# Chapter Four
News of the mysterious "Alley Slayer" who had eliminated three members of the "Port Shadow" gang began to spread quietly through Incheon's underworld. There were no reliable witnesses, only rumors of a single individual who moved with lightning speed and dispatched the men with chilling coldness. The terrified merchant who had witnessed the incident had disappeared, either out of fear or because he had been silenced. Jin-woo didn't care. The rumors, regardless of their accuracy, served his purpose of creating an aura of mystery and fear around his nascent persona.
In the days following the incident, Jin-woo continued his cautious explorations. The title "Nascent Shadow Slayer" and the "Blood Rush" skill added a new dimension to his interactions. He began to feel a hunger not just for power, but for confrontation, for the thrill that came with calculated risk. He would spend his days in his apartment, analyzing the information he had gathered, and practicing with his dagger, using combat moves gleaned from cheap movies and his own cold logic. At night, he would roam the city like a phantom, searching for "Anomalies," or for any opportunity to test his limits.
One such night, while scouting a derelict warehouse district near the docks, something unusual caught his attention. It wasn't an "Anomaly" in the traditional sense, but a strange symbol drawn in red chalk on the wall of one of the dilapidated warehouses. The symbol was complex, composed of interlocking circles and sharp lines, and it radiated a faint energy that his "Cold Observer's Eye" could detect.
[Low-Level Summoning Sigil – Magical Trace]
[Description: A simple sigil used by novice magic practitioners or small cults to summon weak entities from the "Other Side" or to leave coded messages for other members.]
[Residual Energy: Very faint, indicating the sigil is old or was used incompletely.]
[System Note: This sigil may lead to a gathering of magic users or related "Anomalies."]
Jin-woo's curiosity was piqued. Magic. He had seen a glimpse of it in his own stats, "Latent Magic." Could this be his entry point into a deeper understanding of this aspect of the "System"? He decided to follow this thread.
Using his "Cold Observer's Eye," he began to trace the faint energy trails emanating from the sigil. The traces were barely perceptible, like an invisible spider's thread, and they led him through a network of dark alleys and narrow passages, deeper and deeper into the heart of the abandoned industrial zone. The air here was heavier, carrying the scent of sea rot and long-spilled chemicals.
After about half an hour of careful tracking, he arrived at an old building that looked like it had once been a fish cannery. Most of its windows were broken, and the front door hung on a single hinge. But from within, a faint light seeped out, and the hushed murmur of human voices.
[Lair of the "Children of Dusk" Cult – Slight Taint of Chaotic Energy]
[Description: A secret gathering place for a small cult that worships an obscure entity known as the "Master of Dancing Shadows." They practice simple rituals and attempt to gain magical powers through dangerous bargains.]
[Detected Individuals: 5-7]
[Expected Threat Level: Low to Medium.]
"Children of Dusk... Master of Dancing Shadows..." Jin-woo muttered. The names sounded ridiculous and cliché, but the existence of an actual cult, even a small and weak one, was an exciting development. This was an invaluable opportunity to observe magic practitioners up close, and perhaps... acquire some "resources."
Jin-woo crept into the building cautiously, using the shadows and ambient noise. The interior was a large, damp hall, reeking of a strange incense. In the center of the hall, five figures in dark, hooded robes were gathered around a circle drawn on the floor, similar to the sigil he had seen outside, but larger and more detailed. In the center of the circle, a small, purple flame danced unnaturally.
They were chanting words in a strange language Jin-woo didn't understand, their hands outstretched towards the flame. The "Cold Observer's Eye" provided him with information on each of them.
[Cult Leader (Lee Jong-sook) – Human (Partially Awakened)]
[Level: 4]
[Status: Concentrating (Attempting to complete a summoning ritual)]
[Strength: 7 | Agility: 6 | Stamina: 8 | Intelligence: 11 | Perception: 10 | Magic: 8 (Chaotic)]
[Skills: Rudimentary Shadow Summoning (Level 2), Dusk Rituals (Level 1), False Persuasion (Level 3)]
[Description: A frustrated office worker before he stumbled upon a forbidden tome that taught him the basics of chaotic magic. Believes he is chosen to lead humanity into a "new age of shadows." Moderately narcissistic, but cowardly at his core.]
[Cult Followers (Level 1-2) x4]
[Status: Believers (Excited, Slightly fearful)]
[Magic: 1-3 (Unstable)]
[Description: Desperate or misguided individuals convinced to join the cult in search of power or belonging.]
Jin-woo watched from the shadows, his cold eyes recording every detail. The ritual seemed to be going poorly. The cult leader, Lee Jong-sook, was sweating profusely, his voice trembling slightly as he chanted. The purple flame in the center of the circle flickered and sputtered erratically.
Suddenly, there was a sharp crackle, and purple sparks flew from the flame. One of the followers cried out in pain as a spark hit his hand. The drawn circle shimmered, and something seemed to be trying to form in its center, a dense black shadow that writhed and changed shape.
"He is coming! The Master of Shadows answers our call!" Lee Jong-sook shouted triumphantly, but there was a quaver of fear in his voice.
The writhing shadow began to take a more definite form, that of a slender creature with long limbs and sharp claws. It was definitely not the "Master of Shadows," but looked more like a minor "Anomaly," perhaps a "Shadow Imp" or something similar.
[Summoned Shadow Imp – Anomaly (Low Grade)]
[Level: 3]
[Status: Hostile (Hungry, Unstable due to incomplete summoning)]
[Skills: Shadow Strike, Hide in Shadows]
[Description: A minor entity from the "Shadow Realm" pulled into this dimension through a flawed ritual. Seeks life energy to sustain its presence.]
Jin-woo realized this was his chance. The ritual had partially failed, and the summoners were in disarray. He decided to add more chaos to the mix.
As the Shadow Imp lunged towards the nearest follower, who was trembling with fear, Jin-woo moved. He darted from the shadows with astonishing speed, taking advantage of the "Blood Rush" he had learned to trigger at will now, even without drawing blood first (the System was surprisingly flexible at times, or perhaps Jin-woo was discovering loopholes). His shadow dagger was in his hand, ready to strike.
His target wasn't the Shadow Imp, not yet. It was the cult leader, Lee Jong-sook, who was still staring in shock at the outcome of his failed ritual.
Jin-woo reached Lee Jong-sook before the latter could react. He didn't stab him, but struck him hard on the temple with the pommel of his dagger. The cult leader collapsed unconscious without a sound.
[Successfully rendered "Cult Leader (Lee Jong-sook)" unconscious.]
[Surprise Reward: Obtained "Tattered Book of Dusk Rituals".]
Now, the other followers and the Shadow Imp noticed the new intruder. There was a stunned silence for a moment, then it devolved into utter chaos. The followers screamed, some tried to flee, while the Shadow Imp attacked Jin-woo with its sharp claws.
Jin-woo smiled. This was his kind of party.
He dodged the Shadow Imp's attack with agility, feeling the coldness of its claws pass close to his face. He retaliated with a counter-attack, striking at the imp's insubstantial body with his shadow-infused dagger. The imp shrieked a high-pitched, inhuman cry as the blade connected.
[Damage dealt to "Summoned Shadow Imp"! Shadow-infused weapons are particularly effective.]
The fight continued for a few more minutes. The panicked followers were running in all directions, adding to the chaos. Jin-woo ignored them for the time being, focusing on the Shadow Imp. The creature was fast and elusive, but Jin-woo was smarter and more ruthless. He used the environment to his advantage, hiding in the shadows, then attacking from unexpected angles.
Finally, after receiving several stabs from the shadow dagger, the Shadow Imp began to dissipate, letting out a faint whimper before vanishing completely.
[Eliminated "Summoned Shadow Imp" (Level 3).]
[Obtained 30 System Experience Points, Small Shadow Essence x1.]
Jin-woo stood in the center of the hall, breathing calmly. He looked around. Two of the followers had managed to escape. Two others were cowering in a corner, looking at him with absolute terror. Their leader was still unconscious on the floor.
Jin-woo walked towards the remaining followers. "I believe your little cult is in need of new leadership," he said in a quiet voice, a terrifying smile playing on his lips. "Or perhaps, it just needs to be offered as a sacrifice to your true master."
The terror in their eyes was more delicious than any reward the System had offered him so far.