I Awakened The Shadow System

Chapter 2. The Voice in the Dark

The words still echoed in his head: [Welcome to the Shadow System.]

Liam rubbed his temples, breathing fast. “System… what does that even mean?” he whispered.

[Daily Quest Initiated: 50 pushups. 50 squats. 10km run.]

He froze. The glowing text hung in the air before him, bright as a ghost. His pulse quickened. “This isn’t real.”

[Timer: 6 hours remaining. Failure will result in physical regression.]

“Regression?” he repeated, frowning. “What are you?”

A jolt of electricity shot through his body, sharp and cold, dropping him to his knees. “Alright! Alright, I’ll do it!” he gasped.

The pain stopped. The words blinked. [Acknowledged. Begin.]

He started with pushups, counting through gritted teeth. His muscles screamed. Sweat dripped onto the cold floor. Each movement felt heavier than the last.

By the thirtieth pushup, his arms trembled. By the fortieth, his breath was ragged. He collapsed, face pressed against the floorboards. “I can’t.”

[Weakness detected. Adaptation required.]

A faint warmth flowed through him, dull but steady. His strength returned, just enough. He pushed himself up again, jaw clenched. “Fine. You want to see what I can do? Watch me.”

The night wore on. He finished the squats, then the run, sprinting through the empty courtyard beneath the pouring rain, lightning flashing across the stone towers.

His shoes splashed through puddles. His breath echoed like drumbeats. And every time he thought he would collapse, the voice whispered again: [Keep going, host. Pain is proof of life.]

He reached the final step of the dorm stairs, soaked and shaking. The System’s glow flared once more.

[Quest Complete.]

[+5 Strength | +2 Agility | Ability Unlocked: Minor Shadow Step.]

Liam collapsed against the wall, gasping. The words faded, replaced by silence, then, a pulse of warmth. His muscles tightened, healing. 

His reflection in the rain-spattered window caught his eye. The boy staring back at him wasn’t frail anymore.

His eyes… had changed. Silver irises darkened, swirling faintly with black energy.

He lifted his hand. A wisp of smoke curled around his fingers, then disappeared. “What are you doing to me?” he whispered.

[Integration: 5% complete.]

[Do not reveal the System. Observation protocols active.]

“Observation?” His voice was small. “Who’s watching me?”

The System didn’t answer.

Morning came gray and heavy. The rain hadn’t stopped. Liam pulled on his academy jacket and slipped out quietly, hoping no one would notice his absence the night before, but he wasn’t lucky.

In the cafeteria, Kane sat surrounded by admirers, his laugh sharp as glass. “Well, look who decided to crawl back from the shadows,” Kane said loudly when Liam entered. “Didn’t think you’d show your face after yesterday.”

Mira’s fork clattered on her plate. “Kane, that’s enough.”

“Oh?” he smirked. “Defending your little project again? Careful, healer, the weak have a way of dragging others down.”

Liam clenched his jaw and walked past him without a word. Kane’s eyes narrowed. “No comeback? Not even a ‘one day I’ll beat you’? Pathetic.”

The words burned, but Liam didn’t stop. He sat at a corner table, unwrapping his bread quietly.

Dax leaned closer. “Ignore him. You’ll get your chance someday.”

Liam gave a hollow laugh. “A chance? Not with what I am.”

Dax frowned. “What you think you are. Big difference.”

Later, during combat class, Headmaster Varian observed the students sparring. Kane dominated as always, his light spears cutting through air like divine fire. Even the teachers applauded.

When it was Liam’s turn to spar, he faced Dax, an easy opponent, but something strange happened.

The moment Dax lunged, time slowed. Liam’s instincts flared, and suddenly, the world blurred.

He moved. One step, and he was behind Dax. Dax froze mid-swing. “What, how did you?”

Liam blinked. His heart raced. He’d just used Shadow Step.

Varian’s eyes widened slightly. The old man whispered to himself, “That… was no ordinary reflex.”

But before Liam could process what happened, Kane’s voice rang out. “Did anyone see that? The Null just cheated!”

The crowd laughed. “Yeah, he must’ve used a trick!”

Liam shook his head. “I didn’t.”

Kane smirked. “Show us, then. Do it again.”

Liam hesitated. He couldn’t reveal it. The System had warned him. “I can’t,” he said quietly.

Kane’s smile widened. “Of course you can’t. Because there’s nothing to show.”

Varian raised a hand, silencing them. “Enough. Return to your stations.”

But as the class dispersed, his gaze lingered on Liam again, thoughtful, almost wary.

That night, the dorms were silent again. Liam sat by the window, watching lightning crawl across the sky. He whispered, “System, why me? Why now?”

[You were chosen.]

The reply was faint, echoing inside his skull like a whisper through a tunnel. [Power exists in every shadow. You are its vessel.]

Liam frowned. “Chosen? For what?”

[Survival. Evolution. Purpose.]

He shook his head, gripping the pendant tightly. “Are you real… or am I losing my mind?”

[Reality is irrelevant. You accepted me. Now we grow.]

Before he could respond, a new alert appeared.

[Emergency Quest: Evade detection.]

[Someone is observing the Host.]

Liam shot to his feet. “What?”

He turned, but saw nothing. Only darkness. A shadow flickered by the door.  His pulse spiked.

[Shadow Step Lv.1 Activated.]

Instinct took over. He blinked, and suddenly, he was behind his own bed, heart hammering. The door creaked open.

Rhea Solen stepped inside quietly, her white academy robe glowing in the moonlight. Her expression was unreadable. “Liam Cross,” she said softly. “I know what you did last night.”

He froze. “What are you talking about?”

“The courtyard,” she continued, stepping closer. “When the Rift Beast attacked, you disappeared. You moved like smoke.”

He frowned. “That wasn’t me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Liar. I saw the shadows move. They followed you.”

Liam’s heart raced. “You were there?”

“I was ordered to be.” Her tone hardened. “The Headmaster told me to watch you.”

“Watch me? Why?”

Rhea hesitated, studying him, his trembling hands, his confused eyes. “I don’t know. But… he said you’re different. Dangerous, maybe.”

“Dangerous?” Liam laughed bitterly. “To who? I’m powerless.”

Her gaze softened slightly. “Then why are the shadows drawn to you?”

Before he could answer, the candlelight flickered violently. A gust of cold air swept through the room. The pendant flared, black and bright.

Rhea stumbled back. “What’s happening?”

The System’s voice thundered inside his skull, louder than before. [Host compromised. Protective protocol initiated.]

Dark smoke burst from the pendant, swirling around them both. Liam’s vision blurred, voices layered over each other.

[Run.]

[Hide.]

[They will come for you.]

He gasped, clutching his chest. “System, stop!”

Rhea reached for him. “Liam!”

The world turned black. When Liam opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his dorm.

He stood in a vast, dark hall, ancient pillars stretching into endless shadows. At the far end, a colossal figure sat on a throne of smoke, its eyes glowing red.

And it spoke, with his own voice. “Welcome, Liam Cross. I’ve been waiting for you.”