Shadow Being System

High in the canopy of the forest, hidden from sight, a figure crouched on a thick branch. The twilight filtered through the leaves, revealing green hair tied back in a tight bun. The ninja's piercing eyes scanned the scene below, watching the tension unfold between William and the boy with mild amusement.

He pulled out a small, worn coin from his pouch, flipping it into the air with a soft ting. The coin spun in the twilight before landing neatly in his gloved hand. He glanced at the result and smirked.

"Not yet," he murmured to himself. "Let's see how far this kid can go on his own. But…" He shifted slightly, adjusting his position to get a better view. "If it looks like he's about to die, I might step in. Maybe."

He settled into the shadows, his presence undetectable as the battle below began.

---

William's heart pounded in his chest, every beat echoing the ticking clock in his mind. The boy had changed. His movements were sharper, his steps heavier with confidence. The purple mist had empowered him beyond William's expectations.

"You're dead," the boy snarled, his voice venomous. His fists clenched, and the air around him seemed to ripple with an unnatural energy.

William raised his hand, lightning crackling weakly around his fingers. His lightning ability wasn't his strongest skill, but it was all he had for direct combat.

The boy lunged, his speed unnervingly fast. William barely dodged, rolling to the side as the boy's punch struck the ground, leaving a crater in its wake.

He's stronger. Faster. Damn it, William thought, scrambling to his feet.

The boy came at him again, this time swiping low. William leapt backward, his mind racing. He extended his hand, releasing a bolt of lightning that struck the boy square in the chest.

But it did nothing.

The boy laughed, the sound grating and mocking. "Is that all you've got? Pathetic!" He charged again, his body a blur.

William sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a devastating blow. He spun around, electricity sparking from his hands as he aimed for the boy's legs, trying to slow him down. The attack connected, but the boy barely flinched.

"You're just tickling me now," the boy taunted, swinging his arm in a wide arc. His fist grazed William's side, sending him sprawling to the ground.

William groaned, pain shooting through his ribs. I can't keep this up. He's too strong.

The system chimed in his mind. [Time remaining: 5 minutes.]

He gritted his teeth, pushing himself back to his feet. "You talk too much," he spat, trying to mask his fear.

The boy grinned, advancing with deliberate slowness, savoring the moment. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy tearing you apart."

William clenched his fists, sparks dancing across his knuckles. He had to think fast. His wind ability wasn't something he had revealed in this fight—it was his ace, his fallback. The boy didn't know about it, and William intended to keep it that way until the perfect moment.

The fight raged on, each exchange pushing William closer to the edge of exhaustion. The boy's blows were relentless, his speed and power growing with every second. Meanwhile, William's lightning attacks grew weaker, the strain taking its toll.

Then, William saw it: the chasm looming just behind the boy. His pulse quickened as an idea began to form.

He darted to the side, feinting a retreat. The boy followed, his movements fluid and predatory.

"Running already?" the boy sneered.

William didn't respond, leading the boy closer to the edge. He skidded to a stop, turning to face his opponent one last time.

"Done running?" the boy mocked, stepping closer.

William raised his hand, summoning the last of his lightning. He fired, aiming deliberately wide. The boy dodged, smirking.

"Missed me," he said, lunging forward.

William planted his feet and extended his other hand. With a sharp exhale, he unleashed a powerful gust of wind, the force catching the boy off guard.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The boy's eyes widened in shock as the wind hit him, sending him teetering backward. "What—" he started, but the words were cut off as he lost his balance, tumbling into the chasm below.

William stumbled forward, gasping for air. He leaned over the edge, watching as the boy plummeted.

The silence was broken by a deafening explosion. The boy's body erupted in a violent blast, shaking the ground and sending a shockwave rippling through the forest. The force nearly knocked William off his feet.

As the tremors subsided, William straightened, his heart still racing. The chasm below was eerily silent, smoke rising from its depths.

High above, the ninja on the tree chuckled softly, flipping his coin once more. "Looks like he didn't need my help after all."

William turned away from the edge, his legs trembling as he began the long walk back to the academy. The system chimed again.

[Quest complete. Reward: Level up.]

He didn't smile. Victory had come at a cost, and the weight of it pressed heavily on his shoulders. This was the first time he ever killed a human, and he didn't even know how to feel about it.

__________________________

William trudged through the forest, his body battered and his mind racing. The faint glow of the system notification lingered in his vision.

[Level up complete. Stats improved.]

The words should have filled him with relief, but instead, they felt hollow. His chest ached, not just from the fight, but from the realization of how close he had come to death. He clenched his fists, electricity faintly crackling at his fingertips.

"I barely made it," he muttered under his breath, glancing back toward the chasm. He couldn't see it anymore, but the memory of the explosion, the sheer power of his opponent, was fresh.

I need to get stronger.

As he moved through the trees, the silence of the forest was broken by the faint sound of footsteps. William froze, every muscle in his body tensing.

He turned sharply, his third eye activating instinctively. A faint outline shimmered in his vision, high up in the trees. His heart sank. Someone's been watching.

"Impressive," a voice called out from above. It was calm, almost casual, but carried an edge of danger. "I didn't think you'd survive that fight."

William stepped back, his eyes scanning the canopy. "Who's there?"

The figure dropped silently from the trees, landing a few feet away. The moonlight revealed the ninja, his green hair glinting faintly. He wore a simple but effective outfit of dark cloth, designed for stealth, with a short sword strapped to his back.

"Relax," the ninja said, raising his hands slightly. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

William recognized the ninja, it was the same one who saved him from the anbu.

"Comforting," William said dryly, his body still tense. "What do you want?"

The ninja smirked, tossing the coin he'd been playing with into the air and catching it effortlessly. "To watch, mostly. You're interesting, kid. Got a lot of fight in you."

"I didn't ask for your opinion," William snapped.

The ninja chuckled. "Fair enough. But let me give you some free advice—you're not strong enough yet. That boy you fought? He was a small fish in a very big pond. If you want to survive out here, you'll need more than lightning and a gust of wind."

William's jaw tightened. "And you're here to teach me?"

"Maybe," the ninja said, flipping his coin again. "Depends on how lucky you are."

William frowned, the tension in his body giving way to irritation. "I don't have time for games."

The ninja's expression turned serious. "Neither do I. That's why I'm here. You've got potential, but potential doesn't mean much if you die before you can use it."

William stared at him, trying to gauge his intentions. The ninja's posture was relaxed, but there was a sharpness to his gaze that made it clear he was no ordinary observer.

"What's your name?" William finally asked.

"Call me Zarin," the ninja said with a grin. "And don't worry, kid. I'm not your enemy—yet."

"I'll come meet you soon." He said. With that, Zarin leapt back into the trees, disappearing as quickly as he'd appeared.

__________________________

William reached the academy grounds just when the moon started coming out. The sprawling structure loomed in the distance, its towers and walls bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun. The quiet of the early morning was a stark contrast to the chaos of the night.

Inside, the academy was eerily empty. Most students were already in their room doing some naughty deeds, unaware of the battle that had taken place in the forest. William slipped into his dormitory, waved to Liam and Gavin before collapsing onto his bed without even removing his boots.

His last thought before sleep claimed him was of Zarin's words: You're not strong enough yet.

He clenched his fists, a flicker of determination igniting within him. I'll get stronger. No matter what it takes.