The Forsaken Awakening

Inside the Tower of the Forgotten – Floor 6

Jinhyuk stepped onto the Sixth Floor, his body still adjusting to the power surge from leveling up.

His mana reserves had expanded, his shadows pulsed with greater strength, and his control over summons had improved dramatically.

But something about this floor felt… off.

The previous arenas and battlefields were straightforward.

But here—there was nothing.

Just an endless abyss of darkness.

No ground. No walls. No sky.

Just black emptiness stretching infinitely.

Jinhyuk took a cautious step forward, and to his surprise—

His foot landed on solid ground.

Even though there was nothing visible beneath him.

[ Welcome to the Sixth Floor. ]

The Guide's voice echoed, but this time, it sounded farther away.

"This trial is different, Challenger. Here, you will not face a monster."

Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.

"Then what's the challenge?"

Silence.

Then—

A whisper.

Low. Almost inaudible.

A voice that didn't belong to the Guide.

"…You are being watched…"

Jinhyuk's heart pounded.

The air shifted.

And from the shadows—something moved.

---

The Watcher Reveals Itself

Jinhyuk's body tensed as the darkness around him shifted.

At first, it seemed like a trick of the light.

But then—a figure stepped forward.

Tall. Cloaked in flowing black robes, its face hidden beneath a hood.

Its eyes gleamed like molten gold, glowing through the shadows.

It wasn't human.

It wasn't a monster.

It was something else entirely.

And it was watching him.

[ ??? Has Appeared. ]

A system message appeared—but it was blank.

No name. No level. No rank.

Just pure, empty silence.

Jinhyuk's grip tightened on his daggers.

"Who are you?"

The figure didn't answer.

Instead—it moved.

---

A Battle Against the Unknown

The Watcher didn't attack conventionally.

One second, it was standing still.

The next—it was behind him.

Jinhyuk's instincts screamed—

He barely managed to dodge a slash from a blade made of pure void energy.

SHING!

The air rippled where the attack passed, like reality itself had been cut.

Jinhyuk teleported backward with Shadow Blink.

But the Watcher appeared in front of him instantly.

Its movements were unnatural.

Not fast—just wrong.

Like it wasn't bound by the same laws of space and time.

"Shit—this isn't a normal fight."

Jinhyuk needed to change tactics.

---

Summoning the Cursed Knight

Jinhyuk focused his mana, summoning his strongest ally.

[ Summon Deployed: The Cursed Knight (B-Rank)! ]

A portal of black mist formed—

And the Knight stepped out, his greatsword raised.

But the moment he appeared—

The Watcher tilted its head.

Then, it spoke for the first time.

"A remnant of the past… yet bound to one unworthy."

Jinhyuk's stomach dropped.

The Watcher wasn't talking to the Knight.

It was talking about him.

Then—it attacked again.

---

The Battle Shifts

The Watcher moved faster than before, its blade slicing through the Knight's armor like paper.

Jinhyuk's eyes widened.

"Not even the Cursed Knight can keep up?!"

He activated Abyssal Domain, surrounding the battlefield in pure darkness.

But—

The Watcher wasn't affected.

It walked through the shadows effortlessly.

Like it belonged here.

Jinhyuk gritted his teeth.

"Then let's see how you handle my summons."

He raised his hand, calling forth multiple shadow creatures.

Three Mist Stalkers formed from the void.

A Bloodfang Direwolf emerged beside them.

The Watcher finally stopped moving.

Then—it laughed.

A sound that sent chills down Jinhyuk's spine.

"So, you are starting to understand."

Then—the shadows around the Watcher shifted.

And for the first time—

Jinhyuk saw it use its own power.

---

A New Type of Summoner

The Watcher raised its hand.

And from the darkness behind it—three figures stepped forward.

Not monsters.

Not beasts.

Knights.

Each one was covered in dark armor, their weapons dripping with pure abyssal energy.

But what shocked Jinhyuk the most—

Was that they looked exactly like his own Cursed Knight.

"Impossible—"

The Watcher smirked.

"Do you see now, little hunter?"

"You are not the only one who commands the shadows."

Jinhyuk's blood ran cold.

This wasn't just a test of strength.

This was a test of what it meant to wield the power of the Forgotten.

And right now—he was losing.