Shadow Being System

As they made their way towards the cluster of pine trees, William's fingers instinctively traced the system panel that materialized before his eyes. The familiar blue-tinted interface flickered to life, displaying his status in crisp, clear letters:

[Status]

[William]

Age: 16

Male

Level 11

Experience Value: 750/3500

Strength: 15 (+2)

Agility: 14 (+2)

Endurance: 14 (+2)

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

Attribute: [Shadow Being] [Child of Thunder]

Soul Essence: ???

Shadow Essence: 16

Ability: Shadow Manipulation, Copycat

Store Coins: 400

A satisfied smile played across his lips. The brutal battle with the Teethworms had been more than just a fight for survival—it was a pathway to growth, to grow more and get stronger. Ten tier one teethworm beasts with each giving him 200 exp for the kill and he killed ten meant 2000 experience points, enough to push him to the next level. The system had increased the experience required to level up to 3500, and he now sat at 750. Quick mental calculations told him he'd need another 2250 experience points—roughly 11 or 12 more Tier 1 Teethworms—to reach the next level.

Each level brought its own reward. His stats had jumped by two points across the board, and the store coins had increased by 50. He was inching closer to his goal of 500 store coins, which would allow him to purchase much-needed supplies from the system shop. At this rate, he'd likely level up more than twice during this hunting expedition—assuming the heretics didn't interfere with his plans anytime soon and they gave him the time to at least level up as much as possible in this planet, before they attacked him and he'll have to run away from this planet disabling him for leveling up, this was his only chance to level up considering that there is no beasts on Earth, so whoever the heretics sent to kill him should please just hold on for some days, three days is enough.

Around him, the team was processing the battle differently. Gavin looked particularly dejected, twirling his short dual daggers with a frustrated expression. The small size of the Teethworms had rendered his close-combat weapons style nearly ineffective. Liam wasn't far behind in his disappointment, grumbling about having to rely on his fire abilities instead of his beloved new sword.

"These weapons are useless against those Teethworms," Gavin muttered, kicking at the sand, which entered his boot and he has to remove his boot to remove the red sand.

Liam nodded in agreement. "Burning my essence just to take down these creatures isn't ideal. My sword might as well have been a decoration."

Eleanor, always the strategist, chimed in. "Your weapon choices are poorly suited to these particular enemies. William's bow worked perfectly, but the rest of us struggled. We might need to find a different hunting ground—one with beasts that match our combat styles more effectively."

William listened, reflecting on the battle. His bow truly had been the perfect weapon against the Teethworms. Their primary threat was their thousands of razor-sharp teeth, but by maintaining distance, he could systematically eliminate them as soon as they left under the soil without risk. The magical quiver that constantly replenished his arrows was a blessing—he didn't need to worry about running out of ammunition or retrieving arrows he had fired earlier.

True, it had taken three arrows to bring down each Teethworm—a testament to his relative inexperience with archery. But the potential was clear. Each arrow pierced through their slimy skin with remarkable efficiency, and he hadn't even needed to infuse them with his shadow or lightning abilities, trying to save his essence also.

The pine trees ahead offered a welcome respite. Branches swayed gently, providing a stark contrast to the chaotic battlefield they were leaving behind. The ground was firmer here, dotted with fallen needles and patches of resilient grass. A light breeze carried the fresh scent of pine, washing away the lingering odors of burnt flesh and blood.

Gavin flopped down against a tree trunk, his frustration evident in every movement. "Next time, we need a better plan," he said, cleaning his daggers meticulously, though there wasn't that much blood on it.

Liam sat nearby, his massive sword propped against a tree, steam still rising from where he had used his fire abilities. "Agreed. These creatures are a nightmare for close-combat fighters like both of us."

William understood their frustration but also recognized the importance of adaptability. In this world, every battle was a learning experience. Their team's strength lay not just in individual skills, but in their ability to work together and adjust to different challenges.

As the group settled into their temporary camp, William continued to study his status panel. The potential for growth was exciting. Each level brought not just increased stats, but the promise of new abilities, new opportunities. The system was both a guide and a challenge, pushing him to become stronger, more skilled.

The red desert stretched around them, a harsh and unforgiving landscape that seemed to pulse with its own dangerous energy. But here, in this small pine grove, they had found a momentary sanctuary. A place to rest, to plan, to recover.

And to prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead.

__________________________

As the group settled into their temporary sanctuary among the pine trees, Gavin rummaged through the rucksack. The soft rustle of fabric and the gentle clink of water bottles broke the post-battle silence. He began distributing water, his movements careful and calculated.

"Ration alert," Gavin announced, his voice low and serious. "These supplies are for seven days. We've got to be strategic about how we consume our resources, especially you Liam."

Liam looked at him with a eye that doesn't look like a good eye but didn't say anything. William was really surprised Liam didn't retort.

Each team member accepted their bottle with understanding. The water was cool against their dust-covered hands, a welcome relief after the intense battle with the Teethworms and the two hot suns. They knew survival wasn't just about fighting—it was also about managing resources, after all, hunger can also kill someone, just take longer and more painful.

Gavin then turned his attention to the beast crystals they'd collected. He spread them out, his fingers moving methodically as he counted. "Twenty-seven crystals," he declared, a hint of excitement in his voice. "If we keep up this pace, we might gather around fifty crystals per day. That could mean close to three hundred and fifty crystals in a week! we might win this hunting test at this rate."

William listened silently, his deep dark eyes calculating. The statistics were technically correct, but he knew better. The heretics would inevitably disrupt their plans. This hunting test could be cancelled at any moment. But some truths were better left unsaid.

The peace was suddenly interrupted by a distant movement. Eleanor's ice whip materialized instantly. Liam gripped his sword, flames dancing at his fingertips. Gavin's daggers glinted in the sunlight. Their bodies tensed, ready to spring into action.

William, however, remained calm. These weren't beasts. These were fellow students, he had sensed them.

Moments later, five figures emerged from the desert landscape. They wore the same military academy uniform. Four males and one female—with two of the males being identical blonde-haired twins.

The moment William saw their blonde hair, a strange sensation washed over him. Memories flickered—a time before the system, when his own hair had been a golden blonde instead of the current shadow-black that marked his transformation into a shadow being.

The newcomers approached cautiously, their weapons lowered but ready. The twins moved with synchronized precision, their movements almost mirror images of each other. The female student stood slightly behind them, her posture alert but calm. The other two males flanked the group, scanning the environment with practiced eyes.

"Looks like we're not the only team hunting here," one of the twins said, his voice carrying a light, almost playful tone.

The female student stepped forward. "We're from Del's class," she announced, her voice clear and confident. "Looks like you've been busy." Her eyes took in the scattered beast crystal remains and the signs of their recent battle.

Liam, always quick to break tension, gave a rough laugh. "Busy is one way to put it. Those Teethworms weren't exactly welcoming, we're from John's Class."

The group from Del's class exchanged knowing looks. They'd clearly had their own encounters with the desert's dangerous inhabitants.

William observed silently, taking in every detail. The way they moved, how they positioned themselves, the subtle communications between team members—each gesture told a story. He won't make the mistake of trusting anyone not when someone is coming to kill him and he doesn't know who it is, it could be a students that the heretics will use, just like they used Mr Duke and the student from the attacked military academy 5 to infiltrate military academy 4 and blow up his soul crystal.

As the two groups began to interact, the pine grove that had been their quiet refuge just moments ago transformed into a space of potential alliance—or potential conflict. The desert continued its relentless heat around them, a constant reminder of the challenges that awaited.