Everywhere, dust and debris mingled with the thick stench of blood. True to its name, the Abyss of the Dead exuded a cold, brutal atmosphere at every turn.

  “…help… me.”

  I heard it. Not an illusion—this faint voice belonged to the woman lying before me right now.

  At least she still had a will to live.

  Gasping for air, I glanced again at the crimson crest etched into my palm.

  That power… it was incredible just a moment ago.

  It had subdued the enemy and disrupted that black-magic attack—or whatever it was.

  But could I use it to save a person?

  Just then, the woman’s slight frame convulsed violently.

  Looking closer, I saw a black mark creeping up her arm and shoulder, like a malignant curse devouring her body from the inside.

  Her breathing turned ragged, weaker by the second. Her eyelids had nearly shut, and I could feel her life slipping away.

  She might be the first—and last—other survivor I meet in this dungeon…

  Swallowing my hesitation, I knelt beside her. Torn clothes revealed a pale, blood-soaked shoulder. A dark red symbol glowed there.

  What should I do…?

  A name came to mind: Domination—that’s what I’d been calling this ominous power. Earlier, it had let me absorb and scramble another being’s mana.

  If that was true, maybe I could pull this black magic out of her.

  But just touching her terrified me. I knew nothing about this new ability, much less how I awakened it.

  What if I use it wrong and plunge myself into total corruption?

  The thought twisted in my head, but then her lips parted again.

  “Uh… please… please…”

  Her voice trembled, and I could feel it in my fingertips. No more time to doubt.

  It might not work, but I have to try.

  I made up my mind, raised my right hand, and carefully pressed it against her chest.

  Dominion’s First Contact

  The crest on my palm flared with intense heat. As if opposite poles were colliding, red mana poured out of my hand while black mana surged from her body.

  “Gah…!”

  She cried out in agony. At the same moment, a sharp pain tore through my own chest.

  This went beyond mere mana. It felt like our senses and minds were violently interlinked.

  Is this… truly ‘domination’?

  The black energy coiled into me, while my crimson sigil clamped down on it. My vision went white. A storm of monochrome sparks flashed before my eyes. It was like both body and mind were being churned together in a maelstrom.

  “Ugh—!”

  Our screams overlapped. Some part of me screamed to pull away, but another instinct warned me not to stop.

  I need to siphon out this dark magic completely—it's the only way to save her.

  Then came the visions:

  A secret chamber somewhere, chains binding her as she was subjected to horrifying experiments.

  Blood-soaked screams echoing.

  And finally, the memory of being tossed into the depths of this dreadful dungeon.

  Are these… Elena’s memories?

  I didn’t even know her name until now, but as her black magic seeped into me, I suddenly sensed it: Elena.

  An Overwhelming Surge, a Fragile Rescue

  It felt like an eternity passed, but maybe it was only a few seconds. Gradually, the black mana’s intensity ebbed. A burst of crimson light flickered from my palm.

  Pop—

  The black mark scarring her body began to fade, at least enough that it no longer raged unchecked.

  I nearly collapsed, every muscle aching and drenched in cold sweat. My nose still picked up the acrid smell of something burning—mana itself, maybe.

  So this was the power of Domination. Destructive, precarious, and seared into my mind.

  Looking up, I saw her breathing more evenly now. The pallor in her face receded, just a little.

  She might live.

  Uncertain, but at least she’d stabilized into unconsciousness. Exhaling shakily, I lifted my trembling hand.

  The crest on my palm still glowed hot, pulsing in sync with my hammering heart.

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  I had no clue how this bizarre ability really worked.

  But a small part of me felt hope. Maybe I can use this power… to save people, too.

  A Cold Reunion: Elena Awakens

  Minutes passed. Cracks began sounding through the dungeon walls again. Time was running out.

  Carefully, I hoisted the unconscious woman. She was light, her body still warm.

  I resolved to get us both out when—

  “Urgh…!”

  Her eyelids fluttered, then snapped open.

  Before I could even speak, she jerked out of my arms, dragging herself backward along the floor. We were both startled.

  “You… you saved me?”

  Her voice came out raw, like it’d been torn at the edges. She didn’t seem fully aware, but she was definitely regaining consciousness.

  I tried to speak gently.

  “Yeah, are you okay? You had some nasty black magic—”

  She cut me off with a hard stare. Fear and anger mingled in her eyes.

  “You mean… you stole the black magic inside me?”

  Stole? Not exactly the phrasing I’d use, but… it’s not entirely wrong.

  I hesitated, shaking my head weakly.

  “I just wanted to save you. You would’ve died otherwise.”

  She let out a bitter scoff, voice still cracked.

  “Then I should thank you. So why do I feel… uneasy…”

  She glared at the crest on my palm, like she was determined to uncover every secret behind it.

  Remnants of That Skin-to-Skin Contact

  Suddenly, part of the ceiling caved in with a sickening crunch.

  I yanked her aside to dodge the falling stones.

  “Watch out!”

  Instinctively, my arm ended up around her waist. She let out a shaky exhale, still too weak to stand on her own.

  The moment our bodies touched, a sharp jolt ran through me, like static electricity.

  Maybe the aftereffects of that domination—our mana still resonating. Even the smallest brush of skin sent strange tremors through my nerves, making it hard to breathe.

  “You… really did save me,” she muttered quietly, damp with sweat.

  But then she jerked her head away, trying to put distance between us.

  “That doesn’t mean I trust you. I still have no idea what your power is.”

  “I don’t know, either. It’s just… some strange ability I have.”

  Her eyes, still guarded, flicked across my face. Even so, she didn’t treat me like an outright enemy. She must have realized that in this hellish dungeon, she didn’t have anyone else to rely on.

  A Strange Partnership Begins

  Neither of us was in good shape. Hanging around in a collapsing dungeon wouldn’t do us any favors.

  “Let’s get out of here,” I said. “If we stay too long—”

  “Fine. I hate this place already.”

  She pushed herself upright, ears perked for the shuffle of approaching monsters.

  My palm still throbbed with a dull burn. I rummaged through my bag, found a small healing potion, and handed it to her.

  A moment of silence.

  “…thanks. Like I said, I’m not thrilled you messed with me, but without you, I’d be dead.”

  “Messed with—well, sorry.”

  “Whether you actually saved me or just put me in greater danger, I’ll figure that out soon enough.”

  A short clash of words. But we both knew we needed each other to survive.

  Cautiously, I asked, “So… do you have a name?”

  She hesitated, then answered.

  “Elena.”

  Short and curt, but her expression hinted at more swirling emotions than she let on.

  Elena.

  It matched the faint name I’d sensed during that unsettling mana contact.

  I nodded, adding, “I’m Hyunwoo Kim.”

  “Got it.”

  Ending: A Decision to Escape, Uneasy Coexistence

  The dungeon rumbled with more cracks and explosions. It felt like the whole place might collapse within hours.

  We had to move out—together.

  “Can you walk? You were pretty messed up…”

  “Don’t worry about me. You sure you’re okay? You’ve been sweating like crazy.”

  We bickered, but started making our way toward the exit. We stuck close, dealing with stray monsters that appeared now and then—Elena could barely fight, still recovering.

  And so began our strange journey together.

  How far can I trust her?

  And what will she think of my corrupting power?

  My thoughts swirled, my heart pounding faster. But one thing was certain:

  “My power… can actually save someone.”

  That realization ignited a small spark of hope inside me, along with the fear that misusing it could drag me deeper into corruption.

  “Let’s move. I hear something behind us,” I said.

  “Right. Once we’re out of here… you’ll probably want answers.”

  Elena threw out that final remark before stepping into the unsteady corridor.

  I stared at her back, still feeling the heated crest on my palm.

  I want answers, too. What is this ‘domination’ really…?

  And so we ventured deeper into the shattered Abyss of the Dead, our tenuous alliance laced with a strange sense of empathy—and a chance, perhaps, for one of us to rule or be saved by the other.

  It all started here.

  —To be continued