Shadow Being System

William woke with a start, his heart pounding violently against his ribcage. The dim morning light filtered through the cracked window of his small room at the orphanage, casting long shadows on the walls. His head throbbed with an intensity that felt like a hammer pounding inside his skull. Beads of cold sweat rolled down his temples, soaking the already damp sheets beneath him.

For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling, trying to piece together the fragments of what had transpired the night before. The events of the abyss played on a relentless loop in his mind: the massive, unblinking purple eye, the oppressive voice of the Shadow Lord, and the gut-wrenching feeling of his soul being laid bare. It was as though his very essence had been unraveled and reknitted, but not quite the same as before.

"What… what the hell happened?" he muttered to himself, clutching his head as the pounding headache refused to subside.

Just as he tried to sit up, a familiar voice echoed in his mind, sharp and urgent. [System Activated.]

[System: What happened last night, William? Explain immediately.]

The tone was unlike anything William had heard from the system before. It was usually calm and calculated, but now it was tinged with an edge of alarm.

"You tell me!" William snapped, his frustration bubbling over. "You're the system, aren't you? Why didn't you do anything when I was in the abyss?"

[System: Something interfered with my functions. I was… shut down. Whatever entity you encountered possesses a power far beyond my parameters. I could not access or protect you during that time.]

The words sent a chill down William's spine. The system, which had always seemed infallible, had been rendered helpless. He clenched his fists, feeling a mix of fear and anger.

"It was the Shadow Lord," William said, his voice trembling slightly as he recounted the encounter. "I saw him. He spoke to me. He… offered me power. And I think… I think he gave me something."

There was a brief pause before the system responded. [System: Check your status immediately. There has been a significant change.]

William hesitated for a moment, his breath catching in his throat. Then, with a mental command, he summoned the interface. The familiar blue screen materialized before his eyes, lines of text glowing faintly against the dim light of the room.

[Status]

[William]

Age: 16

Male

Level: 10

Experience Value: 250/1500

Strength: 23 (+10)

Agility: 22 (+10)

Endurance: 22 (+10)

Skills: [Shadow Eye] [Darkseer Level 1] [Immunox]

Attribute: [Shadow Being] [Child of Thunder]

Soul Essence: ??? Continue your journey at empire

QaShadow Essence: 100 (+86)

Ability: Shadow Manipulation

Store Coins: 350

William's eyes widened as he scanned the new data. His strength, agility, and endurance had each increased by ten points, a leap that would have taken months of grueling effort to achieve under normal circumstances. But what truly caught his attention was the Shadow Essence. It had surged from a measly 14 to a staggering 100. And then there was the new ability: Shadow Manipulation.

"Shadow Manipulation," he whispered, the words tasting foreign on his tongue. A cold shiver ran through him as he remembered the Shadow Lord's ominous words: 'I want to give you power.'

"This must be what he meant," William muttered, his hands trembling slightly. "This… this is his power."

[System: Correct. The ability you now possess is a fragment of the Shadow Lord's essence. Be warned, William. This power is not without its dangers.]

"What do you mean?" William asked, his voice edged with unease.

[System: Shadow Manipulation grants you immense potential, but it comes with risks. Overuse or reckless application could deepen the connection between you and the Shadow Lord. If that bond strengthens, he may gain greater influence over you.]

William's heart sank. The thought of being a puppet to such a terrifying entity sent a wave of nausea through him. "So what do I do?"

[System: Use the ability sparingly. Monitor its effects closely. And above all, inform me immediately if you encounter the Shadow Lord again. I must analyze any interaction to better understand and counter his influence.]

William nodded, though the motion felt hollow. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat there, his head in his hands. The weight of everything pressed down on him—the system, the Shadow Lord, and now this newfound power that felt more like a curse than a gift.

He glanced at his trembling hands, clenching them into fists to steady himself. A part of him was tempted to test the ability, to see what this Shadow Manipulation could do. But the system's warning echoed in his mind, holding him back.

"Power always comes with a price," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "The question is… can I afford it?"

The faint sound of footsteps in the hallway pulled him from his thoughts. The other orphans would be waking up soon, and he needed to act normal. Whatever had happened last night, whatever changes had occurred, he couldn't let anyone know. Not yet.

He stood, his legs still unsteady, and took a deep breath. As he made his way to the small, cracked mirror hanging on the wall, he caught his reflection. His eyes, once dull and tired, now seemed to hold a faint glimmer of something—something dark and unfathomable. The sight sent a shiver down his spine.

"This is just the beginning," he murmured, his reflection staring back at him with an intensity that felt almost foreign.

And deep within the recesses of his mind, the faint echo of the Shadow Lord's laughter lingered, a haunting reminder of the abyss he had barely escaped.

Author's Note

Happy New Year, my amazing readers! As we step into another year filled with possibilities, I want to thank you for your incredible support on this journey. If you're enjoying Shadow Being System, don't forget to check out my other book, Demon Being System! Your encouragement means the world to me, and every comment, review, or even a small gift motivates me tokeep creating exciting stories for you. Let's make this year unforgettable together!