The dust hadn't even settled.
Jin stood in the aftermath of the Thunder Fog battle, his breathing steady, his hair tousled, his coat fluttering in the windless silence. The battlefield crackled with leftover sparks of the fallen thunder beast. Its body lay twitching… but not dead.
Not truly.
Jin extended his hand, dark magic surging from his palm. His eyes gleamed with otherworldly power—one that had evolved past necromancy. This wasn't simple resurrection anymore.
It was dominion.
"Night Spell: Emerge."
A surge of violet-black mist erupted beneath the Thunder Frog's broken form.
Its body spasmed… then dissolved into shadow.
A few seconds later, something emerged from Jin's own shadow—tall and crackling with flickering bolts of purple lightning.
Thunder Frog had been reborn.
Now a loyal soldier of the shadows.
Its form was leaner, more refined, but the sheer pressure it emitted was even more monstrous than before.
Jin smirked. "You need a name."
The creature cocked its head, crouched like a loyal knight awaiting knighthood.
After a brief pause, Jin said, "Todra."
The thunder beast blinked… then bowed deeply.
Without missing a beat, the portal to the next trial opened. Swirls of red and blue light twisted in the distance like a vortex made from stained glass.
Jin stepped through.
As soon as his boots touched the stone ground on the other side, monsters rushed in from the shadows—fangs gleaming, muscles rippling.
But Jin didn't even flinch.
"Come forth."
A black mist exploded from beneath him. The shadows around him tore open as Bellon, the skeletal blade-dancer, leaped forth with his sword wreathed in dark flames. Todra stepped beside him, crackling with static.
His army answered.
Like clockwork, the monsters lunged—and Jin's shadows struck first.
Todra blasted one creature into a wall with a bolt of thunder.
Bellon sliced three in a single graceful arc, muttering something that sounded like "Too slow."
Jin yawned.
"They've got this."
He walked casually past the battlefield, hands in his coat pockets, as screams and roars echoed behind him. The double doors ahead stood tall and ominous.
With a soft creak, he pushed one open.
Nothing.
Silence.
Then...
Something moved.
Jin paused mid-step.
A chill rolled up his spine, his senses sharpened. Then he saw it.
A hulking figure rose from the shadows, stomping forward with the weight of a mountain.
Its lower half was gorilla, massive fists dragging across the stone. But its head was that of a buffalo, crowned with twisted horns, its eyes blood red.
The monster let out a low, snarling snort, shaking the entire hall.
Jin's eyes narrowed.
"God Vision: Activate."
His pupils morphed into glowing purple sigils—like rotating runes within his iris.
[Name: Black Giant Ape]
Class: Elite Beast
Traits: High Regeneration, Earthquake Fist, Raging Mind
Temper: Volatile.
Mood: Mildly Annoyed
Thought: "Why is this brat eyes are glowing like a disco ball?"
Jin smirked.
"I see you."
With a silent motion, he raised two fingers.
"Todra. Bellon. Frontline."
They emerged in a flash—Todra with thunder cracking in both hands, Bellon's blade singing with power.
The Black Giant Ape roared, the sound nearly shattering the walls.
The fight began.
Todra leapt up, unleashing a chain of lightning bolts like divine spears.
Bellon blurred forward, his footwork ghostlike as he danced between the Ape's massive fists, slicing deep into its arms.
But the ape wasn't slow.
With a BOOM, it slammed the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked Bellon across the hall.
Jin raised an eyebrow.
"Still standing?"
Bellon sprang up and pointed his sword dramatically.
"I was just… scouting its weak points."
Todra snorted—literally crackled in sarcasm.
"Shut it, dirty frog," Bellon growled.
Jin rolled his eyes.
"Focus, clowns."
The ape charged Jin this time—too fast. Its fist descended like a meteor.
Jin didn't even flinch. Meanwhile Bellon used his power.
"Void Barrier."
A translucent veil of dark light snapped up just in time, deflecting the attack with a thunderous clap. The attacked hit the ape.
Then Bellon used another power "Bind".
Chains of shadow whipped out from the floor, wrapping the ape's legs and arms.
"Bellon. Now."
One final slash.
A clean strike across the beast's chest—and the black giant ape collapsed, groaning before falling still.
Silence.
Jin stepped forward.
Todra and Bellon stood behind him, breathless but proud.
Jin looked down at the fallen ape and uttered:
"Emerge."
Shadow erupted once more—and the ape's body vanished into Jin's shadow.
From the black abyss, the creature rose again—still massive, but its eyes now glowed with violet loyalty.
"Time to name you," Jin said.
The ape tilted his head, waiting.
"How about... Ka Boo."
The ape blinked. Then blinked again.
A long pause.
Then the ape glared.
Todra laughed. "KA BOO? What are we, a circus?"
Bellon scoffed. "This is a disgrace. Name him something dignified. Something with fear."
Ka Boo let out a low growl and raised his massive fist threateningly at Bellon.
Bellon drew his sword.
"Oh, you wanna go, Monkey King? Let's fight."
WHAM!
Ka Boo punched Bellon.
SLICE!
Bellon cut Ka Boo's leg off.
...
Silence.
Then Ka Boo stood back up. His leg regenerated. Bellon reformed in a puff of smoke.
Jin sighed.
"You two do realize that as long as I'm alive, you can't actually kill each other, right?"
Both looked away like scolded schoolboys.
Jin smirked and muttered, "King Kong was a better name anyway."
The ape's ears perked up.
"Hmm?" Jin looked at him. "Kong. How about that?"
The ape—no, Kong—smiled.
Like, actually smiled.
Todra slapped his head. "You gave him movie inspiration?!"
Bellon grumbled. "So... we're naming our army based on pop culture now?"
Jin shrugged. "Hey, if it works, it works."
He walked forward, the three behind him.
The shadow army had grown.
Todra the Lightning Vanguard.
Bellon the Undead Blade.
And now—Kong, the Mountain of Wrath.
And this... was only the beginning.