The relentless barrage of attacks continued.

[Effect: Critical Hit has been activated.]

The special effect attached to *Rakhan’s Fang*—a 15% chance of inflicting more than double the damage—had triggered.

This was just the beginning.

*BAM! BAM! BAM!*

[Effect: Critical Hit has been activated.]

[Effect: Critical Hit has been activated.]

…

As Su-ho’s attacks piled up, critical hits kept landing one after another.

*CRUNCH!*

Eventually, one of Arachne’s leg joints gave way under the pressure and snapped.

“*Gwooooaaargh!*”

Arachne let out a guttural shriek and staggered in pain.

Su-ho seized the opportunity.

*Tap!*

He quickly leaped onto the broken leg and used it as a platform to jump onto Arachne’s back. With both swords held in reverse grip, he plunged them into the joints between its armored plates.

*Squelch!*

Green blood spurted out as Arachne let out another agonized screech.

“*Gwaaaaargh!*”

*BAM! BAM! BAM!*

Arachne thrashed wildly, slamming into the walls in a desperate attempt to shake Su-ho off.

But the more it struggled, the deeper Su-ho drove his blades into its back.

Then it happened.

“*Screeeeech!*”

[Grave Spider Arachne has used the skill: *Puppet Show*.]

[Grave Spider Arachne has used the skill: *Puppet Show*.]

*Swish!*

‘Behind me!’

Instinctively, Su-ho twisted his body and jumped into the air.

A sharp attack sliced through the space where Su-ho had been just moments before.

*Swish!*

Landing back on Arachne’s back, Su-ho turned to see who had attacked him.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“My body is moving on its own…!”

The hunters, still wrapped in webs, had been forced to attack him, their bodies manipulated by the strings like marionettes.

‘*Puppet Show*, huh?’

The bodies of the hunters, hanging from the ceiling and walls, moved like grotesque zombies, controlled by Arachne’s web.

“Beru!”

Still clinging to Arachne’s back as it thrashed around, Su-ho shouted for his lieutenant.

In an instant, Beru appeared before him.

[Yes, my Lord. You summoned me?]

No further explanation was needed.

Beru, who had been holding back to avoid stealing Su-ho’s experience, sprang into action.

With a sharp turn of his head, he glared at the puppet-like hunters, then roared.

[How dare these insects interfere with the Young Lord’s glorious battle!]

*Slash! Slash! Slash!*

[SCREEEEECH!]

Beru’s claws sliced through the webbing at an incredible speed.

“Ahhhh!”

“P-Please spare us…!”

The hunters screamed in terror.

But then—

“…Huh?”

*Snap!*

The webs binding the hunters snapped all at once, and their bodies, like marionettes with their strings cut, fell to the ground.

*THUD!*

“Ugh! Ouch…”

The hunters groaned in pain as they tumbled to the ground. Then, they looked up and saw Su-ho atop Arachne.

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

“…What the hell?”

The scene before them was utterly absurd.

*CRACK! CRACK!*

“*Gwooooaaargh!*”

Su-ho was… tearing off Arachne’s armor with his bare hands.

‘If its defense is too strong, just rip off the armor!’

[Strength: 51]

His forearms bulged with muscle, veins popping under the strain.

Sweat poured off him like rain.

“*Screeeeech!* *Grrrrrrr!*”

*BAM! BAM! BAM!*

The more Arachne thrashed, the tighter Su-ho held on, using every bit of his strength and willpower to stay on its back.

Then Su-ho’s eyes flashed.

‘The daily quest!’

This was the moment he had been saving his rewards for.

[The following rewards are available.]

Reward 1: Status Recovery (Unconfirmed)

‘Accept reward!’

*Flash!*

A refreshing energy surged through Su-ho, instantly restoring him to peak condition.

“Perfect!”

With renewed strength, Su-ho grinned and tightened his grip even further.

But even now, it still wasn’t enough.

‘I need more power…!’

Instinctively, Su-ho thought of a way to bolster his strength.

‘*Ruler’s Authority*!’

*Flash!*

An invisible hand materialized, merging with Su-ho’s right arm, just like the time he had sent Association Hunter Han Jae-hyuk flying with sheer force.

Dark energy enveloped his arm.

*CRUNCH!*

Finally, with a powerful tug, Su-ho ripped off a large piece of Arachne’s armored back like a lid from a can.

Underneath, its vulnerable flesh was exposed.

Without hesitation, Su-ho drove his fist directly into its unprotected body.

*BOOM!*

[You have learned the skill: *Smash* Lv. 1.]

The sheer force of the blow caused Arachne’s massive body to collapse, folding in on itself.

“…!”

[You have defeated Grave Spider Arachne.]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

Without even a final scream, Arachne crumpled to the ground.

Standing atop its fallen body, Su-ho reached into its corpse and yanked out the *relic* it had been harboring.

*Tug!*

[You have obtained the item: *Rakhan’s Fang-2*.]

The sword Su-ho pulled out was identical to the *Rakhan’s Fang* he already owned.

Even its personality was the same.

*Who dares covet the sword of a king!*

An ominous voice echoed in Su-ho’s mind.

*I shall devour your body!*

*Shwaaaa!*

Red energy shot out from the sword, attempting to engulf Su-ho.

But at that very moment, shadows surged up from beneath Su-ho, swallowing the sword whole.

The red energy recoiled and dissipated.

*W-What is this power?! Is this… the power of the Shadow Monarch?!*

Su-ho smirked as he spoke to *Rakhan’s Fang-1*.

“Do all of you have the same script or something?”

At that moment, the two *Rakhan’s Fangs* began to resonate with each other.

*Ding!*

[The items: *Rakhan’s Fang* recognize each other.]

[The skill: *Sanctuary of Beasts* has been activated.]

And just then, a series of system messages appeared before Su-ho.

*Ding! Ding!*

[You have learned the passive skill: (Unknown).]

[The passive skill: (Unknown) has been activated.]

A new skill had automatically appeared in Su-ho’s skill window.

[Skill]

Passive Skill: (Unknown) Lv. max

‘What’s this…?’

Before Su-ho could fully process the situation, the world around him suddenly shifted.

*Shwaaaa!*

Su-ho’s shadow expanded outward, engulfing everything around him and painting the world in darkness.

…And time came to a halt.

* * *

‘Where am I…?’

Su-ho found himself standing in a vast, empty world.

The horizon stretched endlessly before him, devoid of anything.

Gone was the raven mask he had been wearing. Gone were the *Rakhan’s Fangs* in his hands.

‘Beru.’

Su-ho tried to call out for Beru, but no sound came from his mouth.

‘Is this a dream?’

As he pondered the situation, a voice suddenly spoke.

[This is no dream.]

‘…!’

Su-ho’s eyes widened, and he looked ahead.

At the edge of the horizon stood a man, staring back at him.

He was a massive figure, towering well over 2 meters, clad in clothing made from the hides of beasts. His presence was wild and untamed.

No, it was more than wild—it was pure savagery.

[It’s a pleasure to meet you. So, you’re his descendant.]

The man grinned, revealing sharp fangs.

‘Who are you?’

Su-ho asked, and the man responded.

[My name is Rakhan, the eternal wraith who was slain by the Shadow Monarch.]

As he spoke, a system message appeared before Su-ho.

[The King of Beasts, the Fang Monarch, is watching you.]

‘…!’

Su-ho’s eyes widened.

The sheer presence of this man was overwhelming, like that of a predator—a bear, no, a tiger.

A lion, a shark, a crocodile, a viper—no predator in existence could match the sheer intimidation Rakhan exuded.

‘A king.’

Su-ho realized the truth.

This was the true King of Beasts.

And as that realization dawned on him, Rakhan’s silhouette began to grow larger in his vision.

‘…!’

And finally, Su-ho saw it.

Behind the man, towering over him, stood a colossal, pure white wolf, staring down at Su-ho.

[Ah, so you can see my true form. Interesting.]

The giant wolf, Rakhan, grinned, amused.

[No surprise, I suppose. You were able to summon me from the void. It only makes sense you have such abilities.]

‘Summon you?’

Su-ho frowned in confusion.

[Yes. Somehow, you woke me from my slumber. Thanks to you, my soul, which had fallen into eternal rest, is now dreaming once more—dreaming of you.]

‘A dream?’ Su-ho’s frown deepened as he tried to grasp Rakhan’s words.

[Yes. This is my dream, and you’ve entered it. But make no mistake, this place is no illusion.]

Rakhan chuckled, glancing around at the empty expanse surrounding them.

[There’s nothing here.]

His laughter was hollow, a sound born from centuries of loneliness.

[It’s only natural. When the dead sleep, they don’t dream. This world is a reflection of that emptiness.]

Rakhan’s smile was bitter, filled with a strange mix of amusement and despair.

[Isn’t it ironic? The great Fang Monarch, who slaughtered and dominated so many beasts, is left with nothing but a void for a kingdom.]

He shifted his gaze back to Su-ho, and his expression became more focused, almost hungry.

[But now, I have you.]

The weight of Rakhan’s gaze was intense. It felt as though this ancient king, who had once ruled the wilds with absolute authority, had found a new source of entertainment—or perhaps, something far deeper.

[So, you are to become my one and only source of amusement, aren’t you?]

Rakhan grinned, baring his sharp fangs again. There was a dangerous gleam in his eyes, as if he’d found something precious—something worth his attention.

Ding!

[The King of Beasts, the Fang Monarch, is watching you.]

Once again, the same message appeared before Su-ho.

[From now on, I will watch your life unfold through my dreams. Every time you draw on my power, I’ll be there, observing.]

Su-ho furrowed his brows. ‘You’re saying you’ll be spying on me?’

[“Spying” is such a harsh word, don’t you think?] Rakhan smirked. [It’s more like… I’ll be living vicariously through you.]

Su-ho didn’t seem too pleased by the idea. ‘And what exactly do you gain from watching my life?’

Rakhan tilted his head, then burst out laughing.

[What do I gain? I gain the chance to feel alive again, if only through your experiences! After all, I’m no longer part of the living world. You’re the one who awakened me, after all.]

‘My power… awakened you?’ Su-ho’s thoughts immediately went to the unknown passive skill he had just acquired. Something had changed when the two Fangs resonated.

[Worry not. I won’t be watching your every move. I can only see what you do when you use my power.]

‘Your power… you mean Rakhan’s Fang?’

[Indeed. And also when you’re with my descendant.]

‘Gray?’

Rakhan’s eyes narrowed, and he let out a low chuckle.

[Yes, Gray. You’ve given him that name, haven’t you? I must thank you for not killing my descendant. By allowing him to remain by your side, you’ve ensured that my legacy continues. Now, I have something to look forward to, even in this empty existence.]

Rakhan’s massive form suddenly glowed, radiating an ethereal light. The brightness washed over Su-ho, enveloping him completely.

Whooosh!

[The King of Beasts, the Fang Monarch, has bestowed his blessing upon you.]

Su-ho blinked as the light cascaded over him, feeling a strange energy permeate his body.

[You have received the Blessing: Rakhan’s Blessing.]