The Useless One Chosen by Darkness

[Ding] Status Name: Han Jihoon

Contract: Creator

Level: 5

Attributes:

Strength: 50

Agility: 30

Intelligence: 40

Dark Affinity: 10

HP: 800/800

MP: 500/500

Skills: None

[You have awakened as a low-level.]

"Whooo... Level 5 already, huh," Jihoon muttered, staring at his stat screen. "Should I be proud... or embarrassed?"

The Shadow scoffed. "Embarrassed, obviously."

"Teacher, you could sugarcoat it at least once," Jihoon grumbled.

He tilted his head, puzzled. "Also, why does the contract say 'Creator'? I signed it with you. Shouldn't it say 'Shadow'?"

"Because my true name... is Creator," the Shadow replied, his voice echoing across the realm. "You'll understand once you reach the power of a low-tier god."

"Figures," Jihoon muttered. "So what now? Do I finally get a skill?"

"Not yet," the Shadow said with a wicked grin. "I've prepared monsters for you instead. Fight them, level up, and get stronger. You must reach Level 60 before you return to Earth."

"Level sixty?! Is that really necessary?"

"It is. The world you return to will not be the same and the reason why... you'll find out back on Earth."

Jihoon sighed. "You always speak in riddles, Teacher. But fine, I'll do it."

"By the way," the Shadow added, "what kind of weapon do you want?"

Jihoon thought. "Spear? No, not my style. Hammer? Definitely not. I'll go with a sword. And maybe a dagger later. Yeah—I'll master both."

"Start with the sword."

A sword dropped from thin air, landing point-first into the ground before him. Jihoon pulled it free.

[Weapon - Sword]

Name: Shadow Fang

Grade: Low Tier

Effect: Deals 15% extra damage

"My first sword..." Jihoon said softly, smiling.

Suddenly, a small black puppy appeared.

[Summoned: Shadow Puppy]

Level: 6

Rank: Rare

HP: 1500/1500

Skills: Severing Bite, Shadow Pounce, Dark Aura

Jihoon burst out laughing. "This adorable fluffball is the monster I'm supposed to fight? Seriously?"

"You'll understand... now," the Shadow said coldly.

The puppy suddenly lunged and sank its teeth into Jihoon's hand.

"Wait, wha—AAARGH!!"

Its Severing Bite cut clean through his flesh. Jihoon dropped to his knees, blood pouring down his arm.

"Lesson one," the Shadow said. "Never underestimate your enemy."

He healed Jihoon's hand with a wave of dark energy.

Now serious, Jihoon stood and raised his sword. The puppy lunged again this time, Jihoon blocked. He slashed, but the puppy dodged and clawed his back.

Gritting his teeth, Jihoon turned and countered with a perfect strike.

[You have killed Shadow Puppy]

[Level Up: 6]

[New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step]

Type: Movement

MP Cost: 100

Cooldown: 5 sec

Effect:

Instantly teleport up to 10 meters through shadows

Pass through solid objects if shadows are present

Grants 1.5 seconds of invincibility during movement

"This is amazing! How do I use it?!"

"Say its name," the Shadow instructed.

"...Shadow Step!"

Jihoon vanished and reappeared 10 meters away in an instant.

"Oh, hell yes."

The Shadow summoned two more puppies. Jihoon Shadow Stepped behind one and took it out instantly.

The second attacked, but Jihoon used his new skill mid-fight and landed a killing blow from above.

[Level Up: 7]

[New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Slash]

Type: Attack (Passive)

Effect:

. Releases a dark slash from the weapon

. Damage scales with mana

. Deals 20% more damage in darkness

"Level 7. Teacher, wanna make a bet?"

The Shadow raised a brow. "Go on."

"I'll defeat 6 puppies in 5 minutes."

"And if you lose?"

"I'll sign a contract to take your revenge."

"You were going to anyway."

"Then if I win, you have to get a hot shadow girlfriend when we go back to Earth."

The Shadow chuckled. "You brat... deal."

[Challenge Accepted: 6 Shadow Puppies]

[Time Limit: 5:00]

Jihoon launched into action.

1 down in seconds.

Another clawed him, one bit his arm. Jihoon countered with Shadow Slash two more fell.

Three left. He Shadow Stepped behind another and struck—1 more down.

Final two attacked from behind. Jihoon spun mid-air and slashed them both.

[5 Killed. 1 Remaining]

[Time Left: 00:20]

The last one dodged everything. Jihoon baited it in, teleported behind, and struck just before time ran out.

[All Puppies Defeated]

[Time Left: 00:04]

[Level Up: 7Lv → 9Lv]

[New Skill: Dark Perception (Passive)]

Effect:

Detect enemies within 30 meters

Boosts detection range by 50% in darkness

Alerts if enemy level is significantly higher

Jihoon collapsed, panting.

"I'm not the same Jihoon anymore," he said. "I'll become strong enough to crush everyone who rejected me."

The Shadow smirked. "You're growing."

Suddenly—

[A Skill is Granted by the Creator]

Before Jihoon could respond, the Shadow summoned another beast.

[Summoned: Iron Claw Ravage]

Type: Beast

Level: 8

HP: 5200

Skills:

Iron Swipe (5-hit claw combo)

Stone Hide (Reduces physical damage by 70%)

Rampage (Triggers at <30% HP, boosts ATK/SPEED by 20%)

"Wait—WHAT?! That's the wrong one!" the Shadow panicked. "Oops. Too late."

The beast roared.

One Iron Swipe—Jihoon's ribs cracked.

[HP: 2500/3500]

"This thing's insane!"

Jihoon teleported behind it—barely scratched the hide.

[Stone Hide Active – Physical damage reduced by 70%]

The beast flung Jihoon like a rag doll. His sword shattered.

[HP: 1000/3500]

Then—a new sword landed before him.

"Use it!" the Shadow shouted. "Your reward."

[Weapon: Crimson Edge]

Grade: Mid-tier Rare

Bound to: Han Jihoon

Skill: Blood Reap (Cooldown: 30s)

Effect: Unleashes 3 blood-powered slashes

Jihoon grabbed it, his blood soaking the blade. It pulsed with power.

Stone Hide was on cooldown.

He teleported, struck hard—real damage.

Then activated Blood Reap.

Three crimson slashes tore through the beast.

[Enemy HP < 30%] → [Rampage Mode Activated]

Jihoon panted. "Just one more..."

He dodged a swipe, circled behind, and slashed with everything he had.

The beast roared—and fell.

[You have killed: Iron Claw Ravage]

[Level Up: 10]

Jihoon collapsed, gasping for air.

The Shadow silently healed him. "You are brave, Jihoon. But the real fun starts now."

"Wait—what?!"

The Shadow snapped his fingers. Jihoon vanished.

He landed with a thud in a pitch-black cave.

A low growl echoed from the depths.

And Jihoon knew this was just the beginning.