Chapter 3: Into the Shadows

The sound of scuttling claws echoed like whispers in the dead air. Aiden's heart pounded in his chest as the Shadow Lurkers emerged from the darkness, their glowing eyes blinking in the flickering light of the subway tunnel. There were at least five of them, moving quickly, darting across the walls and ceiling like spiders. Their bodies were slender, black as pitch, blending seamlessly into the shadows, save for the eerie glow of their red eyes and the razor-sharp claws clicking against the cold concrete.

Aiden took a steady breath, his grip tightening on the rusty dagger. These creatures were small, Level 1 to 3 at most, but he knew better than to underestimate them. They were fast, and they attacked in packs, overwhelming their prey with speed and numbers. In the last timeline, he had fought much worse, but right now, he was weaker than he'd ever been. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

[Shadow Lurker (Level 2)]

HP: 100/100

The System's display flashed above the creatures, confirming their strength. Nothing he couldn't handle.

Focus. Don't panic.

The first Lurker lunged at him, claws slashing through the air. Aiden dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. He spun on his heel and drove his dagger into the creature's flank. The blade sunk in, but the rusty edge struggled to penetrate deep enough.

"Damn it… not enough strength," Aiden muttered under his breath.

The Lurker screeched, pulling away from him and skittering back into the shadows, but the others were already moving. They circled him, quick as lightning, claws scraping the ground. Two more charged in unison, coming at him from opposite sides. He ducked just in time, rolling forward as their claws missed by inches.

I have to thin their numbers. Fast.

He scrambled to his feet, then focused on the Lurker he had already wounded. It was retreating, limping slightly, its eyes glowing with rage. Aiden threw himself forward, his dagger slashing at its throat. The blade caught the creature just beneath its jaw, and this time, it sank in deep.

The Lurker let out a final hiss before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into black mist.

[Enemy Defeated: Shadow Lurker (Level 2).]

+40 EXP.

A notification flashed before Aiden's eyes, but there was no time to celebrate. The remaining Lurkers hissed in unison, more aggressive now that one of their own had fallen.

Aiden's breath came in sharp gasps as he stepped back, dodging another attack. His reflexes were there, sharp as ever, but his body wasn't responding as quickly as it should. The old him would have taken these creatures down in seconds, but his current stats were holding him back.

I need to level up—now.

Another Lurker charged at him, its claws aimed directly at his throat. Aiden spun to the side, using the momentum to slash across the creature's back. The Lurker let out a shriek as black blood sprayed from the wound, but it wasn't enough to take it down.

Suddenly, one of the Lurkers lunged at him from behind. Aiden barely had time to react. He twisted just enough to avoid a fatal blow, but the creature's claws raked across his side, tearing through his jacket and into his flesh.

Pain exploded in his ribs, and Aiden staggered back, blood seeping through his shirt. The wound wasn't deep, but it burned like fire. His health bar dropped.

[HP: 60/100]

I can't keep taking hits like this.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and gritted his teeth. There were still four left. If he didn't finish them soon, they'd wear him down before he even made it to the deeper levels of the dungeon. But then, a thought occurred to him. Something he hadn't had time to try since coming back.

The System had reset him to Level 1, but what about the abilities he had learned before?

Aiden brought up his Skills Interface, scanning the locked abilities he had once mastered. Most were grayed out, inaccessible until he leveled up, but one icon flickered in the corner of his vision. His heart leapt.

[Skill Available: Minor Agility Boost (Cost: 10 Mana)]

He didn't think twice.

"Activate Minor Agility Boost!" Aiden shouted, focusing on the familiar rush of energy that accompanied the skill.

His body surged with power, his movements becoming faster, sharper. The world around him slowed as his agility spiked. It wasn't much—a small increase, barely scratching the surface of what he used to be capable of—but it was enough.

The Lurkers darted forward, but this time, Aiden was ready. He dashed toward the closest one, his enhanced speed allowing him to slip past its claws. In one fluid motion, he drove his dagger into its neck, twisting the blade as he pulled it free.

[Enemy Defeated: Shadow Lurker (Level 2).]

+40 EXP.

The Lurker disintegrated into mist, and Aiden didn't hesitate. He pivoted toward the next, cutting through the air with precision. His dagger slashed across its face, and as it recoiled, he plunged the blade into its chest, finishing it off.

[Enemy Defeated: Shadow Lurker (Level 3).]

+50 EXP.

[You have leveled up!]

[Level 2 Reached.]

[Stat Points Available: 5.]

Aiden's body hummed with newfound strength as the level-up notification flashed before him. His wounds tingled as his health bar refilled slightly, the System restoring part of his lost vitality. Without hesitation, he assigned his new stat points.

+3 Strength

+2 Dexterity

As the last two Lurkers circled him warily, Aiden felt the difference immediately. His movements were smoother, his strikes harder. He wasn't back to his full strength yet, but this was a start.

The final two Lurkers came at him together, claws flashing in the dim light of the subway. Aiden sidestepped the first one, letting it pass by before turning on the second. He drove his dagger into its back with a swift, brutal motion, ending its life in an instant.

The final Lurker hissed, backing away, but Aiden was faster. He closed the distance in the blink of an eye, slashing his blade across its throat.

[Enemy Defeated: Shadow Lurker (Level 3).]

+50 EXP.

Aiden stood still for a moment, his chest heaving as the adrenaline began to fade. The tunnel was silent once more, save for the soft flicker of the lights overhead. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his muscles aching from the brief but intense fight.

[Quest Complete: Clear the Shadow Lurkers' Nest.]

+300 EXP.

[New Objective: Explore the Deeper Levels of the Dungeon.]

Aiden let out a slow breath, relief washing over him. He was still weak compared to his former self, but he had leveled up, and more importantly, he had proven that his skills could be unlocked again. The road ahead was long, but this was the first step.

But as the System displayed the next objective, Aiden's eyes narrowed. The Deeper Levels. He had heard rumors in the previous timeline that some of the dungeons contained more than just monsters. Hidden bosses, relics, even strange artifacts tied to the very nature of the System itself.

I need to explore deeper.

But first, he needed to be smart. The Shadow Lurkers were only the beginning, and he couldn't afford to be reckless.

Aiden sat down on the edge of the tunnel, pulling out a small bandage from his pocket to tend to the wound on his side. As he wrapped the cloth around his torso, his thoughts drifted back to Mira. She was having visions, ones that might be tied to this new, altered timeline. What if the deeper levels of this dungeon held clues about the changes? About why things were so different this time?

His eyes flicked to the notification still hovering in his vision.

[Side Quest: Mira's Awakening – In Progress.]

Aiden clenched his fists. He would finish this dungeon, get stronger, and then find out the truth. About Mira, about the System, about everything that was different in this second chance.

"I won't fail this time," he muttered to himself, standing up and gripping his dagger once more.

"Not again."

With a final glance at his status screen, Aiden descended deeper into the darkness of the subway, toward the unknown dangers that awaited him in the dungeon's lower levels.

The deeper Aiden went, the colder the air became. His breath fogged in front of him as he stepped deeper into the darkness, the light from the flickering overhead lamps fading with every step. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.

But then, he heard it. A faint, mechanical hum.

Aiden stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing.

That's… not supposed to be here.

The hum grew louder, and as Aiden rounded the corner, the source of the noise came into view—a strange, glowing console, embedded in the wall of the tunnel. Lines of code and arcane symbols scrolled across its surface, and Aiden felt a chill run down his spine.

This wasn't a part of the dungeon he remembered.

[Unknown Artifact Detected: Origin of the System.]

Aiden's heart pounded in his chest. The Origin of the System?

Something was very wrong.