Chapter 7 - The Awakening of the Abyss
Jin-Ho Kang sat cross-legged in the abandoned building, his eyes closed as he focused on the strange energy coursing through his veins. Since his return from death, his body had been undergoing a transformation—one that he barely understood.
Dark mist swirled around him, flickering in and out of existence like shadows cast by an unseen flame. His senses had become sharper, his strength greater, but there was something else... something lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be fully unleashed.
His fingers curled into fists. "I need to know what this power truly is."
The system messages had stopped appearing after the last battle, but the voice of the Abyss still whispered in his mind. It called to him, urging him to embrace the darkness.
Then, suddenly—
Ding!
A notification flashed before his eyes.
[Your Shadow Core has reached its second stage. A new ability has been unlocked: Abyssal Grasp.]
Jin-Ho's eyes snapped open. His instincts kicked in, and he raised his hand. Immediately, the shadows around him writhed like living creatures, slithering toward his fingertips.
He clenched his fist—
And the darkness obeyed.
A tendril of shadow lashed out, wrapping around a rusted metal pole nearby. With a simple tug, the entire structure collapsed, crumbling under the sheer force.
Jin-Ho stared at his hand in shock. This power... it wasn't just growing. It was evolving.
Before he could process any further, a sudden noise echoed from outside.
Footsteps. Multiple.
His expression hardened. He was being watched.
With a single thought, the shadows around him melted into his form, concealing him within the darkness. "Let's see who's foolish enough to hunt me."