Chapter 6: Secrets and Shadows
Hayden stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking a canyon dense with mist. The system pulsed, highlighting a hidden dungeon beneath the rocky terrain. Its energy signature was unlike anything he had felt before stronger, older, almost sentient.
[New Dungeon Detected: Abyssal Ruins | Difficulty: A-Rank]
[Recommended Level: 10+]
Hayden's level was still low compared to the recommended threshold, but the system's guidance gave him confidence. Every dungeon, every monster, every kill made him stronger.
Inside the ruins, shadows twisted unnaturally. Statues of forgotten gods loomed over him, and traps that would have killed a mid-ranked hunter lay dormant before him. Hayden's senses, sharpened by the System, guided him flawlessly.
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Clone | Active | Level 1]
[Description: Create a temporary clone that mimics your attacks and movements, confusing enemies.]
With a flick of his hand, Hayden's clone sprang to life, striking a group of abyssal specters from multiple angles. His Shadow Dagger gleamed, cutting through the monsters as EXP poured into him.
By the time he reached the inner sanctum, the dungeon's A-Rank Boss awaited: a towering skeletal dragon wreathed in dark fire. Its roar shook the ruins.
Hayden's heart raced not with fear, but with anticipation. This was the fight that would truly define him.
The battle was intense. The dragon's flames scorched the air, but Hayden dodged, countered, and used Shadow Clone to split its attention. Every strike he landed felt like the culmination of all his training.
Finally, with a precise strike enhanced by Shadow Manipulation, he plunged the Shadow Dagger into the dragon's skull. The creature let out a deafening roar before crumbling into dark energy that flowed into Hayden.
[Boss Defeated! Level Up: 12 → Stats Greatly Increased]
[Reward: Abyssal Armor (Legendary), Shadow Dagger Evolved → Shadow Dagger of Night]
Hayden's presence radiated raw power now. He was no longer the weak hunter everyone had mocked he was something else entirely.
Outside the dungeon, Selene had been tracking the strange energy surges. She watched from a distance, hidden in the trees, observing Hayden's movements.
"I underestimated him," she whispered, almost to herself. Her eyes glimmered with something she didn't quite understand yet a mix of respect, curiosity, and… fascination.
She didn't approach. Not yet. She needed to see more, to understand him. But silently, she began to track his progress, following the faint shadows he left in his wake.
Meanwhile, the system alerted Hayden:
[High-Rank Hunter Attention Increasing | Caution Recommended]
[New Task: Master Dungeon Skills and Explore Next Challenge]
He smiled. Let them watch. Let the world wonder. Hayden had started as the "weakest hunter of all mankind," but now… he was unstoppable, unseen, and untouchable.