The Forest of Shadows
The moon hung low over the Marajong horizon — half red, half silver — casting an eerie glow across the treetops.
Ash walked silently through the mist, his cloak torn, eyes faintly glowing yellow under the hood.
Behind him, Archy drifted lazily like a pale lantern in the dark.
Archy: You know this is a level three danger zone, right?
Ash: That's exactly why I'm here.
The ghost sighed dramatically.
Archy: You really don't like living, do you?
Ash: I'm not here to live. I'm here to grow.
The deeper he walked, the heavier the air became — cold and thick, like smoke.
From the shadows, faint growls echoed.
Detection Alert: Multiple Entities Approaching
▪ Type: Shadow Wolves (Lv 4–6)
▪ Count: 7
▪ Threat Level: Moderate
Ash smirked, summoning his sword. Its blade shimmered black under the moonlight.
Ash: Perfect. Let's test this out.
The first wolf lunged from the dark — its body flickering like living shadow. Ash sidestepped and sliced upward, cutting through it.
But instead of blood, black mist sprayed out.
+40 Energy absorbed.
"Soul Devour" triggered.
The mist spiraled into Ash's chest — absorbed by his aura like ink in water. His veins glowed faintly purple.
Archy (shivering): That's… dark energy. You're absorbing their souls!
Ash: I noticed. Feels good.
Two more wolves came at him from both sides. Ash dropped low, spun his blade, and summoned the Grave Pulse — a pulse of red light rippling through the ground.
Instantly, glowing skeletal hands erupted from the soil, grabbing both wolves and yanking them down.
Their death cries turned to silence.
+80 Energy
Level Progress: 37%
Ash stood still for a second, watching the soil swallow the remains.
Ash (quietly): So that's what you meant by "grave pulse," huh.
From above, three more wolves leapt down.
Ash raised his hand. "Summon Minion."
Ghostly hands shot out of his shadow, and three translucent warriors emerged — spirits of fallen players he'd unknowingly devoured earlier.
Their forms were cracked and incomplete, but they charged the wolves without hesitation.
Steel met fang. Spirit met shadow.
The cave echoed with howls and the crack of blades.
Within seconds, it was over. The ghosts faded, kneeling before Ash before returning to smoke.
+200 EXP
Level Up! → Level 2
New Perk: "Soul Reserve" — store unused souls for later reinforcement.
Ash's screen flickered again.
Energy: 720/720
Strength: +10
Agility: +9
Endurance: +7
Archy floated in circles, his jaw dropped.
Archy: You just jumped a whole level in ten minutes! That's insane!
Ash: This system's feeding me like a demon.
Archy: That's because you are one now.
Ash looked around — the forest had grown even darker, unnaturally so.
Ash: Something's coming.
Archy: Yeah… and it's big.
From deep in the mist, glowing crimson eyes appeared — each one the size of a fist.
A low rumble shook the ground.
The Shadow Wolf King stepped out — a towering beast with fur like smoke and claws that shimmered silver under the moonlight.
Boss Detected: Shadow Wolf King (Lv 12)
▪ HP: 3200
▪ Ability: Shadow Leap, Lunar Howl, Dark Regeneration
The beast growled, its breath like fog.
Archy (panicking): Okay, now's the time to run!
Ash: No. I need to know how far I've come.
He summoned his ghosts again — this time, five of them. They charged. The wolf swiped once — all five disintegrated instantly.
Archy: You happy now?! It's immune to physical hits!
Ash: Good thing I'm not relying on those.
Ash's hand glowed red.
Ash: "Soul Devour — full release."
The spirits of the fallen wolves rose again — their glowing outlines forming a spinning vortex of dark energy. He thrust his palm forward — the entire mass launched toward the boss like a black storm.
The Wolf King howled, slashing through the vortex — but the attack exploded on contact, burning its shadowy body.
Boss enraged.
The wolf vanished in a blink — Shadow Leap.
It reappeared behind Ash, claws aimed at his heart.
Archy: Behind you!!!
Ash didn't turn — he snapped his fingers. His Demon Core pulsed.
A burst of black energy exploded outward, deflecting the claws.
He slid back, panting.
Ash (smirking): My turn.
He extended his hand toward the ground.
Ash: "Grave Rise."
The soil trembled — and out of it rose a giant skeletal hand, glowing with violet flame. It seized the Wolf King mid-air and slammed it into the ground.
Ash jumped high, sword glowing red, and brought it down with all his force.
Ash: "Soul Breaker Slash!"
The explosion shook the entire forest.
Ash; " I always wanted to scream an attack".
When the light faded, only mist remained — and a faint notification blinked on his screen.
Boss Defeated: Shadow Wolf King (Lv 12)
+3500 EXP
+2000 Gold
+New Item: Shadow Fang Blade (Rare)
+Skill Card: "Lunar Howl"
+2 Soul Minions Unlocked
LEVEL UP! LV5
Ash stood in the fading smoke, breathing heavily, eyes glowing brighter.
He raised the new sword, its edge black with silver streaks.
Archy: You're a monster, you know that?
Ash (smiling faintly): No. Just adapting.
The forest fell silent again — the dark creatures watching from afar, too afraid to move.
The predator had claimed their king.
Ash walked deeper into the forest, the mist thick as fog. The silence was unsettling—no birds, no wolves, nothing but the soft hum of his new blade cutting through the air.
Then, from somewhere behind the trees, a strange, distorted voice echoed—half human, half beast.
"Fooooood... foooooood..."
Ash froze. His grip on the Shadow Fang tightened. The hairs on his neck stood straight.
Another whisper came, this time closer.
"So... hungry..."
Ash's eyes glowed faintly yellow as he drew his sword, the air trembling around it. His instincts screamed danger.
He turned sharply toward the sound and slashed through the bushes—
Only to stop mid-swing.
There, crouched on the ground, face buried in his hands, was Dom.
He was thinner, pale, and his clothes were torn beyond recognition. His once sharp eyes now flickered with faint red light.
Ash (stunned): Dom...?
Dom lifted his head slowly, and for a second, confusion filled his face. Then his eyes widened.
Dom (teary): A–Ash...?
He stumbled forward, laughing and crying at once, and before Ash could react, Dom hugged him tightly.
Dom: I thought you were dead, man! I—I thought I was alone here!
Ash stood there stiff, still gripping his sword, his cold expression softening for a second. Then Dom quickly pulled back, trying to regain his composure.
Dom (sniffling): Sorry. Got carried away. You know... emotions and stuff.
Ash sheathed his sword, eyes scanning him carefully.
Ash: You've changed.
Dom (grinning weakly): Yeah, well, this world doesn't exactly have protein shakes and sunlight, bro.
Archy floated over, circling Dom curiously.
Archy: Huh. He's alive… mostly.
Dom (startled): What the hell is that?!
Ash: Long story. He's... a ghost with a big mouth.
Archy (offended): Hey! Watch it, "master."
Dom blinked, then rubbed his temples.
Dom: Okay… you've got a ghost now. Great. I've officially lost it.
Ash's eyes narrowed. He could still feel something dark radiating off Dom — faint, like a curse.
Ash: How long have you been here?
Dom (looking down): A two days... maybe? Time's weird here. I got separated from Mark and James. We were attacked by... something. I don't even know what it was.
Ash's face darkened.
Ash: You said "something." Describe it.
Dom: Huge… shadows that screamed when you looked at them. They didn't even bleed when we fought back. Just… vanished.
Ash exchanged a glance with Archy.
Archy (quietly): Shadow entities... maybe drawn here after you used the Demon Core.
Ash: So they're hunting me.
Dom frowned.
Dom: Don't get full of yourself, to ain't special
Ash looked away.
Dom stared at him — something about Ash felt different now. Colder. Stronger.
Then his stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension.
Dom (sheepishly): Uh… any chance you've got food?
Ash sighed, tossed him a roasted piece of rabbit meat from his pack.
Dom bit into it immediately, muttering between mouthfuls.
Dom: Still tastes like crap, but it's heaven right now.
Archy floated nearby, glaring at the meat.
Archy: You could at least offer me a piece—oh, wait, right.
(He tries to grab a piece, and it falls straight through his hand again.)
Archy: Every. Single. Time.
Ash smirked faintly, sitting down beside the waterfall.
Ash: Eat quick. Once you're done, we move. This place isn't safe anymore.
Dom: Yeah? Where to?
Ash: Wherever the next monster is.
Dom stopped chewing and gave him a look.
Dom: haha very funny, you looking for mosters?.
Dom: You're serious?
Ash: I need to level up.
Dom leaned back, half impressed, half worried.
Dom: You've really changed, man.
Ash (quietly): I have to.
The fire crackled behind them, shadows flickering across their faces.
For the first time since entering this nightmare world, Ash wasn't alone.
But neither of them realized — far above the treetops, something was watching.
A faint red sigil pulsed in the sky, scanning them both.