Jinwoo's heart pounded as he faced the writhing mass of centipedes that surged from the dark tunnel ahead. His shadows stretched before him, wavering like liquid ink, ready to strike at his command. For the first time, he decided to fully unleash their power in a battle. Every shadow under his control trembled, eager to tear through the enemy that had claimed countless lives within the dungeon.
The centipede hissed, its body thrashing violently, and Jinwoo felt a cold dread crawl up his spine. Even with the immense strength of his shadow army, he realized that their bodies could be destroyed if the centipede attacked strategically. This wasn't going to be an ordinary fight—it was a test of his growing power and, more importantly, his instincts as a hunter.
"Alright… let's see how far you can push me," Jinwoo muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as his shadows lunged forward like a living wave, merging into a single colossal form. The shadows' movements were swift and precise, forming jagged limbs and fanged appendages aimed straight at the centipede's segmented body.
The centipede recoiled but didn't retreat. It struck back, snapping its massive fangs through the air. Shadows were sliced in half, dissolving instantly into darkness, and Jinwoo felt a sting of panic. His reincarnated knowledge urged him to focus, to anticipate the creature's unpredictable attacks.
"Formation change… now!" he barked. His shadows responded instantly, splitting and reforming around the enemy like a cage, trying to restrain its movements while avoiding direct contact with its venomous fangs.
The battle escalated. Centipede claws shredded the stone floor, fragments flying in all directions. Jinwoo's shadow army surged like a tide, colliding with the enemy again and again, testing the limits of both offense and defense. Each strike, each dodge, each maneuver brought him closer to understanding his army's true potential.
For a brief moment, Jinwoo hesitated—fear creeping into his chest—but he clenched his teeth and reminded himself: he had survived the lowliest dungeon, had fought monsters far worse than this. Every shadow under his command represented not just power, but his will to survive.
With a sudden roar, the centipede lunged, faster than Jinwoo expected. But his shadows split into dozens of tendrils, wrapping around the creature's legs, body, and fangs, holding it in place. Jinwoo's eyes gleamed with determination as he prepared the finishing strike.
"This ends now," he whispered.
A massive shadow claw shot forward, piercing through the centipede's segmented body. The creature screamed—a horrifying, echoing sound that shook the entire dungeon. Shadows consumed it entirely, leaving nothing behind but a faint trail of dark mist.
Breathing heavily, Jinwoo collapsed onto one knee. His shadows returned to him, vanishing like ink dissolving in water. He had won this battle, but deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
The dungeon had many more dangers, and he would have to grow stronger—faster—if he was to survive the trials ahead. Yet, for the first time, Jinwoo felt a sense of absolute confidence. He wasn't just a hunter anymore. He was becoming something far more dangerous—a master of shadows.