Awakening Of The Forgotten World

Dain's boots echoed against the stone steps as he descended deeper into the Ruins of Black Hollow. The torches that had lined the upper corridors were gone, leaving only the faint silver glow of Silverlight to light his path.

The air grew colder with each step.

The curse was thickening.

A system notification appeared.

[Warning: Curse Level at Stage 2]

• Mental resistance check required every 5 minutes.

• Increased enemy activity detected.

Dain's jaw tightened.

The further he went, the more the curse would seep into him.

His mind had to stay strong.

Because if he lost focus—he would never leave this place alive.

At the bottom of the staircase, the tunnel opened into a wide stone hall.

Pillars of black stone loomed on either side, their surfaces carved with twisted symbols. The room was silent, empty—

But Dain's Dungeon Sense (Lv.1) flared.

He wasn't alone.

A notification appeared.

[Entities Detected: Hollowed Ones]

• Threat Level: High

• Status: Undead, Cursed, Mindless

Dain raised Silverlight, scanning the shadows.

Then—movement.

Something dragged itself forward, slow and unsteady.

Then another.

And another.

From the far side of the hall, figures emerged from the darkness.

At first, they looked like men.

But as they stepped into the dim glow of Silverlight—Dain saw the truth.

They were not men anymore.

The creatures were twisted echoes of what they had once been.

Their bodies were gaunt, wrapped in decayed cloth and rusted armor. Their eyes were hollow sockets, empty voids that burned with cursed fire.

But what disturbed Dain the most—

Were their mouths.

They were open, whispering.

Not speaking.

Whispering.

Soft, fractured voices, overlapping like a thousand fading echoes.

Dain's skin crawled.

A system notification flashed.

[Enemy Identified: Hollowed One (Lv.12)]

• Health: 180/180

• Threat Level: Moderate

• Status: Cursed, Mindless Horde

Dain's breath steadied.

There were at least ten of them.

And they were all moving toward him.

Slow at first—but gaining speed.

Dain tightened his grip on Silverlight.

No hesitation.

No fear.

Only survival.

The first Hollowed One lunged, its bony hands grasping for Dain's throat.

Dain sidestepped, swinging Silverlight in a clean arc.

The blade sliced through its ribcage, holy energy burning against cursed flesh.

[Direct Hit! 50 Damage Dealt]

The Hollowed One staggered, but did not stop.

Instead, it lunged again.

Dain's eyes narrowed.

They felt no pain.

Did not hesitate.

They were already dead.

And now—they only knew hunger.

Dain moved.

His blade flashed, cutting through the first Hollowed One's chest.

[Critical Hit! 90 Damage Dealt]

The creature collapsed, crumbling into black mist.

But the rest of them kept coming.

Another one swiped at him, claws tearing toward his shoulder.

Dain ducked, countering with a rising slash.

[Direct Hit! 60 Damage Dealt]

The Hollowed One reeled back.

But then—something changed.

The whispering grew louder.

A new system message appeared.

[Warning: The Hollowed Ones are Awakening]

• Curse Level Increased

• Enemies becoming more aggressive

Dain's breath hitched.

They were getting stronger.

And they weren't stopping.

Dain dove forward, weaving between the lunging figures.

His sword carved a path, severing arms, cutting through torsos—

But for every one that fell, two more took its place.

His stamina was draining.

And his health was dropping.

[Health: 60/120]

Dain gritted his teeth.

He couldn't let them overwhelm him.

A notification flashed.

[New Skill Activated: Cleaving Strike (Lv.1)]

• Delivers a wide, sweeping attack.

• Hits all enemies in front of the user.

Dain's eyes sharpened.

This was it.

He planted his feet, shifting his weight.

Then—he swung.

Silverlight flashed, cutting in a wide arc.

The Hollowed Ones shrieked as the blade passed through them, its holy energy burning away their cursed bodies.

[Multi Hit! 75 Damage to all enemies!]

Three of them collapsed instantly.

The rest hesitated.

Dain took his chance.

He moved forward, slashing again.

And again.

Until none remained.

Dain stood alone in the now-silent hall, his breath ragged.

The Hollowed Ones were gone.

A notification appeared.

[Enemies Defeated: 10 Hollowed Ones]

+600 Experience Gained

Dain exhaled sharply.

This dungeon was pushing him harder than anything before.

The curse wasn't just growing stronger.

It was learning.

Another notification flashed.

[Dungeon Status: Curse Level at Stage 3]

• More powerful entities detected below.

• Mental resistance check required every 3 minutes.

Dain wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He couldn't stop now.

The only way out—was through.

He turned toward the next passage.

A new staircase descended into the abyss.

And from below—

Something was waiting.

Dain tightened his grip on Silverlight.

Then—he stepped forward.