1: GLITCHES IN REALITY.

The morning sun bathed the city of Seoul in a golden hue, illuminating the skyline as it pierced through the mist that clung to the buildings. In this bustling metropolis, life thrived beneath the shadows of the towering structures—people rushed to work, students chatted animatedly on their way to school, and street vendors called out to passersby, their voices mingling in a symphony of urban life. However, in this vibrant scene, one man stood apart from the crowd, lost in thought.

Sung Jin-Woo, the world's strongest hunter, surveyed the streets from his apartment balcony, a serene expression on his face. He had come a long way since those harrowing days of being an E-Rank hunter, struggling for survival in dangerous dungeons. Now, he was revered, almost idolized, but the weight of his power carried its own burdens.

As he sipped his coffee, Jin-Woo's mind drifted back to the day he had first encountered the System—the mysterious force that had transformed his life. With a simple tap on his status window, he could see his current level, skills, and the vast potential that lay before him. He was a master of his craft, a living legend whose name inspired fear and admiration. Yet today, an unsettling feeling nagged at the back of his mind, like a whisper echoing in a silent room.

Suddenly, the familiar notification sound echoed in his mind, pulling him from his reverie.

[System Alert: Anomalies Detected.]

Jin-Woo's heart raced as the notification flashed before his eyes. Anomalies? He hadn't seen this warning in years. The System had always been reliable, providing him with quests, rewards, and growth. Yet, something felt off. The air around him thickened, and a shiver ran down his spine.

He tapped the notification, and a new window appeared, detailing strange occurrences in the dungeons he frequented. Reports of disappearing portals, monsters behaving erratically, and quests failing to register. It was a chaotic mess, and Jin-Woo felt a tightening in his chest.

[Warning: Immediate Investigation Required.]

"Looks like I'm not getting a day off after all," he murmured, setting down his coffee cup. He quickly dressed, donning his usual attire—sturdy combat gear designed for maximum mobility. He glanced in the mirror, checking his reflection. His dark hair fell just above his eyes, and the scar across his cheek told tales of battles fought and won. Today would be different; he could feel it in his bones.

After a quick breakfast, he grabbed his gear and headed out, determined to uncover the truth behind the anomalies. As he made his way to the nearest dungeon entrance, Jin-Woo noticed the streets were oddly quieter than usual. People whispered in hushed tones, their faces etched with worry. He quickened his pace, the unease settling deep within him.

Arriving at the dungeon entrance, a massive stone archway covered in vines, he felt a familiar pulse of energy emanating from within. The glow of the portal was dimmer than he remembered, and the air tasted stale. Jin-Woo took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead.

**Inside the Dungeon**

The moment Jin-Woo stepped through the portal, he was greeted by an eerie silence. The cavernous chamber loomed around him, illuminated only by the flickering torches lining the walls. Shadows danced, creating an unsettling atmosphere that set his instincts on high alert. He activated his status window, his eyes scanning for any sign of trouble.

[Status: Sung Jin-Woo]

Level:200

Class: Shadow Monarch

Health:100%

Mana: 95%

Skills: Shadow Summoning, Enhanced Agility, Combat Mastery, Domain Expansion

As he moved deeper into the dungeon, he could feel the fluctuations in the System's energy—flickers of light, followed by sudden darkness. It was as if the dungeon itself was alive, reacting to his presence. He reached for his dagger, a trusty weapon forged from the remnants of defeated foes.

"Show yourself!" Jin-Woo called out, his voice echoing through the chamber.

A moment passed, and then the ground beneath him trembled. A ripple of energy surged through the air, distorting the space around him. Shadows morphed, twisting into grotesque forms before settling into a group of lesser monsters—Goblins, their beady eyes glinting with malice. Jin-Woo narrowed his eyes, ready for a fight.

But as he lunged forward, something felt wrong. The Goblins flickered, their forms glitching like a corrupted video file. One moment they were lunging at him, and the next, they vanished, only to reappear behind him. He spun around, barely managing to evade their attacks.

"What the hell is going on?" Jin-Woo muttered, confusion washing over him.

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a shadow to assist him. The dark figure emerged from the ground, its form solidifying as it took on the shape of a massive beast. The shadow charged at the Goblins, but as it moved, it too began to glitch, flickering between dimensions.

**"This isn't just a glitch,"** Jin-Woo realized. **"It's a full-blown malfunction."**

The remaining Goblins lunged, but Jin-Woo was quicker. He executed a series of swift movements, dispatching them with precise strikes. Yet even as they fell, he could see their forms shimmer and distort before disappearing entirely.

**"I need to find out where this is coming from."**

He continued deeper into the dungeon, navigating through the disorienting shifts in reality. Each room presented new challenges, from shifting traps to enemies that didn't behave as they should. It was a chaotic maze, and Jin-Woo's senses were on high alert.

Eventually, he stumbled upon a chamber that radiated a darker energy. The air crackled with tension, and in the center stood a massive portal, swirling with chaotic energies. It pulsated ominously, the source of the dungeon's instability.

**"I have to destroy it,"** Jin-Woo decided, feeling a sense of urgency.

As he approached, the ground beneath him trembled violently. Shadows erupted from the portal, twisting and writhing before taking form. An entity emerged—a massive creature, shrouded in darkness, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

**"You dare challenge the Keeper of the System?"** it growled, its voice echoing in Jin-Woo's mind.

Jin-Woo gripped his dagger tightly, determination igniting within him. **"I won't let you control this world any longer."**

With a battle cry, he charged at the creature, ready to fight for his life and the fate of the world. But as he engaged, he realized that this battle would be unlike any he had faced before. The creature twisted reality around them, making every attack a perilous gamble.

**Struggle for Control**

The clash between Jin-Woo and the creature was fierce. As he struck, the shadows surrounding him flickered and warped, creating a surreal battlefield. Every move felt uncertain, as if the very laws of physics were bending to the will of the Keeper.

Jin-Woo summoned his shadows to aid him, but the chaotic energies disrupted their cohesion. Shadows blinked in and out of existence, their forms shifting unpredictably. Despite the confusion, Jin-Woo pressed on, relying on his combat mastery to adapt.

**"I won't back down!"** he shouted, determination fueling his every movement.

The creature retaliated, its claws slashing through the air, creating shockwaves that sent Jin-Woo staggering back. He dodged and rolled, regaining his footing just in time to avoid a fatal blow. The Keeper laughed, a low, resonant sound that sent chills down Jin-Woo's spine.

**"You are but a fragment of the System's design. You cannot defeat what you do not understand."**

**"We'll see about that!"** Jin-Woo roared, channeling his mana to unleash a devastating strike.

The blade of his dagger glowed with a brilliant light as he plunged it into the creature's form. The energy pulsed, illuminating the dark chamber. For a moment, it seemed as though the creature might falter, but the shadows surged back, enveloping it in a protective shroud.

**"Your power is impressive, but futile,"** the Keeper taunted, its voice now laced with malice.

Jin-Woo felt the weight of its words. He had faced countless foes, but this one felt different—an embodiment of the very System that had granted him his strength. He was not just fighting for his life; he was fighting for the fate of all hunters.

In that moment of desperation, a flicker of inspiration sparked within him. **"If I can't fight it directly, maybe I can turn its own power against it."**

He focused, drawing on the memories of past battles, the lessons he had learned from the shadows he commanded. With every ounce of willpower, he began to manipulate the shadows around him, weaving them into a complex tapestry of energy.

**"Shadow Domain!"** Jin-Woo shouted, unleashing a surge of power that engulfed the chamber.

The shadows coalesced, creating a vortex that pulled at the Keeper's form. For a brief moment, the creature's power wavered as it struggled against the gravitational pull of Jin-Woo's domain.

"What are you doing?"