The ground-shaking roar filled the chamber.
The gigantic Shadow Beast rose, its blood-red eyes sweeping the room. Each step it took cracked the stone floor, kicking up clouds of dust. Ethan stood in the middle of this battlefield, his shoulder still bleeding, his hand trembling as he gripped the rusted sword. Beside him, the jet-black goblin kneeled, then let out a raspy growl. Behind it, other shadowy figures slowly rose, as if crawling from their graves. For the first time, Ethan was not completely alone.
But he knew—it wasn't enough.
The Shadow Beast charged.
A massive claw swiped down, tearing through the air. The goblin shrieked, raising its axe to block, but it was tossed aside like a ragdoll, its body disintegrating into black smoke before reforming at Ethan's feet.
Ethan gritted his teeth. "Get up! Hold it back!"
The goblin scrambled to its feet, its red eyes blazing, and lunged at the beast once more. The other shadows—vague remnants of the fallen monsters—latched onto the beast's legs, clawing desperately.
The monster roared, swinging its tail. One of the shadows exploded. The force of the blow made Ethan stagger, nearly knocking him off his feet. His heart hammered in his chest, a sharp ache searing his lungs. "No… I can't hold out against this thing any longer."
The thought of running flickered in his mind. But then, the image of Emily appeared again—his little sister on her hospital bed, her eyes shining despite her frail body.
"Big brother… don't leave me."
Ethan gritted his teeth, letting out a primal scream, and charged straight at the beast. The goblin shrieked, blocking its path. The other shadows clung to the Shadow Beast's legs, creating a brief opening. Ethan plunged forward, swinging his rusted sword. The blade sank into the beast's flank, piercing through the thick fur and muscle. Hot, black blood gushed out, splattering his face.
"Die!!!"
The Shadow Beast howled in pain, swinging its claw wildly.
Slash!
The sharp claw tore into Ethan's stomach. A searing pain ripped through his entire body. He screamed, blood pouring from the wound, his vision darkening. He stumbled, on the verge of collapsing.
In that moment of life and death, the voice echoed in his head again: "Do you choose to live… or die?"
Ethan roared, his eyes bloodshot. "I choose to live! Get up, all of you, get up for me!!!"
The black circle at his feet pulsed with light. The goblin's growl became a fierce roar, its body radiating a more intense killing intent. The fragmented shadows re-formed, binding the Shadow Beast's body like chains.
An opportunity.
Ethan gathered his last ounce of strength and lunged once more. The rusted sword in his hand aimed directly for the monster's eye.
"Die!!!"
The blade pierced through, reaching the creature's brain. The Shadow Beast shrieked, writhing in agony, then collapsed, its massive body dissolving into a thick, black smoke.
Ethan fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Blood poured from his stomach, mixing with his sweat. His vision was blurry, but a strange fire ignited within him—not just the pain, but the exhilaration of a survivor.
A series of notifications appeared:
[Boss Defeated: Shadow Beast – Rank C] [Level Up: 1 → 2] [Skill Proficiency Increased: Abyss Codex – Rank F → Rank E] [New Passive Acquired: Shadow Resilience (Minor)]
Ethan let out a raspy laugh, a mix of tears and blood staining his cheeks. For the first time in his anonymous Hunter life, he had single-handedly defeated a monster far beyond his rank.
He whispered, his hand gently touching his chest where his heart still hammered. "Emily… I won't stop now."
The black goblin knelt before him, its red eyes staring as if awaiting a command. Ethan looked at it, then surveyed the room, now reduced to dust and shadow. A cold, ruthless smile touched his lips.