My Afterlife System!

Darkness pressed in from all sides.

Jihwan stood in the vast chamber, his breath steady as he faced the monstrous figure ahead. The Light Eater—a shifting, amorphous entity—loomed over him, its translucent form pulsing with an eerie glow. A grotesque grin twisted across its ever-shifting surface.

A system window flickered before him.

[Stage 2 Boss – Light Eater]

HP: 1000/1000

Abilities: Devour Light, Tendril Restraint, Blinding Flash

Jihwan tightened his grip on his dagger. He was still battered from earlier battles, and now he faced something nearly ten times his size.

(I can't afford mistakes.)

The Light Eater rippled—then dozens of tendrils lashed out!

Jihwan barely had time to react. He rolled aside, dodging the first wave, but a second tendril struck his shoulder like a whip.

[HP: 85/100]

He gritted his teeth. If it catches me, I'm done.

The Light Eater let out a hollow screech, shifting erratically. Another attack surged toward him. Jihwan activated Shadow Walk—his form dissolving into darkness.

The tendrils slashed through empty air.

The creature hesitated.

That was all he needed.

Reappearing behind it, Jihwan launched his dagger—

[Silent Throw!]

The cursed blade spun through the air, striking deep into the creature's back.

[Critical Hit! -100 HP]

The Light Eater convulsed, but instead of retreating, it let out a warped, gurgling laugh.

Then—

A blinding explosion of light burst from its core.

[Blinding Flash Activated – Vision Impaired for 10 Seconds]

Jihwan's world turned white. His eyes burned. (Damn it—!)

Something cold wrapped around his leg.

Before he could react, a powerful force yanked him into the air.

[HP: 70/100]

The tendrils constricted, crushing his ribs. His breaths came in ragged gasps.

(Think. There has to be a way—!)

Even blind, he could feel the creature's presence. He sharpened his focus, relying on his cursed perception.

Then—he struck.

[Death's Touch!]

His dagger pulsed with dark energy as he drove it into the tendril around his torso.

[Darkness Corruption Inflicted – Light Eater's HP -150]

The creature shrieked. Its grip loosened.

Jihwan wrenched free, flipping mid-air. His dagger gleamed with cursed energy as he aimed for the core.

One strike.

[Critical Hit! -200 HP]

The Light Eater thrashed violently. Cracks spread across its form, its glow flickering like a dying flame.

Jihwan landed, panting. One more hit…

The Light Eater's tendrils lunged in desperation.

Jihwan moved first.

With a final burst of speed, he leaped toward the core, dagger raised high.

[Final Strike – Cursed Execution!]

The dagger pierced through.

A shuddering wail echoed as the Light Eater fractured, its form dissolving into pure energy. The darkness in the chamber lifted, vanishing as if it had never existed.

Then—

Silence.

A system message appeared.

[Stage 2 Boss Defeated.]

[+500 XP]

[You have gained: Fragment of the Light Eater.]

Jihwan exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow.

(Two stages down. And it's only getting harder.)

The Light Eater roared, its body thrashing violently. Its translucent form flickered, the light within dimming as its HP dropped.

[Light Eater HP: 550/1000]

Jihwan's body ached. His Shadow Walk had ended, and exhaustion clawed at him.

[HP: 70/100]

[Stamina: 50/100]

The creature's tendrils recoiled, like a predator preparing to strike.

(If I drag this out, I'll run out of stamina first. I have to end this—now.)

The Light Eater lunged, its mouth splitting open, revealing a black vortex.

A system warning flashed.

[Devour Light Activated – All Light Absorbed]

The dungeon's glow vanished. Shadows deepened.

Jihwan's instincts flared. This wasn't just absorbing light—it was devouring life itself.

(Move now or die!)

He threw his dagger.

The cursed blade sliced through darkness, striking the creature's chest.

[Critical Hit! -200 HP]

The Light Eater shrieked.

But its tendrils lashed out instantly, coiling around Jihwan's limbs.

[Tendril Restraint Activated – Movement Restricted]

A cold chill spread through his body.

(I can't escape—!)

A notification appeared.

[Skill "Shadow Walk" has been reactivated due to extreme danger.]

Jihwan vanished into the darkness just as the tendrils tightened.

The Light Eater froze, confused.

Too late.

Jihwan reappeared behind it, dagger in hand.

With all his strength, he drove the blade into its core—straight through its wound.

A burst of dark energy erupted.

[Death's Touch Activated – Corruption Spreading]

The Light Eater convulsed, darkness crawling through its body, consuming it from within.

It let out one last, piercing wail—

Then—

Silence.

The creature collapsed, flickering once before vanishing.

A system message appeared.

[Congratulations! You have defeated the Stage 2 Boss: Light Eater!]

[EXP Gained: 500]

[Level Up!]

Jihwan exhaled. His hands were numb. His vision swam.

But he had won.

A second notification blinked to life.

[New Title Acquired: "Killer of Light Eater"]

[New Weapon Obtained: "Creator of Light"]

Before him, a long blade materialized, humming with an unfamiliar power.

(This… is mine now?)

Satisfaction settled in his chest—but he didn't have time to dwell on it.

Because the dungeon wasn't over yet.