The Reader of the Beginning and Climax

Chapter 5: The Unknown Enemy

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Jihwan's footsteps echoed through the narrow passageway as he ventured further into the unknown. The soft hum of the system notifications lingered in the background, but it was the unsettling silence of the arena that gnawed at him the most. His mind was still racing from the riddle—how easily it had been solved, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that it was meant to lull him into a false sense of security.

The new path ahead was dimly lit, but there was something different about this space. The air had a metallic tang to it, like the remnants of something long abandoned. His eyes flickered to the walls as they narrowed, the stone underfoot growing colder, slick with moisture.

[System Notification: "Warning: Unknown entity detected. Prepare for confrontation."]

Jihwan paused. The familiar, mechanical voice of the system had lost its comforting tone. His pulse quickened. He wasn't alone.

[System Notification: "Entity approaching. Time remaining: 60 seconds."]

The countdown was unforgiving. He didn't have time to think. Reflexively, he drew a deep breath, steadying himself. He couldn't allow panic to take hold. His mind flashed through the possibilities. This was a new type of challenge—something different from the riddle. The first challenge had been a test of intellect, but this... This would be a test of his survival instincts.

The darkness around him seemed to grow thicker, the shadows creeping toward him as if the walls themselves were closing in. His heartbeat drummed in his ears, but he forced himself to focus. He had no weapon. No experience in combat. Only his wits.

[System Notification: "Entity detected. A creature born of shadows. Weak to light."]

A creature born of shadows. Jihwan's mind raced. He wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but the mention of light triggered something within him. His eyes scanned the passageway for anything that could be used to his advantage. Then, his gaze landed on a flickering torch mounted on the wall. The flame, faint and struggling against the encroaching darkness, seemed like the only hope.

But would it be enough?

[System Notification: "Torch activated. Entity vulnerability increased."]

The flickering light grew brighter as Jihwan seized the torch, the flames flaring up in response to his touch. The shadows recoiled in response, but the creature—whatever it was—was still coming. He could feel it now, its presence growing closer, an oppressive weight in the air.

The countdown was nearing its end.

[System Notification: "Entity in range. Prepare for combat."]

A hiss echoed in the darkness, sharp and guttural, as something emerged from the shadows. Jihwan barely had time to react as the creature lunged at him—a mass of shifting darkness, with glowing red eyes that burned through the gloom. Its form was amorphous, like smoke taking shape, but there was no mistaking the malice that radiated from it.

The torch in his hand felt like nothing more than a fragile lifeline. He swung it in a wide arc, hoping the light would repel the creature. For a moment, it seemed to hesitate, the shadows shrinking back from the flame, but then it charged again, faster this time.

Jihwan's heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't fight it directly—he had no skills, no strength to speak of. But he could use the environment. The passageway was narrow, and the walls were lined with sharp stones. He needed to trap it.

He took a quick step back, luring the creature toward a narrow gap in the stone, where the torchlight illuminated a jagged rock protruding from the wall. The creature followed, its glowing eyes locked onto him, intent on its prey. Just as it lunged again, Jihwan sidestepped, and the creature collided with the sharp rock, its form briefly flickering in pain.

The light flared brighter, and the creature recoiled with a hiss, staggering back. The vulnerability was clear. It was weakened, and Jihwan knew this was his chance.

With a burst of adrenaline, he pressed the torch into the creature's form. The shadows writhed, as if in agony, and the entity's body began to collapse in on itself. It screeched in frustration, but it was too late. The light consumed it, and with a final screech, it dissipated into nothingness, leaving only an eerie silence in its wake.

Jihwan stood still for a moment, breathing heavily, the torch still gripped tightly in his hand. His heart was still racing, but there was no time to rest. The creature had been defeated, but he couldn't shake the feeling that more dangers awaited.

[System Notification: "Challenge complete. Path unlocked."]

The walls shifted again, revealing another passageway. Jihwan looked at the now-empty space where the creature had once stood. He had survived, but just barely. The world around him was becoming more dangerous with every step.

But as he stepped forward into the new passage, he knew one thing for sure: he wasn't just surviving anymore. He was becoming something more.

And that, in this place, was both a blessing and a curse.

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End of Chapter 5