The creature attacked again, faster than before.
Its movements had grown sharper, more reckless, abandoning careful strikes in favor of overwhelming speed. Dust burst from the pavement as its claws slammed downward, leaving deep cracks in the concrete.
Arin moved just before the attack landed.
Left.
The claw missed.
Right.
Another strike avoided.
His chest rose and fell heavily now, sweat forming along his forehead, but the rhythm of the fight had changed. He was no longer reacting blindly. Every movement he made followed the faint signals his Shadow Sense provided—the subtle shifts in darkness, the tiny ripples beneath the creature's feet that warned him a fraction of a second in advance.
Still, survival alone wouldn't last forever.
"I can't dodge until I collapse," he thought. "I need an opening."
The creature lunged again, this time attempting to grab him rather than slash. Its elongated arm swept across the space between them, fingers bending at impossible angles as they tried to close around his torso.
Arin ducked and stepped forward simultaneously, slipping past the grasping hand. For a brief moment, he stood almost directly beside the creature's body.
Too close.
The smell of dust and something metallic filled his nose as he forced himself not to freeze.
The monster twisted quickly, attempting to strike again.
There.
Its balance dipped for just an instant as it turned.
Arin shoved his shoulder against the creature's side—not hard enough to injure it, but enough to push its weight slightly off-center. The monster stumbled half a step forward, its next attack delayed by the brief imbalance.
He jumped back immediately.
His screen flickered.
[SHADOW SYSTEM] Close-Range Adaptation Progress: 28%
"It's working…"
The realization steadied his breathing slightly. He still had no weapon, no strength advantage, nothing that could actually damage the creature—but he had timing.
And timing meant survival.
The monster roared again, clearly irritated. Its next charge came faster than any before, claws slicing through the air in rapid succession. Arin barely avoided the first strike, stepping sideways just in time. The second attack followed immediately, forcing him to roll across the pavement to escape.
Pain shot through his shoulder as he hit the ground, but he forced himself back to his feet before the creature could follow up.
"I can't let it corner me."
Another pulse echoed in his chest.
The shadows around his feet stretched farther this time, thin strands sliding across the road before quickly pulling back. He noticed something new—the strands briefly touched the creature's shadow before retreating, as if testing contact.
His screen pulsed again.
[SHADOW SYSTEM] Shadow Interaction Detected
Arin blinked.
"Interaction…?"
The creature charged again.
He stepped aside instinctively, letting the attack miss, but this time he focused on the shadow extending from his feet. The thin strand stretched forward again, brushing lightly against the creature's shadow for a fraction of a second.
The monster hesitated.
Only for an instant—but it hesitated.
Arin's eyes widened.
"That slowed it…"
A dangerous idea formed immediately.
The creature roared and lunged again, its claws striking downward with crushing force. Arin dodged, then deliberately stepped closer, forcing himself to stay within reach instead of retreating.
The shadow strand extended again, this time remaining in contact slightly longer.
The monster's movement stuttered.
Not stopped.
Not trapped.
Just slowed—like a machine encountering brief resistance.
"That's enough."
The realization struck him with sudden clarity. He didn't need to overpower the creature. He only needed a moment where it couldn't move perfectly.
The monster twisted again, attempting another attack, but its movement lagged slightly as the shadow contact continued. Arin stepped to the side, grabbed a broken metal pole lying near the curb, and raised it instinctively.
It wasn't a weapon meant for combat.
But it was something.
The creature lunged again.
Arin waited.
The moment its movement slowed slightly—just as the shadow strand connected—he swung the metal pole with all the strength he had, aiming directly at the creature's neck.
The impact rang sharply through the street.
The monster recoiled, staggering half a step back, its body clearly affected even if the strike hadn't been lethal.
"That hurt it!"
Adrenaline surged through him.
The creature roared louder than before, clearly enraged now. Its movements became wild, its attacks less precise as it charged again without hesitation.
Arin forced himself to stay focused.
One more opening.
The next strike came.
He dodged.
Shadow contact.
The creature slowed again—just enough.
Arin stepped forward and swung the metal pole a second time, this time striking the same location with everything he had left.
A cracking sound echoed faintly.
The monster staggered.
His screen flashed brightly.
[SHADOW SYSTEM] Vulnerability Detected
"Now!"
Ignoring the burning in his arms, Arin raised the pole again and delivered a third strike, putting his full weight behind the blow.
The metal bent slightly on impact.
The creature's body froze for a brief second.
Then it collapsed.
Silence spread across the street.
Arin stood motionless, breathing heavily, unsure whether the fight had truly ended. The creature's body twitched once… then stopped completely, dissolving slowly into dark smoke that faded into the air.
His screen pulsed.
[SHADOW SYSTEM] First Kill Confirmed
[SHADOW SYSTEM] Experience Acquired
[SHADOW SYSTEM] New Function Unlocking…
Arin stared at the disappearing smoke, his hands still trembling slightly as the realization settled in.
"I… survived."
A faint pulse echoed through his chest once more.
And this time, the shadows around his feet moved without waiting for his command.