Shadow Being System

William lay still on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The faint moonlight that filtered through the window gave the room an eerie glow, highlighting the still forms of Liam and Gavin, who were fast asleep. Liam's snoring filled the room, a steady rhythm that blended with the distant chirping of crickets outside. William shifted slightly, his mind restless. Thoughts of the bow plagued him, twisting his stomach in knots.

"What if the bow doesn't fire?" he wondered. "What if the arrow's too heavy? What if it…" Your next chapter awaits on empire

He groaned softly, running his hands through his hair. "Ah, fuck it," he muttered under his breath. Unable to bear the storm of doubts any longer, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up. Quietly, he reached for some light clothes, slipping into them with practiced ease. Then, he removed his earrings — sleek devices that doubled as his phone. It was past curfew, and the academy's surveillance system would pick up any unauthorized movements. But thanks to General Zhao's tampering, William's phone was a loophole. It allowed him to move unnoticed, an essential modification for his secret missions.

With cautious steps, he approached the window, careful not to wake Liam or Gavin. The cool night breeze greeted him as he slid the window open. The scent of dew and freshly cut grass filled his nostrils, refreshing and invigorating. He climbed onto the sill, the cool metal pressing against his palms. Before leaping, he cast a glance back into the room. Liam's eyes fluttered open briefly, catching the sight of William at the window. But as quickly as they opened, they closed again, and Liam's steady breathing resumed.

William smirked to himself. "Did he see me?" he wondered. But there was no time to dwell on it.

The room was on the fourth floor, high enough to make the jump challenging. He swung himself out, the wind rushing past as he began his descent. As he passed by the windows of other students, he caught glimpses of them soundly asleep. His lips curled into a wry grin. "If I keep jumping out of windows like this, someone's bound to start a rumor about Batman."

His feet touched the ground with practiced ease. The shadows around him seemed to ripple and cushion his landing, absorbing the impact and leaving no noise. The power of shadow manipulation, always there when he needed it, made him a natural at stealth. Straightening, he began moving toward the forest, his steps light and deliberate as he avoided the patrolling guards. The academy's grounds were peaceful, bathed in the soft glow of a half-moon. The stars above sparkled like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky, and the gentle rustling of leaves added to the serene ambiance.

Once he reached the forest, the atmosphere shifted. The trees loomed tall and imposing, their branches intertwining to create a canopy that blocked most of the moonlight. The air grew cooler, and the faint sounds of nocturnal creatures echoed around him. William's pace quickened as he headed toward the foggy chasm. The terrain grew rougher, but he navigated it with ease, his body moving instinctively.

The chasm came into view, a hauntingly beautiful sight. Tendrils of fog clung to the edges, swirling like ghostly fingers. Without hesitation, William jumped. The wind whipped past him as he descended, his heart racing with a mix of adrenaline and anticipation. He aimed to land near the edge of the lake below, but misjudged his trajectory and plunged straight into the water. The icy cold shocked his system, but he surfaced quickly, sputtering and shaking his head.

"Great," he muttered, wading to the shore. Dripping wet, he summoned a spare set of clothes from his system inventory. The fabric appeared in his hands, dry and ready. Changing swiftly, he made his way deeper into the cave. The air within was damp and cool, carrying the faint smell of moss and minerals. The darkness was almost absolute, broken only by the faint ethereal glow of the lake. Reaching a smooth rock surface, he picked up a smaller rock and began drawing a target circle. The rough edges of the stone scratched against the surface, creating a crude but functional target. Satisfied, he stepped back several meters and summoned the bow and quiver from his system inventory.

The bow materialized in his hands, and William's breath hitched. It was stunning. A sleek, obsidian-black bow that seemed to drink in the light around it, its surface smooth and polished. The craftsmanship was unlike anything he'd ever seen. But it was the arrows that truly caught his attention. Each shaft was crafted from a material that looked like dark silver, with intricate runic patterns etched along its length. The runes pulsed with a subtle blue glow, alive with energy. The arrowheads were masterpieces in themselves, fashioned from what appeared to be crystallized shadow essence. Their edges were so sharp they seemed to cut the very air around them, and small veins of electric blue crystal ran through the shadowy tips, creating an effect reminiscent of lightning splitting a night sky.

William couldn't help but smile. "Beautiful," he whispered.

He held the bow firmly, drawing the string without nocking an arrow. The tension was perfect, the balance impeccable. The Perfect Balance Compensation ability of the bow made it feel natural in his hands, though he suspected continuous use would still pose a challenge. Testing its limits, he used all his strength to pull the string back as far as it would go. The bow held firm, the string unyielding. That was due to its Durability: Unbreakable skill, enhanced by the Eternal Binding Rune.

He decided to test something else. Channeling a small amount of shadow essence into the bow, he watched as the string began emitting dark shadows. The energy flowed through the weapon seamlessly, amplifying its presence. If he were to nock an arrow and fire it now, the projectile would carry the shadow attribute. This was the Energy Resonance Chamber ability in action, allowing him to channel his abilities directly through the bow.

With a thought, he willed the bow to change form. Slowly, the curved weapon shifted, its structure morphing into a sleek, curved sword. The transformation was mesmerizing, the black surface of the weapon shimmering as it changed. Shadows still clung to the blade, dark and menacing. Channeling his lightning ability, William watched as small sparks danced along the blade's edge, illuminating the cave in brief flashes of light. He couldn't help but grin. The Combat Form Transformation ability made this weapon a game-changer.

Willing it back into a bow, he turned his attention to the arrows. Picking one up, he marveled at its craftsmanship. It felt perfectly balanced in his hand, the weight distributed evenly. The arrow's ability was similar to the Energy Resonance Chamber of the bow, but with an added twist. It allowed him to store an ability directly into the arrow itself. The implications were staggering. He could have an arrow imbued with his shadow essence, another with lightning, and so on. But what truly made this ability overpowered was its compatibility with his Copycat ability. By touching someone and copying their ability for a limited time, he could store that ability in an arrow. This meant his quiver could potentially hold a variety of powers, each tailored for a specific situation.

William's mind raced with possibilities. Could he store more than one ability in a single arrow? The thought was tantalizing. His hands itched to experiment, to push the limits of what this weapon could do. For now, he nocked the arrow, testing its fit and balance. It was flawless. Drawing the string back, he focused his aim on the target he had drawn earlier. His breath steadied, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The cave, the faint sounds of dripping water, the cool air against his skin — all of it blurred into the background. He released the string, and the arrow shot forward with a sharp, whistling sound. The impact was immediate and explosive. The arrow struck the target dead center, the runes glowing brightly as the energy within it discharged. Shadows erupted from the point of impact, swirling violently before dissipating into the air. William stared, wide-eyed, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he stood in the quiet of the cave, surrounded by the faint glow of the runes on the arrows and the lingering shadows from his bow, William felt a rare sense of excitement. For the first time in a long while, he felt ready. Ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with a weapon that was as much a part of him as his own shadow.

He smirked to himself, the thrill of discovery igniting a fire in his chest. "Let's see what you can really do."

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading my work! If you enjoyed this story, be sure to check out my other book, Demon Being System. It's packed with action, mystery, and a unique system-based storyline that you won't want to miss.

I'm also thrilled to announce that I'm currently working on a brand-new book, which is set to be released next year. Stay tuned for updates—it's going to be an exciting adventure!

Your support means the world to me, and I can't wait to share more stories with you.