Kieran took a deep breath, the shadows around him rippling like a restless tide. The menacing entity before him was entirely composed of darkness, its form shifting constantly. Its glowing white eyes radiated a soulless yet deadly presence.

  [Trial Initiated. Survive or be erased.]

  The system’s cold notification echoed as Kieran felt himself merge with the shadows. His hands moved instinctively, and suddenly, two daggers wrapped in black energy materialized in his grasp. He knew, without a doubt, that these weapons were a part of him. But something stirred in his mind—these blades didn’t have to remain in their current form.

  The entity lunged at him, forming a claw from the surrounding darkness and swiping toward Kieran. At the last moment, he activated Shadow Step, vanishing from his spot and reappearing several meters away. But the entity quickly adjusted, launching another assault. Kieran, trusting his instincts, slashed in a cross-motion. His twin daggers carved through the creature, leaving a dark trail behind. The entity wavered for a moment but swiftly regained its form.

  "Just cutting won’t be enough…" Kieran thought.

  He closed his eyes, steadying his breath, and concentrated on the shadows coursing through his body. At that moment, he realized—he could manipulate the very essence of these shadows, not just wield them as weapons.

  The swirling darkness around him condensed into a vortex. Gripping his daggers tightly, he felt raw energy surging through them. Then, with an instinctual command, the blades multiplied. First four, then six… Within seconds, dozens of shadowy daggers floated around him. Kieran teleported around the battlefield, increasing the intensity of his attacks. Each strike grew sharper with the infusion of shadow energy, and the entity finally began to falter.

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  This was the moment to end it.

  Kieran spread his hands wide, directing all the floating daggers toward a single target.

  "Shadow Rain."

  In an instant, the daggers shot forward, piercing the entity from every direction. The shadows enveloped the creature, preventing it from escaping. It let out a shriek of agony as its form trembled and, at last, shattered into nothingness.

  [Trial Completed.]

  Kieran’s vision blurred. His energy was completely drained. As he exhaled one last time, the world around him faded into darkness.

  When Kieran opened his eyes, the cold, hard stone beneath him sent sharp pains through his back. He turned his head slightly, seeing the cracked ceiling of the dungeon. But something far worse caught his attention—the blood surrounding him—his own blood.

  His body was covered in cuts and wounds. He tried to lift his head, but an unbearable pain shot through him. Then, the system’s voice echoed once more:

  [Quest completed. Exit from the dungeon granted.]

  As he glanced around, he realized he was no longer in the Abyssal Domain. This was… the real world. But he wasn’t alone.

  A heavily armored man stood before him, his black cape embroidered with golden patterns. His sharp eyes scrutinized Kieran with the gaze of a seasoned warrior. The hunters beside him whispered amongst themselves. Kieran was barely conscious, but he instinctively knew who this man was.

  He was Damien Blackwood, the leader of Duskborn Lodge, the most powerful of the four great guilds.

  Damien frowned, his voice firm and demanding:

  "Who are you? How are you still alive in this condition?"

  Kieran’s bloodied lips parted, his voice barely audible. With great effort, he managed to whisper:

  "Help… me."

  One thing was certain—he was no longer just a weak, F-rank hunter. But in this new world, he had yet to discover what that truly meant.