The Shadow Tyrant's roar reverberated through the cavern like the wrath of a dying god. Dust fell in curtains from the ceiling, and the air vibrated with suffocating pressure. Every instinct screamed at Arin to run—but his feet didn't move.
The silver light from his blade flickered, reflecting in his determined eyes. He could feel the mana pulsing within him, alive and unstable, like a heart that didn't belong to him.
[Warning: Soul Resonance unstable.]
[Risk of Overload: 73%]
"I know," Arin muttered, voice low. "But I don't have a choice."
The Shadow Tyrant's form emerged fully into the chamber. It was even larger up close—its body a mass of obsidian scales, wings like tattered voids, each movement radiating killing intent. The creature's presence alone distorted the air, warping sound and space itself.
Arin raised his sword. His palms trembled, but his gaze didn't waver.
"I can't die here," he whispered. "Not before I find out why I was given this system."
---
The beast lunged. The ground shattered beneath its charge, sending shockwaves through the tunnel. Arin barely dodged, rolling across the floor as a claw tore a trench where he'd stood a second earlier.
He countered with Echo Step, his body flickering into shadow and reappearing behind the Tyrant. His sword cut deep into one of the monster's wings—sparks and black mist burst out, accompanied by an ear-splitting screech.
For a fleeting moment, victory flickered in his chest. Then the creature's tail came from nowhere.
Arin barely saw it before it hit. The impact was like a hammer from the heavens. He crashed into a wall, blood spraying from his lips.
Pain erupted in every nerve. His system screamed warnings he couldn't read.
[HP Critical.]
[Fractured ribs detected.]
He slumped, vision blurring.
This power… it's too much for me.
The air stank of blood and mana. The Tyrant's massive form loomed through the haze, red eyes fixed on him like a predator playing with prey.
Then, amid the pain, a faint voice echoed in his mind.
"Power always demands payment, Arin. What will you give to claim it?"
He froze. That voice—he'd heard it once before. The moment he was reborn in this world.
"The system…" he muttered weakly. "You're—still watching me."
No response. Only the faint pulse of light from the soul stat window that hovered beside him.
---
He pushed himself up, blood dripping from his chin. "Fine. Take what you want," he whispered. "Just let me win this."
The moment he said it, his sword flared. A surge of energy exploded from within him, burning like molten steel through his veins.
[Soul Overdrive: Activated]
[Warning: Soul consumption rate increased 200%.]
Arin screamed as the power coursed through him. His body wasn't built for this—his skin cracked with glowing lines, his heartbeat thundered so violently it drowned everything else out.
But when he raised his sword again, it wasn't trembling.
The Shadow Tyrant lunged once more, but this time Arin met it head-on. Their clash shook the entire sub-layer, shockwaves tearing through the air like storms. Arin's blade gleamed brighter than ever before, carving through darkness, through scales, through the impossible.
Every strike felt like tearing his own soul apart—but he didn't stop.
---
From a distance, Lira watched from the tunnel's edge, eyes wide and tears streaming down her face.
You idiot… she thought. You're burning yourself alive.
She could see it—his mana flaring too high, his body fracturing under its own power. She wanted to run to him, to help—but the pressure in the air was unbearable. Her knees buckled before she even took a step.
Still, she forced herself forward, clutching her staff. "Arin!" she shouted. "Stop! You'll die if you keep—!"
But he couldn't hear her.
Or maybe… he chose not to.
---
Arin's thoughts were no longer clear. The world had shrunk to one truth: Defeat it.
The Shadow Tyrant reared back, gathering a sphere of darkness between its fangs—a black sun forming in its mouth.
[Skill Detected: Abyssal Breath]
The entire dungeon trembled.
Arin's vision swam, but his instincts took over. His sword arm lifted, trembling but resolute.
"Echo Step—Chain Cast!"
His form split—once, twice, three times—each echo darting forward, blurring with light. The Shadow Tyrant unleashed its attack, a wave of annihilation that swallowed everything before it.
The first echo was obliterated.
The second barely lasted a second longer.
But the real Arin—appearing from the monster's blind spot—drove his glowing blade straight through its throat.
The world exploded in light and shadow.
---
Silence followed.
The Tyrant's body convulsed, the glow in its eyes dimming. Black blood poured like tar from its wound, sizzling on the ground.
It let out one final, thunderous growl—then collapsed.
Arin stood there, swaying, sword buried in its neck. He was shaking violently, every breath a battle. His body felt like a cracked vessel ready to shatter.
He pulled his sword free and fell to one knee.
[Boss Defeated: Shadow Tyrant]
[EXP +8,000]
[Level Up x3]
[Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Resistance (Passive)]
[Soul Fragment Acquired.]
The notifications flickered in and out as his vision dimmed.
Lira rushed forward, catching him just before he collapsed completely.
"Hey!" she shouted, slapping his cheek lightly. "Stay with me!"
His lips curled into a faint smile. "I told you… I'd buy time."
"You absolute moron," she whispered, voice trembling.
She pressed her hands to his wounds, healing magic flaring. Warm light flowed, but it was weak—too weak for the damage he'd taken.
"You can't die here," she said desperately. "Not after all this."
He opened one eye, faint amusement flickering in it. "You sound like you care."
"I do, you idiot!" she snapped, voice cracking. "So stop trying to play the hero!"
Arin chuckled weakly. "Guess I'm… not good at listening."
Then his body went limp.
---
For a long, terrible moment, the dungeon was silent. Only the soft hum of fading mana remained.
Lira's breath hitched. She looked at his face—peaceful, too peaceful. The glow in his system window dimmed, fading to black.
Her throat tightened. "No… no, no, no—"
But then—
A faint pulse of light emerged from his chest.
[Soul Recovery Initiated — 1% Integrity Remaining]
Lira gasped. "You stubborn fool…"
She held him tighter, tears falling freely now.
The light grew stronger, enveloping them both. And as it did, a shadow moved in the corner of the chamber—watching silently. A cloaked figure, eyes glinting gold beneath the hood.
"Interesting," the figure murmured. "He survived Soul Resonance at Level 11."
He turned away, voice almost reverent. "Perhaps the prophecy was true."
With that, he vanished into the mist.
---
When Arin finally opened his eyes again, he was lying on soft grass.
Above him stretched a sky of swirling blue light—not the dungeon ceiling, but something else entirely. His wounds were gone. His body, though weak, felt… whole.
He sat up slowly, blinking in confusion.
A small pond shimmered nearby, reflecting an unfamiliar moon. He could see his reflection—except, this time, the faint outline of his shadow self was behind him,