Ethan's breath came in ragged gasps, each one a knife in his lungs. The air was thick with the coppery stench of blood, not just from the monster, but from his own body. His left shoulder was a bloody mess; his cheap armor had done nothing but soak up the crimson flow.
In front of him, the colossal corpse of the Shadow Beast gave one final shudder before collapsing onto the stone floor. The ground shook as if the entire dungeon had just exhaled.
Ethan swayed, his legs like jelly. If he hadn't propped himself up with his rusted sword, he would have fallen.
Suddenly, the distorted shadows around the beast's corpse began to dissipate. The "dark figures" that had held it in place shriveled and vanished like smoke in the wind. Only the goblin shadow remained—the first creature Ethan had summoned—still kneeling, wheezing, but not fading away.
Ethan frowned. He forced a breath into his lungs and asked quietly, almost to himself, "What… were those… just now?"
Instantly, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes:
[Passive Skill: Shade Remnants – Unlocked]
All creatures that perish within the Master's influence will leave behind a shadowy remnant. These remnants are extremely weak, exist for a short duration, and vanish after the battle. They cannot be re-summoned. They are merely temporary tools.
Ethan read each word slowly. His mind was reeling from exhaustion, but the information was etched into his memory.
"Remnants… so those things weren't separate beings, they were just… dead bodies turned into shadows?"
The cold, inhuman voice echoed in his mind again:
"Correct. The Master is not yet strong enough to bind many souls. But the power of Shadows does not waste death. Though they are but remnants, they were enough to keep you alive."
A shiver ran down Ethan's spine. That voice—the same one that had asked him, "Do you wish to live?" in his final moments. He didn't know if it was a system or some entity within the darkness. But it was clear it was watching his every move.
He looked down at his trembling hand and clenched it into a fist. "So… the army I had… was temporary. But you… you're real."
His gaze fell on the Shadow Goblin. The small creature looked up, its red eyes glowing like embers, its gaze expectant. In that moment, Ethan felt a vague connection—not of camaraderie, but a master-servant chain, a bond deep in his soul.
Another screen popped up:
[First Summon Bound: Shadow Goblin – Rank F]
Name: Not yet named. Status: Stable existence. Can be summoned/dissipated at the Master's will. Abilities: Basic close-combat, low durability.
Ethan let out a low laugh, a sound mixed with fatigue and bitter relief. "At least… you're real. You don't disappear like smoke."
He stumbled over to the Shadow Beast's body. Its black fur had dissolved into dust, leaving only a faintly glowing, reddish-tinged magic core.
A new notification appeared:
[Dungeon Trial Completed] [Reward: 1x Shadow Core (C-Rank)] [Skill Unlocked: Summon Management – Basic]
Ethan stared at the core in his hand. A cold energy pulsed through his fingertips, making him shiver. "This… is my reward for selling my soul?"
He closed his eyes. In the darkness, Emily's face appeared, her faint smile on the hospital bed. It was a tiny flicker of light against a raging storm.
"If this is the only path… then I'll keep going."
The boss chamber shook. The walls cracked, and a blinding white light flooded the room. Ethan shielded his eyes. When he opened them, he was back at the dungeon entrance, where his group had entered.
No one else was there. Marcus, Lisa, the other warriors—all were gone, leaving only dried bloodstains on the ground.
Ethan stood frozen. He knew that to them, he had died in the dungeon. But he—he had survived alone, becoming something else entirely.
In his head, the voice spoke again, low and cold:
"You are no longer an ordinary Hunter. You are the Master of Shadows. You will not be alone… as long as you keep killing."
Ethan clenched his jaw, gripping the magic core. His eyes shone in the darkness. "Fine. If this power is the price of blood, I'll use it. To live, to protect Emily… and to show the world that Ethan Graves is no longer useless."
The goblin stood beside him, letting out a soft hiss, as if echoing his vow.
In the dead of night, a new man was born.