The weight of the battle still bore down on me. My breath was ragged, my muscles screaming from exhaustion, but there was no time to rest. The "Supreme Shadow Key" shimmered in my trembling hand, the final reward for my victory over the Shadow King. I gazed at the colossal gate before me, crafted from a strange material that seemed to dissolve and reshape continuously, as if it didn't belong to this world.
"Is this the exit? Or just the beginning of a new challenge?"
Slowly, I raised the key and inserted it into the massive lock. As I turned it, a flash of darkness erupted, engulfing me completely. I felt myself being pulled through an endless vortex, as if I were trapped between worlds.
Descent into the Unknown
When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a completely different land. There were no shifting shadows or whispering voices, but the sky was an eerie crimson, and the ground was cracked as if it had suffered a great catastrophe. Ruins of destroyed cities surrounded me, ancient towers crumbling under the weight of time.
But the most terrifying thing of all was the silence… Absolute silence, as if life itself had abandoned this place.
I began walking cautiously, trying to take in my surroundings. But I soon realized—I wasn't alone.
"This isn't the Shadow Realm, but it's certainly not any safer."
The Hunters Appear
The moment I stepped toward one of the ruined towers, I sensed sudden movement behind me. I turned swiftly, activating "Future Sight" for a split second—and saw an attack coming.
I leapt back as a sharp black blade slashed past my face, slicing through the air with a piercing whistle. My eyes locked onto my attacker—and I was stunned!
They were tall, slender beings with dark gray skin and hollow, glowing purple eyes. They weren't like the shadow beasts—I could sense intelligence and cunning in them. They wore light armor, and in their hands, they wielded long swords infused with an unknown energy.
"Hunters…"
The name echoed in my mind. I didn't know where it came from, but I instinctively knew—they weren't ordinary enemies. These beings weren't just killers; they were professional trackers, mercilessly hunting their prey.
Battle Against the Hunters
I had no time to think, as one of them lunged at me with unnatural speed. I barely dodged his strike, using "Shadow Step" to teleport behind him. But before I could counterattack—he vanished into thin air and reappeared right in front of me!
"They're using a technique similar to mine!"
That was shocking. I wasn't the only one capable of moving through shadows—meaning my usual tactics wouldn't be enough to defeat them.
I took a deep breath, preparing to fight with everything I had.
Activating "Accelerated Pulse," I pushed my speed to its limit, moving almost faster than the eye could see, attempting to take them by surprise. But they were just as fast. One blocked my attack while the other tried to flank me.
I quickly retreated, using "Shadow Shield" to block one of their strikes, but it wasn't enough. A burning pain erupted in my shoulder as one of them managed to wound me with his weapon.
But I refused to back down.
"If they can see my movements… I'll make them unpredictable!"
Closing my eyes for a moment, I pushed "Future Sight" to its maximum. In that second, I saw what was coming—one of them was about to deliver a fatal stab from the side, while the other was preparing to cut off my escape route.
When I opened my eyes, I moved—but not in the way they expected. Instead of dodging the attack, I rushed straight toward it!
They weren't prepared for this. As one of them tried to adjust his strike, I had already reached him. I drove my blade directly into his neck, using all my strength. I felt his bones shatter beneath my sword, and his body fell lifelessly to the ground.
But there was no time to rest.
"One down, but the other is still here."
I turned to face the second hunter, who was now much more cautious. He no longer attacked recklessly but instead moved slowly, analyzing my every step.
"He's smarter than the other one… But I won't let him take the initiative."
I used "Shadow Step", but instead of appearing behind him as he expected, I appeared above him, dropping down at full speed with my sword poised for a crushing vertical strike!
He couldn't dodge it completely—my blade pierced his shoulder, but he didn't fall. With a counterattack, he managed to slash my side, sending searing pain through my body.
But it was over.
With my last ounce of willpower, I activated "Accelerated Pulse" one final time, boosting my speed for a fraction of a second, and delivered the finishing blow to his heart.
His body froze… then collapsed.
Rewards Earned:
• +150 Energy Points
• New Ability: "Hunter's Eye" – Enhances your ability to read enemy movements before they happen, improving your attack accuracy and evasiveness.
• "Ancient Hunter's Ring" – Increases your reaction speed and grants resistance against negative shadow effects.
What's Next?
I sat on the ground, breathing heavily, my body covered in blood. I had barely survived—but I wasn't foolish enough to think this was the end. This place wasn't just an abandoned wasteland; it was filled with dangers beyond imagination.
"If these were just the hunters… then who is the master that sent them?"
I looked toward the horizon, where a massive tower loomed in the distance. I could feel the answer waiting for me there…
But would I be ready to face it?