The stairway out of the hidden chamber spiraled upward for what felt like forever. Kai's footsteps echoed through the stone corridor, his new shadow soldier gliding behind him like a silent guardian.
At the top, a broken wall opened into the main part of the dungeon the place where his raid party had been ambushed by the trap.
Only…
It was empty.
Completely silent.
No hunters.
No torches.
No movement.
Just abandoned gear scattered across the floor.
Kai stepped forward carefully, his shadow soldier watching every angle.
"Did they leave me.
He wasn't surprised.
Not really.
Hunters didn't expect the weakest among them to survive a normal fight let alone a death trap.
He sighed and kept walking.
Through the cracked dungeon walls, the shimmering exit portal glowed faintly the gateway back to the city.
Kai approached it slowly, half expecting something to leap out.
Nothing did.
The shadow soldier melted into his own shadow as he stepped through the gate.
And then
FWOOOSH
He was outside.
Sunlight.
Wind.
Noise.
Hunters, medics, and inspectors crowded the place. Some were shouting, others writing reports, others arguing about whose fault the failed raid was.
Kai blinked.
He hadn't seen this many people waiting outside a low-rank Gate before.
A guild officer glanced over then froze.
Kai?
Within seconds, attention snapped onto him like magnets.
Hunters turned.
Medics gasped.
Someone dropped their clipboard.
"He's alive
"No way he was at the center of the collapse!"
"He shouldn't have survived!"
Kai raised a hand awkwardly. "Uh… hi.
A tall hunter from his original team pushed through the crowd, eyes wide.
"Kai we thought you were gone. The entire floor split open! We barely escaped."
Kai shrugged lightly. "I got lucky."
"Lucky?
The hunter stared at him like he was seeing a ghost.
You don't even look hurt.
Kai quickly tugged his sleeve over a bruise.
"Just scratches."
He definitely couldn't say:
I gained levels, fought a giant statue, and now have a shadow knight living in my shadow.
So he kept it simple.
"I found a way out."
The guild officers murmured among themselves.
"He survived a collapse alone.
"With no injuries.
"Should we test him again.
"His rank might've changed.
Kai's stomach twisted.
If they tested him right now
his stats would expose everything.
So he forced a laugh. "I'm… actually not feeling too well. I think the adrenaline's wearing off."
The nearest medic frowned. "You sure? You look fine."
"I'm just tired," Kai said quickly. "I want to go home."
The crowd exchanged glances, but eventually stepped aside.
Kai walked through them, keeping his head down while his shadow soldier silently followed beneath his feet.
As he left the Gate zone, a new notification appeared in his vision:
[QUEST: Hide Your Abilities]
Difficulty: Medium
Reward: Skill Upgrade Shadow Storage
Penalty: Exposure]
Kai stopped walking.
I get quests even out here?"
The system didn't respond, but the implication was clear:
He wasn't just leveling up.
He was being guided.
Shaped.
Prepared for something.
Kai took a deep breath and kept moving.
If the world wasn't ready for what he could do…
He'd keep it secret.
For now.
But deep down, he knew:
This was only the beginning.