The private training spot felt like Leon's real home. Perhaps even more so - since he stayed there longer than at his dorm.
Three nights testing limits. Three nights stretching powers till muscles trembled - Rostova observing from above, silent as a perched bird sizing things up.
Yet this evening, she'd vanished - pulled into a last-minute teaching huddle over growing beast sightings by the east wall.
This meant Leon was alone at the place.
A really dumb thought.
[ SKILL FUSION AVAILABLE ]
[ COMPATIBLE SKILLS DETECTED: ]
[ LESSER AGILITY (PASSIVE) + SHADOW STEP (LV.2) ]
[ SUCCESS RATE: 73% ]
[ WARNING: FAILURE MAY RESULT IN SKILL LOSS ]
The alert showed up two days back, sticking around in his head ever since. Skill Fusion - easy to write down, brutal when tried. The 73% chance kept chewing through his thoughts, restless and sharp.
One in four risk of hurting himself badly.
"Screw it," Leon muttered. "Can't stay weak forever."
He picked out the abilities.
[ FUSION INITIATED ]
[ SHADOW ESSENCE REQUIRED: 20 ]
[ CURRENT ESSENCE: 32 ]
[ PROCEED? ]
Over half his strength gone. A single mistake, yet he'd collapse for hours.
Leon confirmed.
The moment came fast. It struck without warning.
A dark shape ripped up from the ground, coiling tight like something alive. Ice-cold - so sharp it stung. Movement turned jagged, breaking into flickers, while his escape trick cracked open, sucked deep into blackness.
He fell down, gasping for air that just wouldn't flow. His eyes switched back and forth - one moment clear, next filled with dark shapes lurking. Each edge of the space seemed lit up by something quiet, waiting.
67%… then 68%… after that 72%…
His body convulsed.
Then—
[ FUSION COMPLETE ]
[ NEW SKILL: SHADOW GLIDE (LV.1) ]
From 32 down to just 12 - that's what it became
The dark let go, dropping him onto the mat - he collapsed, shaking.
Leon got up on his feet. He tried moving forward one step. After that, he turned on the fresh ability.
Everything shifted.
He didn't vanish - not anything wild like that. Just faded a bit instead. Noise slipped off each step he took. He felt lighter, almost gone, like mist breaking apart. As he moved, he slid through spaces, dark patches shifting beneath him.
He flattened into the dark shape made by a post, so his form nearly disappeared.
[ SHADOW GLIDE (LV.1) ]
Slide through shadows like mist - harder to spot by 400%. When it's dark, you're 50% quicker on your feet
[ COST: PASSIVE ]
[ COOLDOWN: NONE ]
No waiting time. Almost costs nothing to run.
A game-changer.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Leon almost yelled. Spinning fast, his Shadow Glide broke free.
Elara hovered by the entrance, clutching a datapad, her gaze wide open.
"This facility's restricted," he said.
"Rostova gave me access," she said, stepping closer. "Your shadow just did something weird."
Shit.
"Elara—"
"Don't lie." Her voice cracked. "I'm tired of everyone lying. About the dungeons. The casualties. Even my family. So just—tell me the truth."
He paused. After that, he breathed out, motioning for her to take a seat.
He let her know what happened. Not every detail - like the throne room scenes or the vampire in the dark - he kept those quiet - but he shared about the Red Moon, the game-like setup, how his low rank was fake, along with pulling shadows out.
Elara listened silently.
Once he was done, she replied, "That's pretty much like sneaking around."
"What?"
"You've got a video-game system in your head. The rest of us have to train like normal idiots." A small smile tugged at her mouth. "Explains why you move like that."
"You're not freaked out?"
"Leon, my powers make plants grow out of concrete. Weird is relative." She leaned back. "But why you? Why'd the system pick you during the Crimson Moon?"
"No clue. It called me 'Monarch's Heir.'"
"That's… ominous."
"Very."
She hesitated. "The corruption in that dungeon. The panther. You said it was Evernight-related. What if they're not just attacking—what if they're looking for you?"
Leon kept wondering that - most times near three in the morning, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"Then I get stronger," he said. "Fast enough to survive."
"And if you aren't fast enough?"
"Then I make sure my family is far away."
You're afraid," she whispered, her voice gentle.
"Terrified."
"Good. Means you're not stupid." She stood. "Okay. I'm helping you."
"Elara—"
"My plant abilities aren't just healing. I can restrain enemies, create barriers, reinforce terrain. You'll need support." She held out her hand. "Besides, I owe you."
"You don't owe me anything."
"Then call it friendship." Her expression was firm. "But only if you stop keeping secrets."
Leon gripped her palm - suddenly, true faith pressed down his way.
"First rule," he said. "If something targets me, you run."
"Second rule: no more secrets."
"Deal."
[ NEW SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
[ SHADOW MONARCH'S PATH DETECTED ]
[ EVOLUTION REQUIREMENT UNLOCKED ]
[ CONSUME A ROYAL SHADOW ]
[ SEEK A BEING OF NOBLE DARKLINE ]
A shiver ran down his back. Called Royal Shadow. Known as Noble Darkline. No minor stakes here. Not a secure spot at all.
"What's up?" Elara said.
"System gave me a quest," he murmured. "Wants me to kill something called a Royal Shadow."
"Ominous again."
"Yep."
She showed him tricks with plants sprouting through pavement, spikes that could tear metal, cuts sealing right up before his eyes. He practiced vanishing into shadows, pushing how far down he could go until it stopped working.
When they stopped, light crept into the east-facing panes.
"We should go," Elara said. "Combat Theory in three hours."
They moved across the quiet campus heading for the dorms.
"Leon?" Elara asked quietly. "When things get bad—and they will—promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't try to save everyone. Heroes die that way."
"That's dark."
"That's reality."
By the split in the path to the dorms, she looked his way.
"See you in class."
"Yeah. And Elara… thanks. For believing me."
"Thanks for trusting me," she said, smiling. "We're gonna survive this."
She was gone. At last, after days, a weight lifted from Leon's chest.
Just then, his datapad vibrated.
ECLIPSE ZONE FORMATION DETECTED – EASTERN BARRIER
ALL STUDENTS REMAIN IN DORMS
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS MOBILIZING
Leon's stomach dropped.
His phone buzzed - caller ID hidden.
He answered.
"Vale." Rostova's voice was tight, edged with panic. "I need you. Building K. Ten minutes. Don't bring backup."
"What happened?"
"A C-Rank Eclipse Zone destabilized. Command wants someone expendable to go in."
The word hit him like a knife.
She continued, "There's something inside. Something that matches the system's description of a 'Royal Shadow.'"
Leon froze.
"How do you even—"
"I've been monitoring your system reports," she said bluntly. "The private facility has scanners. Ten minutes. Move."
She hung up.
Leon kept his eyes on the black display.
He took off - heading for Building K, moving into the Eclipse Zone, going after what lay ahead.
Toward evolution.
Or death.