Awakening Of The Forgotten World

Dain wiped blood and sweat from his face, his breath coming in heavy gasps. The last of the Hollowed Ones had crumbled into black mist, their whispers finally silenced.

But the dungeon was not done with him.

A system notification appeared.

[Dungeon Status: Curse Level at Stage 3]

• Mental resistance check required every 3 minutes.

• More powerful entities detected ahead.

• Current Dungeon Progress: 20%

Dain exhaled slowly.

Only 20% complete?

He glanced around the silent chamber. The torches along the walls burned with unnatural blue fire, flickering as if alive.

And at the far end—

A new staircase descended even deeper.

The air felt wrong.

Heavy.

Like the dungeon itself was pushing against his very existence.

Dain tightened his grip on Silverlight.

No turning back.

He stepped forward.

The descent was longer than before.

Much longer.

Each step seemed to stretch—as if he were moving through a place that wasn't bound by normal space.

The whispers returned.

But this time, they weren't just whispers.

They were memories.

Dain's vision flickered.

He wasn't in the dungeon anymore.

He was somewhere else.

Dain stood in a vast stone courtyard, the sky above him burning red.

Warriors in dark armor clashed with figures clad in silver, their blades screeching against one another.

A battle.

A war.

And standing above it all—

A single figure in black robes, wielding a staff of pure obsidian.

His eyes glowed with cold fire, his presence suffocating.

A system notification flashed.

[Vision Triggered: The Hollow King]

• Identity: Unknown

• Status: Lost to the Curse

Dain's breath caught.

Before he could process it, the vision shattered—

And he was back in the dungeon.

Dain stumbled, gripping the cold stone wall to steady himself.

His head throbbed.

The curse was messing with his mind.

A notification appeared.

[Mental Resistance Check: Success]

• You have resisted the effects of the vision.

Dain exhaled.

He couldn't afford to get lost in illusions.

Because real danger was waiting ahead.

And then—he heard it.

A sound deep and guttural.

A growl.

From below.

Dain's muscles tensed.

Something was waiting in the dark.

And it knew he was coming.

Dain reached the bottom of the staircase, stepping into a massive underground hall.

The torches here were dim, their blue flames barely illuminating the crumbling statues and broken pillars that lined the chamber.

And at the center—

Something stirred.

A system notification flashed.

[Guardian Detected: Abyssal Stalker (Lv.16)]

• Health: 400/400

• Threat Level: EXTREME

• Status: Cursed, Shadowborn Predator

Dain's pulse quickened.

400 health. More than anything he had ever fought before.

A low snarl echoed through the chamber.

Then—it moved.

A blur of darkness, shifting unnaturally fast.

Dain barely had time to react before it was on him.

The Abyssal Stalker lunged, a massive beast of shadows, its four glowing eyes locked onto him.

Its claws came first—razor-sharp, slicing through the air like death itself.

Dain rolled aside, Silverlight flashing up to parry.

The blade clashed against the beast's claw, sending a shockwave of force through the room.

Dain staggered.

Too strong.

The creature snarled, vanishing into the darkness.

Dain's heart pounded.

A notification appeared.

[Warning: Abyssal Stalker has activated Shadow Meld]

• The enemy has disappeared into the darkness.

Dain tightened his grip.

It was hunting him now.

Dain stood still, listening.

The room was silent.

No movement.

No sound.

Only his own breathing.

Then—

A flash of movement.

Dain turned instantly, slashing where the beast should have been—

But his blade met nothing.

A notification flashed.

[Missed Attack: Target not fully in this plane.]

Dain's eyes widened.

It wasn't just using the shadows.

It was phasing between reality and something else.

And then—it struck.

Pain exploded through Dain's chest as the beast's claws raked across his armor.

[Health: 55/120]

Dain staggered, blood dripping from his side.

If he didn't figure this out fast—

He was dead.

A Counterattack

Dain exhaled sharply.

He had to turn the hunt around.

A notification flashed.

[New Skill Activated: Adaptive Reflexes (Lv.1)]

• User learns from enemy attack patterns in real-time.

• Reduces effectiveness of repeated ambush tactics.

Dain's mind sharpened.

The Abyssal Stalker moved again—

But this time, Dain was ready.

He twisted at the last moment, avoiding the killing blow.

And as the beast phased back into reality—

Dain struck.

Silverlight pierced through the shadows, holy energy searing the beast's flesh.

[Critical Hit! 95 Damage Dealt]

The Abyssal Stalker howled, its form flickering violently.

Dain didn't let it recover.

He pressed forward, slashing again.

[Hit Registered! 80 Damage Dealt]

The creature snarled, its body trembling.

For the first time—it looked unsure.

It was bleeding.

And now—it was the one being hunted.

Dain lunged forward, Silverlight glowing brighter than ever.

The Abyssal Stalker tried to retreat—

But it was too late.

A notification appeared.

[Skill Activated: Executioner's Strike (Lv.1)]

• Delivers a lethal finishing blow to a weakened enemy.

Dain's blade sank deep into the creature's heart.

The beast spasmed, its body convulsing—

Then, with one final shuddering cry, it collapsed into black mist.

A final notification flashed.

[Enemy Defeated: Abyssal Stalker]

+700 Experience Gained

[Level Up!]

Level 12 → Level 13

Dain exhaled, staggering slightly.

He had won.

But the dungeon was far from over.

A new notification appeared.

[Path to the Hollow King Unlocked.]

Dain's eyes narrowed.

He had just defeated the guardian.

And now—

The true test was about to begin.

He looked toward the massive stone doors that had just opened.

And without hesitation—

He stepped forward.