Shadow Being System

William sat on his bed, his mind racing as he processed everything that had just happened. His shadow essence had increased drastically, a change that was nothing short of remarkable. He now possessed three distinct abilities. The first was the power of lightning, a gift from the Thunderborn, granting him the ability to summon devastating bolts of electricity. The second was his Copycat ability, allowing him to mimic the powers of others, albeit temporarily. And now, the third—Shadow Manipulation. This new ability was powerful yet elusive, the one he struggled with the most.

Ever since he formed his shadow crystal and gained this ability, he had difficulty summoning shadows to his will. But with the shadow essence boost gifted by the Shadow Lord, perhaps it would be easier now.

Focusing on a dark corner of his small room where the sunlight didn't reach, William steadied his breathing. He concentrated, reaching out to the shadows with his mind. At first, nothing happened, but then the shadows began to swirl faintly, as if alive, responding to his call. His concentration, however, was abruptly shattered by Mrs. Beth's voice calling him for breakfast.

With a sigh, he rose from the bed, feeling both frustration and a glimmer of hope. He had made progress, even if it was small.

Downstairs, the warm aroma of bread and stew greeted him, but William barely noticed. He ate in silence, his mind fixated on the possibilities of his newfound powers. After breakfast, he slipped out of the house, a bag slung over his shoulder containing water and snacks. His destination was the desolate forest outside the town—a perfect place to train his abilities without drawing attention.

As he made his way through the streets, he noticed a gathering of police officers near an alleyway. They were investigating the murders of Billy and the other two boys he had killed. The sight stirred no guilt in him. Those boys had tried to end his life, and he had merely acted in self-defense.

The system chimed in, its voice tinged with curiosity.

"You seem awfully confident that they can't link this to you."

William smirked slightly, replying, "I made sure to cover my tracks. And if there was any loose end, I'm certain Zarin would've cleared it."

"True," the system replied. Then, after a pause, it added, "You're putting a lot of trust in Zarin now."

William's expression darkened. "I don't trust Zarin ," he said firmly. "But I trust his mission. He's here to protect me, for whatever reason, and I know he'll do whatever it takes to fulfill that mission. For now, that makes him not an enemy."

"At least not yet," the system concluded, its voice carrying a faint note of amusement.

The forest loomed ahead, thick and imposing. The dense canopy blocked most of the sunlight, creating an abundance of shadows—perfect for his training. William ventured deeper, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings for any signs of other people. Despite the forest's desolate reputation, it was an ideal place for shady dealings or illicit activities.

Once he was sure he was alone, he dropped his bag and took a deep breath. This was his sanctuary for the day.

First, he tested his lightning ability. Summoning the energy, he released a bolt that crackled through the air, striking a nearby tree. The impact left a charred burn on the bark. It was powerful, but frustratingly limited. Since the ability wasn't innate to him, he couldn't fully control it. The bolt could only travel in a straight line, making precision difficult.

After several attempts, William decided to move on. His focus today was on mastering Shadow Manipulation. He turned his attention to the shadows cast by the canopy above, narrowing his eyes as he concentrated. He reached out to them, trying to summon them to his will. The shadows swirled faintly but resisted his control.

Frustration mounted as he tried again and again, achieving the same result.

"You always find a way to amuse me," a familiar voice drawled.

William spun around, his body tense. Standing a few feet away was Zarin , but this time he looked different. Gone were the black ninja garb and masked face. Instead, he wore a simple shirt and trousers, his striking green hair tied back. For the first time, William saw his face. Zarin was handsome, with sharp features and piercing green eyes that held a faint hint of mischief.

"Why are you here?" William asked, his tone guarded.

Zarin smirked. "You change abilities as if the rules of the world don't apply to you. The first time we met, you had a wind ability. Then lightning, then you could copy others' abilities. And now, you're dabbling in Shadow Manipulation. I'd say that's quite impressive. But…" He gestured to the shadows William had been struggling with. "…you clearly don't know what you're doing."

William scowled. "So what?"

"So," Zarin said, crossing his arms, "you're doing it wrong. You're trying to command the shadows, but shadows don't follow orders. You need to communicate with them. Connect with them. Then, and only then, will they follow your will."

William frowned, mulling over Zarin 's words. Commanding the shadows—that had been his approach so far. But how was he supposed to communicate with something as intangible as a shadow?

Zarin stepped closer, his gaze steady. "Shadows aren't just the absence of light. They're… alive, in their own way. Feel their presence. Understand them. Then draw them toward you."

William hesitated, but then nodded. He turned his attention back to the shadows, clearing his mind. This time, he didn't try to force them. Instead, he reached out with a sense of curiosity, almost as if introducing himself.
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At first, nothing happened. Then, something clicked. A strange sensation washed over him, as if he had become as formless as the shadows themselves. He could feel them—cold, fluid, and ever-present.

Tentatively, he willed them to rise.

The shadows swirled, hesitated, and then… they obeyed. A tendril of darkness rose from the ground, twisting and writhing like a living thing.

A small, triumphant smile tugged at William's lips.

"Not bad," Zarin said, leaning against a tree. "You've got potential. But don't get cocky. Shadows are temperamental. They can just as easily turn on you if you lose control."

William nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. For the first time, he felt like he was beginning to understand this elusive power.

And for the first time, he wondered just how far it could take him.