Chapter 3
The interior of Zenith Laboratory was cloaked in a deathly silence. Among rusted steel beams, shattered glass, and a collapsed concrete ceiling, only Kai's breathing echoed. But the silence was deceiving; shadows moved in the dark corners of the laboratory as if they had a consciousness of their own.
Kai advanced slowly. Thanks to his Shadow Step ability, he could silence his movements without making eye contact. Every corner, every broken window, carried the potential for a trap. Nyreth's blue light still leaked from a distant room, signaling a threat slipping through the shadows.
> [Mission Updated]
"Objective: Locate the source of Nyreth and interact."
"Reward: New ability + Level increase."
Kai's heart raced. The Pulse of the Shadow beat through his veins, letting him feel the energy of the darkness with every step. It was also a warning: Nyreth's power was greater than he had anticipated.
Suddenly, in the center of the laboratory, a massive energy vortex appeared. Blue light bounced off steel beams and shattered glass, creating a feeling of static electricity in the air. Nyreth hung at the center, semi-transparent but radiating an aura of danger from every particle.
Kai held his breath. He activated Shadow Resistance; the shadows around his arms tightened and sharpened. Nyreth took a step, and the shadow-filled energy exploded toward Kai.
> [Warning: Nyreth's energy is at a high level.]
[Defense mode recommended.]
Kai quickly used the Bindings of Shadows, but this time Nyreth seemed to absorb the energy, breaking the bindings. Kai leapt back, raised his shadow shield, and tried to steady his breathing.
"So the system chose you… but you are not enough for me," Nyreth said, the voice spreading through the room and echoing in Kai's mind. "You are the harbinger of my birth. And we… are one."
Kai's mind reeled. Nyreth's words were both a threat and a clue. This being was not just an enemy; it was connected to the system, to the past, and to Kai himself.
Kai intensified the Pulse of the Shadow. The dark energy that shot from his hands echoed off the cracks and beams of the laboratory. Each strike created a small resistance against Nyreth's energy. Yet it was still not enough.
> [New ability activated: Shadow Echo]
"Reflect the energy and send the enemy's attack back into their own field."
Kai quickly tested his new ability. Nyreth's blue energy shot toward him like an arrow. When Shadow Echo activated, the energy reflected, exploding around Nyreth and dimming the blue light momentarily.
Nyreth retreated, but her eyes still followed Kai. "You've grown stronger… but this is only the beginning. The true test begins when you face your own darkness."
Kai took another step forward, shadows swirling around him for protection. His heart raced, a single thought echoing in his mind: There is no turning back now. The one before me is not just an enemy; it is a mirror… and I must shatter it.
And at that moment, a new energy beam appeared in the darkness of the laboratory. This time, it was not Nyreth, but another force—older, more unknown… a herald of a secret connected to Kai's past from the deepest shadows.
> [New threat detected: Codename "Heart of Darkness"]
Kai's vision darkened. The Pulse of the Shadow pounded in his chest, shadows spinning around him. Tonight, he would face the secrets of the system, the mystery of Nyreth, and his own darkness.
Kai stood in the dark corridor of the laboratory. The Pulse of the Shadow throbbed in his chest, shadows dancing with each beat. But this rhythm was no longer only defense; it was a warning: the Heart of Darkness was very near.
At the end of the corridor, a massive energy void opened. Black and blue lights intertwined, making it almost impossible to breathe. Kai's eyes adjusted, but even the sight was terrifying: the shadows writhed as if alive, each particle seeming to have its own consciousness.
And there, at the center of the void, a colossal entity appeared: the Heart of Darkness. Its body was entirely made of shadows, blue and red energy waves curling around it. It had no eyes, yet Kai could feel it; he could sense its heartbeat, every breath it took.
> [Mission Updated]
"Objective: Confront the Heart of Darkness."
"Reward: Power to surpass system limits and level increase."
Kai inhaled deeply. The Pulse of the Shadow enveloped him, a dark river flowing through his veins. He considered the first strike, but the nature of the energy void absorbed and reflected every attack. There was no escape; the only path was direct confrontation.
"My own darkness… I can no longer run," he murmured. He activated Shadow Step, moving through walls and cracks toward the center of the void.
The Heart of Darkness seemed to sense Kai's steps, predicting every move. Shadows twisted around, blocking his progress. Kai raised his hands, intensified the shadows, and focused the Pulse of the Shadow for an attack.
The first blows struck the Heart of Darkness, but the effect was limited. The energy void absorbed Kai's shadows, forming a resistance field. His body shook, his breath cut off, yet he did not retreat.
> [New ability activated: Shadow Reflection]
"Convert the enemy's energy into your own attack."
Kai rapidly shaped the shadows in his hands, reflecting the energy. The Heart of Darkness recoiled with a cracking sound but quickly recovered.
> "You are strong… yet incomplete," echoed through the void. The voice seemed to come from the laboratory itself; a fusion of the system and darkness.
Kai's vision darkened, and the darkness within him began to rise. Blue light flashed for a moment, and he saw his own reflection in his eyes. He realized that this battle was not just physical; it was a mental and spiritual trial. His fears, past traumas, his losses… all faced him inside the Heart of Darkness.
Kai clenched his teeth and whispered:
"This night… I will either win or lose everything. But I will not run!"
The Pulse of the Shadow intensified, energy flowing from his veins into his fingertips. The energy void merged with the Heart of Darkness, vibrating violently. Shadows and light intertwined, Kai's darkness and the energy of the shadows forming his first true attack.
At that moment, the system's voice echoed in a tone he had never heard before:
> "Hunter… now it's time to surpass your limits. Strike back!"
Kai closed his eyes, embraced his darkness, and directed the shadows entirely with his will. There was an explosion in the energy void; blue and black lights intertwined, illuminating the cracking walls of the laboratory.
The Heart of Darkness recoiled. For the first time… it was shaken.
Kai controlled his breath. He stepped forward, eyes determined. His inner darkness no longer scared him; on the contrary, it gave him strength. There was no turning back.
And at that moment, a hologram quietly appeared:
> [Mission Complete: First contact with the Heart of Darkness established.]
[Level increase + New ability: Shadow Mastery.]
Kai opened his eyes. The laboratory was still shrouded in darkness, but a glimmer of hope burned within. Nyreth and the other Awakened still waited before him.
Kai whispered silently:
"This is just the beginning… and now I am truly powerful."