Chapter 13: Shadows and Allies
Hayden stood atop a ridge overlooking the Crimson Ravine, an S-Rank dungeon teeming with monsters that even small squads of hunters feared. His Shadow Dagger of Infinity gleamed in the dim light, Abyssal Armor absorbing ambient magical energy.
[Level: 30 | Skills: Shadow Step Lv5, Enhanced Reflexes Lv5, Shadow Manipulation Lv3, Shadow Clone Lv3, Shadow Merge Lv3, Shadow Strike Lv2]
[New Task: Form Alliances | High-Rank Hunters May Intervene]
He could feel multiple presences converging. Hunters he had encountered before Kael, Althea, and two other S-Rank warriors had decided to join him voluntarily, intrigued and cautious of his power.
Selene observed from a distance, her usual icy composure softened by concern. She had been subtly guiding Hayden through traps and ambushes without him noticing, but now she would act more directly. A faint blue shimmer of energy danced around her fingertips a minor protective spell she could cast if needed.
The dungeon entrance loomed, dark and foreboding. Hayden led the group inside. Monsters attacked immediately shadow beasts and elemental guardians but Hayden's leadership and the synergy of his growing group made them nearly unstoppable. Shadow Clones distracted enemies, Shadow Manipulation twisted the battlefield, and his allies covered his flanks.
Selene stayed at the rear, quietly reinforcing their defenses. She didn't step forward openly, but her presence strengthened Hayden's survival rate, subtle enough that he assumed it was luck.
[Observation: Ally Detected | Assistance Confirmed]
Deeper in the dungeon, an S-Rank dungeon boss awaited a colossal earth elemental known as the Titan of Stonefang. Its fists smashed the cavern floor, sending tremors through the walls. Hayden and his allies coordinated their attacks, but even they struggled against the elemental's sheer size and durability.
Hayden's system prompted:
[Suggestion: Utilize Shadow Strike and Clone Coordination | Potential Success: 85%]
He vanished using Shadow Merge, his clones attacking from multiple directions. He struck the Titan's weak points with Shadow Strike, while his allies delivered devastating blows. Selene subtly reinforced their magic barriers from a distance, reducing the elemental's destructive power.
With one final combined assault, the Titan crumbled into fragments of enchanted stone, which Hayden absorbed into the System. EXP surged. His allies stared at him in awe, fully recognizing his unmatched strength and tactical genius.
[Dungeon Clear! Level Up: 33 → Stats Significantly Increased]
[Reward: Titan's Core (Legendary), Shadow Dagger Upgraded → Shadow Dagger of Absolute Night]
Outside the dungeon, Selene approached slightly, careful not to draw attention. She didn't interact openly, but a small, almost imperceptible smile crossed her lips. She had assisted him subtly, and his success reaffirmed what she had been feeling for days: he was extraordinary, and she was drawn to him.
Hayden, unaware of her presence, checked his System:
[New Task Unlocked: Prepare for SS-Rank Dungeon Challenges | Allies and Rivals Will Seek You]
[Hint: High-Rank Hunters' Attention Increasing]
The Player, once dismissed as the weakest hunter, was now building his first true network of allies, conquering S-Rank dungeons effortlessly, and attracting the notice of hunters far stronger than him.