"Starting tomorrow, I will let the world learn the terror of the Shadow Army."
Kuro looks at the reward of the quest he just completed.
[Hidden Quest: 'A Fabulous Show' Completed.]
[Rewards: ]
+1 Level
+1 Restriction Removal Token
Limitation Removal Token
Rarity: Mystic
Type: Token
A token that removes the limitation placed on a skill. Can currently be used on the skills Shadow Preservation and Shadow Reanimation.
Without a second thought, he used the Token to remove the limitation on Shadow Preservation.
Tti-ring!
[The limitation on Shadow Preservation has been removed.]
[You have earned the right to become a monarch.]
[Class Shadow Lord is being upgraded to Shadow Monarch.]
[You have been granted bonus stats.]
[The skill 'Shadow Domain' has evolved to 'Monarch Domain'."
Kuro basked in the power that was flowing through him. He never thought that removing the limitation on Shadow Preservation allowed him to attain the Monarch rank.
"Good. With this, I have achieved one of the goals of me coming into the tower." Kuro then looks at his status screen.
Name: Kuro Nara
Level: 21
Class: Shadow Monarch
Title: Pervert, Shadow
HP: 1070
Chakra: 2030
Tiredness: 0
[Stat]
Strength: 104
Stamina: 107
Agility: 115
Intelligence: 203
Perception: 113
(Available points to distribute: 293)
[Skills]
Passive skills:
- (Unknown) Lv. Max
- Tenacity Lv. Max
- Chakra Control Lv. Max
- Meditation Technique Lv. Max
- Shadowborn Lv. 6
- Monarch Domain Lv. 3
Active skills:
- Dash Lv. Max
- Stealth Lv. 7
- Night Vision Lv. 6
- Analyze Lv. Max
- Shadow Step Lv. 7
- Ethereal Strike Lv. 4
- Shadow Devour Lv. 4
- Ruler's Authority Lv. 4
- Shadow Bullets Lv 6
Class Skills:
- Shadow Extraction Lv.2
- Shadow Preservation Lv.2
- Shadow Manipulation Lv. 4
- Shadow Reanimation (Limited) Lv. 1
"I will make you regret ever having the thought of going against me, Hoyoshil."
Tti-ring!
[Congratulations on becoming a Monarch. Due to becoming a monarch, the daily quest will no longer be given as the host has stepped into the path of the strong.]
Kuro looks at the notification. "Welp. There goes my free stats from the daily quest."
***
The next morning, Kuro approached Brian with the intention of discussing a trip to the dungeon. Initially, Brian rejected the idea but relented when he sensed the aura Kuro was releasing. However, he set one condition: Kuro could only go after attending all of his classes.
Kuro saw no issue with the condition and agreed without hesitation.
For the next 4 months, Kuro dedicated himself entirely to attending his classes and grinding in the dungeon. Brian could only shake his head as he watched Kuro's relentless focus.
"He's just like you, isn't he, Harvey? Same look, same determination," Brian muttered to himself. "Don't worry. I'll get my revenge on that dungeon, the one that took you and so many innocent lives."
***
"Grawl!" Kuro was locked in battle with a two-headed dog that had spawned on the 23rd floor of the academy dungeon.
Around him, dozens of shadowy figures resembling pigs and dogs fought fiercely. As he descended the dungeon floors, he encountered and defeated countless creatures, adding them to his collection. He could always release them if he found stronger shadows to replace them.
One shadow, in particular, caught his attention. It was the boss of the 20th floor, the Kaijin, a normal-grade shadow. A grin spread across his face as he recalled the salty disappointment of failing to revive the floor 10 boss. This shadow more than made up for it.
Kuro wasn't paying much attention to the two-headed dog's attacks. Eventually, growing bored, he put the creature out of its misery with a bullet to the head.
"Devour"
[You have used Shadow Devour and gained 1 strength stat.]
Rather than raising the creature as a shadow, Kuro chose to boost his own stats. He didn't need common shadows anymore. Without the daily quests, he could no longer get free stats, so he had to make every gain count.
His gaze shifted to the stairs leading down to the 24th floor. "There are only 30 floors in the academy dungeon. I wonder what reward awaits after defeating the floor boss."
Kuro continued grinding through the dungeon. When he needed to rest or attend classes, he left Niji and the Kaijin behind to handle the mobs. He only left Niji and the Kaijin so he can surprise everyone when he raids the Hoyoshil guild.
Still, a pang of sadness lingered. Aside from Niji, who is at Knight Rank, and the Kaijin, a Normal Rank shadow, the other 638 shadows in his collection were all basic.
Kuro was so lost in his grind that before he realized it, it had already been 1 year since he arrived at Prime Earth through the Tower of Heavens.
***
Meanwhile Kuro was busy with the dungeon, Eli, Lira, and several girls from different classes and grades gathered in a classroom.
(A/N: In case you've forgotten, Lira is the peculiar girl who sits in front of Kuro, and Eli sits beside him on Kuro's first day of class.)
"As you all know, our Kuro seems to be constantly occupied. He's so young, yet so dedicated, while we're here attending classes and having fun," Lira said with a hint of concern. "He should be out there enjoying life like others his age."
She scanned the room, noticing several nodding heads. "We all want to support him. We all want to do more. But we also don't want to distract him from his goals."
A freshman sitting at the back, who had admired Kuro from afar, hesitantly raised her hand. "Maybe… we could help him in small ways? Things that won't take away from his focus but still show him that we're here for him?"
Lira's eyes brightened. "Exactly! There's nothing wrong with offering our support. Whether it's helping him with his classes, ensuring he gets some rest, or even just sending him a little encouragement while he's grinding."
As the girls' discussion grew more heated, Eli, observing from the sidelines, shook his head and quietly left the room.
"It seems like you're more popular than you realize, Kuro," Eli muttered to himself. "These girls are like bots. All they do is think and talk about you." He sighed, feeling a little helpless. "If only I had girls infatuated with me... The single, lonely me."