Solo Leveling : 10 Shadow Technique

Veil Spider – A translucent spider with long, thin legs. Spins nearly invisible webs for traps.

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The wind howled atop the mountain, carrying the scent of ozone and blood. Finn stood at the peak, his usual grin slightly strained as Mahoraga loomed over him.

The massive, beastly entity cracked its neck, the wheel on its head beginning to spin—a telltale sign that it was adapting once again. Around them, the ground was littered with weapons—spears, swords, axes, remnants of attacks that Mahoraga had already adapted to.

"Alright, big guy," Finn stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. "You don't go down easy, huh? But that's fine, 'cause I like a challenge. Let's see if you can handle... everyone!"

With a sharp clap of his hands, Chimera Shadow Garden activated. The domain spread like an ink spill, dark tendrils creeping across the stone. One by one, his Shikigami emerged in multiples—dozens of Kage-Ikari, a swarm of Abyssal Striders, The Wells Unknown Abyss gliding above, and his mighty Merge Beast: Agito coiling around him like a living fortress.

Mahoraga's eyes gleamed with something close to amusement. With a fluid motion, it swung its Sword of Extinction, cutting through the first wave of Shikigami like paper. But Finn smirked—those weren't real losses. As the shadows of his fallen allies dissipated, more stepped forward from the darkness.

"Nice try, buddy," Finn taunted, dodging a swipe from Mahoraga's tail. "But I've got extras!"

The Battle Begins

Kage-Ikari darted forward, their obsidian claws slashing at Mahoraga's limbs. They were fast, unpredictable, but with a single turn of the wheel, Mahoraga adapted, moving just a fraction quicker, dodging and countering each strike. Finn grit his teeth.

"Alright then, round two!" He whistled, and the Abyssal Striders surged in, their ethereal tendrils lashing at Mahoraga. Their power was built on eroding the physical form of enemies over time, but once again, the wheel turned. The next time Mahoraga was struck, its body shimmered slightly, immune to the eroding touch.

"Man, adapting to intangibility? That's cheating!" Finn groaned, backflipping away from an incoming attack.

Mahoraga roared and swung its sword in a wide arc, decimating several Shikigami in one go. Finn's smirk faltered as he saw some of his creatures fade permanently—this time, not a trick. The Abyssal Striders and two of his Kage-Ikari were gone.

"Damn," Finn muttered. "Alright, no more holding back."

With a snap of his fingers, Agito lunged, its draconic form smashing into Mahoraga like a tidal wave of force. Meanwhile, The Wells Unknown Abyss flanked from the sky, using its elongated tongue to bind the beast's limbs. For a moment, it looked like they had the upper hand, but then—the wheel turned.

Mahoraga's aura flared, and with a single swing of its sword, The Wells Unknown Abyss was bisected, fading into the ether.

"Ugh," Finn rubbed his temples. "You know how much time it took to get that one? Do you even appreciate craftsmanship, you overgrown hedgehog?!"

The monster didn't respond. It never did. It simply pressed on, its unyielding nature pushing Finn to his limit.

The Fusions

More Shikigami fell, their shadows dispersing into Finn's domain. He felt their loss in his chest, a dull ache of energy fading away. But he had planned for this. As his weaker Shikigami fell, their remnants fused with the survivors, enhancing them beyond their previous limits.

The remaining Kage-Ikari merged into a singular, larger beast, its claws now burning with an eerie blue flame.

Agito absorbed the remnants of The Wells Unknown Abyss, gaining enhanced reach and an electrified aura.

The Abyssal Striders that had perished infused into his remaining spectral Shikigami, granting them increased durability.

Abyss Leviathan fused with The Wells Unknown Abyss's remnants, gaining the ability to create waves of pure shadow that crashed like a tidal force.

Steel Warden merged with the remnants of Kage-Ikari, creating a knight-like entity with burning gauntlets and enhanced swordsmanship.

Finn exhaled sharply. "Alright. One last trick up my sleeve."

The Final Strike

He had been saving this for last. He never dared to touch it—not even with his Venom immunity. A year's worth of work, a bullet so toxic, so corrosive, even he couldn't withstand prolonged exposure.

Finn raised his arm, forming his fingers into the shape of a gun. At the tip, the Venom bullet hovered, its surface swirling with layers of acid and lethal toxin.

Mahoraga charged, sword raised. The wheel began to turn again.

Finn exhaled slowly, steadying his hand. "Maximum Technique..."

The bullet shimmered, crackling with unstable energy.

"Venomous Zenith."

BAM.

The shot broke the sound barrier, the force of its release shattering the ground beneath Finn's feet. The bullet blurred through the air, leaving a vacuum trail in its wake.

Mahoraga's wheel never finished its spin. The moment the bullet made contact, its body began to erode—no, disintegrate. The venom acted instantly, corroding flesh, bone, and even the intangible essence of its adaptation.

Milliseconds passed. Mahoraga let out a final, silent cry before collapsing, its entire form dissolving into nothingness.

Silence.

Finn stood still, his breath heavy. Then, he let out a low chuckle. "That was... way too close. Note to self: never fight something with an insta-adapt cheat code again."

He watched as the remnants of Mahoraga's shadow slithered into his own. Tamed. He had won.

Finn stretched his arms, glancing at the sky. "Guess I should head back before someone yells at me for causing a mountain disaster. Man, I need coffee after this."