The rain intensified.
Thunder roared across the Darkwood Forest as Kael struggled to breathe.
Pain burned through every part of his body.
The dagger wound in his chest should have killed him instantly.
Yet somehow…
He was still alive.
Black shadows crawled across his skin like living snakes, slowly sealing the wound while releasing faint wisps of dark energy into the air.
The assassin stepped backward cautiously.
His instincts screamed danger.
“What are you…?” he muttered.
Kael himself did not know.
The glowing screen before his eyes remained suspended in the darkness.
====================
SHADOW ASCENSION SYSTEM
Current Condition: Critical
Fatal blood loss detected.
Emergency survival protocol active.
Time Remaining Until Sunrise: 5 Hours 12 Minutes
====================
Kael’s body trembled violently.
Every breath felt like knives stabbing his lungs.
But compared to the pain he had endured his entire life…
This was nothing.
The assassin narrowed his eyes.
“No mana…”
“And yet…”
Something about the boy had changed.
The atmosphere around him felt unnatural.
Distorted.
Like standing near a monster pretending to be human.
The assassin tightened his grip on his blade.
“I don’t care what trick this is.”
His mana exploded outward.
Blue energy wrapped around his body as the ground beneath him cracked slightly.
Kael’s pupils contracted.
For years he had watched mana users from afar.
Watched servants stronger than him.
Watched children younger than him destroy stone with ease.
And now…
That same power was aimed directly at him.
The assassin vanished.
Too fast.
Kael barely saw a blur before—
SLASH!
A second blade sliced across his shoulder.
Blood sprayed into the rain.
Kael crashed into the mud violently.
“Agh!”
The assassin appeared behind him coldly.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Kael tried to stand but collapsed immediately.
His body was too weak.
Too damaged.
The system screen suddenly flickered.
====================
Emergency Quest Updated
Objective: Kill the hostile target.
Reward: Shadow Step Skill
Failure: Death
====================
Kael almost laughed.
Kill him?
The assassin was a trained mana user.
Meanwhile, Kael could barely move.
Was this system insane?
The assassin raised his blade again.
“Goodbye.”
Mana gathered around the dagger.
Kael’s vision blurred.
His body refused to respond.
Was this really the end?
Again?
Suddenly—
The shadows beneath him moved.
Kael froze.
The darkness around the trees slowly stretched toward him like reaching hands.
The system notification appeared once more.
====================
Passive Skill Unlocked: Shadow Sense
You can temporarily perceive nearby darkness.
====================
Everything changed instantly.
Kael could suddenly feel the forest.
Every shadow.
Every movement.
Every shift in darkness.
It was as though the night itself had become part of him.
The assassin attacked.
But this time—
Kael reacted.
He rolled sideways desperately.
BOOM!
The dagger struck the ground, exploding dirt and stone.
The assassin’s eyes widened slightly.
“He dodged?”
Kael’s breathing became unstable.
Not because he was tired.
Because he was terrified.
Yet beneath that fear…
Something else existed.
Excitement.
For the first time in his life—
He had power.
The assassin rushed forward again.
Kael stumbled backward through the forest while trying to survive.
Branches tore his skin.
Mud slowed his feet.
Several times he almost died.
But little by little…
His movements improved.
The shadows guided him.
Warned him.
Protected him.
The system suddenly spoke again.
====================
Host adapting rapidly.
Synchronization with shadow essence increasing.
Current Compatibility: 3%
====================
The assassin grew irritated.
“This is impossible!”
He unleashed a wave of mana.
BOOM!
Trees exploded apart.
Kael was thrown against a rock violently.
Crack.
Pain shot through his ribs.
Blood filled his mouth.
The assassin slowly approached him.
“You’re nothing but a freak.”
Kael struggled to breathe.
The assassin raised his dagger for the final strike.
But then—
A growl echoed through the forest.
Both froze.
Another growl followed.
Low.
Heavy.
Predatory.
The assassin’s face changed instantly.
“…A beast?”
Golden eyes suddenly appeared within the darkness between the trees.
Then another pair.
And another.
Kael’s heart sank.
Shadow Wolves.
Mana beasts.
Creatures that hunted in packs.
The smell of blood had attracted them.
Five massive wolves slowly emerged from the darkness, their black fur soaked by rain.
The assassin cursed under his breath.
Even he could not fight multiple mana beasts carelessly.
The wolves stared hungrily at both humans.
Kael slowly realized something terrifying.
The system had never intended for him to fight only the assassin.
It wanted him to survive the entire forest.
A new notification appeared.
====================
Hidden Condition Triggered
Additional Threat Detected: Shadow Wolves x5
Survival Probability: 1.7%
Recommendation: Run.
====================
Kael almost screamed.
“One point seven percent?!”
The assassin suddenly attacked first, slicing toward the nearest wolf.
But the moment battle erupted—
The forest descended into chaos.
ROOOOAR!
The wolves lunged simultaneously.
Blood splattered across the rain-soaked ground.
Kael forced himself up weakly.
If he stayed here—
He would die.
Without hesitation, he turned and ran deeper into the darkness of Darkwood Forest.
Alone.
Injured.
Hunted.
And somewhere behind him…
The screams of the assassin echoed through the night.