# Chapter Three:
A week had passed since the "Dark Awakening System" had awakened within Kang Jin-woo. A week he spent meticulously exploring his new abilities and completing the small daily quests the System offered, patiently and cautiously accumulating experience points. His level had risen to 2, and he had acquired the "Behavioral Analysis (Level 1)" skill after observing hundreds of people, a skill that enhanced his innate ability to read people and exploit their weaknesses.
The shadow dagger he had obtained from the random box had become his constant companion, carefully hidden beneath his clothes. He hadn't used it yet, but just carrying it gave him a sense of dark satisfaction. He was waiting for the right opportunity, the right target.
One night, as he was wandering the back alleys of the port district, an area known for gang activity and illicit trade, his "Cold Observer's Eye" led him to an interesting scene. Three shabbily dressed men were cornering another man, apparently a small merchant, and violently demanding money. A common sight in this part of the city, but the System window showed additional details.
[Port Shadow Gang Members (Level 2) x3]
[Status: Hostile (Greed, Overconfidence)]
[Skills: Street Fighting (Beginner), Intimidation (Beginner)]
[Description: Low-ranking members of a local gang. They rely on their numbers to intimidate the weak.]
[Terrified Merchant – Human (Ordinary)]
[Level: 1]
[Status: Extremely Frightened (Despair, Mild pain from a recent punch)]
[Description: A small merchant trying to make a living. Often a target for extortionists.]
Jin-woo smiled. This could be a good opportunity to test his dagger, and perhaps earn some "respect" in this underworld. He wasn't interested in helping the merchant, of course. The merchant was just bait, and the three men were potential prey.
With quiet steps, Jin-woo approached the group, staying in the shadows as much as possible. His innate stealth skill, now enhanced by the shadow dagger, made him almost invisible in the dim alley light. One of the gangsters, a large man with an ugly scar on his face, was holding the merchant by his collar and shaking him violently.
"Didn't you hear what we said, you scumbag? Protection money, now! Or you'll regret the day you decided to sell in our territory!"
At that moment, Jin-woo moved. With a speed and confidence gained from his new understanding of his abilities, he slipped behind the scarred man. There was no hesitation, no fear. Only a cold calculation of opportunity. He raised the shadow dagger and, in one smooth motion, plunged it into the man's side, just below the rib cage. It wasn't an immediately fatal stab, but a painful and immobilizing one.
The scarred man gasped in pain and surprise, turning to look at his unknown attacker. He saw Jin-woo, his face calm as a mask, his eyes as cold as ice. Before the man could scream or retaliate, Jin-woo pulled out the dagger and followed up with another, deeper thrust, aiming for the kidney.
[Critical damage dealt to "Port Shadow Gang Member"!]
["Shadow Wound" effect activated! Target is moderately losing vital energy.]
The scarred man fell to his knees, blood gushing from his wounds. His two remaining companions looked on in shock, then anger. "Who the hell are you?!" one of them yelled, pulling a rusty knife from his belt.
Jin-woo didn't answer. Instead, he smoothly dodged the first man's attack, utilizing his increased agility. He ducked under the man's outstretched arm and delivered a powerful, calculated punch to his throat. The second man collapsed, coughing and choking, his eyes bulging with pain.
The third man, who seemed the most cowardly of the three, froze for a moment, then turned to flee. But Jin-woo was faster. He threw the shadow dagger with surprising accuracy, hitting the fleeing man's leg. The man screamed in pain and fell to the ground.
In a matter of seconds, the scene had transformed from a simple extortion attempt into a small massacre. Jin-woo stood in the middle of the alley, his dagger dripping with viscous black blood. The terrified merchant was staring at him with an open mouth, his eyes filled with horror and confusion. He didn't know if this mysterious young man had saved him or if he was just another, more dangerous monster.
Jin-woo calmly walked over to the gangster with the injured leg and retrieved his dagger. He looked at the man writhing in pain and fear.
"Port Shadow Gang, right?" Jin-woo asked in a quiet voice. "Tell me more about them." It wasn't a question, but a command.
["Psychological Manipulation" skill (Innate – Advanced) partially succeeded due to target's state (Extreme fear, Pain).]
The injured man began to babble, his words broken by pain, revealing information about the gang's size, its leaders, and their usual hangouts. Jin-woo listened intently, storing every detail. He wasn't planning to join them; he was gathering intelligence on potential rivals or future targets.
After extracting all he could from the man, Jin-woo looked at the merchant, who was still frozen in place. "As for you," Jin-woo said, "I believe you owe me something for this service." There was no hint of kindness in his voice.
The merchant nodded quickly, pulled out all the money he had – a small handful of coins and crumpled bills – and offered it to Jin-woo with trembling hands. Jin-woo took the money without a word, then looked at the three gangsters, who were now either dead or dying.
[Eliminated "Port Shadow Gang Member" (Level 2) x3.]
[Obtained 45 System Experience Points.]
[Obtained: Few Won x15, Rusty Knife (Trash Grade) x1, Information on "Port Shadow Gang" (Low Grade).]
The rewards were modest, but the experience was invaluable. Jin-woo had proven to himself that he could effectively use his powers in a real fight. More importantly, he had enjoyed it. The control, the power, the fear in his victims' eyes – it all fed his dark side.
Jin-woo left the bloodstained alley as calmly as he had entered it, leaving the trembling merchant behind. He didn't look back. He knew this was just the beginning. The world was full of prey, and he was hungry.
As he walked through the dark streets, a new System window appeared before him.
[Hidden Quest conditions met!]
[Quest Completed: "First Blood".]
[Description: You have proven your ability to end another's life in cold blood using the System's tools.]
[Reward: 50 System Experience Points, Title "Nascent Shadow Slayer," Skill "Blood Rush (Level 1)" unlocked.]
[Title: Nascent Shadow Slayer]
[Effect: +5% damage when using bladed weapons in darkness or against unaware targets. Induces slight fear in low-perception beings.]
[Skill: Blood Rush (Level 1) – Active]
[Description: Upon activation, slightly increases your speed and strength for a short duration (10 seconds) after drawing first blood in combat. Consumes a small amount of stamina.]
[Cooldown: 5 minutes.]
Jin-woo's smile widened further. The System was rewarding him for his true nature. "Nascent Shadow Slayer"... He liked the sound of that. And the new skill seemed promising. Things were progressing even better than he had anticipated.
That night, Jin-woo didn't return directly to his apartment. Instead, he headed to another part of the city, a wealthier district where tall buildings gleamed with neon lights. He had a feeling his real adventures had yet to begin, and that the true "Anomalies," the real challenges, awaited him in less obvious places than the back alleys of the port. He was looking for something bigger, something that could truly test his limits. And something deep inside him told him he would find it soon.