Rift.
The world shimmered and twisted. A flash of darkness—and then they were inside.
The dungeon was unlike anything Juno had seen before. Thick stone walls stretched up into darkness, and torches burned with cold blue fire. The air was heavy, filled with the iron scent of something ancient.
[Dungeon Type: Sacrificial Temple]
[Special Condition: Boss Chamber Triggered Upon Two or More Sacrifices]
The group advanced carefully, cutting through lower-level beasts with practiced ease. Juno hung back, pretending to struggle while masking his true strength. He noticed Jaemin doing the same, barely keeping up.
"You two sure you can handle this?" Tyke sneered.
"We'll be fine," Juno replied flatly.
In the fourth corridor, Goro stopped.
"This is where we split," he said. "Jaemin, Juno—you two take the left passage. We'll take right."
"Wait, aren't we supposed to stay in teams of six?" Jaemin asked.
"Dungeon's not that hard. Just clearing trash," Sena said sweetly.
Juno narrowed his eyes. Something didn't feel right.
As they walked, Juno checked his system again.
[System Alert: Magic Signatures Altered. Trap Detected.]
Before he could react, the floor dropped beneath them.
"JUNO!" Jaemin shouted.
They fell.
Juno landed hard on stone, Jaemin crashing beside him.
Above them, Goro's voice echoed.
"Sorry, boys. Nothing personal. The boss won't awaken unless it tastes blood—and frankly, we don't want to be the ones bleeding."
"YOU BASTARDS!" Jaemin shouted.
Rubble sealed the chamber.
[Special Trigger Activated – Sacrificial Chamber Engaged]
Juno stood, groaning. "I knew it."
The shadows around the room rippled.
[Emergency Protocol Engaged – Combat Threshold Met]
[Shadow Extraction System Awakening... Lv. 2 Unlocked]
"Juno… what's happening?"
He turned to Jaemin. "Stay close. I'm done holding back."
A massive figure rose from the dark—ten feet tall, with blade-like limbs and glowing red eyes.
[Mini-Boss: Temple Warden – Elite Class]
"System," Juno said. "Give me a blade."
[Basic Shadow Sword – 100 Coins]
[Purchased]
The sword appeared in his hand. He dashed forward, faster than Jaemin could track.
He slashed the warden's leg, then rolled under its spinning blade. Shadow tendrils reached out from the ground, grabbing at the monster's limbs.
[Skill: Shadow Bind – Success]
Juno leapt, sword plunging into the beast's neck. It shrieked, and dissolved into black mist.
[You have defeated the Temple Warden]
[Shadow Extraction Available – Proceed?]
"Yes."
[New Shadow Acquired: Temple Warden – Rank C]
Jaemin stared in awe.
"What… what are you?"
Juno helped him up. "Alive. That's all that matters."
The chamber cracked open. They moved forward and found themselves in the main boss room.
Goro and the others stood at the center, confused.
"What the—how are you alive?"
"I told you," Juno said, stepping forward. "I'm done holding back."
The dungeon king emerged—a titan of a creature with molten skin and twin flaming blades.
The others panicked. But Juno's eyes glowed.
"Shadow Mode: Revenant."
The warden's shadow rose beside him.
"Cover me," he said to Jaemin. "I'm ending this."
The fight was brutal. Juno dodged flaming strikes, stabbed deep into the beast's belly, and used his shadow to wrestle it to the ground.
Jaemin covered him, throwing knives and distracting the monster.
With a final leap, Juno sliced its throat.
[King of the Dungeon Defeated]
[Shadow Extraction Possible – Insufficient Level for Extraction]
[Boss Core Acquired: Used for System Upgrade]
He turned back to the others.
"Leave. Now."
Sena tried to speak. Juno summoned the warden's shadow.
They ran.
Later, outside the Rift, Jaemin stared at him.
"You're not normal."
"No," Juno replied.
"I'm starting at Blackridge next week. I won't say anything. But… I want to train with you."
Juno gave a rare smile. "Deal."