Ding~

The sound echoed softly in Shadow’s mind, calm... almost casual.

As if it hadn’t just acknowledged slaughter.

[ +30 EXP for killing 4 F-rank hunters ]

[ +20 EXP for killing 1 E-rank hunter ]

For a brief second, nothing happened.

Then—

A quiet surge ran through his body. Not explosive. Not violent.

But undeniable.

Like something within him had quietly... shifted.

[ Level 5 → Level 7 ]

Shadow exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling as he absorbed the sensation.

His fingers twitched.

Strength.

Control.

Clarity.

It all felt... sharper.

More refined.

Then came the next notifications.

[ Fireball → Fire Magic ]

[ Water Ball → Water Magic ]

[ Wind Blades → Wind Magic ]

Shadow blinked once.

"...So it’s evolving now. I noticed before i was only conjuring water balls but then i created a wall. I can change it’s shape. If people were to know this..."

There was no excitement in his voice.

Just... interest.

Fireball was a spell by it’s own. So for it to become another shape, then that would make it another spell, but here, Shadow was using only one spell and evolving it. This is something unheard of.

He raised his hand slightly.

A faint shimmer responded.

Fire flickered for a moment before vanishing.

A thin current of wind brushed past his fingers.

Moisture gathered in the air, bending ever so slightly to his will.

No strain.

No delay.

No hesitation.

"...Status."

The world in front of him shifted.

A familiar translucent interface unfolded before his eyes, clean and structured.

[[ SYSTEM STATUS ]]

Name: Shadow

Age: 16

Level: 7 (12/70 EXP)

Strength: 15

Agility: 15

Endurance: 15

Rank: E

Mana: ∞ (Unregulated)

Class: Mage

System Points: 150

Skills:

- Ultimate Rune Master

Spells:

- Fire Magic (E-Rank)

- Water Magic (E-Rank)

- Wind Magic (E-Rank)

- Healing Magic (F-Rank)

Affinity: Water, Fire, Wind

Shadow stared at it in silence.

Not confused.

Not overwhelmed.

Just... thinking.

"So now my power is equivalent to An E-rank mage" he murmured.

"People spend years just to climb one rank," he muttered quietly. "And most of them never even make it past that."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"But me?"

A faint smile formed.

"I’m getting stronger every single day."

There was no arrogance in his tone.

Just a simple statement of fact.

"...I wonder where the limit is."

That was the real question.

Not if there was one.

But where it existed.

Or if it existed at all.

For a moment, even Shadow himself felt a chill at that thought.

Then he exhaled lightly, dismissing it.

"...Whatever."

His gaze drifted slightly.

"I wonder how far the Stormgard family has gone by now..."

A pause.

"...They’re probably monsters." he said as he remembered Mia and the others.

He closed the status window with a thought.

The translucent screen dissolved instantly.

Silence returned.

Only now did Shadow take a proper look around.

Bodies.

Scorched earth.

The lingering scent of burnt flesh mixed with iron.

A battlefield.

No.

A graveyard.

"...Now then."

He tilted his head slightly.

"...Now how do I clean this up without it looking suspicious?"

Shadow glanced at the bodies.

"Because I’d really prefer not to explain this to anyone with a straight face."

Ding~

Shadow’s eyes flickered.

That timing again.

[ The dungeon was sustained by an external unknown power. ]

[ The boss has been eliminated. Control over the dungeon is now vacant. ]

[ System can establish control and transfer authority to the host. ]

Shadow stared at the message.

Then let out a quiet breath.

"...You’re adapting again."

There was something almost unsettling in his voice now.

Not fear.

But recognition.

"You keep adjusting to whatever situation I’m in."

A small pause.

"...That might actually be your most dangerous trait."

He didn’t hesitate long.

"Do it."

For the first time—

There was a slight delay.

[ Establishing connection... ]

[ Synchronizing control... ]

[ Dungeon authority transfer in progress... ]

A faint pressure filled the air.

Subtle.

But present.

[ Connection complete. ]

[ Dungeon control granted to the host. ]

Shadow blinked once.

Then looked around again.

The space felt...

Different.

Like it was listening to him.

"...So now this place is basically mine."

He tilted his head.

"...Interesting."

"Can I make it disappear the moment I leave?"

[ Under normal conditions, dungeons collapse 24 hours after clearance. ]

[ However, with control authority, the host may terminate the dungeon instantly. ]

For a moment—

Shadow didn’t react.

Then—

A slow grin spread across his face.

"Oh..."

That was useful.

Very useful.

His gaze shifted downward.

Toward his own body.

Uninjured.

Untouched.

Perfect condition.

"...That won’t work."

He stared at his right arm for a long second.

Then sighed.

"...A little pain should be fine."

CRACK.

Silence.

Shadow froze.

His expression went blank.

Then—

"...Fuck."

Pain exploded through his arm.

Sharp. Immediate. Real.

His fingers twitched uncontrollably as the bone snapped out of alignment.

"Yeah... definitely a bad idea." He sighed. "Mental note: stop trusting my own decisions."

He flexed slightly—

Instant regret.

"...Definitely a bad idea."

Still, he didn’t stop.

He walked forward, grabbed a crude goblin spear lying nearby, and stared at it.

Then at his leg.

Then back at the spear.

"...You know what?"

A pause.

"...I blame Leon for this."

And then—

THRCK.

"—ARGH, FUCK YOU LEON—!"

The spear pierced straight into his leg.

Shadow nearly dropped to the ground right there.

His entire body trembled as pain shot upward violently.

"...Okay..."

Heavy breathing.

"...That one was worse."

He stood there for a few seconds.

Processing life decisions.

"...I hate method acting."

Finally, dragging his injured body, Shadow made his way toward the exit gate.

The moment he stepped through—

Light swallowed him.

And then—

He emerged outside.

The guards stationed at the dungeon entrance froze instantly.

Their eyes widened.

What they saw was not a hunter.

Not even a survivor.

It was a boy—

Covered in blood.

Limping.

Barely holding himself together.

"...Please..."

Shadow’s voice came out strained. Weak.

Convincing.

Too convincing.

"...My friends... they’re still inside..."

The guards snapped out of it immediately.

"What happened?!" one of them demanded.

Shadow staggered forward slightly, forcing his breathing to become uneven.

"This dungeon... it’s not normal..." he said, voice shaking. "The monsters... they were acting strange... coordinated..."

He swallowed hard.

"...They wiped out the group before us."

The guards stiffened.

"And then... they came for us..."

His voice cracked.

Perfectly.

"...We managed to kill the boss but... but..."

He looked down slightly.

"...Most of them didn’t make it."

"...And the others?" the second guard asked quickly.

"They’re still inside," Shadow said urgently. "Injured. Barely holding on... they sent me to get help—"

One of the guards immediately stepped forward—

And then—

The dungeon gate shook violently.

Everyone froze.

"...What the—?"

The gate flickered.

Distorted.

And then—

It vanished.

Just like that.

Silence.

"...No."

Shadow’s voice came out hollow.

"...No... no, no, no—!"

He rushed forward, stumbling, collapsing to his knees where the gate had been.

His hands dug into the ground, gripping dirt and grass tightly.

"WHY?!"

His voice cracked.

Raw.

Broken.

"Why did it disappear?!"

He turned toward the guards desperately.

"...They’re still inside!"

The guards stood frozen.

Confused.

Shaken.

"...That’s not possible..." one muttered.

"...Are you sure you killed the boss today?" the other asked, trying to make sense of it.

Shadow snapped back instantly.

"I told you we just defeated it!"

The guards exchanged looks.

Neither had an answer.

Finally, one of them pulled out a small communication device.

His voice turned serious.

[ We have a situation. ]

[ F-rank dungeon collapsed immediately after clearance. ]

[ Estimated casualties: 17 hunters. One survivor. ]

A brief pause.

Then—

A feminine voice responded.

Calm.

Cold.

Authoritative.

[ Bring him to me. ]

Shadow lowered his gaze slightly.

Hiding it.

Because for just a moment—

A faint smile had appeared.