Shadow Being System

The alleyway was a battlefield, steam still rising as the rain continued to fall. The clash between Billy's lightning and Liam's fire had left the air thick with tension, but now, as the lightning died and Liam's flames flickered, the world seemed to pause.

Billy stood frozen, his wide eyes staring in disbelief at his powerless hands, the jade bracelet on his wrist was now in William's wrist glowing faintly once more.

Liam collapsed onto one knee, his body finally giving in to the strain. His chest heaved, his once-raging flames now reduced to weak embers. The injuries he had sustained earlier had finally caught up to him, leaving him vulnerable. But his eyes—those defiant, fiery eyes—never left Billy.

William, standing just a few feet away, could feel the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had done it. The artifact had worked, and now Billy's lightning was gone, his greatest advantage stripped away, but also William's advantage, Liam was also gone. But it wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.

Billy's fists clenched at his sides, his face twisting in frustration. "You... you think this is over?" he spat, taking a shaky step backward. His voice wavered, the once cocky tone now replaced with something darker. "I don't need lightning to crush you."

William smirked, though exhaustion tugged at every muscle in his body. His eyes remained locked on Billy, watching for any sign of another attack. "You sure about that?" he said, his voice low, challenging.

Billy's face contorted in anger. "You're still weak. Both of you," he snarled, his eyes darting between William and the barely standing Liam. "I'll beat you with my bare hands if I have to."

He lunged forward, his speed still impressive despite the loss of his abilities. William braced himself, but he knew he couldn't take Billy in a fair fight, not like this. His body screamed in protest, but he stood his ground, ready for whatever came next.

Before Billy could reach him, however, Liam, with a final burst of strength, launched himself forward, intercepting Billy with a punch aimed directly at his face. Though his punch was weak, they were enough to knock Billy off balance, sending him stumbling backward.

Billy barely caught himself, his feet skidding on the wet ground. His eyes burned with rage as he wiped a trickle of blood from his lip. "You... damn... losers!"

But even as he shouted, something in his voice betrayed him—fear. He had never been in this position before, not without his lightning. He was used to overpowering his opponents, but now, with Liam and William working together, he was outmatched.

William seized the moment. With Liam buying him time, he lunged forward, aiming a punch at Billy's stomach. It wasn't a strong punch, but it was enough to knock the wind out of him. Billy doubled over, gasping for air, his eyes wide in shock.

"That's for earlier," William muttered, his voice filled with quiet satisfaction.

Billy stumbled backward, struggling to stay on his feet. His confidence was shattered, and the fear in his eyes was undeniable now. He had underestimated them, and now he was paying the price.

Liam, still on his knees, watched with a faint smile on his face. "You messed with the wrong people, Stark."

Billy glared at him, his fists trembling with rage, but there was nothing he could do. He was beaten.

William stepped forward, standing over him. "This fight's over," he said, his voice steady, though his body felt like it could collapse at any moment.

William lunged forward, his fist aiming directly for Billy's head. The impact was solid, connecting with the bridge of Billy's nose. Billy tumbled backward, his body going limp as he collapsed onto the wet ground. The cold rain continued to pour, washing over the battlefield, as a soft ding resounded in William's head.

The system's voice echoed in his mind. Enemy neutralized. Billy Stark has been knocked down.

A small smile tugged at William's lips. It was over. The adrenaline that had fueled him through the fight began to drain from his body, leaving him exhausted and heavy. His legs gave out, and he fell to the ground, the rain-soaked pavement cold against his skin.

Liam, who had been sprawled on the ground just a few feet away, dragged himself toward William. His muscles protested with every movement, but he pushed on, refusing to let his friend be alone in that moment. When he finally reached William's side, he shook his body gently.

"William, you still with me?" Liam's voice was filled with concern, his usual fiery confidence dimmed by the battle's toll.

William's eyes fluttered open, his breathing shallow and labored. His voice was low and coarse, almost a whisper, like one of Billy's punches had damaged his lungs. "Yeah... I'm still here... but I think... I'll take a quick nap."

Liam's brows furrowed. "Don't you dare," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "Just hang in there, okay? Don't close your eyes yet."

But William's consciousness was slipping. The world around him blurred, and the sounds of rain and thunder became distant echoes. His last conscious act was to send a command to the system. Store the artifact to the inventory, he thought, focusing on the jade bracelet around his wrist. The one that had nullified soul essence.

Keep it safe, with the artifact in the system's inventory, the effect will be gone, so Liam will be able to get his soul essence back.

"William!" Liam's voice called out desperately, but it was no use. William's world faded to black.

Through the rain, hurried footsteps echoed in the alleyway. Liam's eyes flicked toward the entrance, his body tensing. He looked up, exhausted but relieved. "Took you long enough," he muttered before everything went dark for him, too.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

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When William opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the bright white ceiling above him. His eyelids felt heavy, but the room slowly came into focus. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled his nose, a familiar smell that told him exactly where he was without even looking around. The academy clinic.

He squeezed his hands into fists, feeling the strength in his fingers. I've gotten stronger, he thought. Sitting up slowly, William glanced around the room, but Liam was nowhere to be seen. A pang of worry shot through him. Was Liam's injury that bad? Is he in special care?

Before he could dwell on it further, the door opened, and a nurse stepped into the room. She smiled when she saw him awake. "Well, look who's up again. You've been visiting us a little too often, don't you think?"

William chuckled softly, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at his sore muscles. "Guess I can't stay away."

The nurse approached, running a quick series of tests on him—checking his vitals, monitoring his breathing. "How's your chest? Any difficulty breathing?"

William took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Feels fine now."

The nurse nodded in approval. "Good. You've healed up well. But I still need you to stay here for one more night, just to monitor your condition."

She stood up to leave, but William stopped her with a question. "What about the boy with me? The one with the red hair—Liam. How is he?"

The nurse raised an eyebrow, her expression puzzled. "There was no one else with you when you were brought in. You were admitted alone."

William's heart skipped a beat. "Alone? Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Positive. It was just you."

William's mind raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Okay. Thanks."

The nurse gave him one last look, then left the room, closing the door softly behind her. William lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts swirled, but a wide grin began to spread across his face.

"Now, The System of the System Lord," he muttered under his breath, excitement building in his chest. "You better be generous this time."