Sahil_Ashat

Jin-Ho Kang was just another B-rank Hunter—one of countless warriors struggling to rise in a world dominated by monsters and guild politics. When an A-rank dungeon scouting mission goes horribly wrong, he and his team are slaughtered. He should have died.

But instead of death, he awakens in an abyss beyond mortal comprehension. A voice older than time itself speaks to him, a decree is made, and the truth is revealed—he is no longer human. He has inherited a power that was never meant to be his.

The world forgot him.

But he has returned.

As a Sovereign.

As the Monarch of Shadows.

And as the boundaries between life and death begin to blur, the world will soon realize…

The true King has awakened.

Shadow Monarch’s Requiem

Jin-Ho Kang sat cross-legged in the dimly lit chamber, his breath steady and controlled. The flickering candlelight cast elongated shadows against the walls, mimicking the swirling thoughts within his mind. His power had grown exponentially, but with it came an ever-mounting pressure. He could sense the changes in the world around him, the shifting tides of fate pulling him toward an inevitable confrontation.

The System's voice resonated in his mind.

[Your shadow army has reached a critical threshold. Expansion is required.]

He exhaled, opening his eyes. "It's time."

Jin-Ho emerged from his chamber to find his most trusted lieutenants awaiting him. Beru, the former ant king, knelt before him with a knowing grin. Behind him stood Igris, silent and resolute, his crimson armor gleaming. The others—Tusk, Jima, and several high-ranking shadows—stood in disciplined ranks, their presence an imposing testament to his growing dominion.

"We move at dusk," Jin-Ho declared. "Our target is the Red Fang Syndicate. They have been a thorn in our side for too long. Tonight, we end them."

Beru chittered excitedly. "Master, your will is absolute!"

Igris nodded, a subtle affirmation.

The Red Fang Syndicate had been a menace in the underworld, dealing in illicit artifacts and supernatural trafficking. They had eluded the authorities for years, but now, they had drawn the attention of a predator far beyond their comprehension.

The moon hung high as Jin-Ho's forces converged on the Red Fang's stronghold. Hidden within the bustling heart of the city, their headquarters was a fortress disguised as an abandoned factory. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, but their presence was meaningless against the abyssal tide about to descend upon them.

Jin-Ho raised a hand, and his shadows melted into the darkness. "No survivors."

Like wraiths, his army surged forward. Igris was the first to strike, appearing behind a sentry and driving his sword through the man's back before he could utter a sound. Beru moved like a phantom, his claws rending flesh with terrifying precision. The guards were overwhelmed before an alarm could be raised.

Inside, the syndicate leaders sat in a lavishly furnished room, oblivious to the massacre occurring just beyond the door. They were mid-toast when the walls began to darken. Shadows crept like ink, absorbing all light. A cold presence settled over them.

Jin-Ho stepped through the murk, his golden eyes glowing with an eerie luminance. "Your time is up."

Panic erupted. One of the leaders reached for a concealed weapon, but before his fingers could close around it, a black tendril speared through his chest. Blood splattered across the ornate table.

The remaining men scrambled to flee, but the shadows were relentless. Beru materialized in their path, his mandibles clicking in amusement. "Humans panic so easily."

The last of the leaders, a man named Jang Tae-Suk, fell to his knees, trembling. "P-please… We can offer you anything! Wealth! Power! Just spare me!"

Jin-Ho regarded him with a cold stare. "I already have power. And wealth is meaningless in the face of eternity."

With a mere gesture, Igris severed the man's life. The room fell silent.

As the last embers of life flickered out, Jin-Ho extended his hand. Shadows pooled around the fallen, their bodies dissolving into abyssal mist. One by one, they rose anew, their eyes gleaming with dark energy.

Jin-Ho's army had grown once more, and with it, his dominion over the night deepened.

He turned to his lieutenants. "This was only the beginning. We move forward. Always."

In the distance, thunder rumbled. The storm was gathering.

The Gathering Storm