The Forsaken Awakening

The air inside the dungeon shifted.

Jinhyuk felt it deep in his bones—a presence, something far worse than the Abyssal Wraiths they had just fought.

The team gathered, breathing heavily. The crimson mist swirled around them, moving unnaturally as if it were alive.

Taejin wiped sweat from his brow, his tower shield dented from the last fight. "That was just the first wave. If this dungeon is mutating, we have to expect worse ahead."

Jinhyuk's hands clenched. His mana reserves were running low, and his body was starting to feel the strain of using illusions and shadow manipulation at the same time.

Then—

[ Dungeon Update: Hazard Level Increased. ]

[ Difficulty Raised to B-Class. ]

"What?" Yuna gasped.

Jinhyuk's eyes widened. The dungeon itself just… ranked up?

Suddenly—

BOOM.

A distant explosion shook the ruins.

Then—a scream.

From deep within the ruins, something moved.

The team turned toward the sound, their instincts on high alert.

Then it appeared.

A massive figure, draped in a shifting, black cloak, red symbols glowing across its body.

Its head was covered by a broken, horned mask, and in its hands, it held a massive obsidian spear.

[ New Entity Identified: Abyssal Executioner (B-Class Variant) ]

Silence.

Then—it moved.

---

Death Comes Instantly

The Executioner was fast.

Too fast.

It vanished from sight—then reappeared right behind Taejin.

"TAEJIN, MOVE!" Jinhyuk shouted.

The B-Class tank barely had time to raise his shield—

CRACK!

The spear pierced straight through the metal, sending him flying into a stone pillar.

"Shit—!" Yuna yelled, casting a barrier spell just in time to block a follow-up strike.

The shockwave sent everyone staggering.

One hit.

One hit had almost killed Taejin.

Jinhyuk felt cold.

"It's on a different level," he murmured, his hands trembling.

This thing wasn't just B-Class. It felt stronger.

And it was looking directly at him.

The mask tilted slightly, as if acknowledging something.

Then—it charged.

---

Jinhyuk's Breaking Point

Jinhyuk's body moved on instinct.

He activated Phantom Steps, blurring to the side just as the spear tore through the ground where he had been standing.

"Jinhyuk!" Yuna screamed, but he could barely hear her.

The Executioner's killing intent was suffocating.

He couldn't dodge forever.

His illusions weren't working.

His shadows weren't fast enough.

And then—it swung again.

He tried to raise a shadow barrier, but—

SLASH!

Pain.

A deep gash tore across Jinhyuk's chest, blood splattering the ground.

His vision blurred.

His legs buckled.

Am I going to die here?

Then—

A voice echoed inside his mind.

"Not yet."

His system interface flickered violently.

[ Emergency Override Activated. ]

[ Unique Skill Awakening in Progress. ]

Jinhyuk's entire body burned.

Something inside him snapped.

And then—

Everything changed.

---

Pain.

That was all Jinhyuk could feel.

His chest burned, blood dripping from the deep wound across his torso. His body screamed for rest, but his instincts knew better—if he stopped moving, he would die.

The Abyssal Executioner loomed above him, its obsidian spear raised for the finishing blow.

Then—

His system interface exploded with notifications.

[ Emergency Override Activated. ]

[ Unique Skill Awakening in Progress. ]

A surge of pure mana erupted from within him.

The air trembled.

Jinhyuk felt something break—

No.

Not break.

Evolve.

---

A New Power Awakens

Darkness poured from Jinhyuk's body, swallowing the surrounding area.

His shadows expanded, stretching unnaturally, twisting into something alive.

The Abyssal Executioner paused, its spear hovering mid-air, as if sensing something had changed.

Jinhyuk's system interface flashed.

[ Unique Skill: Lord of Illusions → Lord of Shadows ]

[ New Skill Acquired: Abyssal Domain ]

Creates a field where illusions and shadows merge into reality.

Enhances perception control.

Grants temporary immunity to fear-based effects.

Jinhyuk's eyes snapped open.

The Executioner's spear came down.

And then—

It passed right through him.

---

The Hunter Becomes the Predator

Jinhyuk reappeared behind the Executioner, his body shifting between reality and shadow.

The monster whirled around, confused.

For the first time—it hesitated.

Jinhyuk smirked.

"My turn."

He extended his hand, and the shadows obeyed.

Tendrils of pure darkness shot from the ground, wrapping around the Executioner's limbs, binding it in place.

The monster struggled, but the Abyssal Domain was absolute.

Jinhyuk clenched his fist—

And the shadows crushed inward.

CRACK.

The Executioner screeched, its mask fracturing as it tried to break free.

But Jinhyuk wasn't done.

With a flick of his wrist, the shadows coalesced into a massive spear—one twice the size of the Executioner's weapon.

"Let's see how you like it."

He thrust the spear forward.

It pierced straight through the monster's chest.

The Executioner let out a final, echoing wail—

Then shattered into nothingness.

---

Dungeon Cleared – A New Beginning

Silence.

The Abyssal Domain dissipated, the crimson mist fading away.

Jinhyuk stumbled, gasping for air. His body ached, but his mind was sharp.

Then—his system updated.

[ Dungeon Cleared. Rewards Calculated. ]

[ Level Up: 14 → 17 ]

[ New Skills Acquired: ]

Abyssal Domain (B-Rank)

Shadow Blink (Short-range teleportation)

He had done it.

He wasn't just a C-Class hunter anymore.

He was stepping into B-Class territory.

As the exit portal formed, his team stared at him.

Eyes filled with awe.

Fear.

And something else—recognition.

Jinhyuk smirked, stepping through the portal.

His real journey was just beginning.