Kieran found a notice on the Hunter Association’s board looking for a team to join a dungeon mission. The mission involved hunting monsters in a D-rank dungeon and collecting specific materials. Without much thought, he applied. The team leader was Lance Carter, a C-rank hunter. He was a middle-aged, sturdy man who had ventured into dungeons many times before. Aside from him, the team had three other members: a shield warrior, an archer, and a mage girl.

  The mage girl had been looking down on Kieran ever since they entered the dungeon. Her name was Evelyn, a D+ rank mage with fire-element abilities. Her best offensive skill was Flame Spear. When she learned that Kieran was an F-rank, she scoffed and shot him a disdainful look. “What are you doing here? Are you going to be a burden?” she said mockingly.

  At the start of the dungeon, everything was normal. The group hunted low-level monsters. Kieran fought carefully, using his shadows strategically and wielding his daggers skillfully to take down several monsters. However, Lance and the others didn’t seem to trust him much. Especially Evelyn, who kept throwing sarcastic remarks at every opportunity.

  But things soon took a turn. At one point, the group was ambushed by a pack of Shadow Hunters—monsters capable of moving within the darkness. Their attacks were swift and deadly. The shield warrior tried to hold them back while Evelyn cast her spells for support. However, she failed to notice something—one of the Shadow Hunters had slipped through the darkness and was preparing to strike her from behind.

  Kieran noticed it immediately. Without hesitation, he used Shadow Step, moving at lightning speed behind Evelyn and drawing his daggers. In one swift motion, he eliminated the monster.

  Evelyn had barely escaped death. Her face turned pale as she stared at Kieran in shock.

  After that incident, the group began to see Kieran in a different light. Evelyn, who had been full of disdain, said nothing, but the contempt in her eyes was replaced with silent surprise.

  Just when things seemed to be settling down... the dungeon suddenly began to tremble.

  The ground shook, cracks formed in the walls, and an ominous energy filled the air.

  Lance shouted, “What the hell is happening?!” Just then, a system notification appeared.

  WARNING! DUNGEON LEVEL INCREASING.

  NEW DUNGEON CATEGORY: A+

  The group's faces turned pale. A+ rank?! If monsters of that level appeared, their chances of escape were nearly nonexistent.

  And just like that, Kieran and his team found themselves facing an unexpected disaster…

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  When the dungeon's rank suddenly rose to A+, the entire team froze in shock. Lance clenched his teeth and gripped his sword tighter. "This is bad..." he muttered. The shield warrior and the archer exchanged worried glances. Evelyn's face was pale; she didn’t even realize she had narrowly escaped death just moments ago. But now, they were facing an even greater threat.

  The ground trembled once more. An ominous darkness began to rise from the depths of the cave. Kieran felt the sheer power emanating from it, and a chill ran down his spine. This was no ordinary dungeon… A catastrophe was approaching.

  "We need to get out of here immediately!" Lance shouted. But just then, the system notification completed:

  Exit Gate Locked.

  Boss Monster is Being Determined…

  "What?!" the archer cried out in fear. "We're locked in?! No way… We won’t make it out alive!"

  At that moment, a roar echoed from the depths of the cave. The dark ceiling of the dungeon was illuminated by flickering purple lights, and from within the shadows, a colossal creature emerged.

  Its body was covered in obsidian-black scales, its eyes glowed with a blood-red radiance, and its massive wings sent tremors through the air.

  Standing before them was a Shadow Drake!

  [A+ Rank: Shadow Drake]

  Threat Level: Deadly

  As the Shadow Drake’s terrifying aura filled the cave, every member of the team found themselves unable to move. The pressure was so intense, it felt as if a massive stone had been placed on their chests. Even Kieran struggled to breathe.

  This creature… was truly a disaster.

  The drake lifted its head and let out another thunderous roar, causing the ceiling of the cave to crack and debris to rain down. Reacting swiftly, Kieran grabbed Evelyn and pulled her back just in time. She had barely escaped being crushed by falling rocks. The shield warrior immediately raised his guard, but his hands were trembling.

  "What do we do?!" Evelyn asked in terror. "That thing… It’s at least ten times stronger than us!"

  Lance wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke. "We need to fight strategically! First, we must distract it! Archer, move to the farthest point and fire your shots! Evelyn, suppress it with your magic! Shield warrior, strengthen your defenses! Kieran, you—"

  Lance’s words were cut off.

  Because Kieran… had already moved.

  Unlike the others, he wasn’t frozen in fear. On the contrary, the darkness within him was stirring. For the first time since acquiring his system, he was about to test his true power.

  Clutching his daggers tightly, shadows began to swirl around his body. A voice whispered in his mind:

  -"Fear not. The shadows will never abandon you."

  His eyes gleamed.

  Then, suddenly, a surge of overwhelming darkness erupted from his body. The shadows coiled around him like a living vortex, radiating raw power. Kieran’s fury and strength spilled forth, untamed and uncontrollable.

  At that exact moment, the Shadow Drake’s eerie voice echoed through the cavern:

  "I never expected to meet a sibling in this world."

  Its deep, reverberating voice sent shivers through the air, followed by a chilling laugh.

  Kieran’s eyes darkened even further. His teeth clenched, and the shadows around him pulsed violently.

  "A monster like you… could never be my brother!" he roared. His voice carried a force that shook the cavern itself.

  And then—the shadows fully unleashed.

  Kieran gripped his daggers and lunged toward the drake. The darkness trailing from his body surged outward in waves as he initiated the first strike.

  Thus began the deadly battle between Kieran and the Shadow Drake…