Exhaustion weighed on Leo's legs, his chest heaving as he leaned against his shield. Then, a sudden notification appeared before his eyes.
(Stamina +1)
Leo blinked. "…My stats… can grow before a level up?" He muttered in surprise.
A small smile tugged at his lips. "I guess that makes sense. I haven't passed the limits of a human body yet. Growing it with my efforts should be possible."
His gaze turned thoughtful, the pain in his muscles almost forgotten. "Then I should train, push my body harder, make my stats stronger before I level up. That way I can stack more before hitting human limits."
He clenched his fist, a new plan forming in his mind.
'Alright then. I'll add that to my list.'
Leo pulled out his phone, the dim glow showing the time. Nearly six in the evening.
'That's my cue to head back,' he thought with a small sigh.
He glanced at his shadows, their bodies nicked and worn but still standing. Their glowing eyes waited for his command.
"You've done well today," Leo said, straightening his posture as if to address real soldiers. "I'll leave the hunting to you for the night. Mongmor, you'll lead. Make sure the team works together."
Mongmor puffed his chest out, raising his chin like a knight being honored. The gesture almost made Leo chuckle, but he let it pass.
"Don't get reckless," he added. "Crystals first, safety second. Understand?"
The shadows nodded in unison, silent yet obedient.
He gave them one last glance before turning away. "Alright. I'll leave the rest to you."
The three shadows melted into the darkness, spreading out to hunt, while Leo kept Mor4 hidden within his own shadow.
With that, he turned his back to the dungeon and started down the path home, a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
By the time he reached the city's massive stone wall, the sky had already turned orange from the setting sun. Leo paused, glancing back toward the mountain in the distance.
'Better take my armor and weapons home,' he thought, remembering the thugs from the gang.
He stepped off the road near a tree and began removing his armor piece by piece, setting them down carefully before wrapping everything tightly with the cloth he'd brought just in case.
By the time he reached the slums, the sun had already dipped behind the walls, leaving the streets dim and quiet. He walked past the crooked houses and reached his small doorstep. Just as he placed the bundle down…
(Your shadow Mor1 has been destroyed)
Leo froze.
Then another two notifications flashed before him.
(Your shadow Mor2 has been destroyed)
(Your shadow Mongmor has been destroyed)
"What the...?" His eyes widened. "Did they run into a higher-level monster inside that dungeon?"
He exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "Lucky I left before that happened… but still, that means they can't hunt for me anymore. What a shame."
He sighed again, staring at the flickering light from his small window. "I'll ask Mongmor what happened tomorrow," he muttered.
Too tired to think further, Leo went inside, ate the leftover food he'd ordered earlier, and collapsed onto his bed. His eyelids grew heavy, and soon, sleep took him.
...
The next morning.
Leo was pulled out of sleep by a deep, echoing sound that rolled through the city like thunder. It was loud enough to shake the thin walls of his room. His eyes snapped open.
That sound, he knew it too well.
It was the city siren. The same one that had screamed years ago, back when monsters had swarmed the streets and torn everything apart.
His heart pounded hard in his chest. "Monsters… they're coming again?" he muttered, disbelief flashing across his face.
Their city was one of the safer ones. Attacks here were rare, almost unheard of. In the last ten years, it had only happened once.
"Are they migrating?" Leo guessed, trying to make sense of it. But he didn't waste time thinking about it. The siren meant danger was already close.
He threw off his blanket and jumped to his feet. Armor first, then the dagger at his waist, and finally, his spear. The familiar weight settled in his hands, steadying his nerves.
"Good thing I brought this back," he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip as his pulse quickened.
Without wasting a second, he called out softly, "Mongmor, Mor2, Mor3."
Dark shapes rose from his shadow one after another, their faint glowing eyes greeting him silently. The sudden drain hit him hard, summoning all three at once left his mana completely dry. Mor4, already out since yesterday, stood waiting beside them.
Then, screams erupted from outside.
Leo rushed to the window. His face hardened at the sight, goblins, kobolds, and gnolls were already storming through the narrow streets, smashing doors and dragging people out. Fires began to spread from the far end of the slums.
"They're already here?" His grip tightened around his spear. There were too many, thousands, maybe more. Even he felt a chill crawl down his spine.
But staying inside wasn't an option. If he hid, they'd smell him out sooner or later.
Leo took a deep breath, wrapped a cloth around his face, and covered everything except his eyes. "Alright… let's do this."
He opened the door quietly. Shadows rippled at his feet, spreading like dark mist across the ground.
With his soldiers hiding within the darkness, Leo stepped outside only to be spotted immediately by a goblin snarling nearby. Its yellow eyes gleamed with bloodlust as it rushed forward, waving a rusted sword above its head.
Leo didn't flinch. Facing such monsters now barely made his heartbeat rise.
When the goblin lunged, Leo shifted slightly to the side. The blade missed him by an inch. In that same moment, he raised his dagger and drove it straight into the goblin's neck.
The creature froze mid-step, its sword slipping from its grip before collapsing to the ground with a dull thud.
A faint glow flashed in front of his eyes.
(Experience point +1)
But Leo didn't bother checking it.
Three more goblins came snarling from the alley, their feet stomping over the dirt as they charged him from different angles.
Leo exhaled slowly and raised his dagger again. "Come on, then," he muttered.
The goblins rushed in. Just before they reached him, the ground behind Leo rippled, four dark shapes burst out, spears of darkness shot forward, striking with perfect timing.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Each goblin was pierced clean through before they could even scream. Their bodies dropped to the ground one after another.
(Experience point +1)
(Experience point +1)
(Experience point +1)