The dungeon roared.
Not with sound alone—but with pressure.
A crushing, suffocating force that pressed against Arjun from all sides.
The Black Fang Beast stood before him, its body trembling violently as dark energy surged out of it like an uncontrollable storm. Its wounds bled shadows instead of blood, and its glowing eyes burned with a madness that sent chills down his spine.
[Critical State Activated][All stats greatly increased]
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"…so this is your last form."
His grip tightened on the dagger.
His body was already at its limit.
[HP: 17/100]
One mistake—
And it would be over.
The beast moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
It didn't hesitate.
It didn't think.
It only attacked.
A massive claw tore through the air toward him.
Arjun forced his body to react.
He stepped—
[Shadow Step Activated]
—and vanished just as the claw struck, the impact shattering the ground into pieces.
He reappeared a few meters away, barely maintaining his balance.
"…too fast."
Even with Shadow Step, he could barely keep up now.
The beast turned instantly.
No delay.
It charged again.
"Damn it…"
Arjun's mind raced.
"I can't keep dodging forever."
Another attack.
Another dodge.
Each movement drained him.
Each step pushed him closer to collapse.
[Stamina Warning]
His breathing grew heavier.
His vision blurred at the edges.
"This isn't going to work…"
The beast roared again, its power surging even higher.
The dungeon walls cracked.
The ground shook violently.
It was destroying everything.
And if this continued—
Arjun would die before the time limit ended.
"…Think."
His eyes narrowed.
He watched the beast carefully.
Every movement.
Every attack.
Every pattern.
Despite its speed…
Despite its power…
It had lost something.
Control.
"It's faster… but reckless."
A slow breath escaped his lips.
"…that's my chance."
Arjun straightened.
His body screamed in protest.
But he ignored it.
Instead—
He lowered his stance.
And waited.
The beast charged.
Full speed.
Straight at him.
Arjun didn't move.
Not yet.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer—
"Now."
At the last possible moment—
He stepped into the shadow beneath the beast.
[Shadow Step Activated]
Darkness swallowed him.
The attack missed.
The beast slammed into the ground.
For a split second—
It was exposed.
Arjun emerged behind it.
His eyes cold.
Focused.
This was it.
His final chance.
"Hold it!"
The shadow soldier lunged forward, grabbing onto the beast's leg, slowing it down just enough.
The beast roared in fury, trying to shake it off.
But that single moment—
Was all Arjun needed.
Darkness gathered around his dagger.
More than ever before.
Denser.
Heavier.
It felt different.
Stronger.
[Skill Enhanced: Shadow Reinforcement]
The blade extended.
Turning pitch black.
Almost like a fragment of the night itself.
Arjun leapt.
High into the air.
Everything slowed again.
The roar.
The movement.
The shaking ground.
All of it faded.
Only one thing remained.
The target.
"…End."
He drove the blade down with everything he had.
All his strength.
All his focus.
All his will.
The dagger pierced through the beast's neck.
Deeper than before.
Far deeper.
This time—
It didn't stop.
The beast froze.
Its body trembled.
Its roar cut short.
The glowing light in its eyes flickered—
Then faded.
Silence.
For a moment—
Nothing moved.
Nothing breathed.
Nothing existed.
Then—
The massive body collapsed.
Crashing against the ground with a thunderous impact.
[Dungeon Boss Defeated][+500 EXP Gained][Level Up!][Level Up!][Level Up!]
Arjun landed on the ground.
His legs gave out instantly.
He dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
"…I… did it…"
His entire body felt numb.
Exhausted.
But alive.
The dungeon grew quiet.
Peaceful.
For the first time since he entered.
Then—
A new message appeared.
[Special Reward Available]
Arjun looked up slowly.
"…special reward?"
Before him—
A massive shadow began to rise from the boss's corpse.
Darker than anything he had seen before.
Heavier.
More powerful.
[Shadow Extraction Available][Success Rate: 20%]
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"…only 20%?"
The shadow twisted violently.
Struggling.
Resisting.
Even in death—
It refused to submit.
Arjun slowly stood up.
His body weak.
But his will—
Unshaken.
"…I didn't come this far to fail now."
He extended his hand toward the rising darkness.
"Come."
🔥 END HOOK
The shadow lashed out violently—
Dark energy surged—
The dungeon shook once more—
[Extraction in progress…]
Arjun gritted his teeth.
"…you're mine."
Or—
He would lose everything.