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

The ruins of the city trembled beneath the weight of the ongoing battle. Fires raged, their crimson glow illuminating the twisted metal and shattered concrete that once stood as skyscrapers. The night air was thick with the scent of blood, smoke, and something far darker—the essence of Jin-Ho Kang's unfathomable power.

The Archon stood within the wreckage of the collapsed tower, his massive frame heaving with each breath. His armor was cracked, his face marred with fresh wounds, but his wicked grin remained.

"You're strong," he admitted, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Stronger than I expected."

Jin-Ho said nothing, merely stepping forward. The very ground beneath his feet darkened as his shadows spread outward like ink spilling across a canvas. He had tested his enemy enough.

The Archon roared, launching himself from the ruins like a missile. His cleaver, now pulsing with raw energy, carved through the air as he brought it down with the force to split mountains.

With a flicker of shadows, he vanished from sight. The cleaver struck the pavement, detonating the street in a massive explosion of stone and flame. Before the dust could even settle, Jin-Ho reappeared behind the Archon, his hand already closing into a spear-like strike.

Dark energy pulsed around his fingertips as he drove his hand forward—straight into the Archon's back.

A monstrous howl erupted from the warrior as Jin-Ho's strike punctured through his armor, dark tendrils surging into his body like a thousand biting serpents. He staggered, his body convulsing as the shadows spread through his veins, consuming him from the inside out.

"W-What...is this?!" the Archon gasped, his voice laced with terror.

Jin-Ho's expression was impassive. "The abyss."

The Archon's body spasmed violently, his muscles contorting as the corruption spread. His own energy flared wildly, fighting against the invasion, but it was futile.

In mere seconds, his movements slowed, his once fiery gaze flickering with fear.

Then, with a final gasp, the Archon fell to his knees.

Jin-Ho placed a hand on the warrior's head. "Join me."

The shadows surged, swallowing the Archon whole. His essence was devoured, his power absorbed into the ever-growing legion that writhed beneath Jin-Ho's command.

Another soldier for the Shadow Monarch.

Across the battlefield, Igris and Beru continued their brutal engagements.

Igris's crimson blade clashed against the twin swords of his opponent, the air ringing with each devastating strike. The Archon he faced was fast—inhumanly so—but Igris was faster. With a final, precise slash, he severed his foe's arms before driving his sword through the Archon's heart.

Beru, meanwhile, had sunk his claws into the throat of the monstrous Archon he fought. The beast thrashed, its sheer size dwarfing even Beru's towering form, but it was futile. With a sickening crunch, Beru tore its head from its body, letting out a chittering growl of satisfaction.

The remaining Archons began to falter.

They had entered this battle with the confidence of gods, believing themselves to be the apex of strength.

From within the hidden bunker, the shadowed figure observing the battle let out a slow exhale.

"So...this is the Shadow Monarch's true power," they murmured, fingers tapping against the console. "Impressive. But not enough."

Another panel slid open, revealing a row of containment pods. Unlike the previous ones, these held something different—beings whose very presence twisted reality around them.

The Abyss Unleashed