Shadowbound Ascension: The Necromancer's Journey

Aiden sat in silence, still reeling from the haunting vision that had invaded his mind. His breathing was shallow, and his muscles were tense, as if he had just been through an actual battle. The faces of his future allies—the Lord of Shadows, Wrath's Fist, the Angel of Dawn, and even the Old Generation M-Rank hunters—played on a loop in his thoughts. All of them, broken, defeated, their powers rendered useless by the overwhelming might of the God and Celestial Rank hunters. 

The future he had seen was bleak, and it unsettled him to his core.

"I won't let that happen," Aiden whispered to himself, his fists clenching tightly. "Not to them. Not to anyone."

The system remained silent, as if giving him the space to process what he had witnessed. After a few moments, Aiden gathered his thoughts, his determination returning stronger than ever. He knew what he had to do. This vision wasn't just a warning—it was a challenge.

"System," Aiden called out, his voice steady, yet resolute. "I need to train. I need to become stronger, faster than ever. And not just me... I need to raise my talents, push them beyond what they are now."

"Affirmative," the system responded, its tone as cold and efficient as always. "Daily quests and talent training are available. Completing missions and dungeon raids will accelerate rank growth."

Aiden nodded, already piecing together his plan. He couldn't just rely on the system for brute force. He had to be strategic—he needed to clear more dungeons, upgrade his rank, and reach the point where he could form his own guild. Only then would he have the resources and authority to create the force he envisioned. But before that, he had to elevate his talents to a level that could face these mysterious God and Celestial hunters.

"Forty A-Rank dungeons, at least, "Aiden muttered under his breath. "That'll push me to A-Rank. After that, M-Rank and the guild license."

The enormity of the task didn't faze him. If anything, it sharpened his focus. Rising to A-Rank would be the first step, but he couldn't stop there. He needed to prepare for the long game, for a future where M-Rank wouldn't even scratch the surface of what was required to survive.

With his plan set, Aiden activated his daily quest.

"Quest activated: Complete 3 advanced training simulations, push talent development, and clear two C-Rank dungeons before midnight."

The holographic display flickered, showing him his objectives. Without wasting any time, Aiden got to work.

The training simulations were grueling, designed to push him to his limits and beyond. He fought through endless waves of enemies, each battle more intense than the last. Sweat dripped down his face as he dodged attacks, countering with lethal precision. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain, driven by the vision of what was to come.

"Faster," he growled through gritted teeth as he slashed through the final enemy in his third simulation. "I have to be faster."

"Simulation complete. Talent progress: 78%," the system announced, its voice almost a background noise to the roaring adrenaline in Aiden's veins.

His next task was to clear two C-Rank dungeons. With his rank already at B, these dungeons were no longer a challenge, but they were necessary for completing the quest and advancing his talent development. The system teleported him to the first dungeon, a dimly lit labyrinth filled with shadow beasts.

Aiden made quick work of them, his movements fluid, his attacks precise. He tore through the dungeon's monsters with an efficiency that left nothing to chance. By the time he reached the dungeon boss, a hulking shadow beast with glowing red eyes, he had already mapped out its weaknesses.

The battle was over in minutes.

"C-Rank dungeon cleared. Progress: 90%," the system reported as Aiden moved on to the next.

The second dungeon was more of the same—a sprawling underground cave, teeming with creatures twisted by dark magic. Once again, Aiden wasted no time, his blades cutting through the monsters as if they were paper. The dungeon's final guardian—a grotesque creature with four arms and jagged fangs—put up a stronger fight, but it was no match for Aiden's speed and precision.

"C-Rank dungeon cleared. Quest completed."

Aiden wiped the sweat from his brow as the system displayed the quest rewards. His body was sore, his energy depleted, but there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing he had completed the first step toward his ultimate goal.

"Now," Aiden murmured as he pulled up his talent development screen, "let's upgrade these talents."

He focused on his core abilities—his combat instincts, shadow manipulation, and spatial awareness. Each one had been honed to perfection, but now he needed to push them further. He concentrated, channeling his energy into his talents, willing them to grow.

Hours passed, the strain of focusing on his talents draining him more than any dungeon raid had. His vision blurred, his limbs heavy, but he refused to stop.

"Just a bit more..." 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the system chimed in.

"Talent upgrade complete. Shadow Manipulation: Advanced Level 1. Combat Instincts: Enhanced Level 2. Spatial Awareness: Superior Level 1."

Aiden let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. It had taken 16 hours of relentless training, but he had succeeded. His talents were now at a higher rank—stronger, sharper, and ready for the next challenge.

"Talents successfully upgraded," the system confirmed.

Aiden smiled, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. He was one step closer to his goal. But there was no time to rest. The vision he had seen loomed over him like a dark cloud, and he knew that the path ahead would only get harder.

"I'll take a few days to recover, and then... A-Rank dungeons," Aiden decided. "I need to rise to A-Rank as fast as possible, and after that, M-Rank." 

He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his next steps settle in his mind.

"No matter what, I'll be ready." 

With his determination renewed and his talents upgraded, Aiden knew the road ahead was dangerous, but he would not stop until he had the power to stand against the God and Celestial Rank hunters.

And when that time came, he would be prepared.