The city of Seoul gleamed under the afternoon sun, unaware of the looming storm. For months, the world had known peace—an era of calm that felt almost unnatural. The dungeon breaks had ceased, the Monarchs had fallen, and the Hunters had returned to their daily lives, no longer bound by the terror of the unknown.

But far above the noise of the bustling streets, on the rooftop of a towering skyscraper, Sung Jin-Woo stood alone, his silhouette cutting a sharp figure against the sky. His black coat billowed gently in the wind, shadows seemingly dancing at its edges. His eyes, golden and piercing, scanned the horizon, but his mind was elsewhere.

It was strange to think that not long ago, he had been nothing more than an E-Rank Hunter, fighting for survival in a world where strength dictated everything. But now... he was different. Far different. The Shadow Monarch, ruler of an army that spanned dimensions, the very being who had single-handedly taken down the Monarchs—the gods of destruction. And yet, here he was, standing in the calm before what felt like another storm.

He had felt it. A change. It was subtle at first, a slight tremor in the atmosphere, a distortion that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. But over the last few days, it had grown stronger, more palpable. Something was coming. And he wasn't sure what.

Behind him, the shadows rippled, and from them emerged three figures who had become as much a part of him as the very air he breathed.

Igris, the silent knight, his crimson armor glinting under the sun, stood at attention. His unwavering loyalty and prowess in battle had earned him the title of Jin-Woo's right-hand general, a warrior whose blade had cut down countless foes.

To Igris' left was Beru, the former Ant King, now one of the most terrifying creatures in Jin-Woo's army. His insectoid form bristled with power, his once monstrous demeanor now tamed under the firm control of the Shadow Monarch. Beru's chitinous wings buzzed faintly as he stood tall, his predatory eyes scanning the surroundings with a hint of anticipation.

And then, towering above them all, was Bellion—the First Shadow, the most powerful being under Jin-Woo's command. His massive frame, adorned with armor that shimmered in the fading sunlight, radiated an aura of absolute dominance. His sword, a weapon of pure shadow, rested at his side, ready to be called upon at a moment's notice.

These were the elites of his shadow army, the ones who had stood by his side through every battle, every war. And now, they too seemed to sense the change in the air.

"It's too quiet," Jin-Woo murmured, his voice low but carrying an edge of anticipation. He had learned to trust his instincts, and they were screaming at him now. The calm before the storm was too perfect, too still.

Suddenly, the air around them seemed to shift. The skies, once bright and clear, began to darken, as if an unseen hand had drawn a curtain over the sun. The temperature dropped, and a strange silence fell over the city below. The usual hum of traffic, the distant chatter of people—it all stopped. The world held its breath.

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Jin-Woo's eyes narrowed. His hand twitched instinctively, and in that moment, the shadows beneath him rippled, ready to spring into action. Something was coming.

A low rumble echoed across the sky, and then, with a deafening crack, the air split open. Above them, the very fabric of reality tore apart, revealing a swirling mass of darkness, punctuated by faint glimmers of distant stars. It was unlike anything Jin-Woo had ever seen—a cosmic wound in the sky, something that defied understanding.

From the tear emerged a shape, massive and incomprehensible. It twisted and writhed, shifting between forms—limbs, eyes, tendrils—none of it making any sense, as though the very idea of logic refused to acknowledge its existence. An Outer God.

The creature descended slowly, its presence warping the air around it. The city below trembled under its weight, as if reality itself struggled to contain the being's presence. Jin-Woo stood his ground, his expression calm, though his golden eyes burned with intensity.

"You... are the one who disrupted the balance," the creature's voice echoed, not just in the air but in the minds of all who could hear it. Its tone was ancient, cold, and filled with contempt. "You, the one they call the Shadow Monarch."

Jin-Woo tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "And what if I am?"

The creature seemed to swell, its mass expanding as it floated just above the ground. "You are but a fleeting existence. We are eternal. We are the gods of the beyond, and you will fall like all those before you."

A low chuckle escaped Jin-Woo's lips. He had heard similar threats before—words of power, words of finality. But each time, he stood at the end, and his enemies lay defeated.

"I've faced gods before," he said, his voice as cold as the air around him. "And I'm still here."

With that, he raised his hand, and the shadows surged to life. Igris, Beru, and Bellion stepped forward, their eyes glowing with the promise of battle. Behind them, the ground itself trembled as millions of shadow soldiers rose from the earth, their forms dark and menacing, ready to strike.

But even as they gathered, Jin-Woo knew this was different. The creature before him was no Monarch, no simple ruler of a dimension. This was something far greater. And far above them, beyond the tear in the sky, he could sense more. Other gods—countless in number—waiting, watching.

The being shifted again, its form pulsing with dark energy. "You misunderstand, mortal. We are not like the beings you've faced before. We are eternal. We are the creators of your reality, and we have come to reclaim what you have stolen."

Jin-Woo's smile faded, his expression hardening. "Then let's see if your eternity can stand against me."

In a blur of motion, Jin-Woo vanished, his speed beyond the comprehension of mortal eyes. The Outer God had only a moment to react before Jin-Woo appeared behind it, his twin daggers shimmering with dark energy.

With a single slash, he struck. But the creature's body warped, bending around the blade as though it were made of smoke. It let out a low, rumbling laugh.

"You cannot kill what was never alive," it whispered.

Jin-Woo stepped back, his eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that."

He raised his hand, and with a single thought, the shadows surged forward, his army charging towards the god. Bellion was the first to strike, his massive sword cleaving through the air with a force that shattered the very ground beneath him. But even as the blade met the god's form, it twisted and reformed, unharmed.

Far above, Jin-Woo could sense the others. The Outer Gods were here, and this was only the beginning.

For the first time in a long while, Sung Jin-Woo felt something stir within him. Not fear, but excitement. The gods had awakened, and now it was his turn to rise once again.

As the battle raged around him, he whispered to himself, his golden eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"Let's see what you've got."

End of Chapter 1: The Awakening of Gods