The atmosphere inside the first level of the "Darkness" mission grew thicker. Black mist continued to blanket the battlefield, and the cracked ground around it seemed to swallow the sound of footsteps. Raden stood in the middle of a vast room, illuminated only by the faint blue glow of strange crystals embedded in the stone walls. His breathing remained steady, but his eyes stayed alert.
After killing dozens of dark monsters along the way, he had now reached level 110. However, the system hadn't signaled that the mission was complete. That meant there was still something left to face.
"Still not enough…" Raden muttered, clenching his fists. "I have to keep moving forward."
---
A Few Hours Earlier
Shadow-shaped monsters emerged from within the mist. Their bodies resembled thick smoke, with glowing red eyes and claws sharp enough to shred stone. Raden attacked them one by one. Every movement of his blade was precise. Three slashes—one monster down.
[You gained 1,500 EXP]
[Level Up! Level 111 → 112]
The system notification rang loudly in his head. But Raden kept moving. Each monster gave around 1,500 to 2,000 EXP. And the deeper he entered this mission zone, the stronger the monsters became.
Some attacked in groups. Others hurled shadow magic at him. But with a combination of the Ebon Dagger and the power of the Voidblade class, he managed to hold his ground.
After hours of intense, nonstop combat, Raden stood, panting. Black monster blood dripped from his sword. Behind him, dozens of dark monster corpses began to dissolve into smoke.
[Level Up! Level 119 → 120]
Raden took a deep breath. At that moment, the entire room began to shake.
BOOM!!!
A wave of dark energy swept across the area. The mist was sucked toward the center of the room. There… a massive shadow began to take shape. Humanoid, but five meters tall, with two curved horns. Its body was clad in sleek black armor, and in its right hand, it held a giant obsidian spear.
Above its head, a name in red letters appeared along with its level.
[Boss Monster: "Guardian of Darkness – Arvex Level 150" has appeared!]
The system voice echoed like a scream from another world. A terrifying aura pressed down on the air, and Raden's body instinctively went into defensive mode.
"So this is the boss… this is bad," Raden muttered, trembling.
The monster walked slowly toward him. Each step cracked the ground. Without warning, Arvex raised his spear high and slammed it into the floor.
DUARRR!!!
A wave of dark energy exploded from the impact point, striking Raden and hurling him tens of meters back. He crashed into the wall, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Guhh... So strong...!"
Raden staggered to his feet. His body felt heavy. That single strike had drained half of his HP.
[Voidblade: Passive Skill – Second Shadow Activated]
A shadow emerged from Raden's body, then fused with him. His body healed slightly. But the pressure from the boss was overwhelming.
Arvex moved fast, leaping into the air and hurling his spear like a lightning bolt. Raden dodged as quickly as he could, but the impact created a massive explosion behind him.
"If I fight the usual way, I'll die..." Raden said.
He took a stance, gripping the Ebon Dagger tightly with both hands. Then he spoke in his heart.
"Activate Voidblade Technique: Fate's Shadow – Stage Two!"
A black aura erupted from Raden's body. His dagger extended and transformed into a katana-like blade, pitch black. His body vanished into the shadows and reappeared behind the boss.
But—
CLANG!
His slash was blocked by Arvex's spear. The monster spun around and kicked Raden away.
[HP Remaining: 38%]
The battle continued. Raden unleashed every technique he had—Shadow Split, Void Step, Dimensional Blade—but Arvex kept countering them. His spear could destroy walls with a single swing, and he had high regeneration abilities.
Every wound Raden inflicted healed within seconds.
Raden panted. His stamina was running low.
"I have to find an opening... or I really will die here."
He crouched, gathering the last of his strength. Suddenly, his eyes glowed black.
[Voidblade: Special Technique – "Soul Annihilation" now available.]
"I'll use this," he said, determined.
He moved fast. In a single breath, his body vanished from sight.
For the first time, the boss Arvex stopped moving. He could feel a terrifying aura.
"VOID SLASH: SOUL ANNIHILATION!" Raden roared.
From the shadows behind, Raden appeared and slashed horizontally. A black line cut through the air, slicing the surrounding energy. Its sound thundered like a storm.
The slash pierced Arvex's armor and cleaved his body from the waist upward.
The monster let out a final scream. Black energy burst from its body before it exploded into thick mist and vanished.
Silence returned to the chamber.
[Boss Monster Defeated]
[Mission: Clear the First Level of Darkness – COMPLETE]
[Level Up! Level 120 → 130]
[Congratulations! You obtained: "BLACK-COLORED KEY"]
A black key fell to the center of the room. It didn't shine. No description. It just… existed.
Raden approached and picked it up. When his hand touched the key, the system gave no notification. No explanation. Only silence.
"This... the reward is just a key?" Raden said in confusion, then stored it in his inventory. "Alright. I'll figure out what it's for later."
After the intense battle, his body still trembled. But finally, the space began to crack. A blinding light swept through the mission zone. Raden closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he was back in the real world—still inside the gate, at the same spot before the mission room appeared. Time seemed frozen.
But he knew... he had changed.
He had become stronger.