Dungeon Nexus: Rise of the Silent Walker

Jiho's team stumbled out of the wrecked parking garage, coughing through the thick smoke. The masked attackers had vanished as swiftly as they appeared, leaving behind no trace except the destruction they caused.

Haeun glanced at Jiho, concern etched into her face. "That wasn't just a rescue squad. Those people were trained. Military-grade equipment, strategic precision they weren't ordinary mercenaries."

Jiho wiped blood from his forehead, his jaw tightening. "I noticed."

Sanghoon cursed under his breath, reloading his weapon. "If Seo has those kinds of resources, we're screwed. What's the plan now?"

Jiho paused, his mind racing. His shadows churned around him, mirroring his inner turmoil. He had underestimated Seo's reach, and now the stakes had risen dramatically. But Jiho had learned one crucial thing tonight—there was a larger player backing Seo, and they wouldn't remain in the shadows for long.

A New Target

"First," Jiho said, his voice cutting through the tension, "we regroup. Then, we find out who those people were."

Haeun nodded. "I'll see what I can dig up. If they're tied to any organizations, there might be whispers on the black market."

Jiho shot her a sharp look. "Be discreet. Seo will be watching."

"And what about the Nexus fragments?" Sanghoon asked. "We can't just sit on them. They'll come after us again."

Jiho opened the briefcase they had managed to recover, the glowing fragments pulsing faintly. His shadows recoiled slightly from the light, but Jiho's eyes remained fixated. These fragments weren't just valuable—they were power incarnate.

"We need to hide them," Jiho decided. "Somewhere even I can't reach easily. If Seo or his allies get their hands on them, we're finished."

An Unexpected Ally

As they moved through the city's abandoned streets, Jiho's communicator buzzed a secure line he hadn't used in months. He frowned and answered cautiously.

"Jiho," a familiar voice greeted him, smooth and composed. "It's been a while."

Jiho's grip tightened on the device. "Jeong Inho. What do you want?"

Inho chuckled softly. "I heard about your little scuffle with Seo. Seems like you're making quite the impression."

"I don't have time for games," Jiho snapped. "Say what you want and get to the point."

"Fine," Inho said, his tone turning serious. "I have information about the group that showed up tonight. They call themselves The Obsidian Pact. They're not just backing Seo, they're pulling the strings."

Jiho exchanged a glance with Haeun and Sanghoon. The name meant nothing to him, but the weight behind Inho's words was clear.

"And why are you telling me this?" Jiho asked. "What's your angle?"

"Let's just say I have my own reasons for wanting them out of the picture," Inho replied smoothly. "I can help you, Jiho. But it'll cost you."

Jiho smirked faintly. "Of course it will. What do you want?"

"Simple," Inho said. "When the time comes, I'll ask for a favor. Until then, consider this...a gesture of goodwill."

Jiho didn't trust Inho as far as he could throw him, but he also knew the man's information was rarely wrong. After a moment of hesitation, he replied, "Send me what you have."

"Already done," Inho said, a note of satisfaction in his voice. "Good luck, Jiho. You're going to need it."

A Growing Threat

As the line went dead, Jiho checked his device, a detailed dossier already uploaded. It confirmed Inho's claim the Obsidian Pact was a global syndicate with ties to major corporations, governments, and underground markets. They specialized in weaponizing dungeon resources, Nexus cores being their latest target.

"This just keeps getting better," Sanghoon muttered as he skimmed the information over Jiho's shoulder.

Jiho closed the file, his expression hardening. "We need to find their local operatives and eliminate them before they move again."

Haeun hesitated. "That's a tall order, Jiho. We don't even know where to start."

Jiho's shadows curled around him, dark and menacing. "Then we make them come to us."

Setting the Trap

Back at their hideout, Jiho began crafting a plan. If the Obsidian Pact wanted the Nexus fragments, they would inevitably track his movements. All Jiho needed was to give them something worth following.

He spread out a map of the city, marking key locations—abandoned buildings, underground tunnels, areas where Nexus energy had spiked in the past. He tapped one spot in particular, an old factory near the river.

"We'll set up here," Jiho said. "Leak just enough information to make them think we're vulnerable. When they come, we'll be ready."

"And if Seo shows up too?" Sanghoon asked.

Jiho's eyes gleamed with cold determination. "Then we take him down once and for all."

To Be Continued...