SHADOW'S ON THE HUNT
Kairo Vale's breaths came in sharp, uneven gasps. The wet alley had gone silent, but his Core's pulse throbbed like a second heartbeat.
Level 2. Rank E. Shadow Absorption: 5%.
He flexed his fingers. Shadow Shift felt… alive. Almost like it had its own mind. Atomic Pulse still burned faintly in his arm, hungry for action.
A whisper echoed in his mind:
[High-level energy detected nearby — Hunter team approaching.]
Kairo's stomach twisted. Hunter teams weren't just strong — they were relentless, and they didn't care if he was a kid.
He pressed himself against the wall and tried a small Shadow Shift, testing the limits. His body blurred into the shadows, and he reappeared ten meters down the alley.
A low growl made him freeze.
Out of the darkness, a figure stepped forward — another Core user.
Tall. Lean. Cloaked in swirling black energy that mirrored Kairo's own Core. But… sharper. Faster. Deadlier.
The figure's eyes glowed icy blue.
"So… you're the new host of the Atomic Shadow Core," the rival said, voice smooth and chilling. "I've been waiting for you."
Kairo's heart thumped. "Who… who are you?"
The rival smiled. A faint spark of energy danced in the palm of their hand.
"Call me Zephyr. And I'm going to see how strong you really are."
Before Kairo could react, Zephyr unleashed a shard of dark energy slicing through the alley toward him.
⚫ Shadow Shift – Lv.2
Kairo vanished… but he wasn't fast enough. The shard grazed his shoulder, burning with cold energy. Pain lanced through him.
Atomic Pulse – Lv.1
Instinct. The energy coiled around his arm, and he struck. The blast collided with Zephyr's shard, creating a shockwave that knocked both of them back.
Kairo staggered to his feet, gasping. His Core shimmered violently — a warning. Something inside him stirred, hungrier than ever.
[Shadow Core – Evolution Available]
Zephyr laughed, circling him. "You've got potential… but potential isn't enough."
From the edge of the alley, a new shadow shifted. Kairo froze. It wasn't Zephyr. It was the Hunter team.
They were closing in, faster than he anticipated.
Kairo's Core pulsed, white-hot energy crawling over his skin. He knew one thing:
He couldn't run forever.
And whatever choice he made next…
would define his path.
🔥END OF CHAPTER 3🔥