Ethan Graves hated this feeling. The heavy clang of his armor with every step in the dungeon echoed the trembling in his heart.
Captain Marcus led the way, his gait steady, his shining armor reflecting the torchlight. Behind him were Lisa, the healer, and two other close-combat warriors. All of them ignored Ethan's presence—a Rank E Hunter, the only one in the group they didn't even bother to trust.
"Graves, hold the torch steady. At least you can do that right." Marcus's voice was cold.
Ethan bit his lip, trying not to react. He was used to the contempt. In the two years since he became a Hunter, he had never been acknowledged. His strength was too weak, his skills unremarkable. In previous raids, his only purpose was to be a decoy or a pack mule.
But he held on. Not because he dreamed of being a hero, but because of… Emily.
A blurry image of his sister on her hospital bed flashed in his mind. Her blue eyes still sparkled whenever she smiled at him, despite her frail body weakened by medication. The monthly hospital bills were a crushing burden. If he gave up, Emily would have no chance.
"As long as I survive… as long as I can earn money…" Ethan whispered, steeling himself to take the next step.
The boss room door appeared after a turn. The ancient carvings on the stone glowed a blood-red. The air grew heavy, suffocating each person's chest.
Lisa frowned, her voice full of unease: "This pressure… it's not like a Rank D dungeon."
"You're overthinking it." Marcus shrugged. "Rank D is just Rank D. The boss might be a bit tough, that's all."
But a shiver ran down Ethan's spine. His instincts told him something was terribly wrong.
When the door opened, the truth hit them like a wall.
In the center of the massive chamber, a colossal black beast was asleep. Its breath rumbled like thunder, and each rise of its chest stirred a cold gust of wind. A thick coat of fur covered its muscular body, and its claws were as long and sharp as blades.
Lisa gasped in horror: "A Shadow Beast… That's at least a Rank C!"
The air froze. Everyone understood that the difference between Rank D and C wasn't just a step—it was an abyss.
"Retreat!" Marcus roared.
But the beast opened its eyes. Its burning red pupils swept across the room, locking onto the intruders.
A roar like a thunderclap rattled their bones. Ethan felt his chest being crushed. His breath hitched, and his entire body trembled.
Everyone scrambled for the door, panic-stricken. Ethan tried to run, too, but his speed was slow. His legs felt bound by his own fear.
A whistling sound tore through the air. The beast's claw swung down. Two Hunters at the back of the group were torn apart, blood splattering, the metallic smell filling the air. Ethan's heart pounded, and his legs turned to jelly.
Marcus looked back, a cruel glint in his eyes. He shoved Ethan hard, pushing him right in front of the monster.
"Graves! Hold it off!"
Ethan stumbled and fell, his face a mask of terror. "What?! No! Don't leave me!"
But his teammates were already gone. It was just him—and the Shadow Beast.
His heart pounded. Ethan wanted to stand up, but his legs wouldn't obey. He raised his rusted sword, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"No… I can't die here… Emily… you still need me…"
The beast roared and lunged. Its claw came down.
Slash!
A sharp pain exploded in his left shoulder. Blood gushed out like a fountain. Ethan screamed, collapsing to the ground. His body convulsed, his vision blurred. He felt death crawling towards him, cold and merciless.
In that very moment, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Do you wish to live?"
Ethan was startled. His blurry eyes tried to find the source of the sound, but there was only darkness seeping from the cracks in the floor.
"If you wish to live… accept. Become the Master of Shadows."
His first thought was that it was a hallucination from blood loss. But the voice was too clear, too sharp. It didn't sound like a hallucination; it sounded like something whispering directly into his soul.
He trembled. "What… will I become… if I agree?"
"One who is no longer alone. One with a power that will make the world tremble. The price… is merely your soul."
Ethan laughed bitterly. His soul? For a man at death's door, what was there to lose? But he hesitated. Since childhood, he had been taught that the power of shadows was evil. Hunters existed to destroy monsters, not to become a part of them.
But… the image of Emily appeared again. She smiled, weakly reaching out to him in the hospital.
"Big brother… don't leave me."
Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood on his cheek.
Ethan croaked: "I… accept."
BOOM!
The ground cracked. A colossal magic circle appeared, etched with blood-red symbols. Darkness poured out like an endless river, swallowing the remaining light.
The corpses of the small monsters in the room began to tremble. Their flesh and skin melted away, leaving only shadowy figures. They knelt before Ethan, their eyes burning red like embers.
A transparent screen appeared before his eyes:
[Class Acquired: Abyss Summoner] [Skill Unlocked: Abyss Codex – Rank F] [First Summon: Shadow Goblin – Bound]
A jet-black goblin stepped out of the circle, wielding an iron axe, growling, ready for battle.
Ethan felt the bleeding from his wound stop. A cold energy surged through his body, but instead of being terrifying, it brought a sense of… survival.
He struggled to his feet. Blood still stained his sleeve, but his eyes were different now. There was no longer just fear in them—there was a grim determination.
The Shadow Beast roared and charged.
Ethan gripped the hilt of his sword, giving the command with a shaky but firm voice:
"Go… kill it for me."
The Shadow Goblin shrieked, charging straight at the colossal monster. Behind it, the other shadowy figures rose, forming a small army in the darkness.
Ethan gave a faint smile—a smile mixed with blood, tears, and a newfound belief.