Chapter 13 – When the Shadows Stir
The moment Jae-Hyun stepped onto Floor 21, something felt… off.
The air carried a heavy stillness, different from the lower floors where the system’s familiar notifications greeted him with mechanical indifference. Here, the silence pressed against his ears, almost as if the Tower itself was observing him. The terrain stretched wide—an abandoned ruin swallowed by creeping vines and cracked stonework, remnants of a forgotten civilization lost to time. The faint scent of damp earth and old decay mixed with something sharper—blood, recent and fresh.
System Notification:
You have entered Floor 21. Proceed with caution.
Jae-Hyun rolled his shoulders, his coat shifting with his movement as he scanned the area. No immediate threats in sight, but he wasn’t naïve enough to trust the quiet. His grip tightened on his blade as he took his first step forward.
The attack came swiftly.
A blur of motion erupted from the ruins, a pack of monstrous figures tearing through the shadows with terrifying coordination. Their elongated bodies moved low to the ground, jagged claws scraping against the ancient stone as ten sets of glowing yellow eyes locked onto him.
Howling Stalkers.
They weren’t just attacking—they were flanking him, moving in a half-circle formation to cut off his escape routes.
Jae-Hyun exhaled sharply. Here we go.
----------------------------------------
Jae-Hyun wasted no time. He flicked his fingers, and shadows surged forth, forming into his spectral warriors. His summoned shades materialized around him, dark figures with gleaming eyes, ready to engage.
His sword flashed in the dim light, cleaving through the first Howling Stalker as it lunged. The beast let out a sharp yelp before dissolving into dust. The others didn’t hesitate—they rushed him in unison.
His shadows intercepted, clashing with the pack in a storm of violent motion. The smaller stalkers were quick but reckless—easy prey for his well-trained summons. One of his shades lured in a beast before cutting it down, while another held off two attackers, creating an opening for Jae-Hyun to strike.
A deep growl sounded from the side—a larger Howling Stalker with an orange-hued name. The leader.
The pack shifted as the leader let out a chilling howl, their movements growing more aggressive. They were working together under its command, their once scattered attacks now focused and deliberate.
Jae-Hyun smirked. Finally, a little structure. He adjusted his stance and rushed forward.
Rather than getting bogged down, Jae-Hyun went for precision. He took out the smaller stalkers first, thinning their numbers to prevent them from overwhelming him. His shadows mirrored his movements, ensuring that the battlefield remained controlled.
With each swift movement, the yellow-named creatures fell with relative ease, leaving only their leader standing. The orange-named beast circled him cautiously. It lunged, its claws glowing faintly as it aimed for his exposed side. Jae-Hyun barely shifted his weight, deflecting the strike with the edge of his blade.
One of his shadows darted forward, slicing across the beast’s side, staggering it. Taking advantage of the opening, Jae-Hyun surged ahead—his blade finding its mark, piercing through the leader’s throat.
The leader collapsed, fading into particles, but the battle was far from over. More howls echoed through the ruins as another pack of Howling Stalkers emerged from the shadows, their numbers just as strong as the first.
Jae-Hyun sighed, adjusting his grip. So that’s how it’s going to be.
Wave after wave, the monsters attacked. His shadows worked in tandem with him, keeping the pack from overwhelming him completely. But as the minutes stretched on, he began to feel the toll of the continuous battles. His stamina, which usually held up fine, was dipping lower than expected. His mana, while not fully depleted, was draining at a concerning pace.
As the last stalker dissolved into nothingness, fatigue crept into his muscles, the lingering burn of overused mana settling deep. Then, silence finally returned. The eerie stillness of the ruins stretched around him, broken only by his steady breaths. He glanced around, noting how the once-threatening shadows now felt strangely hollow in the aftermath. A few moments passed before a faint shimmer flickered at the center of the battlefield—the passage to the next floor had appeared.
System Notification:
Floor 21 pack cleared. Proceed forward or exit the Tower.
Jae-Hyun took a slow breath, rolling his shoulders. That fight had taken more out of him than expected. His mana reserves weren’t depleted, but they had drained faster than usual. Even his stamina, which usually remained steady through prolonged battles, felt noticeably reduced.
He frowned, glancing at his surroundings. This wasn’t a matter of difficulty—it was a matter of pacing. If every floor past this point followed the same trend, then simply pushing forward wasn’t an option. He needed to manage his resources better.
It’s late anyway. I’ve seen what I needed to.
With that, he made his way to the floor’s exit, stepping into the glowing portal that would take him back to the Tower’s entrance. There was no point in pushing further today—it wasn’t worth it since it was already so late and he was exhausted.
----------------------------------------
Jae-Hyun stepped through the shimmering portal and emerged into the familiar entrance hall of the Tower. The transition from the eerie silence of Floor 21 to the bustling atmosphere of the lobby was jarring—adventurers moving in clusters, discussing their climbs, and murmuring about the ongoing battle for dominance over Floor 50.
Snippets of conversation caught his ear as he strode forward.
"Aegis Legion is pushing to claim first rights over the Floor 50 boss..."
"Shadow Dominion is staying quiet, but you know they’re scheming."
"Crimson Blades’ leader is already here. The real question is—what’s he planning?"
Jae-Hyun ignored the chatter, but one thing was clear—the top guilds were desperate for the prestige that came with conquering Floor 50. And if the Crimson Blades’ leader was here, that meant he was bound to run into him soon.
And then it happened.
A wave of suffocating pressure crashed into him, sudden and overwhelming. Jae-Hyun's breath hitched, his body instinctively tensing, as if his instincts recognized something his mind hadn’t yet processed. The moment he took another step, a deep, booming voice cut through the noise of the hall.
"Oi. You. Come here."
Jae-Hyun barely had time to adjust before he felt it again—this wasn’t just aura suppression, this was dominance.
Towering near the entrance was a colossus of a man—Crimson Blades’ leader. Thick muscle corded his frame, and his sheer presence demanded attention. His sharp, chiseled features were set into an expression of amusement, yet there was something piercing in his gaze, something that made it impossible to ignore him.
The other adventurers in the lobby instinctively stepped aside. No one wanted to stand too close to him.
Jae-Hyun kept his expression neutral, locking eyes with the man who had singled him out. "What’s wrong?" he asked evenly.
The man let out a low chuckle, stepping forward with the confidence of someone who never had to second-guess himself. "People might think you’re going alone to the lower floors because they can’t feel your aura properly. But I can. What floor have you reached?"
Jae-Hyun knew better than to show hesitation. "You’re mistaken," he said, brushing it off.
But the leader’s gaze didn’t waver. Instead, his smirk twisted into something more dangerous. The weight of his aura intensified—suffocating, absolute.
"Do you think you can lie to me just like that?" His voice, though casual, carried an edge sharp enough to cut through steel.
For the first time in a long while, Jae-Hyun felt his instincts screaming at him—not from fear, but from sheer recognition of overwhelming strength.
Jae-Hyun gritted his teeth, feeling the crushing weight of the leader’s aura pressing down on him. His body screamed at him to answer, but his pride resisted for just a moment longer. Then, finally, he exhaled, adjusting his coat slightly before speaking. "I’ve cleared up to Floor 19."
Instantly, the suffocating aura vanished. The oppressive tension that had seized the air dissipated as quickly as it had arrived.
The Crimson Blades’ leader laughed—a deep, genuine sound, as if they had just shared an inside joke. "See? That wasn’t so hard! Seems like you and I are going to be good friends!" He clapped Jae-Hyun on the shoulder with enough force to make others stagger. "Figures you couldn’t get past Floor 20 alone. The boss’s rage phase is brutal. I personally never go in alone—you never know what could happen."
Jae-Hyun held back a reaction, offering a small, unreadable smirk. "Right."
The leader then crossed his arms, nodding approvingly as if he had already made a decision. "You’re sharp, strong, and got guts. I like that. Why don’t you join Crimson Blades? You’d fit right in."
Jae-Hyun didn’t hesitate. "I’m not interested."
Silence followed for a beat, and then another chuckle rumbled from the massive man. "I guess a lone wolf will always be a lone wolf, huh?" He shook his head, grinning. "Well, can’t say I didn’t try."
Jae-Hyun kept his expression unreadable, but deep inside, he knew this wouldn’t be the last time they crossed paths.
As Jae-Hyun turned to leave, the leader stood with his arms crossed, watching him go with an amused smirk. “Don’t wait too long to reconsider, lone wolf.”
----------------------------------------
Jae-Hyun stepped out of the Tower, the crisp night air brushing against his skin. The tension from his encounter with the Crimson Blades’ leader still lingered in his mind, but he forced himself to push it aside. What mattered now was recovery.
He pulled out his phone, the screen lighting up with multiple missed messages. Most were from Mi-Rae, the texts sitting unread for hours. With a sigh, he leaned against the railing of a nearby walkway, fingers hovering over the screen before he finally began typing.
Their conversation was brief, but direct. He told her the truth—everything except the system. He explained how Tae-Jun and their father had drugged him and left him to die in the Hollow Dreadlands, how he had survived on his own. In return, Mi-Rae shared her own news.
She had awakened as a Rank A, though she still needed to go through official ranking procedures in the coming months. Though her words were short, he could sense the underlying frustration—her potential was being held back, controlled.
Her last message read simply: "I still can’t believe you’re alive… I want to see you soon. There’s so much I want to say, but I don’t know where to start."
Jae-Hyun locked his phone, inhaling deeply. He had known this day would come, but something about it felt heavier than expected.
----------------------------------------
He turned toward the main road, ready to return to his hotel and rest, but before he could take another step, his phone vibrated again.
Ahri: "You done being mysterious? Meet me at the usual spot. You owe me dinner."
Jae-Hyun smirked, shaking his head. He considered declining—he was exhausted, and the night had already been long. But then he thought about Ahri. About how much she had lost. Resetting all her power, rebuilding herself from nothing while watching others climb ahead. If it had been him, would he have been able to endure that?
With a sigh, he typed his response.That couldn’t have been easy.
Jae-Hyun: "Fine. But I’m heading back to my hotel first to change. I’ll meet you there."
Ahri: "Good. Don’t be late."
Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he made his way toward the hotel. The city streets were quieter at this hour, the usual bustle dimmed to soft murmurs of late-night adventurers and traders finishing their rounds.
The lobby of his hotel was almost empty, and he took the elevator to his floor without issue. Once inside his room, he exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he pulled off his coat. The exhaustion was setting in now, but before heading out, there was something he needed to check.
----------------------------------------
Seating himself at the edge of the bed, he pulled up his system interface. The familiar glow filled his vision as he scrolled through his inventory. Crystals, materials, and the lingering effects of his battles on Floor 21. He took mental notes, assessing how much mana and stamina had been drained in just one floor.
It was clear—progressing past this point would require better management.
Out of curiosity, he switched to the system’s main functions. The thought had been nagging him since earlier, and now that he had a moment, he decided to ask.
Jae-Hyun: "Who are you?"
System: "That’s a broad question. Who are YOU?"
His brow twitched. He should’ve expected that.
Jae-Hyun: "What’s your purpose?"
System: "Keeping you alive. For now."
He frowned. It had dodged his question before, but this time, it almost sounded ominous.
Jae-Hyun: "Who created you?"
There was a pause. Longer than usual.
Then, the system responded. But this time, it wasn’t immediate.
“…Processing…”
(The pause stretched a fraction too long.)
“…Insufficient Information.”
For the first time, Jae-Hyun felt like the system wasn’t just avoiding the question—it genuinely didn’t know.
He exhaled, shaking his head as he dismissed the interface. More questions, fewer answers.
His phone buzzed again. Ahri.
Ahri: "I’m already here. Don’t keep me waiting."
Jae-Hyun pushed himself to his feet, rolling his shoulders as he grabbed his coat. His mind still lingered on the system’s response, but there was nothing he could do about it now. For now, dinner.
----------------------------------------
The walk to the restaurant was quiet, save for the occasional late-night adventurer passing by. Jae-Hyun kept his hands in his pockets, his mind still lingering on the system’s cryptic response. “Insufficient Information.” It wasn’t a refusal—it was a limitation. The system either didn’t know or wasn’t capable of telling him. Either way, it left an uncomfortable weight in his chest.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
As he approached the restaurant, he spotted Ahri waiting outside, arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently. Her medium-length black hair, worn loose, framed her face under the streetlights, and despite her relaxed posture, her sharp eyes locked onto him the moment he stepped closer.
“Took you long enough,” she said, smirking. “I was about to start without you.”
Jae-Hyun raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you were that eager.”
She scoffed, pushing open the door. “Come on. I’m starving.”
----------------------------------------
The restaurant was a small, cozy place tucked away in a quieter part of the district. It wasn’t extravagant, but it had an inviting warmth to it. The scent of grilled meat and spices filled the air as they took a seat in a booth near the window.
A server arrived, taking their orders before disappearing into the kitchen. Ahri leaned back against the cushioned seat, exhaling as she studied Jae-Hyun. “So, are you going to tell me how far you got in the Tower, or do I have to guess?”
He leaned forward, resting an arm on the table. “Cleared Floor 21.”
Ahri’s expression didn’t shift much, but he caught the flicker of recognition in her eyes. “And?”
“It’s getting harder,” he admitted. “Not just in terms of strength—the Tower feels... different past Floor 20. Bigger packs of monsters, smarter enemies. I had to start being more mindful about stamina and mana usage.”
She nodded slowly. "Climbing that high alone is insane—that's like a suicide mission. Even the Big Four guilds struggle past Floor 40. I guess you're not really alone, though, not with your army of shadows."
Jae-Hyun leaned back slightly, considering her words. "Yeah, I guess climbing alone that high really would be reckless," he admitted. He glanced at her. "And you? How’s the reset treating you?"
Ahri clicked her tongue, resting her chin on her hand. “Frustrating. It’s one thing to get stronger—it’s another to have to start over and claw your way back up.” Her fingers drummed against the table. “I know it’ll be faster this time, but still... it feels like I lost part of myself.”
Jae-Hyun didn’t say anything at first. He had known it wasn’t easy for her, but hearing it out loud made it more tangible. He wasn’t the comforting type, but he could at least acknowledge what she was going through.
“You’ll get there,” he finally said. “You’re too stubborn not to.”
Ahri huffed out a laugh, shaking her head. “Damn right I will.”
----------------------------------------
Their food arrived, and for a while, they ate in comfortable silence. The weight of their conversation still lingered, but the brief pause allowed them to process everything. Jae-Hyun took occasional glances around the restaurant, observing people who had no connection to the Tower’s dangers—civilians, low-rank adventurers, ordinary people who never had to worry about clearing floors or facing impossible odds. The Tower, the system, the hidden powers at play—it was all beyond what most people in the city could comprehend.
After a few minutes, Ahri set her chopsticks down and leaned forward. “So what’s next?”
Jae-Hyun exhaled, pushing his plate aside. "The Tower is becoming more dangerous, and blindly pushing forward isn’t a strategy I want to rely on. Gates might be the next best option. The problem is, we need at least four people, and I don’t trust many to have my back. Besides you and Mi-Rae, there’s no one else I’d even consider."
Ahri raised an eyebrow. “Mi-Rae? Have you learned anything new about her?”
Jae-Hyun nodded. "I contacted her. Met her before the raid."
Ahri scoffed, shaking her head. "Are you insane? That was a stupid risk. You could’ve been caught!"
Jae-Hyun sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew she was right—it had been reckless. If things had gone south, there wouldn’t have been an easy way out. But still... "I needed answers. I met her before the raid, and she’s doing well... considering everything. She’s awakened as a Rank A, but she’s still under their watch. I had to see her myself." He exhaled, fingers tightening slightly against the table. "She’s strong, but she doesn’t realize how much danger she’s in.""
Ahri exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples before fixing him with a glare. "And what if they had caught you? What then? You might be strong, but even you wouldn’t have gotten out unscathed." She sighed, shaking her head. "You’re lucky. Just… don’t pull a stunt like that again."
Jae-Hyun offered a small smirk. "Just being practical. I don’t like the idea of standing still while everyone else moves forward."
Ahri exhaled, the frustration in her voice easing slightly. She shook her head, giving him a sideways glance. “Seriously, you’re impossible.”
Then, her lips curled into a smirk. “You better not leave me behind.”
Jae-Hyun chuckled. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
----------------------------------------
As they finished their meal, Jae-Hyun leaned back, stretching slightly. He was about to suggest heading out when a familiar thought struck him—the Demon King’s words.
“Come find me in Hell.”
A simple statement, but one that had haunted him since the moment he heard it.
How?
He had no idea where to even begin. The Tower had no known path leading to Hell, and as far as he knew, it wasn’t something that could be accessed at all.
And then, as if responding to his thoughts, his system glitched.
His fingers twitched slightly as the faint warmth faded. It wasn’t just a system message—it felt like something had reached for him, something unseen. His vision distorted for a fraction of a second before stabilizing. Then, in the corner of his interface, a new notification appeared—its text flickering in and out, partially corrupted.
“𝔄 𝔭𝔞𝔱𝔥 𝔱𝔬… [ERROR]… Hell.”
The text flickered again before it corrected itself.
“A Path to Hell – Quest Available.”
Jae-Hyun’s entire body tensed. That was not normal. His system had always been cryptic, but this... this felt different. Like something—or someone—was watching him.
Ahri, noticing his sudden shift, raised an eyebrow. “What happened?”
He exhaled slowly, his face returning to an impassive mask. “Nothing. Just an item I got.”
Ahri narrowed her eyes slightly but didn’t push further. “Uh-huh.”
But Jae-Hyun’s thoughts were already elsewhere.
What the hell did I just unlock?
----------------------------------------
Jae-Hyun’s eyes lingered on the system notification, the flickering text still burning in his vision. A Path to Hell. The words felt heavier than they should, as if something beyond the system itself was pushing him toward an inevitable fate.
“The door remains closed. To unlock the path, complete the following.”
New text appeared, this time clear and precise.
* Reach Level 50.
* Defeat the Floor 30 Guardian in a single challenge.
He read the requirements twice, ensuring he hadn’t misinterpreted them—this wasn’t just about progression. It was a test.
Jae-Hyun clenched his fist. He was Level 42 now, meaning the first condition wasn’t far off. The second, however, posed a greater challenge. The Floor 30 Guardian was known as a turning point in the Tower’s climb. Only high-ranked adventurers typically cleared it solo, and even then, few could do it without weeks of preparation. Most wouldn't even attempt going past Floor 10 solo, let alone Floor 30. Just the thought of challenging it alone was pure suicide. Jae-Hyun knew that he was lucky to have his shadow army around—without them, he wouldn’t have even reached Floor 21.
He exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. So that’s the price of opening the door?
Ahri, still watching him, leaned forward. “You’re thinking too hard about something,” she said, her sharp gaze scanning his face. “Something’s up.”
Jae-Hyun hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking his head. “Just planning my next moves.”
Ahri narrowed her eyes but didn’t press further. Instead, she sighed and leaned back, arms crossed. “You know, I completely forgot the reason I wanted to talk to you in the first place.”
Jae-Hyun raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
She pulled up her system interface, scrolling through something before tapping a specific entry. “This,” she said, turning her screen toward him. “Ever seen anything like it?”
A notification hovered in front of him.
Item: Fractured Growth Key
Type: Limited One-Time Purchase
Description: Grants access to a Level-Up Fracture, a high-risk environment designed for rapid growth. Rank is determined by the highest-level party member.
Requirements:
* Must purchase the Fractured Growth Key.
* Must enter with at least two party members.
* Rank of the Level-Up Fracture scales based on the highest-level party member.
Jae-Hyun’s eyes flicked back to Ahri. “And this just appeared in your shop?”
“Yeah. It’s a limited-time thing, apparently. Never seen it before, and the description is weirdly vague.” Ahri leaned forward, tapping her finger against the table. “I have no idea if it’s good or bad, but something about it feels… unique. Thought you’d want to know.”
Jae-Hyun hummed, considering the implications. If the rank of the Fracture scaled to the highest party member, that meant if he were to enter at Level 42, Ahri—who was currently only Level 11—would stand no chance inside.
He sighed. “It’s a good opportunity. But you’d have to level up—fast. Otherwise, there’s no way you’d survive”
Ahri groaned, rubbing her temple. “Yeah, yeah. Figures. I knew you were going to say that.”
Jae-Hyun smirked. “Then you better get to work.”
Ahri shot him a look before shaking her head with a smirk of her own. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’ll catch up before you know it.”
----------------------------------------
The conversation shifted as they walked back toward the hotel district, discussing potential strategies for both the Tower and the Fracture. Jae-Hyun knew he had two major goals now—reach Level 50 and defeat the Floor 30 Guardian.
Ahri, meanwhile, had her own challenge: leveling up fast enough to keep up with him.
As they reached their hotel, Ahri stretched her arms above her head. “Alright, I need to get some rest before grinding tomorrow. Don’t do anything reckless.”
“No promises,” Jae-Hyun said, smirking.
Ahri rolled her eyes but didn’t walk away. Instead, she hesitated for a brief second before nodding toward the entrance. “See you tomorrow.”
Jae-Hyun pushed open the door, stepping into the dimly lit lobby. A strange, lingering feeling crept over him as he walked toward the elevator. It wasn’t fear, nor was it paranoia—it was the distinct sense that something was watching him.
He glanced around, but nothing seemed out of place. The lobby was quiet, save for a few other people milling about. Shaking the thought off, he stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for his floor.
A heavy silence settled in as the doors closed. He exhaled, rubbing his temple. I’m just exhausted. That’s all.
The elevator reached his floor, and as he stepped into the hallway, he let out a slow breath. The path ahead was clear, but something told him things were only going to get harder from here.
----------------------------------------
Jae-Hyun swiped his keycard and pushed open the door to his hotel room. The space was simple but comfortable—nothing extravagant, just enough to rest and prepare for what lay ahead. He tossed his coat over the back of a chair and exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders to ease the lingering tension from the day’s events.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, he pulled up his system interface. The Path to Hell quest still lingered at the forefront, its text pulsing slightly as if demanding his attention.
A Path to Hell – Quest Available.
The door remains closed. To unlock the path, complete the following:
* Reach Level 50
* Defeat the Floor 30 Guardian in a single challenge
His gaze lingered on the requirements. This wasn’t just another quest. This was a trial—one designed to push him past his limits before he could even access whatever lay beyond that door. And yet, something about it felt different from any other system notification he’d encountered before.
Jae-Hyun tapped on the quest details, but much of the information remained blurred out, locked behind system restrictions. He scowled. Whatever was at the end of this path, the system wasn’t making it easy for him to uncover.
Then, the screen flickered.
A distortion rippled across the interface, the usual crisp text momentarily warping. A static-like hum buzzed faintly in his ears, just at the edge of perception. Then, for a split second, new text appeared beneath the quest details—jagged, fragmented, and barely readable.
The threshold nears… The eyes remain upon you…
Jae-Hyun’s entire body tensed.
Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the message was gone. His interface returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
He stared at the screen for several seconds, his mind racing. That hadn’t been a system error. The quest itself—or something beyond it—was actively responding to his progress.
A chill crawled up his spine.
He wasn’t just progressing toward the Path to Hell. Something—or someone—was watching his every move.
----------------------------------------
Jae-Hyun closed his interface and stood, shaking off the lingering unease. You’re overthinking this. He stripped off his clothes and changed into something more comfortable, settling into bed. Tomorrow, he’d focus on leveling up. That was the only thing that mattered for now.
Just as he closed his eyes, his phone buzzed.
Frowning, he reached for it, expecting a message from Ahri or maybe Mi-Rae. But when he checked the screen, his grip on the device tightened.
Reject the quest. Walk away.
Jae-Hyun’s pulse quickened. His gaze flicked between the message and the glowing interface still hovering faintly in the air beside him.
Before he could type a response, another message arrived.
You don’t understand what’s waiting for you. Turn back now.
The room suddenly felt colder.
Jae-Hyun sat up, his instincts on high alert. His eyes flicked around the darkened room, searching for any sign that something—or someone—was watching him. The cold sensation lingered, pressing against his skin like an unseen weight.
The phone vibrated again.
This is your only warning.
A strange static crackled through his phone’s speaker before the screen flickered and the messages vanished, leaving no trace of their existence.
Jae-Hyun narrowed his eyes. His gut told him this wasn’t a bluff. Whoever had sent those messages knew something about the Path to Hell—and they didn’t want him to reach it.
He placed the phone on the nightstand, exhaling slowly. Backing down wasn’t an option.
If anything, this just confirmed it—he was on the right path.
A sharp knock echoed in his mind, and suddenly, his vision wavered. His surroundings blurred, the cold dissipating as his body jolted upright.
He was still in his hotel room.
His breath came in ragged gasps as he stared at the phone on his nightstand, its screen blank. The eerie messages were gone. His interface hovered beside him, unchanged. The chilling sensation that had gripped him moments ago was absent, leaving only the distant hum of the city outside.
Jae-Hyun ran a hand through his hair, his pulse slowing as realization set in. It was a dream. But no—not just a dream. It felt too vivid, too real. It was as if someone, or something, had reached into his subconscious to deliver a message.
He exhaled, his mind racing. Had the system manipulated his perception? Had it been a warning? Or was something else watching him, waiting for him to act?
Whatever lay beyond that door, he would be the one to open it.
----------------------------------------
The next morning, Jae-Hyun awoke feeling more drained than rested. The memory of the dream still clung to him, vivid and unsettling. He ran a hand through his hair and sat up, letting out a deep breath. It was too real. Too deliberate. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—had reached out to him through it.
Dismissing the lingering thoughts, he changed into his gear and made his way downstairs, planning to leave the hotel and begin his usual training routine. However, as he passed the reception desk, the hotel receptionist looked up and called out to him.
"Mr. Jae-Hyun, a letter was left for you and your companion," she said, sliding a neatly folded envelope across the counter.
Jae-Hyun's brows furrowed. "A letter?"
"Yes," the receptionist confirmed. "Someone dropped it off late last night. They gave no name, only instructions that it was meant for you."
A cold sensation prickled down his spine. No one should have known he was staying here. He hesitated for only a moment before taking the envelope and unfolding it.
The moment his eyes scanned the contents, his expression darkened.
Jae-Hyun,
You should have stayed in the shadows. Now you’ve forced my hand.
Meet me at the old training grounds in the outskirts this evening. Alone.
If you don’t, Mi-Rae will suffer the consequences.
You know what I’m capable of.
Tae-Jun.
Jae-Hyun’s grip tightened around the paper, his knuckles turning white. His blood ran cold, but not from fear—from rage.
Tae-Jun.
For a moment, the world around him blurred. His breath was steady, but his heart pounded violently in his chest. The paper crumpled under his tightening grip—he wanted to rip it apart, but it wouldn’t change a damn thing. Did his meeting with Mi-Rae give him away? Had Tae-Jun realized it was him that day?
None of that mattered now. The truth was clear: Tae-Jun knew. And now, he was issuing a threat.
Jae-Hyun’s plans for the day evaporated. Training, preparations, everything else—none of it mattered anymore. His thoughts raced as he tried to piece together his next move. He knew that he was nowhere near strong enough to face Tae-Jun head-on, but that didn’t change what needed to be done.
He needed to prepare. Fast.
----------------------------------------
Without wasting another second, Jae-Hyun pulled up his system interface, navigating to the shop. He quickly purchased as many mana and healing potions as he could carry, stacking his inventory with essentials. If things went south, he wouldn’t let himself be caught unprepared. Then, he checked his weapons—no enhancements, no upgrades. If he was going to stand a chance, he needed better gear, but there wasn’t enough time for that.
Even after stocking up, a sense of unease gnawed at him. Wanting to be as prepared as possible, he left the hotel and visited several supply shops in the district, hoping to find something—anything—that could give him an extra edge.
But it was of no luck. Nothing stood out as particularly useful, and the shopkeepers offered him the same basic supplies he already had. He clicked his tongue in frustration. No shortcuts, then. He’d have to face this with what he had.
First, potions—mana and healing, as many as he could carry. If things went south, he wouldn’t let himself be caught unprepared. Then, he checked his weapons. No enhancements. No upgrades. If he was going to stand a chance, he needed better gear, but there wasn’t enough time for that.
Maybe he could push his level further? Try his luck with some loot boxes? It was a gamble, but every little advantage mattered now.
His fingers hovered over his system interface. He contemplated reaching out to Ahri—should he tell her?
No. It wouldn’t change anything. This was his fight. His problem.
If anything, she would only try to stop him. He couldn't afford to let that happen.
----------------------------------------
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Jae-Hyun arrived at the designated location. The old training grounds, a long-abandoned area just beyond the city limits, sat in eerie silence. It was a place he once knew well, but now, it felt almost foreign.
He waited. The minutes dragged on. Then, a shift in the air sent his instincts flaring.
A presence. Behind him.
Before he could turn, his body tensed as a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him. His vision darkened, his balance wavered, and the last thing he saw was an ominous, shadowy figure standing just out of focus—its form shifting, stretching unnaturally, as if it didn’t belong to this world.
Then—darkness.
----------------------------------------
Jae-Hyun’s eyes flickered open. The world around him was… wrong. The air was thick, the colors muted, the very space around him shifting in ways that didn’t feel natural.
For some reason, this place felt familiar.
Yet, he had no memory of it.
A suffocating pressure crashed down on him, far worse than anything he had felt before. His limbs felt like they were being crushed under an unseen force, rendering him completely immobile. It was as if the very air around him was conspiring to hold him in place, making even the simplest thought an effort. His breathing grew shallow, his mind screaming at him to move—but his body refused to obey.
Then, a slow, deliberate voice cut through the oppressive silence, coiling around him like a predator savoring its prey.
“Hello, Abyssal Heir.”
----------------------------------------