The hallway outside Fredy's apartment was quiet.
Dim lights flickered above, casting long shadows across the cracked floor.
Fredy walked down the stairs calmly, but inside his heart was racing.
This is insane, he thought.
Just a few minutes ago he was an ordinary person.
Now he had the power of the Shadow Monarch.
He flexed his fingers slightly.
Even with only 10% synchronization, he could feel the difference in his body. His muscles felt lighter yet stronger, like coiled springs ready to explode with power.
Another scream echoed from outside.
"Please! Someone help!"
Fredy pushed open the building door.
Cold night air rushed against his face.
The alley beside the apartment was dark, illuminated only by a weak street lamp.
Three men surrounded a woman who had fallen to the ground.
One of them held a knife.
Another was trying to grab her bag.
"Come on, lady," one thug sneered. "Just hand it over."
The woman shook her head fearfully.
"Please… it's all I have."
The third man suddenly kicked her bag away and laughed.
"That's exactly why we want it."
Fredy sighed softly.
Typical.
Crime in New York apparently hadn't changed much from the comics.
He stepped into the alley.
"Hey."
His voice was calm.
The three men turned around.
"Who the hell are you?" the knife thug growled.
Fredy shrugged.
"Just someone passing by."
The man laughed mockingly.
"Kid, this doesn't concern you."
Fredy tilted his head slightly.
"It does now."
The thug with the knife stepped forward angrily.
"You wanna be a hero?"
He swung the knife forward.
Too slow.
To Fredy, the movement looked almost sluggish.
His body moved instinctively.
He stepped aside and grabbed the man's wrist.
CRACK.
"AAAAA!"
The thug screamed as the knife clattered onto the ground.
Before the others could react—
BAM!
Fredy's fist slammed into the man's stomach.
The thug collapsed instantly.
The other two froze.
"W-What the hell?!"
Fredy calmly dusted off his hands.
"So…"
"Who's next?"
The taller thug charged in anger.
"You little—!"
Fredy dodged easily and kicked his leg.
CRACK.
The man dropped to his knees.
A quick punch finished him.
The last thug tried to run.
Fredy moved faster.
He grabbed the man by the collar and slammed him into the wall.
THUD.
Silence filled the alley.
All three criminals were unconscious.
Fredy stared at them.
Then something strange happened.
The shadow beneath the first thug began to tremble.
The system notification appeared.
[Shadow Extraction Available]
Fredy's eyes lit up.
"So this is how it works."
He stepped closer to the fallen thug.
His shadow stretched across the ground, touching the man's shadow.
Fredy raised his hand slowly.
The air around him grew colder.
Dark energy gathered beneath his feet.
Fredy spoke the command he had seen many times before.
"Arise."
The shadow began shaking violently.
Black smoke rose from the ground.
The woman nearby gasped.
"What… what is happening?"
The shadow stretched upward like liquid darkness.
Then—
A figure crawled out of it.
A humanoid soldier made entirely of shadows.
Glowing blue eyes stared forward.
The creature knelt before Fredy.
Fredy felt a strange connection in his mind.
Like a thread linking them together.
The system appeared again.
[Shadow Soldier Created]
Rank: Normal
Fredy smiled slightly.
"My first soldier."
The shadow warrior stood silently behind him like a loyal guard.
The woman stared at it in horror.
"T-That thing—"
Fredy turned toward her.
"Relax."
"It's on our side."
She hesitated before slowly standing up.
"Thank you…"
Fredy nodded.
"Go home. It's not safe around here."
She grabbed her bag quickly and ran out of the alley.
Soon only Fredy and the shadow soldier remained.
Fredy looked at his new companion.
"You need a name."
He thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Let's call you… Shade."
The shadow soldier bowed slightly as if accepting the name.
Fredy chuckled.
"This is actually pretty cool."
But suddenly—
A faint sound echoed from above.
Thwip.
Fredy's eyes narrowed.
He looked up.
A red-and-blue figure crouched on the rooftop, watching everything.
A familiar mask.
A familiar posture.
The friendly neighborhood hero.
Peter Parker.
Better known as…
Spider-Man.