Shadowbound Ascension: The Necromancer's Journey

The dim glow of the system interface illuminated Aiden's determined face as the ominous chime echoed in his personal training space.

System Warning:

Hostile forces detected. Immediate action is required.

Aiden's eyes narrowed as the message flickered on the translucent screen before him. He immediately dismissed the interface and turned toward Ethan, who was sitting on the bench, toweling off after their sparring session.

"Ethan," Aiden said, his voice sharp. "We've got trouble."

At the Hunter's Association, the night had been eerily quiet until now. A lone guard stood at the main gate, his attention only partially on the monitors before him. The sound of approaching footsteps drew his focus, and he squinted into the shadows beyond the gate.

A group of cloaked figures emerged from the darkness, their presence suffocating and oppressive. The guard instinctively reached for his communicator.

"Halt! Who are you, and why are—"

The sentence died on his lips as a blade of pure shadow cleaved through the air. A sickening thud followed, and the guard's head flew into the air, landing with a dull sound a few feet away.

The cloaked figure who delivered the fatal strike wiped his weapon clean with an eerie calm. "No witnesses," he said coldly.

Another figure, radiating the unmistakable aura of an M-Rank hunter, stepped forward. His voice was low and commanding. "We need to finish this mission before reinforcements arrive. Two of us will distract the Lord of Shadows. The rest will eliminate the target and bring him in—alive if possible, dead if necessary."

The group moved as one, their shadows merging with the night as they approached the heart of the association.

Back in the training room, Aiden paced as he explained the system's warning to Ethan.

"I don't like this," Ethan said, his brow furrowed. "Hostile forces, now? Right after we've just started training for M-Rank?"

Aiden nodded. "It's too precise to be a coincidence. Someone knows about us—our power, our potential."

Their conversation was interrupted by the shrill wail of an alarm that echoed throughout the building. Aiden's heart sank. This alarm was only triggered in the direst of situations—a full-scale attack.

"Come on," Aiden said, grabbing his weapons. "We need to check this out."

The two rushed to the observation deck, their eyes widening at the scene below. The cloaked figures had entered the association, their auras oppressive and deadly. Ten of them bore the energy of SSLR Rank hunters, while five exuded the overwhelming presence of M-Rank hunters.

Aiden's gaze locked with one of the M-Rank hunters. The man's eyes burned with malice, and Aiden felt a chill run down his spine.

"They're wiping out everyone in their path," Ethan said, gripping his weapons tightly. "We can't let this go on."

The Lord of Shadows appeared behind them, his expression grim. "You two stay here," he commanded. "This fight isn't for you."

Aiden shook his head. "With all due respect, we can't sit this out. This is real life. If we're going to survive out there, we need to start here."

Ethan nodded. "We'll fight alongside you. You'll need the help."

The Lord of Shadows hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But stay close. Don't overestimate yourselves."

The three leaped down to the ground floor, landing in the middle of the chaos. The cloaked figures immediately adjusted their formation.

"Two of you, keep the Lord of Shadows busy!" barked the lead M-Rank hunter. "The rest, focus on the targets. Kill or capture the boy."

Two M-Rank hunters broke off, engaging the Lord of Shadows in a fierce battle. The remaining three M-Ranks advanced on Aiden, while the SSLR Rank hunters shifted their focus to Ethan.

Ethan grinned despite the danger, drawing his sword and dagger. "Looks like I'm the distraction," he muttered.

Aiden tightened his grip on his dagger. "Don't get yourself killed."

The battlefield erupted into chaos. The Lord of Shadows fought with ferocity, his shadow-based techniques clashing with the overwhelming power of the M-Rank opponents. He managed to take down one of them, but not without sustaining injuries. Blood dripped from a gash on his arm, and his breathing grew labored as he faced the remaining M-Rank hunter.

Ethan, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of steel and determination. His versatility with weapons allowed him to adapt to the relentless onslaught of the SSLR Rank hunters. He had already taken down six of them, but exhaustion was setting in. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his movements became slower, more deliberate, as he faced the remaining four.

Aiden was locked in a deadly dance with three M-Rank hunters. His shadow manipulation allowed him to keep them at bay, but he was pushed to his limits. He had already taken down two of them, their lifeless bodies lying in the shadows. Now, he faced the last one—a towering figure whose strikes were precise and unrelenting.

Aiden panted, blood trickling from a cut on his cheek. His dagger felt heavy in his hand, but he refused to back down. This was his moment to prove himself—not just to the Lord of Shadows, but to himself.