Shadow Being System

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William climbed out of the chasm with practiced ease, his movements smooth and precise as he gripped the jagged rocks and pulled himself up onto solid ground. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of trees, casting long, golden rays that danced across the forest floor. The air was cooler now, tinged with the earthy scent of damp moss and distant wildflowers. Birds chirped sporadically in the trees, their songs blending with the rustling of leaves stirred by a soft breeze. The forest was alive, but its vastness and the shadows creeping between the trunks lent it an ominous air.

As William walked through the dense forest, his thoughts were a whirlwind. The sleek black bow slung across his back felt like an extension of himself, a weapon that hummed with latent power, eager to be used. The memory of the foggy chasm and the refreshing plunge into the lake still lingered, but now his mind turned to the next day's challenge—the beast hunt. It was no ordinary exercise. They weren't going to be hunting on Earth. The thought sent a shiver through him, equal parts excitement and trepidation.

A beast planet… populated by creatures that existed for one purpose: to destroy. On those planets, humans were not the apex predators. They were prey. The academy's instructors had made that very clear. This was not just a lesson or a test; it was survival. The creatures that roamed those planets were relentless, their instincts honed to kill anything that crossed their path. William's fingers unconsciously brushed the bowstring as he thought about it. He was eager to test his strength, to face a beast again after so long, but there was also a gnawing fear in the back of his mind. Would he survive? He knew death was an inevitable part of such outings. It happened every year. The only thing he could do was ensure it wasn't him or his friends.

The forest began to thin as he neared the academy grounds. The trees grew farther apart, and patches of open grassland stretched out before him. The sounds of the forest changed too. The chirping of birds gave way to distant laughter and voices, signaling the presence of other students. A faint breeze carried the aroma of food from the academy kitchens, mingling with the earthy scent of the forest. As he stepped out into the open, the imposing structures of the academy came into view, their tall spires and stone walls bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The sight was both comforting and foreboding, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.

As William made his way across the grounds, he noticed a group of boys sprinting toward the girls' dormitory, their laughter echoing across the courtyard. "Night cardio," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. He sighed deeply, his thoughts drifting to his own school life. Despite being one of the most handsome boys in the academy—a fact he was well aware of—his interactions with girls were almost nonexistent. The only exceptions were Sofia and Eleanor, but they were just friends, nothing more.

He sighed again, running a hand through his hair as he watched the boys disappear into the distance. It wasn't that he didn't like the idea of companionship or romance. In fact, there were moments when he envied the carefree way others seemed to connect. But his life wasn't normal. It hadn't been for a long time. The last time a girl had tried to get closer to him, things had ended… poorly. It hadn't been his fault, not entirely. He'd been blunt, perhaps too much so, but he couldn't afford distractions. Not now. Not when he was certain the heretics had their eyes on him. The beast planet would be a perfect opportunity for an assassination. But at least he had one reassurance—a good bodyguard. That thought brought a faint smirk to his face.

The dormitory loomed ahead, a tall, sturdy building with ivy creeping up its stone walls. Its windows glowed faintly, the warm light spilling out onto the cobblestone path. The sounds of students talking and laughing drifted from within, mingling with the occasional bark of a dog from the caretaker's quarters. As William approached, he felt a strange mix of exhaustion and anticipation. The events of the day had been draining, but tomorrow promised something entirely different—something dangerous and exhilarating.

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The large wooden doors creaked open as William stepped inside. The dormitory's interior was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cool, foreboding forest outside. Students milled about, some lounging on the worn leather couches in the common area, others chatting in hushed tones as they prepared for the night. William paid them little attention as he made his way to his room, his thoughts still consumed by the upcoming hunt.

He pushed open the door to his dormitory room, the familiar scent of wood and parchment greeting him. The room was simple but comfortable, with a neatly made bed, a desk cluttered with books and notes, and a small wardrobe tucked into the corner. Liam and Gavin were nowhere to be seen, leaving the space entirely his for now.

William walked over to his side of the room, pulled the sleek black bow and quiver of arrows from his back, and admired them for a brief moment. The bow felt alive in his hands, humming with energy, but he decided to keep it safe until it was needed. With a flick of his wrist, he concentrated on the system interface—a faint blue shimmer rippled through the air, and the bow and quiver vanished, stored securely in his invisible inventory. It was a relief to have the system's aid, even if he still didn't fully understand its origins.

With his weapon tucked away, William turned his attention to the mini fridge in the corner of the room. He opened it with a faint click, the cool air brushing against his face as he grabbed a snack—a small packet of dried meat and a can of juice. He tossed the packet onto his bed and popped open the juice can, the sharp hiss of carbonation breaking the silence. Sitting down, he leaned against the headboard, letting out a sigh as he took a sip. The day had been long, and the excitement of tomorrow's hunt still buzzed in his mind. Yet, there was an undercurrent of anxiety too, a quiet reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.

As he reached for the packet of dried meat, the door to the dormitory swung open with a loud bang, startling him. Liam and Gavin stormed in, their faces alight with excitement. Gavin was the first to speak, practically bouncing on his feet as he dropped his bag onto the floor. "William! You won't believe the weapon I got!" he exclaimed, his voice carrying the enthusiasm of a child showing off a new toy.

Liam followed closely behind, rolling his eyes but unable to hide the grin on his face. "Yeah, and I'm sure he'll find mine even more impressive," he added smugly, tossing his bag onto his bed and flopping down dramatically.

William couldn't help but smile at their energy, setting his snack aside. "Alright, alright," he said, sitting up straighter. "What did you guys get? Show me."

Author's Note

Hey everyone! I know I haven't been uploading lately, and I appreciate your patience. The reason for this break is that I've been stockpiling chapters to prepare for next month's Mass Gift Support (MGS). Starting next month, I'll be uploading daily to give you consistent and exciting updates!

Also, I want to remind you that the official reading platform for this story is Webnovel. If you're not reading it there, the least you can do to support me is to leave a review on Webnovel. Your feedback helps me improve and motivates me to keep going!

Thank you for sticking with me, and I can't wait to share all the new chapters with you soon!