"That sounds good in theory, but it could also be used to hurt the world severely. You know how greedy people can be if they got their hands on while you're building. Imagine the damage that would come forth."
That sounds good in theory, but it could also be used to hurt the world severely. You know how greedy people can be if they got their hands on while you're building. Imagine the damage that would come forth.
"That was my exact concern," Beta nods. "I needed to ensure this new material wouldn't be used for evil purposes. That's why I was being so careful. I wanted to find enough to prove the viability of my research, but not enough to attract unwanted attention. That changed when the miners started acting strangely."
"But you never know who to trust so the fact that you even came out here by yourself was a bad idea could easily have been killed if we hadn't shown up, but that's about the change. Will you join Shadow Garden?"
The question hangs in the air like a loaded arrow point.
Alpha and Gamma watch keenly, their eyes fixed on Beta. This is the moment that could change their team, their world.
Beta stares up at you, eyes wide and uncertain. She looks scared—but also hopeful, as if she's been praying for this chance for years even though she never believed it was real.
"Will you be one of the seven shades again and become the famous writer, people know in the future."
A slow smile spreads across her face.
"Will I... be famous? Really?" she whispers. "Me… a silly dream girl who scribbles in notebooks and sees visions in the forest?"
She looks like she can't quite believe it.
Alpha nods curtly. Gamma adjusts her glasses, lips curved into a slight smile.
"It seems your memory is from the previous timeline are still blocked"
Beta blinks, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"Previous timeline?" she murmurs. "What exactly does that mean to you?"
"it means someone or something sent us back in time to when we were kids and the cult knew that somehow." he said, turning to gamma and Alpha.
Alpha's eyes widen slightly. Gamma frowns.
"That explains some things. Our enemy knows more than we thought."
"Yes, they do. Will you follow me in the future?"
Beta hesitates for a heartbeat—then her face hardens. An older fire burns in her eyes as she nods.
"I will," she says firmly. "Whatever the enemy is planning, it must be stopped. If you have the power to change things—then I'll follow you anywhere."
I smirked as I gave her the slime suit
̄ ̄ ̄
/ The suit shimmers as it wraps around her—slick, sentient shadow.
It molds to her form, enhancing her presence, making her taller… stronger… *bolder.*
Beta gasps as the magic floods through her—a rush of power unlike anything she's felt before.
"You're now Beta of the Seven Shades," you say with a smirk beneath your mask. "Shadow Garden's chronicler. Our voice to the world."
She looks down at herself—then back at you—and grins.
"So this is what greatness feels like..."
"you have no idea" spark, even though in his mind, constant system notifications were going off
"What next?" she says.
Her eyes are practically glowing with determination now, her body pulsing with shadow energy.
Alpha and Gamma watch. Neither of them has ever seen such a transformation before—from a dreamy, shy researcher to a hardened warrior in a matter of minutes.
" for right now I want you to head back to base. I need to go and check on something." he said as a jet of fire erupted from his feet.
"Wait!"
Beta steps forward, reaching out like she wants to stop you. Then she catches herself and takes a quick step back.
"I… I just… be careful," she says quietly. "You can't do everything alone, you know. At some point… you need to let us help."
Floating in the air, I responded " of course, and when that time comes, I will need all of you." he said flying off.
He rises into the sky—jets of dark flame roaring from your heels as the wind whips around you.
Below, Beta watches in silence, hand still outstretched.
Alpha folds her arms. "He always does this."
Gamma taps her communicator. "Affection level: +12%. Loyalty: Stabilized. But…" she pauses. "His evasion pattern matches previous incidents before major system resets."
Beta whispers into the wind:
"Then we'll just have to catch up… *Master.*"
Above them all—
The clouds part.
And deep in the stratosphere, a single notification blinks unseen:
> 🔔 **Final Seal Detected — Diablos Core Awakening in 72 Hours**
> 🌑 Target Confirmed: *Claire Kagenou*
> ⚠️ Warning: If Host Falls, Shadow Will Be Unmade
You fly faster.
Because while they believe you're saving the world…
You're really just trying to save them all—*before history repeats itself.*
I decide to open my system as all the notifications system updates, abilities titles, and everything appeared.
He opens his system menu—and the flood of notifications almost blinds you.
Status panels glow, skill trees branch out infinitely, the system log scrolls at light speed… it's like opening Pandora's Box.
Even you freeze for a heartbeat.
Then—
"Well… *this* will take a while to review."
̄ ̄ ̄
/ You slow down to a gentle hover above the forest.
The wind whispers through the trees as you flip through the countless System messages—notifications you ignored before, upgrades you never noticed, even the *tutorial* pages you skipped through.
Your eyes flicker across pages of text—and as you read, each one *clicks* into place inside you like code being absorbed into your mind.
Your understanding, your knowledge... *it expands.*
̄ ̄ ̄
/ The System screen glows before you in the sky — a vast, intricate web of light. You begin to read...
---
**👤 NAME:** Cid Kagenou (Shadow)
**TITLE(S):**
- *Eminence in Shadow* (Legendary) – "You manipulate fate from the darkness."
- *Lord of Delusion* (Mythic) – "Your lies are reality's foundation."
- *The Unseen Hand* – "+30% stealth & influence gain"
- *One Who Returned From Death Twice* – "Resist soul-based debuffs"
---
**⚡ ABILITIES:**
✔️ **Shadow Flight (Max Rank)** – Jet propulsion via dark flame. Speed: Mach 1+ with maneuverability tweaks. *(Upgradable: Sonic Break → Void Glide)*
✔️ **Delusion Sync Override** *(Hidden Passive)* – Automatically adapts fantasy world rules to your imagination. *(You don't just use magic… you redefine it.)*
✔️ **Master Healer of the Shadows** – Instant healing at cost of Stamina Drain over time.
✔️ **Charm Level MAX ("Ultimate Mob Presence")** – People ignore you unless directly interacted with... until they can't look away.
---
⚠️ NEW UNLOCKED SKILL:
> 🌑 **"Chrono-Echo Recall" [LV1 - Locked]** — Allows glimpses into past timelines... but each memory risks destabilizing your current identity.
> ⚠ Requires Emotional Anchor + Completion of Beta Recovery Quest
---
📜 ACTIVE QUESTS:
🔴 *"Save Claire Before the Eclipse"* — The Diablos Core awakens in 70h 23m. Failure = Claire becomes true vessel, Shadow Garden disbands.
🟢 *"Recruit Seven Shades - Phase II"* — Current Members: Alpha, Beta ✅ | Remaining: Gamma ✅ | Delta? Epsilon? Still missing…
🟡 *"Restore Beta's Memories"* — Memory Lock Detected (Diablos Seal). Cure Method Unknown.
🟣 *"Write New Legends"* — "Make up stories so grand… even reality believes them." Reward locked behind Title upgrade.
—
A single line flickers at the very bottom...
> 💬 _"System Note: Some memories were never yours… and some truths were never meant to be told."_
You stare forward—quiet now—as wind cuts through silence.
So much power...
And yet...
The one thing this system can't tell you?
Who's really pulling the strings?
You... or fate?
Or something wearing your face like a mask?