The Forsaken Awakening

[ System Status – Jin Jinhyuk ] (Updated Progress)

[ Hunter Rank: High B-Class → Low A-Class ] (New Rank Achieved!)

Combat Ability: Comparable to early A-Class Hunters.

Summoning Strength: Can now sustain multiple powerful shadow creatures.

Goal: Surpass A-Class before facing stronger enemies like the Servant of the Forgotten.

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[ Level: 27 ]

Next Level: 10/400 EXP

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[ Stats ] (Current vs. Previous in Parentheses)

Strength: 80 (↑ from 65)

Agility: 90 (↑ from 72)

Endurance: 70 (↑ from 58)

Mana: 180 (↑ from 140)

Perception: 92 (↑ from 80)

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[ Skills & Abilities ]

Unique Skill: Lord of Shadows (Abyssal) (A-Rank, Evolving)

A fusion of illusion and shadow manipulation.

Creates a battlefield where illusions and shadows become reality.

Enhances all shadow-based abilities within the domain.

Shadow Summoning (A-Rank, Improved!) (Major Growth!)

Can summon and command multiple temporary shadow creatures.

New Effect: Can now store and recall up to TWO permanent summons without consuming mana. (Currently Stored: The Cursed Knight)

Summoned creatures retain combat skills, intelligence, and partial autonomy.

Higher-ranked creatures require greater mana consumption.

Abyssal Fusion (B+ Rank) [Active] (New!)

Allows temporary fusion with a permanent summon.

Increases Strength, Agility, and Endurance by 50%.

All shadow-based abilities consume 30% less mana.

Duration: 5 minutes. (Can be extended as skill evolves.)

Abyssal Chains (A-Rank) [Active] (New!)

Creates unbreakable chains of darkness to restrain enemies.

Drains mana from the bound target over time.

More effective against shadow-based creatures.

Abyssal Domain (B+ Rank) [Active]

Darkens the battlefield, enhancing Jinhyuk's perception and weakening enemies.

Expands shadow-based abilities.

Shadow Blink (B+ Rank) [Active]

Short-range teleportation (10 meters).

Now leaves behind an afterimage to confuse enemies.

Phantom Steps (A-Rank) [Passive]

Increases movement speed and evasion by 50%.

Allows short bursts of acceleration in combat.

Shadow Spear (B+ Rank) [Active]

Creates a spear of condensed darkness that pierces enemies.

Ignores standard armor, deals bonus damage to undead and ethereal beings.

Mana Affinity (Passive, Improved)

All shadow constructs last 50% longer.

Mana regeneration increased significantly.

Poison Resistance (Passive)

Reduces poison effects by 50%.

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[ Summon Status ]

1. The Cursed Knight (B+ Rank) – Permanent Summon (Stored)

A former warrior bound by regret, now Jinhyuk's loyal shadow knight.

Special Abilities: Shadow Greatsword, Undead Resilience, Cursed Armor.

Can now fuse with Jinhyuk for increased combat ability.

2. ??? (New Slot Available!) (To be filled with a second permanent summon.)

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Recent Progress & Key Milestones:

Rank increased to Low A-Class.

Unlocked Abyssal Fusion, allowing direct combat power boosts.

Gained Abyssal Chains, a powerful restraint ability.

Now capable of summoning TWO permanent summons.

Defeated the Watcher's Abyssal Reapers, proving his ability to control high-level shadows.

Now that Jinhyuk has officially reached A-Class, his shadow abilities are more refined, and his summons have become stronger.

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Inside the Tower of the Forgotten – Floor 7

Jinhyuk stepped through the portal, his mind still processing the Watcher's final words.

"The Forgotten One is watching you."

Those words lingered in his thoughts like a dark omen.

The Watcher had disappeared without explaining further, leaving Jinhyuk alone with more questions than answers.

But one thing was clear—he wasn't just climbing the Tower anymore.

He was being tested.

By something greater than he could comprehend.

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A New Floor, A New Nightmare

The moment Jinhyuk arrived on Floor 7, he felt it.

The air was wrong.

Cold. Heavy.

Like the entire floor was suffocating under an unseen force.

The surroundings were… distorted.

Instead of a dungeon, a forest, or an arena—Jinhyuk stood inside an abandoned medieval city.

Buildings leaned at odd angles, their windows shattered, doors left hanging open as if something had torn through them.

A thick fog slithered through the streets, covering the ground like a living entity.

And worst of all—it was silent.

No wind. No movement.

No monsters.

Just pure, suffocating silence.

Jinhyuk gritted his teeth.

"This place feels like a graveyard."

Then, a system message appeared.

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[ Trial of the Seventh Floor: The Forgotten City ]

Objective: Escape the city before midnight.

Failure Condition: Remain in the city after time runs out.

Bonus Objective: Uncover the city's secret before leaving.

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Jinhyuk's stomach twisted.

"Escape? So this isn't just a normal combat floor."

His eyes scanned the ruined buildings, the thick fog concealing whatever dangers lurked ahead.

Then—

A whisper slithered through the air.

Low. Distant.

But growing closer.

Jinhyuk's pulse quickened.

He wasn't alone.

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The First Encounter – A Stalker in the Fog

Jinhyuk moved cautiously, his shadow magic coiling around him like armor.

The city's twisted streets stretched endlessly, every turn feeling like it led deeper into something unnatural.

Then, he heard it again.

A soft clicking sound.

Like bones tapping together.

Jinhyuk froze.

He turned his head—just slightly.

And saw it.

A tall, emaciated figure stood at the end of the street, its skeletal frame wrapped in blackened cloth.

Its elongated fingers twitched, its head tilted at an unnatural angle.

And though it had no eyes, Jinhyuk could feel it staring at him.

A system message flashed.

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[ Monster Identified: Forgotten Wraith (A-Rank) ]

A being lost between worlds, drawn to those who disturb its city.

Invisible to normal sight unless directly acknowledged.

Grows stronger the longer it remains unchallenged.

Weakness: Holy magic and concentrated shadow attacks.

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Jinhyuk's breath slowed.

"An A-Rank monster… that grows stronger over time?"

His mind raced.

If he ignored it, it would only become deadlier.

But if he fought it directly, he had no idea how many more were lurking nearby.

"Tch. No choice."

He raised his hand.

And activated Shadow Summoning.

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The Cursed Knight Returns

[ Summon Deployed: The Cursed Knight (B+ Rank)! ]

A portal of black mist swirled beside Jinhyuk—

And the Cursed Knight stepped forward, greatsword in hand.

The Forgotten Wraith twitched violently, its body shuddering as if sensing the summoning.

Then—it screamed.

A high-pitched, unnatural wail that sent cracks through the surrounding buildings.

Jinhyuk flinched, his eardrums ringing.

"Damn thing is loud!"

Then—the Wraith vanished.

And reappeared behind him.

Jinhyuk's instincts screamed.

The Wraith's claw lashed out—

But the Cursed Knight intercepted, his sword meeting the attack mid-air.

CLANG!

The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the fog.

Jinhyuk teleported backward, regaining his footing.

"It's fast. Too fast."

The Wraith lunged again, but this time—Jinhyuk was ready.

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Abyssal Chains – Locking Down the Prey

Jinhyuk focused his mana, his shadow pulsing in response.

[ Skill Activated: Abyssal Chains! ]

From the ground, blackened chains erupted, snapping toward the Forgotten Wraith.

The creature twisted unnaturally, trying to escape—

But the chains coiled around its limbs, tightening like a vice.

The Wraith shrieked, thrashing violently—but it was trapped.

Jinhyuk's lips curled.

"Not so scary now, are you?"

He raised his hand—

And unleashed his finishing move.

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Shadow Spear – Piercing the Abyss

A spear of pure darkness materialized above Jinhyuk, crackling with abyssal energy.

With a flick of his wrist—

It shot forward.

SHUNK!

The spear pierced through the Wraith's head, impaling it against the crumbling wall behind it.

The creature let out one final, distorted wail.

Then—it dissolved into black mist.

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Level Up!

[ You Have Leveled Up! ]

[ Level 27 → Level 28 ]

[ Shadow Summoning Has Strengthened! ]

Summoned creatures now inherit a portion of Jinhyuk's stats.

Mana consumption for summons reduced by 20%.

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Jinhyuk exhaled, shaking off the residual energy.

The fight had been short but intense.

And now—he had confirmation.

This city was crawling with Forgotten Wraiths.

And if they really grew stronger over time…

Then he needed to find a way out before more showed up.

A low gust of wind swept through the empty streets.

The fog shifted—and for the briefest moment, Jinhyuk saw something deeper in the city.

A tall, ruined cathedral.

And in front of it—

A figure in a hooded cloak, watching him.

Jinhyuk's blood ran cold.

That wasn't a Wraith.

That was something else.

And it was waiting for him.

He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath.

"Fine. Let's see what you are."

With renewed determination, he moved forward—deeper into the Forgotten City.

And whatever awaited him next… he was ready.