The ground stopped shaking. The players began positioning themselves, tense and alert. Just a moment ago, everyone had been desperate to get in first—eager, impatient, almost aggressive. But now, after witnessing that strange shock, the mood had shifted.
No one dared to move.
They all waited, watching, hoping someone else would make the first move. But none did—except for Rio.
He clenched his fist and stepped forward without hesitation.
Creak.
The massive doors responded to his presence, slowly swinging open. The dull gray glow beyond began to retreat, giving way to darkness. It wasn't mechanical—it was almost... ceremonial. Like a house opening itself to guests.
Rio didn't glance back. He walked through the doorway and vanished into the shadows beyond.
"Agh, it hurts. My butt is still sore from that fall... How come that guy looked completely fine?" one of the players muttered. She watched the path Rio had taken. "Well, whatever. The way he walked in without even a trace of fear... He must be a Vertain of TCOE. I should follow him, just in case something happens."
She wasn't entirely wrong.
They were all Vertains.
And yet, somehow, Rio alone had walked forward as if none of this fazed him.
The others looked at each other—each having the same thought. Silently, they followed Rio one by one, stepping through the doorway.
The moment the last person entered, the massive doors swung shut behind them with a deep, final thud.
Like the gate had a mind of its own.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
> [PLAYERS HAVE ENTERED THE HIDDEN DUNGEON]
[CURRENT PLAYERS:9]
[MISSION: ESCAPE FROM THE SHADOW WALKER'S MANSION]
[DIFFICULTY: E]
[REWARD: FRUIT OF DEAD]
[FAILURE: UNKNOWN]
[TIME LIMIT: 1:00:00]
---
"Hmm, just as I remembered," Rio thought, eyes scanning the gloomy interior of the dungeon.
"Nine players, including me…?"
One by one, the others appeared—each arrival like a puff of smoke, as if they had been teleported in.
"Wow! It looks so real!" one of them said, wide-eyed. "The mission's really easy, and that reward... it's one of the best for beginners."
With that, the air shifted. The fear and wariness from earlier vanished, replaced by shallow confidence. Smiles, casual chatter, even laughter—like the ones who hesitated outside the gate had never existed.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
> [THE MISSION WILL BEGIN IN 3… 2… 1…]
---
The countdown ended—and they all bolted. One after another, players ran off in different directions, ignoring Rio entirely as their footsteps echoed and vanished into the dungeon's darkness.
Only Rio remained still.
"Ahh, so refreshing," he exhaled. "Finally, they're gone. They sure are ignorant for Vertains…"
He didn't run. He simply walked forward, slow and steady, like he was returning to a familiar place.
"I had hoped at least one of them might know. But maybe I overestimated them," he sighed again, his voice low and flat, like someone bored of a toy that broke too soon.
Then his shadow began to stretch.
It slithered unnaturally across the floor, lengthening and rising—following him.
The air chilled. Something hissed.
The shape behind him grew no taller than four feet, but its claws were massive, nearly a foot long. Its sharp ears twitched like those of some demonic creature out of an anime. It had no eyes, and yet… it saw. It watched him.
It hissed again—and this time, it spoke.
A mimicry of a child's voice.
"Help… please… where are you?"
A whisper.
Then a sob.
But Rio didn't look back.
---
"It's here," he muttered. "The Shadow Walker. One of the weakest—yet deadliest—monsters in the Tower."
He walked forward, undeterred.
"It's been nerfed due to the early-game restrictions, but still... it's annoying. Its ability to imitate human voices and its exceptional hearing—makes it a perfect predator."
The hissing grew louder behind him.
"It matches your speed exactly. The more you panic, the more you run, the closer it gets. The slower you move—the more you ignore it—the farther it stays."
He chuckled darkly.
"Too bad they didn't know."
---
As Rio continued forward, his steps steady and slow, he noticed a shadowy figure several feet ahead. It crouched low, moving slightly—but with purpose. Then he heard it.
Crunch.
The sound of bones being shattered.
Flesh being torn.
Something—or someone—was being devoured.
Rio approached silently, eyes fixed.
For the first time in his life—not in the game, but in reality—he saw it.
A creature hunched over a corpse, feasting. A human body, limbs twisted unnaturally, throat ripped open. The Shadow Walker tore into it like a starving animal. Its teeth clicked rhythmically, and the wet sound of chewing echoed around the corridor like a horror song on repeat.
But Rio's expression never changed.
No fear. No disgust.
As if he couldn't see it.
As if he couldn't hear it.
Behind him, the Shadow Walker that had stalked him jumped ahead and joined the first, throwing itself into the feast like a long-lost pack member.
Rio kept walking.
He walked until the sounds faded behind him—until the only thing he could hear was his own heartbeat.
Only then did he stop.
Only then did he exhale.
"Hahh—" He gasped for air, his hand trembling slightly. "That scared the shit out of me…"
He rubbed his temples, then dragged his palm across his face.
"That guy… he looked strong at the start. Can't believe he died."
He paused, then laughed. First a chuckle. Then deeper. Unstable.
"Hehe… hahahaha… this is… interesting. This is crazy."
His voice echoed down the dark hall, bouncing back like he was standing inside that same cursed room from the night before—only now, there was no desktop, no boundaries, just darkness.
"Ahh… I should keep moving. Time's running out."
He pulled himself together in an instant. This time, he moved faster—jogging lightly. Not running, but still swift. Faster than an ordinary person by far.
Eventually, a faint light appeared ahead. Rio slowed.
In the light, a few players stood huddled together—trembling, terrified.
As Rio stepped into the glow, all eyes turned toward him.
They stared at him like they were seeing a ghost.
Rio didn't look at them. He walked past.
But one of them reached out and grabbed his jacket.
"Oi! What the hell is going on here? How come you're perfectly fine again? Tell us! How do we complete this damn mission!?"
Rio stopped.
Unfazed, he turned his head and calmly looked at the man. Then, he grabbed the man's hand—and squeezed.
"AGH! Let go! LET GO, YOU BASTARD!"
The man collapsed to his knees in pain.
"How annoying," Rio said flatly. "You're the one who grabbed me. Now you're telling me to let go?"
"Let's just… calm down and figure out what's going on," the woman from earlier said quickly, stepping in to de-escalate.
Rio stared at her for a moment, then sighed and released the man's hand.
"Hmph. You better behave yourself."
---
"HELP! SAVE ME! PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP!!"
A scream pierced the silence. Two figures—one man, one woman—ran toward the group, soaked in blood, bodies torn and broken. Panic written across their faces.
Before they could reach the light, a shadow leapt from the dark.
It slashed the man's leg, sending him collapsing into a scream. Then it grabbed the woman by the head, lifting her as it laughed. A sound more demonic than human, mocking, gleeful.
Its claws twitched. Its fangs hissed.
It looked directly at the group inside the light.
And then—they came.
Dozens of Shadow Walkers.
They didn't kill the two quickly.
They tore them apart. Alive.
Ripping off limbs, breaking bones, feasting slowly as the victims screamed for mercy—begging for death.
"Please—kill me—kill—"
Their voices cracked, gargled by blood.
The others could only watch. Some threw up.
Some shut their eyes. Others screamed.
But none of them ran.
They couldn't.
The light that shielded them… was also a cage.
The door to the next room stood ahead. But it wouldn't open.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION UPDATED]
> [CURRENT PLAYERS: 6]
[MISSION: ESCAPE FROM THE SHADOW WALKER'S MANSION]
[DIFFICULTY: E]
[REWARD: FRUIT OF DEAD]
[FAILURE: UNKNOWN]
[TIME REMAINING: 13:00]
---
Creeeak.
A single, slow sound.
The door opened.
No one hesitated. They rushed in—stumbling, sobbing, trembling—too scared to look back.
All except Rio.
He turned once more toward the horde, his voice low.
"This time… you were the hunters.
Next time—I'll be the one hunting you."
He stepped inside.
The door slammed shut behind him.
And the Shadow Walkers disappeared—melting into the darkness once more.