Leo's footsteps pounded against the cold stone, each one sending a dull stab through his ribs.
The stale dungeon air clung to his lungs like wet cloth, and the sound of pursuit echoed behind him — goblins. Dozens of them.
Not shrieking. Not yelling.
Howling.
Like they could already taste him.
"Persistent little—" Leo hissed between breaths, skidding around a bend.
The corridor abruptly widened, spilling him into a cavernous chamber. For one glorious second, the echoes of pursuit dulled.
No goblins ahead.
A breather. Finally.
The moment he thought it, the system chimed.
──────────────
[Hidden Trial Condition Activated]
──────────────
Leo's stomach dropped. "...Oh no."
The text shimmered and changed.
──────────────
Survive the Keeper of the Trial.
──────────────
"Keeper? The hell is—"
A vibration rolled through the stone beneath his feet. Dust drifted down from the jagged ceiling.
Leo's gaze lifted toward the far end of the chamber — toward the shadows.
Something stepped forward.
Something big.
It had to stoop under the stone arch just to fit, and even then its horned head nearly scraped the ceiling. Its skin was cracked stone over muscle, and eyes of molten gold burned in the dark.
In one hand, it carried a blade so massive it was less a sword and more a slab of sharpened iron.
Leo whispered the only word that came to mind.
"...Minotaur."
The Keeper tilted its head, nostrils flaring. Then, with deliberate slowness, it locked eyes on him.
"Oh, that's just fantastic," Leo muttered, backpedaling.
The Minotaur exhaled — a deep, rumbling snort that made his bones vibrate — and started toward him.
The system chimed again.
──────────────
[Special Reward Available Upon Victory]
──────────────
Leo barked a dry laugh. "Yeah, because I'm winning this one."
The Minotaur stepped closer.
Leo's survival instincts screamed: Run.
He spun toward the nearest exit — and nearly tripped when the Minotaur moved faster than anything that size had a right to.
Its massive hand slammed into the ground in front of him with a force that cracked the stone, blocking his path in a burst of dust and rubble.
Leo stumbled back. "Okay. Okay, new plan: don't die."
The beast swung its iron slab in a vicious horizontal arc. Leo threw himself into a roll, the blade shrieking against the floor inches from his heels. Sparks showered over him.
The goblins' chittering echoed from the corridor behind.
Great. Just perfect. Goblins at his back, a boss monster in front.
The Minotaur lunged again. This time, Leo ducked under the swing, ribs flaring with agony. He came up on one knee, trying to catch his breath—
And froze.
Something moved in the deepest shadow of the chamber.
Not moved — shifted.
It wasn't a body, not exactly. More like… a silhouette. But even from across the cavern, its presence pressed against his skull like a cold hand.
And then — it spoke.
"Player."
The voice didn't echo in the air.
It echoed in his mind.
Leo's blood turned to ice. "...You're not the system."
"No. I am the one who placed you here."
The words dripped into him like oil in water.
The ruler? No… the tone was different. Not smug. Not cold.
Something else. Something heavier.
The Minotaur snarled, charging again. Leo bolted sideways, scraping his shoulder against the wall.
The voice continued, unbothered.
"You are here to inherit."
Leo gritted his teeth. "Inherit… what?"
The shadow's pale, silver eyes blinked once.
"The power opposite the Monarch of Shadows. The one even he feared."
Leo's thoughts stumbled over themselves. Opposite of Jinwoo? As in… the other end of that scale? The kind of power that could stand toe-to-toe with the Shadow Monarch?
The Minotaur's blade smashed into the wall beside him, spraying stone chips. Leo barely ducked under the swing.
He hissed, "I'm not even D-rank! What the hell am I supposed to do with that?!"
"Survive. And it will be yours."
The system pinged in his vision.
──────────────
[Trial Updated: Defeat the Keeper]
──────────────
Leo staggered back. "...Of course. Of course, it's me. Why wouldn't it be me?"
The Minotaur charged again, its blade arcing down. Leo dove sideways, narrowly avoiding getting cleaved in two. His ribs burned like fire.
The goblins began to pour into the chamber now, flanking from the entrance. Snarls. Spears. Too many of them.
He could feel the exhaustion sinking its claws into him. But under it…Something else. A pulse. A deep, thrumming beat in his chest that wasn't his heartbeat.
The shadow whispered, almost urging.
"Push."
Leo's vision flickered. The goblins slowed — no, his perception sped. Every movement of the Minotaur's muscles, every twitch of a goblin's arm — he could see it.
He didn't think. He moved.
A goblin lunged — Leo sidestepped, driving his broken dagger into its temple. Another jabbed a spear — he spun low, sweeping its legs.
The Minotaur roared, swinging wide. Leo ran toward a pillar, letting the swing carry through into stone. The blade was embedded deep.
"Now," the voice whispered.
Leo surged forward, jamming the dagger into the Minotaur's wrist. The beast bellowed, yanking its arm free — but the blade was stuck in its flesh.
One weapon down.
Leo didn't slow. He darted for a fallen goblin's spear, yanking it free and spinning it in his grip. His arms trembled, but his focus was razor-thin.
The Minotaur stomped forward, and Leo hurled the spear with everything he had. It sank deep into the beast's thigh.
The Keeper roared, stumbling to one knee.
The shadow's voice rumbled again, sharper this time.
"Strike."
Leo ran.
Every step felt like it pulled the floor closer instead of him pushing off. His vision tunneled on the Minotaur's throat.
He leapt.
His hands gripped the embedded spear in its leg, using it as leverage to climb.
The Minotaur twisted, trying to grab him, too slow.
Leo reached its shoulder, teeth gritted, dagger raised.
And for the briefest moment, time seemed to still.
The shadow's words were almost a growl now.
"Claim it."
Leo drove the dagger into the base of the Minotaur's neck.
It roared — not in pain, but in fury. It surged upright, flinging him off like a ragdoll.
He slammed into the ground hard, the wind knocked clean out of him. His vision spun.
The goblins screeched, rushing him.
The Minotaur's molten eyes locked on him again.
It stepped forward.
The shadow whispered, softer this time, almost amused.
"Let's see if you're worth it."
And then it all rushed forward at once — goblins, Minotaur, the crushing weight of the trial.
Leo tightened his grip on the dagger, spat blood, and grinned through the pain.
"Alright, big guy… round two."