New Ally.

The cold winds hummed, whispering through the empty streets as if singing to the moon. Pale light peeked through the clouds, and the stars above glittered like they were alive, watching the battle unfold below.

"Ready for round two?" Vanitas muttered under his breath, his shadow-like aura pulsing and coiling around him like a living entity.

Cyrus, despite his injuries, grinned. His reptilian features twitched in excitement. "You're really an interesting one, Vanitas," he rasped, admiration lacing his voice. "An F-Rank shouldn't have this level of speed... Just what are you hiding?"

Vanitas tightened his grip on the dagger, his cold, menacing eyes locked onto his opponent. "You talk too much," he muttered before vanishing with blinding speed.

Cyrus barely reacted in time. His lizard instincts kicked in, and he narrowly dodged the strike. Snarling, he opened his mouth wide and unleashed a stream of thick, acidic saliva. Vanitas barely evaded the attack, rolling to the side as the corrosive liquid splattered onto the concrete behind him, melting it into a bubbling sludge.

'He's getting more aggressive... I need to end this now,' Vanitas thought, gripping his dagger tightly. 'It's time to bring them out… and maybe if I activate that skill, could he feel fear? Could he become one of my slaves? Let's find out.'

Vanitas smirked. "Shado. Vode. Restrain him. But don't kill him... yet."

Two dark, ethereal figures emerged from the ground, their black, shifting forms writhing ominously.

"Yes," they intoned in unison, their voices hollow and chilling.

Cyrus' confident grin faltered. "What the hell are those things?!" he muttered, stepping back, unease creeping into his tone. "You think these weaklings can—"

Before he could finish, Vode dashed forward with unbelievable speed, followed closely by Shado. Cyrus barely managed to dodge their first attack, but their relentless pursuit left him panting and on the defensive.

"Shit, you bastard! You think summoning these creatures will be enough to stop me?" he growled, his teeth clenched in frustration.

Vanitas chuckled darkly. "Vode. Shado. Restrain him."

In a flash, both shadows lunged, wrapping themselves around Cyrus' limbs like unbreakable chains. He struggled violently, but their grip tightened mercilessly.

Vanitas walked toward him slowly, his amusement evident with every deliberate step. A sinister purple glow radiated around him, making the air grow heavy with dread.

[Shadow King's Aura Activated!]

"W-what the hell is this energy!?" Cyrus gasped, his eyes widening in terror. "I... I can't move!" He struggled, but the weight of the oppressive aura crushed down on him like an invisible force.

Vanitas' smirk deepened. "You will become my servant," he said coldly, his voice like ice. His magical energy surged, doubling in intensity as dark tendrils of power seeped into Cyrus' body.

Cyrus' reptilian eyes darted around in panic. "N-no! I... I won't!" he screamed, his voice cracking with desperation.

Vanitas' eyes gleamed. 'Heh, let's see how much he can resist,' he thought. He poured more of his aura into Cyrus, making the lizard man's body tremble uncontrollably.

"Fear me!"

Cyrus let out a choked gasp, his knees finally buckling beneath him. "P-please... enough! I... I submit!" he stammered, his voice shaky and defeated.

"You want me to stop?" Vanitas leaned closer, his glowing purple eyes piercing into Cyrus' soul. "Then become my slave. It's a far better fate than dying miserably, don't you think?"

Cyrus' resistance shattered. Shame filled his expression, but he nodded weakly. "Fine... I accept. I will become your servant..."

Vanitas' smile widened in satisfaction. He lightly tapped his dagger against Cyrus' forehead.

[Shadow Archive Activation Complete!]

Cyrus' body dissolved into a dark mist, absorbed into the swirling abyss behind Vanitas. A notification echoed in his mind:

[Please name your new servant.]

Vanitas thought for a moment. "Baruck. I'll name him Baruck."

[Baruck's Rank is evolving... S+ Rank Achieved!]

Vanitas' eyes widened slightly. "S+? Impressive."

Another message followed:

[Baruck's body will completely transform into a shadow entity. All human memories will be lost. Only loyalty to the master remains.]

Vanitas chuckled. "I thought humans couldn't be absorbed... Looks like I'm special after all."

With an S+ Rank servant at his disposal, a new path lay before him. "Now... I won't even have to lift a finger when clearing dungeons," he muttered with a smirk, gazing at the swirling darkness in his palm.

The night wind howled around him, and for the first time in a long while, Vanitas felt truly powerful.

"Baruck, from now on, don't disappoint me," Vanitas muttered, his cold gaze fixed on the dissipating figure of his new servant. In a matter of seconds, all three of his shadow servants vanished into the darkness, dissolving like fragments into the void.

---

Morning arrived.

The golden sunlight peeked through Vanitas' window, painting his small apartment in warm hues. Outside, the bustling city was already alive—the honking of cars, the chatter of people heading to their daily routines, and the rhythmic hum of life in motion.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

A loud alarm shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

"Ugh... is it morning already?" Vanitas groaned, slamming the clock off with an annoyed grunt. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up and stretched. "I need to get ready for today's D-Rank raid."

Without wasting time, he headed for a quick shower, letting the cold water wash away his lingering fatigue. Afterward, he wolfed down a simple breakfast and grabbed his gear—a long, black coat that draped over his lean frame, its ominous aura adding to his already mysterious presence.

Vanitas smirked as he examined himself in the mirror. "This should keep them guessing."

---

Upon arriving at the raid site, Vanitas observed the massive entrance to the dungeon—a gaping, eerie portal pulsating with a faint, ominous glow.

'This should be easy,' he thought confidently, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

"Hey, are you the one who got invited?"

A deep voice interrupted his thoughts. Vanitas turned to see a man clad in gleaming silver armor approaching him. His posture screamed confidence, and the way he carried himself suggested experience.

Vanitas' eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah, that's me."

The armored man nodded, his gaze assessing Vanitas with mild curiosity. "I believe you're an F-Rank, right?"

"Ah... yeah?" Vanitas replied, maintaining a calm demeanor.

The man chuckled, placing a firm hand on Vanitas' shoulder. "Just don't get too close to the dangerous monsters, okay? Stay at the back and observe." His tone was laced with subtle condescension, but Vanitas simply nodded, hiding his irritation behind a neutral expression.

As the man walked back toward the group of hunters, Vanitas scanned the area and quickly assessed the lineup.

'Seven hunters in total...' he mused, studying each one carefully.

2 C-Rankers, likely the front-liners judging by their heavy armor and large weapons.

4 D-Rankers, including himself, probably meant to provide support.

1 A-Rank healer, standing confidently at the center, a radiant glow emanating from her staff.

His eyes lingered on the A-Ranker for a moment. 'An A-Rank healer for a D-Rank raid? Something doesn't add up.'

A creeping unease settled in his gut. "I have a bad feeling about this dungeon," he muttered under his breath.

"Alright, everyone! Let's head in!" The raid leader, one of the C-Rankers, barked the command, his voice steady and authoritative.

Vanitas took a deep breath and followed the group into the dungeon, his mind racing with thoughts.

'No matter what happens... I have my shadows.'

As they stepped inside, the oppressive darkness of the dungeon swallowed them whole, and Vanitas could already sense it—this raid was going to be far from "easy."

Inside the dungeon, an eerie atmosphere welcomed them. It was unlike any normal forest—the trees were massive, their twisted trunks reaching high into the darkness above, blocking out any natural light. Their bark was rough and gnarled, almost as if they were alive, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. The leaves rustled softly, but there was no wind.

A disgusting stench filled the air, a mix of rotting vegetation and something far worse—something unnatural. Vanitas covered his nose instinctively, his sharp senses picking up the metallic tang of blood lingering beneath the surface. 'This place... it reeks of death.'

The ground beneath their feet was soft and damp, each step sinking slightly into the moss-covered earth. Thick undergrowth and tangled vines covered the forest floor, making movement difficult. Shadows danced along the edges of their vision, and faint, almost inaudible whispers echoed through the dense foliage.

"This dungeon... feels off," one of the D-Rankers muttered nervously, gripping his sword tightly.

Vanitas remained silent, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. 'These trees… they aren't normal. If something is hiding here, it's going to have the advantage.' His grip on his dagger tightened, prepared for anything.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes ahead.

"Something's coming!" the silver-armored man from earlier barked, raising his sword.

Vanitas' eyes narrowed as a pair of glowing, yellow eyes appeared from the darkness beyond the trees, followed by more. One by one, grotesque, wolf-like creatures emerged—their fur matted, their bodies unnaturally large, and their fangs dripping with a thick, dark fluid.

"Hellhounds," the A-Rank healer whispered, her expression turning grim. "They're not supposed to be in a D-Rank dungeon..."

Vanitas smirked. "Interesting... This might not be so boring after all."