The first night back was rough. The hospital room felt cold and empty, like a cage made of white walls and blinking machines. Kade lay there, every muscle aching, every breath a reminder of how weak he'd become.
Then, out of nowhere, the strange glowing panel appeared again—right in front of his eyes. It flickered softly, words scrolling across the screen.
System tutorial activated. Beginning skill: Shadow Blade.
Kade frowned. Shadow Blade? That sounded familiar—like something from a story he barely remembered.
Activate skill? (Yes / No)
Without thinking, he hit "Yes."
Almost instantly, it felt like something shifted inside him. He looked at his hands—empty, but not quite. The air around his right hand thickened, almost like smoke gathering, and then a dark, shimmering blade formed. It wasn't solid, but it wasn't just smoke either—it felt... real.
He flexed his fingers, surprised at how natural it felt, like the blade was part of him.
"This... this is power," he whispered.
Suddenly, loud banging came from the door. Two men stormed in, faces hard and eyes full of hate.
"Kade Ren," one said, voice cold as steel. "The syndicate wants you dead."
Kade didn't hesitate. The shadow blade pulsed in his hand, ready. With a quick slash, a wave of dark energy shot forward, knocking one attacker into the wall. The other barely dodged, scowling.
They retreated fast, swearing revenge.
His heart raced, but he felt something new—hope. The system flashed:
Skill gained: Shadow Blade (Level 1). Cooldown: 60 seconds.
He'd passed his first test. Barely.
Kade collapsed back on the bed, muscles trembling but mind sharp. He wasn't just broken anymore. He was a user of something powerful—and dangerous.
Power came at a cost. He could feel it deep down.
But for now, all he knew was this:
I'm going to learn how to control this system.I'm going to find those who betrayed me.And I'm going to rise again. Stronger than ever.