Seconds ticked by. Sweat dripped from Jack's chin.
The broadsword in his hand was heavy, his muscles coiled tight, ready to swing at the "Elite Monster" that the masked thief claimed was coming.
But nothing came.
The Right Tunnel remained silent. No roar. No footsteps. Just the empty, oppressive darkness.
"..."
Jack lowered his sword slightly, his brow furrowing.
"Where is it?" he growled, glancing back at Kai. "You said it was right behind you."
Kai was huddled against the wall, hugging his knees. "It... it was huge! Maybe it's waiting? Ambushing?"
"Or maybe you're just hallucinating from fear, you coward," Jack spat. He relaxed his stance, turning his back on the tunnel. "Mage! Light up the area. Let's see what's actually down there."
"On it, Captain," the Mage raised his staff. The tip began to glow with a bright white magical aura.
Kai's eyes narrowed behind the respirator lenses.
Light is bad.
He moved his finger against the stone floor. A silent command.
Now.
High above them, clinging to the stalactites near the cavern's ceiling, Fang (The Shadow Naga) uncoiled its massive tail.
It didn't aim for the humans. It aimed for the environment.
CRACK!
Fang's tail whipped out like a siege weapon, striking the cluster of Luminous Crystals that provided the cavern's ambient light.
At the same time, the Shadow Scout (Ren) emerged from the wall behind the Mage and shoved the Mage's elbow just as the spell was forming.
Fizzle.
The spell misfired, shooting a harmless spark into the water.
And the crystals above shattered into dust.
Darkness.
Absolute, suffocating pitch blackness fell over the cavern.
"What the—?!" Jack roared. "Who hit the lights? Mage!"
"It wasn't me! Something pushed me!" the Mage screamed, panic rising in his voice.
Then, the real residents of the dungeon woke up.
The sudden darkness emboldened them. From the cracks, from the ceiling, from the side tunnels...
SCREECH!
Kik-kik-kik!
Dozens of red eyes ignited in the dark. The Goblins. They could see in the dark, and they saw fresh meat.
"Defensive circle! Now!" Jack swung his sword blindly. Whoosh! He hit nothing but air.
"Arrgh! My leg!" The Healer screamed as a goblin arrow pierced his thigh.
"Fire! Just cast fire everywhere!" Jack yelled.
The Mage, disoriented and terrified, tried to chant. "F-Fireball! Fireba—"
He never finished the syllable.
In the chaos, nobody noticed the "Thief" standing calmly at the edge of the formation.
Kai stepped forward. He didn't need light.
His [Monarch's Aura] painted the world in thermal outlines. He saw the Goblins swarming. He saw Jack swinging wildly.
And he saw the Mage, unprotected, his back exposed.
Kai glided through the mayhem like a ghost.
He reached the Mage.
One hand clamped over the Mage's mouth.
The rusted dagger, now chipped from overuse, slid effortlessly between the third and fourth ribs.
Puncture.
The Mage stiffened. He tried to struggle, to scream, but Kai's grip was iron.
The fire spell died in his throat.
"Go to sleep," Kai whispered into his ear.
He twisted the blade. The Mage went limp.
[You have killed a Human (E-Rank).]
[Experience Gained: 200]
Kai didn't waste a second. The Goblins were closing in. He needed ranged firepower.
"Arise."
The mana surged. The Mage's shadow tore itself free from the corpse, rising up to become a figure of black smoke and blue flame. It held a shadowy staff.
[Shadow Mage (Grade E) obtained.]
[Shadows: 3/3 (Max Capacity Reached)]
Kai shoved the Mage's real corpse toward a group of approaching goblins to distract them, then pulled the Shadow Mage back into the darkness of the wall.
"Captain!" Kai yelled, his voice suddenly full of fake terror again. " The Mage is down! The monsters got him!"
"Useless idiot!" Jack's voice echoed in the dark, frantic and angry. "Healer! Heal him!"
"I... I can't see him!" the Healer sobbed. "I can't see anything!"
Jack gritted his teeth. He swung his sword and felt it connect with goblin flesh. Splat.
"Fine! I'll do it myself!"
But Jack didn't know.
He was fighting the goblins... but the real danger was watching him from the shadows, commanding a squad that used to be his own team.
（"Enjoying the massacre? Drop a Power Stone to feed the Clone Army!"）