My Afterlife System!

The heavy chamber doors groaned as they swung open, revealing a vast hall of black stone. Faint, eerie blue torches lined the walls, their flickering glow casting restless shadows over the ominous throne at the center. The suffocating presence of death pressed against Jihwan's chest, weighing down on his very soul.

This was it. The final guardian of Death's Mansion awaited.

Jihwan stepped forward, his grip tightening around Killer of Darkness. Dark energy crackled along its cursed blade. His DP investment had paid off—his movements felt sharper, his power surging with newfound intensity.

A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the chamber.

"So, you are the chosen one."

The voice was deep, ancient—laced with amusement.

A towering figure sat upon the throne, cloaked in shifting shadows that flickered like dying embers. Its face was obscured by a hood of darkness, but two glowing crimson eyes burned with intelligence and cruelty.

> [BOSS: ???]

HP: 5000/5000

> [YOO JIHWAN]

HP: 100/100

Jihwan exhaled. No hesitation.

He vanished into the darkness, Shadow Walk propelling him forward like a wraith. His blade gleamed as he struck—

> [Basic Attack!]

Damage: 70

[Boss HP: 4930/5000]

CLANG!

A shockwave erupted as the boss caught Killer of Darkness mid-swing with inhuman ease.

Jihwan's eyes widened. A full-force strike—stopped effortlessly.

The boss chuckled. "Predictable. Let me show you how it's done."

A tendril of pure darkness lashed toward Jihwan's midsection.

> [Dark Tendril!]

Damage: 35

[Jihwan HP: 65/100]

He twisted mid-air, avoiding a direct hit, but the force sent him skidding backward. Sparks flew as his boots scraped against the stone.

The damage was minor—but the message was clear. This opponent was on another level.

Jihwan's mind raced. I need to test its defenses.

With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a dagger infused with dark energy.

> [Silent Throw!]

Damage: 120

[Boss HP: 4810/5000]

The dagger struck true, detonating with a burst of cursed energy—

But when the smoke cleared, the boss stood unharmed.

Jihwan's stomach sank. That barely did anything…

The boss stepped forward, shadows rippling. "Is that all? Disappointing."

The ground trembled.

Massive, writhing tendrils burst from the floor, lunging like hunting serpents.

> [Shadow Snare!]

Damage: 50

[Jihwan HP: 15/100]

Jihwan pushed his agility to the limit, weaving through the onslaught. But the boss wasn't done.

A shadowy claw materialized behind him—

> [Shadow Claw!]

Damage: 10

[Jihwan HP: 5/100]

A searing pain shot through his ribs as he was flung across the chamber. He crashed into a pillar, coughing up blood.

He forced himself up, wincing. This isn't a battle I can win with brute strength. I need a strategy.

The boss tilted its head. "You're still standing? Interesting. But how long will you last?"

Jihwan's eyes darkened.

His hand clenched around Killer of Darkness.

Power surged through him, his veins pulsing with overwhelming energy.

> [Dark Energy Surge Activated!]

All attacks deal +50% damage for 10 seconds!

He smirked. "Long enough."

Jihwan vanished into the shadows. His blade flashed—

> [Shadow Strike!]

Critical Hit! Damage: 750

[Boss HP: 4060/5000]

The boss reeled back, a deep gash splitting its chest.

And then—it laughed. "Hah… Hahaha! Good. This will be interesting."

It raised its hands. Darkness churned, growing denser—

But Jihwan wasn't done.

Killer of Darkness pulsed. The moment had arrived.

Jihwan roared as he unleashed his final strike.

> [Killer of Darkness: Death Cleave!]

Damage: 4200

[Boss HP: 0/5000]

The entity staggered. Its form unraveled into writhing tendrils of darkness.

The throne cracked. The chamber trembled.

The boss let out a final chuckle. "You think this is victory? No… this is just the beginning."

Then, it disintegrated into the abyss.

Silence fell.

Then—

> [System Message]

[You have only stepped onto the first stage of this war.]

Jihwan let out a slow breath, gripping his sword tightly.

The war had only begun.

The chamber shuddered, deep fissures ripping through the obsidian walls as if reality itself rejected Jihwan's presence. Soul Devour, the final boss of Death's Mansion, lay in ruins before him—its form dissolving into the abyss, tendrils of shadow writhing as they faded into nothingness.

Jihwan exhaled, the weight of exhaustion pressing against his bones. But his stance remained firm. His grip tightened around Killer of Darkness, the cursed blade humming as if acknowledging his triumph.

Then, the system's voice echoed through the void.

> [Congratulations! You have defeated the Final Boss: Soul Devour.]

[Your Death's Mansion Trial is complete.]

A sudden pulse of energy rippled through his body. It was different this time. Deeper. Hungrier.

> [EXP Gained: 2,000]

[Level Up!]

[Level 5 → Level 10]

His senses sharpened, his perception stretching beyond what it once was. The suffocating weight of the abyss no longer pressed against him. Instead, it felt... familiar. Welcoming.

> [New Title Acquired: Heir of the Abyss]

→ You are the one who conquered Death's Mansion.

→ Dark Energy skills increased by 50%.

→ All lower dark creatures will submit to your command.

Jihwan's fingers twitched. A faint whisper curled at the edges of his mind. A presence—silent, formless—watching.

The Abyss itself was aware of him now.

> [Weapon Obtained: Killer of Darkness (Awakened Form)]

[Passive Unlocked: Abyss Command]

→ All weak dark creatures obey your will.

> [Special Skill Unlocked: Death's Shroud]

→ Become one with the shadows for 20 seconds, rendering yourself undetectable.

→ Cooldown: 24 Hours.

> [75 DP Obtained.]

Jihwan clenched his fists, steadying his breath. Power coursed through him—unrestrained, intoxicating. His veins pulsed with the raw, overwhelming presence of Dark Energy. His very existence had shifted—no longer bound by the same human limits as before.

A deep, agonizing groan rumbled through the chamber. The ground beneath him fractured.

The Death's Mansion was collapsing.

Chunks of the ceiling plummeted, devoured by the abyss below. The walls buckled, their ancient engravings crumbling into dust. This place—this entire domain—was being erased from existence.

Jihwan didn't move. He simply watched as the void consumed everything around him.

This place was never meant to be conquered.

But he had survived.

No—he had become something beyond human.

Then, just as the last remnants of Death's Mansion vanished, the system delivered its final message—

> [You have only stepped onto the first stage of this war.]

The words lingered, pressing into his soul like a brand.

Jihwan's eyes narrowed. The war had already begun.

"…A war, huh?"

Dark energy curled around his fingertips, the abyss whispering in response.

Death's Mansion was only the beginning.

And the abyss was far from done with him.