The walk back to his apartment was a blur of adrenaline and shadow. Kaizer didn't stick to the main roads where the bright mana-lamps of the Japan Awakened Administration (JAA) illuminated the streets like artificial suns. Instead, he stayed in the narrow alleys, moving through the patches of darkness like a shark in deep water.
With his Intelligence now at 10, the "fog" in the back of his mind had cleared. The shadows weren't just dark spots on the pavement anymore; they felt alive. He could feel a low-frequency hum vibrating in his chest every time he stepped into a dark corner.
"Better," Paimon's voice drifted through his mind. She wasn't visible, but her presence felt like a heavy silk cloak draped over his shoulders. "A King without an army is just a thug with a crown. Tell me, Contractor... what will you do with the 'Essence' you took from those pathetic sparks?"
Kaizer reached into his inventory—a rift in space only he could see—and pulled out the Underworld Essence. It was a pulsing shard of obsidian, swirling with trapped smoke and violet light.
[ITEM: Underworld Essence (Low-Grade)] Description: A concentrated fragment of Abyssal energy harvested from a victory. Effect: Can be used to 'Animate' a shadow or upgrade a specific skill.
"I need eyes," Kaizer whispered. "If I'm going to live a 'chill life' while the JAA hunts for the 'Shadow Savior,' I need someone to watch my back while I sleep."
He looked down at his own shadow. Following a primal intuition, he crushed the Essence in his palm. The shard dissolved into liquid ink, dripping onto the pavement and soaking into the silhouette at his feet.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Shadow Extraction (Lv. 1)] [Target: The lingering 'Will' of the Frost-Fang Werewolf (Devoured).]
The ground beneath him began to boil. The shadow didn't just rise; it tore itself away from the light with the sound of ripping fabric. A bipedal beast, six feet tall and made entirely of shifting smoke and violet embers, stood before him. It had the form of the werewolf he had killed, but its eyes were no longer yellow—they were the same abyssal violet as Kaizer's.
[NEW SHADOW SOLDIER ACQUIRED] Name: None (Assign a name?) Rank: Elite Soldier (Level 1) Trait: 'Silent Hunter' - Invisible in total darkness.
"Your name is Fenris," Kaizer said. The shadow beast knelt, its smoke-like head bowing until its snout touched the ground.
"A dog?" Paimon mocked, though her tone held a hint of amusement. "Practical, I suppose. Just remember, Contractor—every shadow you hold drains your mental energy. If your Intelligence is too low, the shadows will eventually consume the master."
Kaizer felt the drain immediately. Keeping Fenris manifested felt like holding a fifty-pound weight inside his skull. He quickly commanded the wolf to "Sink," and it disappeared back into his feet. He was breathless, but for the first time in his life, he wasn't alone.
The next morning, the university was a fortress.
Three black SUVs with the JAA logo were parked in the circle. Men in sharp gray suits and tactical mana-armor—The Cleaners—were patrolling the halls with "Mana Scanners." These devices were designed to pick up the unique "frequency" of any high-level awakening.
"They're looking for the 'Shadow User'," Hana whispered, catching Kaizer by the arm near the library. She looked pale, her arm still in a sling. "The news is calling him a 'Vigilante Monster.' They say the way the werewolf was killed... it wasn't human. It was 'Unregistered Abyss Power'."
Kaizer felt a cold sweat prickle his neck. "A monster? He saved the school."
"The JAA doesn't care about that," Hana said, her voice trembling. "They care that his power didn't come from the Light of 2025. They're calling it an 'Illegal Awakening.' Kaizer, they're testing everyone who was in the courtyard. You were right there."
Kaizer looked down the hall. At the end of the corridor, a JAA Investigator was holding a crystal orb to a student's forehead. If the orb turned Blue, they were a Light-user. If it stayed Clear, they were a Zero.
But if it turned Purple... it was an execution warrant. The world feared the Underworld more than they feared the Dungeons.
"They are coming for you, little King," Paimon whispered, sounding far too excited. "Will you run? Or will you show them why the Underworld has no laws?"
Kaizer gripped his bag. His Mana was still recovering from the summoning of Fenris. If he fought here, he'd have to kill dozens of innocent people just to escape.
"Kaizer Gold?" a deep voice boomed.
He turned. A JAA Investigator with a jagged scar across his nose was staring at him, holding a high-output scanner. "According to the student logs, you were three meters from the B-Rank werewolf when it died. You should be dead or Awakened. Step forward. We need to check your soul."
The Investigator moved the crystal orb toward Kaizer's head. Kaizer could feel the shadows in his feet agitated, ready to erupt to protect their master.
Paimon, if you want your 'conquest,' help me hide, Kaizer thought desperately.
A cold, dark pulse radiated from the "Contract" in his heart, masking his mana signature with a layer of absolute void—the ultimate "Dampener."
The orb touched his forehead. The hallway went silent. The Investigator squinted at the glass.
The orb remained Clear.
"Tsk. Another lucky Zero," the Investigator muttered, shoving Kaizer aside. "Move along. Stop wasting my time."
Kaizer walked away, his heart hammering so hard it felt like it would crack his ribs. He had survived the inspection, but he knew one thing for certain:
The JAA wasn't going to stop until they found him. He needed to get stronger—and he needed to do it where the "Light" couldn't see.