Chapter 14: Shadows of the SS-Rank
The entrance to the Eternal Abyss, an SS-Rank dungeon known for annihilating even full squads of elite hunters, towered before Hayden and his small alliance. The air shimmered with pure magical energy, and the ground beneath their feet seemed unstable, as if warning intruders to turn back.
[Dungeon Detected: Eternal Abyss | Difficulty: SS-Rank]
[Recommended Level: 40+]
Hayden checked his stats:
[Level: 33 | Strength: 210 | Agility: 240 | Endurance: 220]
[Skills: Shadow Step Lv5, Enhanced Reflexes Lv5, Shadow Manipulation Lv4, Shadow Clone Lv4, Shadow Merge Lv3, Shadow Strike Lv3]
A grin spread across his face. The Player had grown far beyond anyone's expectations.
Inside, the dungeon tested every skill he possessed. Abyssal wraiths, elemental horrors, and twisted constructs assaulted them from all sides. Hayden led the group, Shadow Clones distracting enemies while he struck from angles no human could predict.
Selene appeared beside them for the first time openly, though carefully. Her magic subtly reinforced their defenses, neutralizing latent traps and shielding allies from lethal attacks. Hayden noticed the shimmer of energy but assumed it was a rare dungeon artifact helping them.
[Observation: Ally Assistance Detected | SS-Rank Hunter Influence]
Deeper in the dungeon, the SS-Rank boss awaited: the Abyssal Leviathan, a colossal serpentine creature with black scales and eyes glowing like molten gold. Its presence alone warped the dungeon space, tearing at the very shadows Hayden controlled.
The battle began. Hayden merged fully with the shadows, vanishing and reappearing with Shadow Step, striking from unexpected angles. Shadow Clones multiplied, coordinating attacks flawlessly with his allies.
Selene, staying slightly behind, subtly amplified Hayden's attacks with magical energy. Each strike from Hayden hit harder than even his System predicted, tipping the scales in their favor.
After a fierce battle, Hayden delivered a final Shadow Strike, piercing the Leviathan's core. The beast exploded into fragments of dark energy, which Hayden absorbed. EXP surged, his System glowing with new potential.
[Boss Defeated! Level Up: 38 → Stats Maxed for Current Stage]
[Reward: Leviathan's Heart (Legendary), Shadow Dagger Upgraded → Shadow Dagger of Eternal Nightfall]
His allies stared at him in awe, their respect absolute. Even Selene, her blue eyes shimmering, felt a pang of admiration and something more an undeniable bond forming.
[New Task Unlocked: Prepare for Greater SS-Rank Challenges | Hint: Legendary Opportunities Await]
Outside the dungeon, Selene fell back slightly, careful not to interfere openly, but her subtle protective energy lingered, ensuring Hayden's safe extraction. For the first time, she acknowledged internally that she was drawn to him not just as a hunter, but as someone extraordinary, someone she wanted near.
Hayden, unaware of her deliberate assistance, checked the System:
[Allies Strengthened | SS-Rank Hunter Attention Increased]
[Hint: Future SS-Rank Dungeon Challenges Will Require Strategic Planning]
The Player, once dismissed as the weakest hunter, now stood as a beacon of power, strategy, and influence, gathering allies, mastering SS-Rank challenges, and drawing the attention of hunters across the