Shadow Monarch's Requiem

Chapter 12 - The Awakening Storm

Jin-Ho Kang stood amidst the wreckage of his latest battle. The dungeon's once-intimidating monsters lay scattered in heaps, their dark blood pooling around his feet. His breath was steady, his heart pounding with an exhilaration he hadn't felt in years. With each battle, he felt himself growing stronger, his control over the shadows tightening.

The system window flickered before his eyes.

[You have leveled up!]

A smirk formed on Jin-Ho's lips. The power coursing through his veins was intoxicating. He clenched his fists, feeling the energy pulsate. "Still not enough," he muttered, eyes gleaming with determination. He needed more strength, more power—he was far from the peak he envisioned.

The dungeon trembled, signaling its collapse. The moment he stepped through the portal, he found himself back in the real world, in the empty warehouse he had used as an entry point. The sun had set, casting an eerie glow over the cityscape.

Just as he was about to leave, his phone buzzed.

"Jin-Ho! Where the hell are you?" It was Jisoo, her voice laced with worry.

"I had some business to take care of," he replied nonchalantly.

"Business? Do you have any idea how long you've been missing? The guilds are looking for you!"

Jin-Ho frowned. He had underestimated the attention he was drawing. He had planned to stay low, but with his rapid rise in strength, staying hidden was proving difficult.

"I'll handle it," he said before hanging up. His eyes turned toward the distant skyline. He needed a plan. The world wasn't ready for what he was becoming.