Chapter 1
Rain slammed hard against the gray buildings of the city, turning the streets into a wet and silent labyrinth. Neon lights reflected in the puddles, making the soulless face of the city appear even darker. Kai pulled his long black coat over his shoulder and stepped silently. The monotony of his life had merged with the suffocating routine of the city; he was a young man lost between work, school, and daily routines. But that night, with an unexpected move of fate, everything was about to change.
The sky darkened suddenly, and the street lamps flickered. Kai's heart raced as his eyes scanned the surroundings. The silence pressed down with an intensity unlike usual. A voice echoed in his mind:
"Awaken… The system is calling you. Accept it or disappear."
Kai didn't know what to do and took a few steps back. His hands trembled. At that moment, a hologram appeared in front of his eyes. Complex symbols rotated, and in the center of the screen, bright red letters read:
"Level 1: Hunter of Shadows"
Kai's breath caught. While trying to understand what was happening, the hologram continued to move. A small counter appeared at the bottom corner of the screen:
"Mission 1: Explore the city and defeat your enemies. Reward: Level up + gain abilities."
Kai was confused, but wasting time wasn't a luxury he could afford. Suddenly, a noise erupted from the street; three men jumped out from the corner, knives pointed at Kai. Each wore a merciless grin, eyes gleaming with a desire to kill. Kai stepped back, but in that moment, the system activated. Shadows swirled around him, moving as if alive, stunning the men.
The first man fell to the ground, ensnared by the claws of the shadows. The second tried to flee, but the shadows wrapped around his legs and he collapsed. The third made a last attempt, but Kai swiftly incapacitated him.
The hologram appeared again:
"Level 1 → Level 2. New ability gained: Shadow Shield."
Kai tried to steady his breathing. He was no longer an ordinary human; the system had granted him power. But with that power came responsibility. His first experience with shadows both thrilled and unnerved him.
At that moment, red eyes appeared from within the shadows. Kai stepped back, scanning this new threat. The figure emerging from the darkness was not human; its body seemed to absorb light, its face completely hidden. A voice echoed:
"Your kind is always easy prey… but sometimes surprises come from the unexpected, Hunter of Shadows."
Kai's heart pounded. This was only the beginning. Dark forces in the city awaited him, and he was no longer just a spectator. For him, the shadow had become not just darkness, but a battlefield.
Kai took a few steps back, looking down the narrow alleys. Every corner, every shadow carried potential danger. "No matter how powerful the system is, I have to prepare myself," he murmured. The hologram appeared again:
"Mission hint: Explore the environment, assess enemy levels, and increase your own level."
As Kai tried to learn to move with the shadows, his thoughts drifted to his family. As a child, he had lost everything to the criminals of the city; these losses had forged him into a hardened survivor. Now, thanks to the system, he had a chance to reclaim what he lost—or at least honor it through justice.
At the end of the street, he saw a moving figure. The red eyes still glowed. Kai held his breath, controlling the shadows more carefully. As he took another step, the figure suddenly lunged. Kai reacted instinctively, forming a shadow shield that stopped the knife midair. But this first encounter was only a test; the real battle had not yet begun.
Kai's eyes glimmered with determination. "Tonight, I will rewrite the city and myself," he whispered. Shadows surrounded him, the streets fell silent, and Kai advanced toward his first major mission, merging with the darkness.
As he moved through the narrow streets, shadows enveloping him, he had successfully completed his first mission—but the peace was short-lived. The city was a silent and deadly labyrinth in the darkness of night. Every corner, every empty space hid potential threats. The figure with red eyes still tracked his movements.
The hologram suddenly appeared with a new message:
"Mission 2: Defeat your first enemy. Reward: Level up + new ability."
Kai took a deep breath. He had only faced a brief skirmish before, but this time, his enemy was far stronger than expected. The system offered possible strategies:
Shadow Claw – Advanced: Blocks and stuns the opponent's attacks.
Speed Boost – Advanced: Temporarily doubles movement speed.
Shield Formation: Creates a wall of shadows to reduce incoming attacks.
Feeling the energy from the shadows, Kai stepped cautiously. The dim streetlights caused shadows to intertwine, turning the city into a living labyrinth. Every movement had to be calculated; a single mistake could be fatal.
Suddenly, the enemy appeared with lightning speed. Its body was almost superhumanly flexible, eyes glowing red. Kai made the first move, directing the shadow claws to entangle the opponent's legs, stunning it. But the enemy was quick, breaking the hold and dodging past him, hurling a broken stone from the shadows. Kai narrowly avoided it using his speed boost, breathless.
In the midst of the battle, Kai noticed a small icon appear on the system screen:
"New ability acquired: Shadow Binders – Temporarily immobilizes the enemy."
He tested it immediately. Controlling the shadows with his hands, he immobilized the enemy for a short time. He quickly delivered a punch, knocking the enemy down, but it immediately rose. Kai's eyes gleamed; the system had empowered him, but his opponent was stronger than anticipated.
Shadows whispered around him. Under the flickering streetlights, Kai and the enemy carefully calculated each move. The hologram appeared again:
"Warning: Enemy will use a special ability. Survive."
Kai took a deep breath, merging fully with the shadows, his movements accelerating. The enemy attacked suddenly; shadows rose from the ground, attempting to throw Kai off balance. But Kai used his new ability, restricting the enemy's movements, predicting its attacks, and countering. Each strike, each motion was recorded by the system, granting him extra experience.
Amid the battle, the enemy's cold voice echoed:
"Your abilities… are impressive… but this is only the beginning."
Kai's breath caught. This enemy was here not only physically but also to test the secrets of the system. In the silent city night, the narrow streets and shadows had become the stage of Kai's first real trial.
And just as Kai was about to claim victory, a second figure emerged from the shadows. This one appeared far more dangerous; its eyes were bright blue, with swirling energy waves surrounding it. Kai quickly checked the system:
"New enemy: Level unknown. Power: Unknown."
Kai's heart raced. This was no longer just a test; it was the beginning of facing the shadows of the city.
Kai whispered quietly:
"Tonight… I will learn everything."
And as the shadows slowly enveloped him, the secret and threat behind the blue eyes hinted at the next chapter.