The dungeon air felt different.
The moment Kael stepped through the gate, a strange heaviness wrapped around his body.
Cold air flowed through the underground tunnels like a quiet warning.
The place looked nothing like the goblin dungeon from before.
Instead of a single cave system, this dungeon was a massive underground tunnel network.
Old railway tracks stretched through the darkness.
Broken train cars lay scattered across the tunnels.
Red crystals glowed faintly from the walls, casting eerie shadows across the ground.
The raid leader stepped forward slowly.
A tall hunter wearing heavy armor.
His name was Marcus.
C-rank hunter.
He turned to the group.
"Stay close."
"Tunnel dungeons are dangerous."
Several hunters nodded.
The raid team consisted of six people.
Marcus — C-rank tank.
A female mage named Lira.
Two E-rank sword users.
One archer.
And Kael.
The weakest member of the team.
At least… that's what they believed.
Marcus looked around carefully.
"These tunnels are known for one thing."
"Ambush monsters."
Almost immediately, a low growl echoed through the tunnel.
Grrrrrrr…
Everyone froze.
The sound came from deeper inside the darkness.
The archer raised his bow.
"I see movement."
Marcus nodded.
"Prepare for contact."
Suddenly—
SHRIEEEEK!
A creature jumped out of the darkness.
It was fast.
Much faster than goblins.
The monster landed on the tunnel wall like a spider.
Its body looked humanoid.
But twisted.
Its arms were long and thin.
Its fingers ended in razor sharp claws.
The mage gasped.
"Tunnel Ghoul!"
Three more creatures appeared behind it.
Marcus raised his shield.
"Formation!"
The ghouls attacked instantly.
They moved across the tunnel walls like insects.
The archer fired.
THUNK!
One ghoul fell instantly.
But the others jumped down.
Marcus blocked the first attack with his shield.
CLANG!
The impact echoed through the tunnel.
One swordsman stepped forward and slashed.
The ghoul's head rolled across the ground.
But the last creature slipped past them.
Straight toward Kael.
The ghoul lunged.
Its claws aimed for his throat.
Kael moved slightly.
Just enough.
The claws missed him by centimeters.
The ghoul landed behind him.
Marcus shouted.
"Watch out!"
But before the creature could attack again—
Kael's dagger flashed.
One clean strike.
The blade pierced the monster's skull.
The ghoul collapsed instantly.
The tunnel fell silent again.
Marcus blinked.
"…Nice reflex."
Kael simply nodded.
But inside his mind—
The system appeared.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Shadow Energy +2]
Kael's eyes flickered slightly.
These monsters were weaker than the Ogre.
But still stronger than goblins.
Perfect for building his army.
The raid team continued moving deeper into the tunnels.
More ghouls attacked along the way.
Each time the hunters fought them.
Each time Kael secretly killed a few himself.
And each time—
The system rewarded him.
[Shadow Energy +2]
[Shadow Energy +3]
[Shadow Energy +2]
His power slowly grew.
Then suddenly—
The tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber.
Broken trains covered the ground.
And something moved inside the darkness.
Marcus stopped walking.
"…That's not good."
Heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The ground shook slightly.
Then the creature stepped into the red crystal light.
It was enormous.
A monstrous ghoul nearly three meters tall.
Its body covered in thick bone armor.
Its claws looked like curved blades.
The mage whispered.
"…Ghoul Brute."
Marcus cursed.
"That's a D-rank monster."
The brute roared.
Then charged.
The hunters attacked immediately.
Arrows flew.
Magic exploded.
Marcus blocked the creature's claws.
But the impact pushed him backward.
The brute was strong.
Much stronger than the normal ghouls.
Kael watched the battle carefully.
His shadow moved slightly beneath his feet.
The Ogre.
The Goblin King.
Waiting.
But Kael didn't release them.
Not yet.
Because if the others saw his power…
Everything would change.
The brute smashed Marcus into a wall.
The mage screamed.
"Marcus!"
The monster turned toward the weaker hunters.
Kael stepped forward.
His dagger appeared in his hand.
"…I guess I'll help."
The brute lunged toward him.
Claws slashing.
Kael dodged easily.
Then he jumped.
Higher than any F-rank hunter should be able to.
His dagger plunged into the brute's eye.
The monster screamed.
Marcus stared in shock.
"How the hell—"
The brute staggered.
Kael landed behind it.
Then whispered quietly.
"Shadow Extraction."
The monster's shadow trembled.
The battle wasn't even finished yet.
But Kael already knew something.
Tonight…
His shadow army would grow again.
And the weakest hunter in the dungeon…
Was slowly becoming the most dangerous one.