Chapter 8 – The First Real Fight
The Abyss Guardian moved instantly.
Faster than anything Arjun had seen.
Its blade crashed down.
Stone shattered.
Arjun barely dodged.
His shadow wolf lunged, biting into the guardian's leg.
Metal screeched.
[Shadow Damaged]
The guardian backhanded the wolf.
It dissolved into black mist.
Arjun felt the pain through their connection.
So this was the weakness.
If his shadow died—
He lost it.
The guardian charged again.
Arjun activated Shadow Extraction mid-fight.
He grabbed a fallen goblin corpse.
"Rise."
Another shadow emerged.
Two against one.
He circled carefully.
Watching.
Learning.
When the guardian raised its blade for a heavy strike—
Arjun saw it.
An opening at the back of its neck.
"Now!"
The shadows attacked simultaneously.
Arjun plunged his dagger into the weak spot.
The guardian froze.
Cracks spread across its armor.
Then—
It shattered.
[Boss Defeated]
[Massive EXP Gained]
Arjun dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.
Level 9.
But more importantly—
A new notification appeared.
[Special Item Acquired: Shadow Core]
And the entire chamber began to shake