Ayan woke up with a start. His room was quiet. The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, but his heart still raced.
Was it a dream?
He reached out his hand… and felt it. The faint tingling of Shadow Step.
"No… it's real," he whispered.
A notification appeared in his mind, just like last night.
[Shadow System Alert]
Daily Quest Available: Train Your Skills
Objective: Master Shadow Step – Level 2
Reward: 50 Power Points
Ayan stumbled out of bed. He looked at the empty street outside his window. No monsters in sight. But the system insisted:
"Go outside. Fight what you fear."
He took a deep breath.
The city felt different now. Darker. He could feel faint energy ripples in the air—like shadows themselves were moving.
Stepping onto the street, a figure emerged from an alley—a small shadow creature, no taller than a child, but with glowing red eyes and jagged claws.
It screeched as it lunged at him.
Instinctively, Ayan jumped. The ground beneath him blurred.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Step – Level 2]
He reappeared behind the creature, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
His fist glowed faintly blue. He struck. The creature vanished in a puff of black smoke.
"Power… it's real," Ayan said, his voice trembling with excitement and fear.
The system chimed again:
[Level Up Available]
Shadow Step: Level 2
New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Punch – A concentrated strike of dark energy
Ayan felt a mix of fear and exhilaration. His life had changed forever.
But deep down, he sensed a question the system didn't answer:
Why him? And why now?
Shadows stretched across the morning streets. Ayan knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.
To Be Continued…