The Useless One Chosen by Darkness

On the battlefield...

"That shadow... he nearly killed me," he rasped. "If it weren't for Immortal Will, I'd be dead right now. Even the artifact granted to me by the Demon King… it was shattered. I... barely survived."

In the Shadow Realm...

Shadow stood tall amidst swirling darkness, his presence imposing yet somber. His cold gaze softened as he placed a hand over Jihoon's chest.

[Skill Activated: Shadow Heal]

A black glow pulsed from his palm, surrounding Jihoon's broken body as his wounds began to mend.

Shadow narrowed his eyes. "I didn't expect that lesser demon to wield such a high-tier artifact... and not just any artifact - one forged by the Demon King himself. Even I was deceived."

He clenched his fist tightly.

"I should've ended him right there. But this is Jihoon's fight now. Let him face the pain of defeat—and rise from it. Once he's healed... I'll ensure he only faces monsters at his level. No more reckless battles."

Shadow's eyes darkened. "That demon wasn't Level 20. He was Level 30."

One Week Later…

Jihoon stirred.

His eyelids fluttered open against the pale, eerie light. "Where... am I?"

He slowly sat up on a cold stone bed, blinking at the familiar shadows around him.

"The Shadow Realm… I'm still here?"

His voice trembled. "I remember… I was dying. But Teacher... he saved me ."

Suddenly, the door burst open.

Shadow strode in, his dark cloak billowing behind him.

"You're awake!" he exclaimed, voice tight. "You scared the hell out of me."

Jihoon sat in silence.

"How long was I out?" he asked.

"A week," Shadow replied. "You've been unconscious this entire time. But now that you're back, it's time to resume training. That demon-"

"I'm sorry, Teacher," Jihoon interrupted, voice low. "But I don't want to fight anymore."

Shadow froze mid-step. "What did you say?"

Jihoon looked away, his fists trembling. "Please… find someone else to be your host. I'm not worthy of your power. I'm weak. I'm nothing."

Shadow's voice hardened. "Where is this coming from? Everything was going fine—"

"No, it wasn't!" Jihoon snapped, tears brimming in his eyes. "Nobody loves me. Not even my own father. He looks at me like I'm trash. Like I'm not even human."

Shadow's expression turned grim.

Jihoon's voice cracked. "Even if I died… no one would care. I'm just a tool. I don't want power. I just… I just want to live a normal life."

Shadow chuckled bitterly—a low, unsettling sound. "A normal life? On that collapsing Earth, where the strong devour the weak?"

He stepped closer, his presence suffocating.

"You'd be crushed, Jihoon. Killed without mercy."

"Then let me die," Jihoon whispered. "At least… I won't be missed."

Shadow's voice shook. "Jihoon… do you even realize what I gave up for you? I sacrificed nearly all my power - my very existence - to build this system. You are the only one I chose. You are everything to me."

He slammed his fist against the wall, stone cracking beneath it.

"And you're letting one demon—who was ten levels stronger—shatter your spirit?"

Jihoon sobbed. "But why does everyone hate me? Why can't someone love me... just once?"

"I do," Shadow said softly. "And so does someone else. Your mother."

Jihoon scoffed bitterly. "You mean my stepmother? She barely even talks to me."

"No," Shadow said firmly. "I mean your real mother. Your blood mother."

Jihoon froze.

"She… she died, didn't she?"

Shadow shook his head. "No. Your father cast her out when he met your stepmother."

Jihoon's voice shook. "Where is she now?"

"I don't know," Shadow admitted. "Only your father might."

Jihoon wiped his tears. "Then I'll find her. And I'll protect her."

Shadow raised a hand. "Not yet. If I send you back to Earth now, I won't be able to summon you again for years. Stay here - grow strong. Become a weapon that can protect everything you love."

He locked eyes with Jihoon. "So, what will it be? Do you still want to die? Or do you finally want power?"

Jihoon clenched his fists. "I want power. I want to become strong enough to make them all regret abandoning me. Even my father. I'll make his life hell... maybe even kill him."

A dark smile tugged at Shadow's lips. "Now that's the fire I want to see."

Jihoon stood, eyes blazing. "And that demon who scarred me? I won't let him live."

Shadow chuckled. "Good. From now on, you'll only face monsters at your level. Train. Grow. When you reach Level 30, you'll face that demon again—and this time, you'll end him."

Jihoon shook his head. "No. I'm not waiting."

Shadow narrowed his eyes. "You want to fight monsters one or two levels above?"

"No," Jihoon said. "I want to fight him again. While I'm still Level 20."

"You're insane!" Shadow snapped. "That demon is ten levels above you! He'll kill you!"

Jihoon stepped forward. "Not if you summon me back before I die. Right before the final blow."

Shadow's jaw tightened. "That's reckless."

"Maybe," Jihoon said. "But this is how I grow. Through battle. Through risk."

He smirked. "One day, I'll surpass even you."

"In your dreams," Shadow replied, amused.

"You said you'd raise me to your level," Jihoon reminded him.

"I did. But no matter how strong you become... you'll always be my student."

Jihoon nodded. "Fine. Then send me back. I'll finish what I started."

"Not yet," Shadow said. "One more week. Let your body recover fully."

"Fine. One week," Jihoon agreed.

Shadow's expression softened slightly. "Since you've made up your mind… I'll give you a new skill."

Jihoon's eyes lit up. "Really?! You're the best!"

"Tch. Don't start buttering me up."

[Ding!]You have been granted a new skill by Shadow.[Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Laceration]

Type: Area of Effect – Burst

MP Cost: 1000

Cooldown: 40 seconds

Effect:• Unleashes a massive crescent-shaped dark slash (10–15 meters in range)• Ignores 50% of enemy defense when cast in darkness• Strikes multiple enemies in a wide arc

Jihoon stared at the system notification.

"This skill... it's insane. It'll change everything in battle!"

"Then master it," Shadow said. "Don't waste time explaining it to me."

Jihoon drew his sword, his eyes burning with excitement.

"Abyssal Laceration!"

Dark mana surged into the blade. A black aura wrapped around it - and with a powerful swing:

WHOOSH!

A massive crescent-shaped wave of pure darkness tore through the air, slicing across ten meters like a blade of the void.

Jihoon gasped. "This... this is amazing."

And then he practiced. Again. And again. And again.

[One Week Later]

Jihoon stood before Shadow, fists clenched.

"I'm ready. Send me back."

Shadow frowned. "This skill burns too much mana. You can only use it two, maybe three times per battle."

"I know," Jihoon said. "But it'll be enough. Just summon me back once my HP drops below 1000."

Shadow sighed. "Fine. Don't die."

A black portal opened.

Jihoon stepped toward it.

"Let's finish this."

Inside the Monster Residence…

The massive gate loomed before him once again. Jihoon placed a hand on it.

CREEEEAAK…

The doors opened slowly.

He walked inside.

"Come out, you rat," Jihoon growled.

A deep chuckle echoed through the chamber.

"You returned sooner than expected," the demon sneered. "Did you bring that shadow with you? Or are you here to die alone?"

Jihoon's eyes gleamed coldly. "I came alone. Because I'm all it takes to kill you."

The demon snarled. "So be it."

He raised a hand - and the illusion shattered.

[Artifact Disengaged]

Dark mist pulsed across the room.

[Name]: Dread Lord AzarethLevel: 30Race: Ancient Demon LordRank: Legendary BossTitle: The Voice of Despair

HP: 18,000

MP: 10,000

Strength: 200

Agility: 120

Intelligence: 250

Vitality: 180

Dark Affinity: 300

Azareth grinned. "There. Now witness true power, human."

Jihoon smirked. "Perfect. I'll kill you just like this."

[System Alert][Dark Perception: Activated][Warning: Enemy significantly exceeds current levelHigh risk of death detected]

Jihoon gritted his teeth. "Don't worry, System. I'm not dying today. I'm ending this bastard."

His eyes narrowed.

[Skill Activated: Shadow Step]

FWOOOSH!

Jihoon vanished.