The rain fell harder.
Each drop slammed against the rooftop like bullets, mixing with the metallic scent of blood in the air.
Anish stood still.
Breathing.
Watching.
Learning.
Across from him, the Shadow Beast crouched low, its glowing red eyes locked onto him like a predator that had finally found worthy prey.
Its body twisted unnaturally, shadows writhing across its surface like living snakes.
It wasn't just a monster.
It was something… born from darkness itself.
"…So this is my first opponent," Anish muttered.
His injured arm throbbed.
Blood dripped slowly from the wound, staining the ground beneath him.
But strangely—
The pain didn't scare him.
It sharpened him.
[Shadow Sense Active]
The world shifted again.
Anish's vision deepened.
The rain slowed in his perception.
The beast's movements became clearer—predictable.
Not slow.
But readable.
"Got it…"
He adjusted his stance.
Tightened his grip on the metal rod.
And for the first time—
He prepared to fight.
The beast growled.
Low.
Dangerous.
Then—
It vanished.
"Fast—!"
Anish barely reacted in time.
He twisted his body sideways—
SWOOSH!
The claw sliced past his chest, missing by inches.
The air itself seemed to tear from the force.
"…Too close."
The beast didn't stop.
It spun mid-air and struck again—
CLASH!
Anish raised the rod just in time.
The impact sent a shockwave through his arms.
Pain exploded through his muscles.
"Damn—!"
He was pushed back, his feet sliding across the wet concrete.
The rod nearly slipped from his hand.
"…It's stronger than me."
No doubt.
The system didn't lie.
Level 3.
He was Level 1.
"So what?"
Anish's lips curled slightly.
A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
"I didn't come this far to die in five minutes."
The beast lunged again.
Relentless.
Savage.
But this time—
Anish moved first.
He stepped forward.
The creature hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
That was enough.
Anish swung.
CRACK!
The metal rod slammed into the beast's side.
A deep, distorted growl escaped its throat as it staggered.
"Good…"
Anish didn't stop.
He pressed forward.
Again.
And again.
CLANG!
CRACK!
THUD!
Each strike grew more precise.
More controlled.
Less desperate.
But—
The beast wasn't weak.
With a sudden roar—
It countered.
Its claw shot forward—
SLASH!
This time—
It hit.
"AGH—!"
The claws tore across Anish's shoulder.
Blood sprayed into the rain.
His body stumbled back violently.
For a moment—
Everything blurred.
Pain.
Sharp.
Burning.
Overwhelming.
His legs almost gave out.
"…No…"
His breath trembled.
"…Not yet."
He forced himself to stand.
Forced his vision to focus.
Forced his body to move.
Because deep inside—
Something refused to let him fall.
[Host Condition: Critical]
[Warning: Survival Probability Decreasing]
"…Shut up."
Anish wiped the blood from his face.
His eyes burned with something darker than fear.
Determination.
The beast approached slowly now.
Confident.
Certain of victory.
It thought he was finished.
"…Big mistake."
Anish took a deep breath.
And then—
He closed his eyes.
For a second—
Everything went silent.
No rain.
No pain.
No fear.
Only darkness.
And within that darkness—
He felt it.
The power.
Cold.
Endless.
Waiting.
"…If you're really mine…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…then move."
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The shadows beneath his feet trembled.
His eyes snapped open.
Pitch black.
"…There you are."
The air around him shifted.
The shadows stretched.
Twisted.
Responding to his will.
The beast froze.
Instinct screaming.
Something had changed.
Anish raised his hand slowly.
And the darkness followed.
"…Let's try this."
The beast roared and charged.
Faster than before.
Deadlier.
But this time—
Anish didn't move away.
He stepped forward.
And as the claw came down—
He commanded.
"…Rise."
The shadow beneath him exploded upward.
A sharp, jagged spike of darkness shot out from the ground—
PIERCE!
The attack struck the beast mid-motion.
"GRAAAH—!"
It let out a distorted scream as the shadow pierced through its body, stopping it mid-air.
Anish's eyes widened slightly.
"…It worked."
But he didn't relax.
Not yet.
The beast struggled.
Violently.
Trying to break free.
The shadow spike cracked slightly.
"…Not enough."
Anish clenched his fist.
"Then I'll finish it."
He grabbed the metal rod again.
His body screamed in pain.
But he ignored it.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He walked toward the trapped beast.
Its red eyes burned with rage.
And fear.
"…You should've killed me when you had the chance."
He raised the rod.
"And I…"
His grip tightened.
"…won't make the same mistake."
He swung—
CRACK!
Direct hit.
The beast shrieked.
Again—
CRACK!
And again—
CRACK!
Until—
Silence.
The body went limp.
The shadows around it faded.
And then—
It dissolved.
Turning into black particles that scattered into the air.
Anish stood there.
Frozen.
Breathing heavily.
"…Did I…"
[Enemy Defeated]
[Shadow Beast Eliminated]
"…win?"
[Level Up!]
[Level 2 Reached]
A surge of energy rushed through his body.
Warm.
Refreshing.
Healing.
His wounds began to close.
Slowly.
But noticeably.
"…This…"
He looked at his hands.
"…this is insane."
Then—
[New Skill Acquired]
→ Shadow Manipulation (Active – Lv.1)
Anish smiled.
A real smile this time.
"So this is just the beginning…"
But before he could process further—
[Warning]
[Multiple Entities Detected]
His expression froze.
"…What?"
His Shadow Sense activated automatically.
And then—
He felt them.
Not one.
Not two.
Many.
Dozens.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
From the darkness below the building—
Low growls began to rise.
One after another.
The sound of claws.
Movement.
Hunger.
They were coming.
Anish slowly turned toward the edge of the rooftop.
And what he saw—
Made his blood run cold.
Red eyes.
Everywhere.
Watching him.
Waiting.
"…Heh."
He let out a small laugh.
Tired.
But excited.
"So this is how it's going to be…"
His eyes darkened again.
"Good."
The shadows around him stirred once more.
"Come."
END OF CHAPTER 3