Shadow Being System

Morning broke with a bright, promising glow as the academy grounds came to life. Inside room 092, three boys stood in front of a large mirror, each adjusting the sharp, black-and-blue military uniforms that hugged their bodies.

These uniforms weren't just for show—due to the daily intense physical activities designed to fend off the looming threat of the beasts, all students developed well-defined physiques.

In the center stood William, his deep black hair tousled yet oddly fitting against his sharp gaze. His broad shoulders were outlined perfectly by the sleek jacket, and his posture exuded a calm confidence.

On his left was Gavin, his wild green hair contrasting with his cool demeanor. His lean, athletic body reflected his passion for speed, which William knew wasn't just due to his intense training.

Liam stood on William's right, his fiery red hair mirroring his hot-headed personality. The uniform stretched across his muscles, but it somehow carried a rebellious air, as if it couldn't quite contain his restless spirit.

Gavin smirked, glancing at William. "You actually look decent in that, William."

Liam pouted. "What about me?"

Without missing a beat, Gavin shrugged. "You look like a dropout delinquent."

And so began the familiar argument.

"I do not look like a delinquent! This is a warrior's body!" Liam protested, puffing his chest out.

William chuckled, turning the conversation in another direction. "Speaking of which, Gavin, how did you manage to outspeed Liam yesterday?"

Gavin grinned smugly. "I've got a speed ability, of course. There's no way anyone's outpacing Liam otherwise."

William had suspected as much. No ordinary student could have been faster than Liam, whose super-speed was almost legendary at this point.

With that, the three left the room, stepping out into the bustling academy halls. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement—today was the day classes officially began. Students streamed in from all directions, their faces alive with anticipation. Conversations filled the air, and there was a palpable sense of eagerness mixed with nerves.

When the trio reached the massive building that housed their classrooms, they entered Class 1-E. The room was spacious, designed to accommodate 50 students, with a large teacher's podium at the front and a sleek television on the wall to display materials.

The seating arrangement was straightforward—rows of desks, with the trio choosing to sit in the middle, far enough not to catch too much attention, but close enough to still see everything clearly.

As more students filed in, William noticed something peculiar. Many of the girls seemed eager to sit near him but were visibly intimidated by the sight of Liam, who had earned quite the reputation after the cafeteria fight. His wide, unsettling grin didn't help matters.

"Why are you grinning like a lunatic?" Gavin asked, narrowing his eyes at him.

Liam's smile widened. "Because it's class time! This is exciting!"

William smirked. "Lesson or not, it won't be much use to you. You already have your ability."

"Doesn't matter," Liam said with a shrug. "It's still going to be interesting."

Before the banter could continue, Sofia entered the class, her presence as graceful as ever. But this time, she wasn't alone. Walking beside her was a girl with long, flowing black hair, exuding an aura of elegance and power. The subtle but unmistakable bearing of royalty clung to her every movement, and the other students took immediate notice.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Gavin gasped, his hand flying to his mouth. Liam, who hadn't been paying attention, turned to him. "Why are you gasping like a fish?"

"Don't you know who that is?" Gavin whispered urgently.

Liam blinked. "Uh… should I?"

Gavin looked at him incredulously. "Do you live in a cave?"

Liam scratched his head. "Sort of…"

William, curious, leaned in. "Do you know her, Gavin?"

Gavin nodded vigorously. "That's Princess Eleanor of Spain!"

Liam snorted. "So what? Royalty doesn't mean much nowadays, especially with the B10 involved. A princess is nothing compared to them."

Gavin shook his head in disbelief. "You don't get it. Spain was once poised to conquer the world during the civil wars before the beasts attacked. And her father… her father's been invited to join the B10 multiple times, but he's refused. Word is, his power rivals theirs."

That caught both William and Liam by surprise. William knew little about the world's history due to his upbringing, but he did know one thing—the B10's strength was unparalleled. The idea that someone could rival them was no small matter.

As the boys processed this information, Sofia and Princess Eleanor approached their seats. Sofia greeted them with a friendly smile, introducing the black-haired girl as her roommate. Eleanor, in turn, introduced herself with a polite nod. Find more chapters on empire

Liam immediately stood up and tried to prostrate himself, much to Gavin's horror.

"What are you doing?!"

"Prostrating to royalty, obviously," Liam replied, completely serious.

The class burst into laughter, and Liam stood up, grumbling. Gavin, turning red from embarrassment, apologized on his behalf. "I'm sorry about that. Liam's an idiot."

Liam waved it off. "No harm done, right?"

Eleanor, with a smile, said, "I recognize you. You're the one who knocked out Billy in the cafeteria, aren't you?"

Liam grinned, clearly pleased with himself. But then confusion flickered across his face. "Wait… who's Billy Stark again?"

Gavin, holding his head in frustration, sighed. "Seriously, Liam, do you live under a rock?"

Liam shrugged. "Sort of…"

Gavin quickly explained Billy's reputation, but Liam's only response was a simple, unconcerned, "Oh."

Meanwhile, something else weighed on William's mind. Using his Third Eye, he had scanned Eleanor's power level. She was strong—just as strong as Liam or even stronger, with a formidable ice ability. He couldn't help but wonder how many more students had powers rivaling the top in this school. He had to get stronger fast.

Just then, Billy and his gang entered the class, passing by Liam without a word. Liam turned to Gavin with a smug look. "See? He's not angry."

Gavin looked uneasy. "I don't know… I have a bad feeling ab

out this."

At that moment, the teacher walked in, signaling the start of the lesson.