Chapter 2: A Blessing or a Curse
Moon's POV
When I woke the next morning, I expected pain—burning, stabbing, unbearable pain.
Instead… nothing. Not even a scratch.
"My shoulder was ripped open yesterday…" I muttered, sitting up and poking at my skin. Smooth. Perfectly healed. Not even a scar. "Okay… either that healer's a god, or I just slept for a month straight."
I swung my legs out of bed and blinked. My status window popped up on instinct.
---
Name: Moon
Level: 12 → 87
Class: Beginner Adventurer (Temporarily Unranked)
Stats: [???]
Title: Chosen by the Shadow
Skill: Infinite Growth (Passive)
---
"Level… eighty-seven?" I stared at the glowing numbers.
"Yesterday I killed goblins, not dragons!"
Then I remembered—the voice. The void.
"'Infinite leveling'... I thought that was just a fever dream."
I rubbed my face, groaning. "Great. I'm either blessed… or cursed. Probably both."
---
Training Grounds
The camp's training field was empty, save for a few early risers swinging swords.
I picked up a wooden practice blade. It felt light—too light.
When I swung, the air cracked. The target dummy's head exploded off its stand like it had been hit by a battering ram.
"...Oh."
I glanced around. No one saw. Good.
I tried another swing—this time slower. The dummy split clean in two.
"Oh, yeah. Totally normal." I sighed. "Nothing suspicious about that."
I opened my status again. My strength stat was off the charts—so high that the system had replaced the number with question marks.
"Nice. I've officially broken math."
---
"Moon!"
A sharp voice cut through the air. Commander Irida. Just my luck.
I turned to see her striding across the field, silver armor gleaming like it hadn't seen a speck of dirt in its entire life. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto me like a hawk spotting prey.
"Commander! Morning! Great weather today, huh?"
"Save it." She crossed her arms. "You were nearly killed yesterday, and instead of resting, you're training?"
I froze. "Uh… well, technically, I'm assessing my recovery speed?"
"Assessing—?" Her eyebrow twitched. "Do you want to die?"
"No! No no no, totally don't! I'm all about survival."
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're lucky that healer managed to keep your shoulder intact. You're off-duty for two days. That's an order."
"Right. Totally. Off-duty."
As soon as she walked off, I turned back to the dummy.
"Off-duty my ass."
---
Later That Day
I left camp the moment Irida disappeared into her tent. I wasn't about to waste this new power sitting around polishing swords.
If what that shadow thing said was true, I needed to test it.
The forest east of camp was quiet—too quiet. The air hung heavy with that kind of stillness that usually meant something nasty was nearby. Perfect.
I didn't have to wait long before I found it.
A Dire Wolf, almost twice my height, its eyes glowing red like burning coals.
"Oh look," I said flatly. "Just what I needed—a trauma reminder."
I still remembered the last time I fought one. It nearly tore me in half.
But this time… this time was different.
The wolf lunged.
I sidestepped effortlessly, then jabbed forward with my dagger.
Schk—
The blade pierced straight through its skull.
One hit.
Dead.
"…What."
I blinked down at the corpse. Then I started laughing.
"You've got to be kidding me. One hit!? I'm a monster!"
A window flashed before my eyes.
---
[Level Up! Lv. 87 → Lv. 214]
[Skill Gained: Shadow Step (Rank F)]
[Skill Evolved: Shadow Step → Rank C]
---
"Wait—what? It just ranked up instantly!?"
My eyes widened. "Alright what the actual fu*ck."
I exhaled sharply, glancing at my hands. My skin faintly glowed with a dark shimmer, fading just as fast.
"What did that thing do to me…"
---
The Encounter
A low growl echoed behind me. I turned, expecting another wolf—but it wasn't.
It was something worse.
A massive figure stepped from the shadows—armor of jagged bone, a crown of horns, eyes burning with purple flame.
An Abyssal Knight.
"Seriously!?" I yelled. "I was joking about testing my luck, not begging for death!"
The knight raised its blade—black steel humming with cursed energy.
I jumped back instinctively, the sword carving a trench where I'd stood.
My mind raced. I can't fight that thing head-on. I need—
Then, a new prompt appeared before my eyes.
---
[Hidden Quest: Proof of the Shadow's Chosen]
Objective: Defeat the Abyssal Knight
Reward: Skill Upgrade + Unique Title
Failure: Death
---
"Of course. Of course there's a death clause."
The knight charged, and I moved on instinct. My body blurred—no, vanished.
I reappeared behind it, dagger raised, my hand wreathed in dark energy.
"Shadow Step… huh. Guess that's what you do."
I slashed. The blade bit deep.
Dark energy erupted like smoke, and the knight roared as its armor shattered.
It swung back wildly, but I was already gone—slipping through its shadow, appearing above it.
I brought my dagger down.
Crack.
The monster crumbled to ash.
---
Aftermath
The forest fell silent again. I dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
My heart was racing, but my body felt… alive. Thrumming with power.
The window popped up again.
---
[Level Up! Lv. 214 → Lv. 612]
[Title Acquired: Shadow's Successor]
[Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Veil (Passive)]
---
I stared blankly at the glowing screen, then muttered,
"…Yeah. Definitely normal."
I sheathed my dagger, staring at my reflection in the blade. For a second, I swore my eyes flickered violet.
"What the hell are you turning me into…"
The forest wind whispered through the trees—but it almost sounded like laughter.
And for the first time in my life, I wasn't sure if I should feel grateful…
or terrified.