Surviving in chaos was as difficult as making it out of the battlefield. As Kieran stepped out of the dungeon with heavy steps, he was out of breath. The other team members were just as exhausted, but there was something more dominant than their fatigue: astonishment and fear.
Damon, the C-level hunter and team leader, stared silently at Kieran for a while. There was an expression in his eyes that he couldn't comprehend. Just a few minutes ago, they had seen him as an F-level hunter, but now he had not only survived an A+ level dungeon but had also become the hero in many critical moments.
The team's mage, Elara, was the first to break the silence with her trembling voice.
“You... what exactly are you?” Her eyes widened with fear.
Kieran paused for a moment. What could he say in response? He didn't even fully understand himself. But here, he needed to project a strong and controlled image to the outside world. He shrugged and replied with a calm expression.
“I’m a hunter.”
Damon nodded with a slight smile. “If you’re a hunter, I don’t know what we are. But we must admit one thing: being on the battlefield with you is definitely not a bad feeling.”
The atmosphere softened a bit, but no one felt completely at ease. A few minutes later, Damon turned to Kieran and made a proposal.
“Look, after such a dangerous battle, we deserve to relax a bit. Let’s go to a bar and celebrate this.”
Kieran thought for a moment. He didn’t want to get too close, but it wouldn’t be right to completely push these people away either. He nodded slightly in agreement.
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The bar was noisy and lively. The tables were full, people were laughing, and hunters were sharing their adventures with one another. The team settled into a small corner. Damon ordered a round of drinks, and the glasses filled up one by one.
Elara still occasionally looked at Kieran in astonishment. Damon, wanting to ease her, took most of the conversation upon himself. “Today, for the first time in my life, I thought I would die in a dungeon,” he laughed. “But apparently, I was wrong.”
Kieran only managed a faint smile. As the conversation progressed, he began to feel the need to speak more. However, just as he sipped his drink, his vision suddenly darkened. A voice echoed in his ear, silencing the whole world:
“Congratulations, my heir. You have completed your first trial. Therefore, I will grant you a skill.”
For a moment, Kieran felt as if his breath had been taken away.
The Shadow God.
Time seemed to stand still. As dark energy swirled in his mind, a system notification appeared before his eyes.
New Skill Acquired: Shadow Soldiers.
Kieran's pupils dilated slightly. This was not just a simple skill; it was the ability to turn shadows into soldiers...
Elara’s voice brought him back to the moment. “Kieran? Are you okay?”
Kieran nodded slightly, but he was struggling to hide the growing excitement within him.
He was on the verge of a new power.
He couldn’t wait to try this new ability. Gathering the energy within him, he left the bar and walked to a secluded part of the city. The dim light of the street lamps stretched and enlarged the shadows around him. Assured that no one would disturb him, he took a deep breath and focused his mind on his new skill.
He could feel the shadows. They were not just darkness; they felt alive, like shapeshifting beings. He raised his hand and squeezed lightly. The shadows trembled and concentrated as if they had received a command. Suddenly, a dark shape emerged from the ground, taking on a three-dimensional form as it rose.
“Rise, my soldiers!” Kieran commanded.
Two skeletal warriors emerged from the shadows. Clad in black armor, their eyes glowed with a faint purple light as they knelt before Kieran, awaiting orders.
A faint smile appeared on Kieran’s face. This was just the beginning of his power.
“Interesting...” he murmured.
The shadows would no longer be just a tool; they would become the foundation of his army.
