Fuck you! Shadow Society!

With the increase in the concentration of reiki on the surface, ordinary plants and animals mutated into horrible spiritual plants and monsters increasing their strength and reproduction abilities.

Monster tides became a common thing, so a large number of humans migrated to the underground spaces of Blue Star. 

These Underground spaces existed long before the Reiki era, counting about tens of thousands of small, medium, and large caverns inhabited by diverse underground races.

It can be said that the amount of land area of underground spaces combined is hundreds of times that of surface area, but those that live underground are mostly low-level.

The concentration of the reiki in underground spaces is not high making it hard for plants and monsters to mutate easily, which in turn makes it easy for human survival.

Humans usually travel to surface areas to hunt those powerful monsters on the surface or low-level monster dens that appear frequently by forming mercenary groups. 

The current underground city 'C-71' is built 200 years ago on a medium underground space with an area of more than tens of thousands of square kilometers with a population of 300,000 and above.

The underground space is incredibly tall, reaching heights of dozens of kilometers, making it impossible to see anything above.

It's filled with artificial surroundings like clouds and artificial sunlight beamed down from the surface using advanced magical technology powered by Reiki. 

Artificial Sunlight Projectors use Reiki energy to create and beam fake sunlight underground, giving light and mimicking daytime.

Cloud Generators make clouds with Reiki, making it seem like there's a sky underground. 

Climate Control Systems manage the temperature and humidity underground, keeping it comfy for everyone.

Bioluminescent plants are special plants with Reiki that glow softly, helping see in the dark and making the underground world look cool. This creates a perfect imitation of day and night underground.

While he was still thinking about various things, he heard a slight sound of the door opening behind him.

Ram immediately became vigilant and used the robot controller in his hands to give instructions at a moment's notice and waited for the person to come.

However, contrary to the shadow messenger, he was surprised to see Liam, his friend, stepping out onto the rooftop.

Liam, who had followed Ram, was about to scold him for sneaking off to such a run-down place without inviting him for a drink.

However, he froze the moment he laid eyes on the huge Iron Blade Robot standing next to Ram. "What the hell, bro! Since when did you get a robot like that?" he asked, his eyes wide with shock as he glanced between Ram and the towering machine.

Ram didn't answer right away, giving Liam a questioning look as if to ask, why are you here?

Liam, still recovering from the shock, scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Haha... I saw you sneaking out earlier and figured you might be in some trouble, so I followed you. But judging by the giant death-bot over here, I guess you don't need my help after all."

Ram sighed, deactivating the robot and sending it into standby mode. Since Liam had followed him with good intentions, there was no point in getting mad. He decided to tell Liam the truth about what was happening.

He explained everything—from his meeting with the old man, Smith, to his plan to meet the Shadow Society's messenger.

Liam listened carefully, sipping from a beer bottle Ram had brought with him.

When Ram finished his story, Liam shook his head, disbelief written all over his face. "You're seriously trusting that crazy old man? The Shadow Society is bad news, man. No one in that organization has a clean reputation. You might end up worse off than you are now."

"I've tried everything, Liam," Ram replied, his voice resolute. "This is my last chance. I just want to hear the method the messenger talks about, and I'll decide after that."

Liam didn't argue further. He could see the determination in Ram's eyes, so he stayed silent and waited. They spent the time talking about other things, but the tension lingered in the air.

Both of them knew the risks, but for Ram, this was about more than just awakening—it was about escaping the helplessness he had been feeling for years.

Suddenly, the temperature dropped sharply, and the air around them became thick and heavy.

Out of nowhere, a figure materialized, as if stepping out of the shadows themselves.

It was like watching a phantom form from swirling black smoke, its features obscured by a shifting mass of darkness.

The figure radiated an unsettling aura of power and cold detachment. "Hello, Ram," the figure greeted, its voice cold and eerie.

Ram's heart raced, and he immediately tried to use his ability to analyze the figure in front of him.

However, all he could see were question marks. No name, no race, no profession—nothing.

[ Name: ???]

[ Age: ???]

[ Race: ???]

[ Profession: ???]

Looking at the shadow phantom, both of them were shocked they didn't expect such an entrance, and even now they couldn't find if the person in front of his is a person or just a phantom.

"You, are you the Shadow messenger?" Ram asked while he concentrated hard to check the attribute panel of the shadow messenger, but its question marks including his race.

"Yes," the figure replied, its voice echoing around them. "I heard you're looking for a way to awaken. Is that correct?"

Ram nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Do you really have a method? Can you tell me what it is?"

The Shadow Messenger glanced briefly at Liam and the robot, before turning its attention back to Ram. "The method is simple and highly effective, with a success rate of about 80%. However, I cannot reveal the details unless you agree to join the Shadow Society."

Ram clenched his fists, his suspicions confirmed. He had expected this response but still hoped for more details. "How long would I have to work for the Shadow Society if I join?"

The Shadow Messenger chuckled darkly. "Fifteen years. Once you join, you serve for fifteen years. After that, you're free to go."

Before Ram could respond, Liam cut in, his voice filled with urgency. "Ram, this isn't worth it! Fifteen years for some awakening method we don't even know works? You're throwing your life away. Let's get out of here and find another way."

Just as Liam finished speaking, the Shadow Messenger's laugh filled the air, sending a chill down their spines.

"You really think you can leave now that you've come here? Once you've met me, there's no going back." The Messenger's voice echoed from all directions as if they were trapped in a separate realm.

Ram was the first to react, he immediately ordered the robot to fight while Liam beside him took his knife and stood in front of Ram with a flexible poster ready to fight at any moment.

The robot's eyes glowed red as it powered up, its energy furnace roaring to life. With a powerful dash, the Iron Blade Robot charged at the Shadow Messenger, its alloy knife poised for a strike.

But the Messenger barely moved. With a casual wave of his hand, he flung the robot aside like a toy, sending it crashing through the rooftop wall, skidding across the ground.

Ram and Liam stood frozen, disbelief and fear gripping them. The robot—Ram's secret weapon—had been destroyed effortlessly.

They didn't have time to react before a wave of darkness swallowed them both, dragging them into unconsciousness.

The last thing Liam heard before the world went black was Ram shouting in frustration.

"Fuck you, Shadow Society!"