The Moonshadow Beast's growl was low and deep, vibrating through the mist-choked forest.
Its eyes glowed crimson, two burning coals in the darkness. Its fur rippled like living smoke, each strand shifting with unnatural grace. Six legs dug into the earth, claws gouging deep marks into the frozen soil.
And then—it moved.
Not ran. Not leapt. Vanished.
A black blur tore through the air toward Arin.
He didn't think—he rolled, the beast's fangs snapping shut where his throat had been a heartbeat earlier. The shockwave of its lunge blasted snow from the ground.
It's fast… faster than my eyes can follow.
The beast turned, its shadow stretching unnaturally long in the moonlight. Arin's heart pounded—not from fear, but from something new. Something deep inside him was thrumming, urging him forward.
The voice from before whispered again.
> [Shadow Devour available.]
Arin's fingers twitched. "How…?"
The beast lunged again. This time, Arin didn't dodge completely. He sidestepped just enough for its claws to graze his ribs—pain seared his side, but his hand shot forward, grabbing for the thing's shadow.
His fingers sank into cold nothingness—then pulled.
The beast froze mid-lunge, its eyes widening.
A black shape tore free from beneath it, writhing like a living thing.
The voice returned, cold and clear:
> [Shadow Acquired.]
[Shadow Points: +5]
The Moonshadow Beast staggered back, now slower, weaker—as if its strength had been bled away.
Arin stared at his hand. Wisps of black energy coiled around his fingers before sinking into his skin. His vision sharpened. His breathing steadied.
The beast roared, enraged, but its movements had lost their fluid precision.
So that's it… I take their shadows, I take their strength.
The thought ignited something dark inside him.
It lunged again—slower this time. Arin ducked under its swing and drove his fist into its throat. Bone crunched beneath his knuckles.
The beast stumbled, gasping, but still lashed out with its claws. Arin leapt back, grabbing a broken branch from the ground.
Not much of a weapon—but it would do.
He dashed forward, ducking beneath another swipe, and rammed the branch into the beast's side. It howled, thrashing violently. Arin yanked the branch free, warm blood spraying across his face.
The voice echoed again:
> [Shadow Devour: Hold to consume completely.]
Arin didn't hesitate.
He lunged, pressing his hand to the beast's shadow on the ground. This time, he pulled harder.
The world seemed to dim. The beast's struggles slowed. Its body shuddered violently as black smoke poured from its shadow into Arin's arm, flooding his veins with icy fire.
It collapsed. Lifeless.
The voice spoke once more:
> [Target's shadow consumed.]
[Shadow Points: +15]
[Ability Progress: Shadow Step unlocked.]
Arin staggered back, his chest heaving.
A new line appeared in his mind's eye:
[Shadow Step (Lv.1): Instantly shift through shadows within 3 meters.]
His lips curled into a grin.
The warmth of victory pulsed in his chest—followed quickly by hunger. Not for food. Not for water. For more.
---
The forest fell silent around him. Snow drifted lazily through the air.
Then—snap.
A branch broke in the mist ahead.
Arin tensed, slipping into the nearest shadow without even thinking. His body dissolved into darkness—and reappeared behind a tree three meters away.
The ability worked. Smooth. Silent. Like breathing.
Two figures emerged through the fog.
Disciples. Radiant Sword Sect robes.
And one of them… Raylen Zhen.
"What's a cripple like him doing out here alone?" Raylen sneered, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. "I expected to find your corpse halfway into the trial."
The other disciple—a tall, hawk-eyed youth—smirked. "Maybe we should fix that mistake now."
Arin said nothing. He simply stepped from the shadow, his expression calm.
Raylen's smirk faltered for the briefest moment. "Where's your weapon, trash?"
Arin glanced at the branch in his hand. It was still slick with beast blood. "Don't need one."
Raylen chuckled. "Still delusional. Kill him."
The hawk-eyed disciple drew his blade and lunged. Fast—but not beast-fast.
Arin stepped sideways into the shadow of a tree. The world blurred—he reappeared behind the man, grabbing his robe collar and slamming him face-first into the snow. Before the disciple could scream, Arin's hand pressed to his shadow.
> [Shadow Acquired.]
[Shadow Points: +3]
The man went limp, dazed, his strength gone. Arin shoved him aside and turned to Raylen.
The inner disciple's hand tightened on his sword hilt. "What… was that?"
Arin smiled faintly. "Your nightmare."
Raylen snarled and drew his sword, the blade glowing faintly with golden Qi. He charged.
Arin didn't move until the last second—then vanished into Raylen's shadow. He reappeared behind him, sweeping his leg out. Raylen stumbled forward.
Before the man could recover, Arin's branch-weapon stabbed toward his throat—only for Raylen's sword to meet it with a sharp crack, splintering the wood.
Raylen slashed. Arin barely ducked in time, feeling the wind of the strike brush his hair. The man's Qi-enhanced speed was far greater than the hawk-eyed disciple's.
But he was still slower than the beast.
And Arin had already learned how to kill faster things.
He let Raylen charge again, this time sidestepping into a shadow at his feet and reappearing right in front of him—hand already reaching.
Raylen's eyes widened as Arin's fingers gripped his shadow.
Pain lanced through Raylen as the strength bled from his limbs. He gasped, his sword lowering involuntarily.
> [Shadow Points: +4]
Arin leaned close, his voice cold. "Next time you raise your boot to me, I'll take more than your shadow."
He shoved Raylen backward into the snow.
Without another word, Arin vanished into the forest shadows, leaving both disciples staring after him—one terrified, the other shaking with humiliation.
---
Hours later, Arin crouched in a cave, the carcass of the Moonshadow Beast beside him. His breath misted in the cold air as he stared at the flickering image of his status screen.
[Name]: Arin Nightstar
[Realm]: Mortal (Awakening)
[Shadow Affinity]: 100%
[Shadow Points]: 27
[Abilities]: Shadow Devour (Lv.1), Shadow Step (Lv.1)
He traced the faint black markings now crawling up his forearm—veins of shadow energy. They pulsed faintly, feeding warmth into his muscles.
This was power. Real power.
Not given. Not granted. Taken.
The sect wanted him to die here.
Instead, he would rise here.
A low rumble of thunder rolled through the sky outside the cave. Arin's eyes lifted to the darkness beyond.
He could feel more of them out there. Beasts. Prey.
And he was starving.
---
From deep in the ravine, a deafening roar split the night—followed by the crash of trees. Something huge was coming, and it wasn't a beast Arin could take lightly.