Abyss Walker: Rebirth of the Shadows

Raon stepped out into the cold morning air, the weight of his decision still pressing against him. Ivan's words echoed in his mind, but he shoved them aside. There was something more important waiting for him now—something that mattered far more than the whispers of the Abyss or the lure of power.

His sisters.

For too long, they had lived in uncertainty, struggling while he threw himself into the dangerous world of dungeon-hunting just to provide for them. Eunha and Sora—his only family left. He had promised them he would come back, that he wouldn't leave them alone in this world.

But after everything that had happened in the dungeon, he wasn't sure if he was the same brother they had known.

The small apartment complex they lived in was quiet, the air thick with the early morning chill. Raon moved up the stairs, his fingers tightening around the plastic bag filled with food. He had barely eaten since escaping the dungeon, but this wasn't for him. His sisters always came first.

When he reached the door, he took a deep breath and knocked.

For a few seconds, there was silence. Then, hurried footsteps.

The door swung open, revealing Eunha, his younger sister, still in her school uniform despite it being early. Her long black hair was tied up in a loose ponytail, her eyes wide with shock.

"Raon!" she gasped, before throwing her arms around him.

The sudden warmth startled him. He had faced a Demon Lord, survived an impossible dungeon, and come back stronger than ever—but nothing compared to the sheer force of his little sister's hug.

Raon let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and patted her head. "Hey, Eunha. You're up early."

She pulled back and looked up at him with teary eyes. "You've been gone for days! We thought—" Her voice hitched, and she shook her head, trying to stop herself from crying. "I thought you weren't coming back."

A pang of guilt hit Raon's chest. He had been so focused on survival, on growing stronger, that he hadn't thought about how his absence had affected them.

"I'm here now," he said softly. "I told you I'd come back, didn't I?"

Eunha wiped her eyes, sniffling. "You're such an idiot."

"Yeah," Raon chuckled. "I get that a lot."

Before he could say more, a small voice called out from inside the apartment.

"Eunha? Who's at the door?"

The sound made Raon's chest tighten.

A second later, Sora appeared in the doorway, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She was only eight years old, her short hair still messy from sleep. But the moment she saw Raon, her face lit up.

"Oppa!" she cried, launching herself at him.

Raon caught her easily, lifting her up as she clung to his neck. She was warm, small, and fragile—so different from the world he had just walked out of.

"You came back," Sora whispered against his shoulder.

Raon closed his eyes, holding her tightly. "Of course, I did. I'll always come back."

Inside the apartment, everything felt the same yet different. The walls were still bare, the furniture old and mismatched, but this place had always been home. As Eunha prepared tea, Sora sat on the couch beside Raon, her tiny fingers clutching his sleeve as if afraid he would disappear again.

"So?" Eunha asked, setting a cup down in front of him. "How did it go? The dungeon?"

Raon hesitated. He could tell them about the horrors he had faced, about the Demon Lord, the Abyss, and the power that now coursed through his veins. But they didn't need to hear that.

"It was… tough," he said instead. "But I made it out."

Eunha studied him carefully. "You don't look like someone who just 'made it out.'"

Raon forced a smirk. "I got stronger."

Eunha frowned but didn't push. Instead, she leaned back against the chair, crossing her arms. "You're really bad at lying, you know that?"

Sora looked up at him with wide eyes. "Are you hurt?"

Raon shook his head and ruffled her hair. "Not at all. I'm stronger now, Sora. I won't lose to any monster."

Sora smiled, completely believing him. Eunha, on the other hand, still looked unconvinced.

"Are you… done with dungeons now?" she asked carefully.

Raon sighed. "You know I can't stop. This is the only way I can make money."

"But you almost died," she snapped, gripping her teacup tightly. "You keep throwing yourself into these things, and every time, I'm scared we're going to get a call saying you're never coming home."

Raon didn't know what to say to that. Because deep down, he knew she was right.

Eunha looked away, her voice quieter now. "I don't want you to disappear like Mom and Dad."

Silence filled the room.

Sora clung to his sleeve tighter, as if remembering the same thing.

Raon reached out and placed a hand on Eunha's shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised.

Eunha bit her lip but didn't reply.

Raon wished he could tell them everything. About the Abyss, about the monsters lurking beneath the surface of the world, about the man who had offered him power. But how could they possibly understand?

All they knew was that he was their older brother—the person who put food on the table, the one who was supposed to keep them safe. They didn't need to know that he was walking deeper into the darkness every day.

"Just… be careful," Eunha muttered.

Raon nodded. "I will."

But even as he said it, he knew that the path ahead was far from safe. The Abyss wasn't done with him yet.

And neither was the world.