The Ghoul Brute screamed.
Its roar shook the underground chamber like thunder.
Black blood poured from its wounded eye as the massive creature stumbled backward.
Marcus stared in disbelief.
"…What the hell was that?"
The C-rank hunter had clearly seen it.
Kael's jump.
His speed.
That strike was not something an F-rank hunter should be capable of.
But Kael didn't respond.
He was focused on something else.
The system window floating in front of his eyes.
[Enemy HP: 41%]
The Ghoul Brute wasn't dead yet.
Far from it.
The monster roared again and slammed its claw into the ground.
CRASH!
Chunks of stone exploded outward.
Kael stepped back calmly, avoiding the attack.
Marcus recovered quickly.
"Everyone attack!"
The mage raised her staff.
A glowing magic circle formed in front of her.
"Fire Lance!"
A spear of fire shot forward and slammed into the Ghoul Brute's chest.
BOOM!
Flames exploded across the monster's body.
But the creature barely slowed down.
Its thick bone armor protected it from most of the damage.
The archer fired three arrows in quick succession.
THUNK!
THUNK!
THUNK!
Two arrows bounced off the armor.
One struck the monster's shoulder.
The Ghoul Brute roared and charged again.
This time its target was the mage.
"SHIT!" Marcus shouted.
He rushed forward with his shield raised.
CLANG!
The impact threw Marcus backward several meters.
The Ghoul Brute was simply too strong.
Marcus coughed as he stood up.
"That thing's almost C-rank…"
Kael narrowed his eyes.
The system updated again.
[Enemy HP: 34%]
That meant the monster was already injured.
But not enough.
The Ghoul Brute roared again and attacked wildly.
Its claws smashed through broken train cars like paper.
The other hunters struggled to keep up.
Kael watched carefully.
If he revealed too much power…
People would start asking questions.
But if he didn't act…
Someone might die.
The Ghoul Brute suddenly grabbed one of the E-rank swordsmen.
The hunter screamed.
"HELP—"
The monster lifted him into the air.
Its jaws opened wide.
Kael moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He appeared beside the monster in an instant.
His dagger flashed.
SLASH!
The Ghoul Brute's arm fell to the ground.
The swordsman dropped safely to the floor.
The monster roared in agony.
Marcus stared at Kael.
"…How are you moving like that?"
Kael ignored the question.
Instead he stepped forward again.
The Ghoul Brute swung its remaining claw.
Kael ducked under the attack.
Then drove his dagger straight into the monster's throat.
The blade pierced deep.
The Ghoul Brute froze.
For a moment…
Everything became silent.
Then the monster collapsed.
THUD.
Its massive body crashed onto the ground.
Marcus blinked.
The mage stared at Kael.
The archer slowly lowered his bow.
The entire raid team was speechless.
Because they had all seen it.
An F-rank hunter had just killed a D-rank monster.
Kael wiped blood from his dagger.
But inside his mind—
The system exploded with notifications.
[DING]
[Enemy Defeated]
[Shadow Energy +18]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
Kael's body felt stronger instantly.
Warm energy spread through his muscles.
Another message appeared.
[Shadow Extraction Available]
Kael looked down at the corpse of the Ghoul Brute.
His heart beat faster.
A D-rank shadow soldier would be extremely useful.
But there was a problem.
The other hunters were watching him.
Marcus stepped closer.
"…Kael."
Kael looked up.
"How did you do that?"
The question hung in the air.
Kael shrugged.
"Lucky hit."
Marcus didn't look convinced.
But before he could press further—
The dungeon suddenly trembled.
BOOOOOOM.
Everyone froze.
The ground shook violently.
Marcus looked around.
"…That wasn't the brute."
Another roar echoed through the tunnels.
But this one was different.
Deeper.
Heavier.
Much more terrifying.
The mage whispered.
"…Please tell me that wasn't another boss."
The system window appeared in front of Kael again.
[Warning]
[High Level Monster Detected]
[Estimated Rank: C+]
Kael's eyes narrowed.
A stronger monster.
Which meant…
A stronger shadow.
The roar echoed again.
Closer this time.
Marcus lifted his shield.
"Formation!"
The hunters prepared for another battle.
But Kael felt something strange.
Something inside his shadow was reacting.
The Ogre.
The Goblin King.
His stored soldiers.
They were restless.
As if they could feel the approaching monster.
And deep inside the darkness of the tunnel…
Something massive began moving.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the underground chamber.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Marcus whispered slowly.
"…Whatever that thing is…"
"It's big."
Then the creature stepped into the red crystal light.
And every hunter froze.
Because the monster standing there…
Was not a ghoul.
It was something much worse.
A massive creature covered in black armor-like scales.
Four glowing red eyes.
Long claws dripping with venom.
Marcus cursed under his breath.
"…Tunnel Reaper."
The mage went pale.
"That's a C-rank boss monster."
The creature screeched.
Then rushed forward.
And Kael slowly smiled.
Because he already knew one thing.
Tonight…
His shadow army would grow again.