Chapter 9 - The Awakening of Darkness
Jin-Ho Kang stood amidst the ruins of the dungeon, his body still trembling from the surge of power that had erupted within him. The moment his life had teetered on the edge, something within him had awakened. Shadows clung to his form like loyal hounds, swirling around him in an eerie dance. His wounds, once fatal, had sealed with dark energy, leaving only faint scars as reminders.
The voice echoed once more in his mind.
[You have inherited the power of the Shadow Monarch.]
Jin-Ho clenched his fists. He could feel it—the raw, untamed strength pulsing through his veins. But with power came questions. What did it mean to be the Shadow Monarch? Who had given him this strength, and for what purpose?
His thoughts were interrupted as the dungeon shook. The walls cracked, and an ominous presence filled the air. The dungeon was collapsing.
With newfound agility, Jin-Ho dashed toward the exit, his movements fluid, almost inhuman. Shadows propelled him forward, as if guiding him, and in mere moments, he found himself standing at the threshold of the real world once more.
The Association's retrieval team was already waiting outside. Their eyes widened as they saw him emerge alone.
"Impossible..." one of them whispered. "He survived?"
Jin-Ho met their gaze, his expression unreadable. The world had changed for him, and soon, he would change the world in return.