The days passed quietly after the strange pulse beneath the sea. The world moved on as if the tremor had never happened. Hunters resumed their daily missions, guilds began to reopen their training facilities, and the public grew more relaxed. But for Sung Jinwoo, silence only deepened his suspicion.
He could still feel the faint hum of energy vibrating in the air. It came at irregular hours, sometimes in the middle of the night, other times during the day. The sound was subtle, but Jinwoo knew that kind of rhythm anywhere. It was not natural. It was the System's heartbeat — faint, restrained, but still alive.
Jinwoo walked through the corridors of his home in Seoul. The walls were covered with mana detectors and shadow monitors, each one humming faintly with power. His family slept peacefully upstairs. Cha Hae-In had insisted that he rest too, but his instincts would not let him.
He stepped into his study and opened a concealed door in the floor. Beneath it was a staircase descending into a vast chamber of pure shadow — his personal realm.
"System," he murmured, his voice echoing softly.
For a moment, there was silence. Then faint light glowed in front of him, forming words that shimmered before vanishing again.
System Notification: Access to Shadow Domain established.
He stepped forward. The darkness responded, parting like smoke, revealing a vast landscape that stretched endlessly. Black hills rolled into the distance, and rivers of shadow flowed like liquid glass. The stars above were motionless, frozen in an eternal twilight.
This was not the same realm he had used years ago. It had changed. It felt… alive.
From the distance, several figures emerged — his shadow soldiers. Igris, Beru, Tank, and Iron knelt before him. The familiar sight brought a rare comfort.
Igris was the first to speak. "Master, the boundaries between realms are shifting. The fabric of this world and the void are no longer separate. Agnorath's power grows, but he is still distant. Shall we prepare for engagement?"
Jinwoo shook his head. "No. For now, we train. We rebuild strength quietly. He is watching, waiting for us to move first. Let him wait longer."
Beru fluttered his wings, his sharp gaze fixed on Jinwoo. "Master, the energy here has changed since the last awakening. It feels… heavier. Are you certain this place is safe?"
Jinwoo smiled faintly. "It will be. This realm adapts to my power. If Agnorath has reached XX Rank, then I must make sure my shadows can withstand even greater mana pressure."
He raised his hand. Instantly, the darkness around him rippled like a tide. Dozens of figures rose from the ground, shaped from the black mist — soldiers, beasts, and ancient creatures once defeated and absorbed. Their eyes glowed faintly as they took form.
"Begin training protocols," Jinwoo commanded.
The shadows began to move, clashing against one another with silent precision. Every impact sent ripples through the air. Igris and Beru supervised while Jinwoo closed his eyes and reached deeper into the flow of mana surrounding him.
There was more here than before. A pulse of energy deeper in the realm, hidden beneath layers of darkness. It called to him — faint, yet familiar.
"Show me," he whispered.
The shadows shifted, parting to reveal a swirling gate of black light at the farthest edge of the realm. It was unlike any portal he had ever created. It pulsed with a strange rhythm, as if beating in sync with his heart.
Jinwoo walked toward it. The closer he came, the stronger the resonance grew. He placed a hand on its surface, and the portal shimmered like water.
"Master," Igris said cautiously, stepping forward. "This gate is not of your creation. It may lead beyond the Shadow Domain."
"I know," Jinwoo replied softly. "But something is calling from within."
He stepped through.
---
He emerged into a place he had never seen before. The air was thick and heavy with mana, but it was pure — ancient. The sky was dim violet, and the land stretched endlessly with crystalline formations jutting out of the ground.
At the horizon, an enormous tree of light pierced the sky. Its roots spread across the land like veins of energy. The ground beneath his feet pulsed with life, as if the entire realm was breathing.
"This… is another layer," he said quietly. "A hidden dimension within the shadows."
A faint whisper reached his ears, soft and distant. "Welcome, Monarch of Shadows. You have found the Nexus Realm."
The voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once. Jinwoo turned slowly, his senses heightened. "Who are you?"
"I am what remains of the First Shadow," the voice said. "The one who ruled before your awakening. This place is where all shadow energy originates. The balance of the worlds flows through it."
Jinwoo narrowed his eyes. "Why now? Why reveal yourself only after the Second Wave began?"
The voice echoed gently. "Because the seal is weakening. Agnorath draws power from this realm's edges. If he succeeds, the balance between light and dark will shatter. You alone can mend it. But you must grow stronger."
The ground trembled faintly as the crystal roots beneath his feet pulsed brighter. "Then this place will be my training ground," Jinwoo said. "I will master what remains of your power."
"Be warned," the voice replied. "This realm does not forgive weakness. Every shadow you summon here has a will of its own. To control them, you must conquer your fear once more."
Jinwoo smiled faintly, eyes glowing faintly with determination. "I have no fear left to conquer."
He stretched out his hand, and the black mist around him began to stir violently. Dozens of dark forms rose from the crystal ground — echoes of his own power, reflections of his past. They moved with intent, circling him like predators.
The voice whispered again. "Then prove it."
---
Hours passed, though time had no meaning there. Jinwoo moved like a storm, striking and countering with fluid precision. Each enemy was a fragment of his own strength — unpredictable, relentless, and merciless. The crystal ground cracked under the force of his blows.
When the last shadow fell, Jinwoo stood at the center of the glowing battlefield, his body radiating faint traces of dark light. His power had grown denser, more stable.
The First Shadow's voice returned, softer now. "You have adapted. The Shadow Domain answers to you more completely than before. Your next evolution will not be far."
Jinwoo exhaled slowly, feeling the strength settle within him. "Good. Because when Agnorath rises again, I intend to meet him not as a hunter, but as an equal."
He turned toward the gate and stepped back into his realm.
---
Back on Earth, the same faint pulse ran through the southern sea again — stronger this time.
Agnorath stirred in his dark throne, his crimson eyes opening. He smiled faintly. "You felt it, didn't you, Jinwoo? You found the Nexus Realm."
System Message: Agnorath – XX Rank Progression: 87%
He closed his hand, and a small sphere of black light formed within his palm. "Let us see how far your will carries you, Shadow Monarch."
The sphere cracked open, and across the oceans, faint lights flickered beneath the waves. The balance between realms was shifting once more.