CHAPTER 11 - Precision and Shadows
Pain.
That was the first thing Chris felt when he woke.
His arms screamed in protest as he tried to sit up. His shoulders were stiff, his back ached, and his hands—
Chris looked down at his palms. Blisters. Raw, angry blisters from gripping the sword for hours. Some had burst during the night, leaving tender pink skin beneath.
Worth it.
He flexed his fingers slowly, wincing. The System had warned him about overtraining, but he'd pushed anyway. A hundred sword strikes. Hours of repetition. All for one skill.
Precision Strike.
He pulled up his status screen, confirming it was still there.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Name: Chris ║
║ Level: 1 ║
║ Title: Shadow Young Lord ║
║ HP: 100/100 ║
║ MP: 50/50 ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Shadow Skills: ║
║ - Shadow Control (F) ║
║ - Blink (F) ║
║ - Shadow Rise (F) ║
║ - Shadow Sense (F) ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Sword Skills: ║
║ - Precision Strike (F) ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Servants: 1/1 ║
║ - Shadow Goblin (F) ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Quests: ║
║ - Path of the Blade (1/4 milestones) ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Still there. Real.
"Master, your recovery metrics are suboptimal. Muscle microtears detected in both forearms, deltoids, and core stabilizers. I recommend rest."
Chris snorted. "You didn't mention that last night when you were pushing me through another hundred swings."
"Last night, growth was the priority. This morning, survival is. You have a quest with the elf. Appearing injured will raise questions."
Right. Iris.
Chris swung his legs off the bed, biting back a groan. Every movement felt like sandpaper on his nerves. He needed to get downstairs, eat something, and figure out how to hide this.
No way Iris wouldn't notice.
He dressed slowly, each motion deliberate. Pulling on his shirt sent fresh waves of pain through his shoulders. Buckling his sword belt made his hands throb.
How do adventurers do this every day?
"Through gradual conditioning, Master. Your body will adapt with time. For now, I suggest consuming protein and hydration. Your muscle repair requires resources."
Chris made his way downstairs to the common room.
The innkeeper was already awake, wiping down tables with the same tired efficiency she always had. A few early risers sat scattered about, nursing mugs of something hot.
Chris ordered breakfast—bread, eggs, bacon, and tea. He ate mechanically, mind already on the day ahead.
Quest with Iris. Combat, probably. And he could barely lift his arms without wincing.
Great start.
He checked his coin pouch. After paying for the room and meals, he had seven copper left from Gareth's gift, plus the fifteen from yesterday's quest.
Twenty-two copper total.
Not much. He'd need to take more quests soon. Build up funds for better equipment, potions, maybe even a proper place to stay long-term.
One step at a time.
He finished eating, paid the innkeeper, and headed for the guild.
---
The Adventurer's Guild was already buzzing with morning activity.
Adventurers crowded around the quest board, arguing over jobs and territories. The smell of sweat, leather, and stale ale filled the air. Somewhere in the back, someone was arm-wrestling for coin while others cheered.
Chris scanned the room.
Silver hair. Pointed ears. Green robes.
There.
Iris leaned against the wall near the entrance, staff resting across her shoulders. She looked fresh, alert, completely at ease—the opposite of how Chris felt.
When she spotted him, her face lit up with that familiar bright smile.
"Morning, Chris! Ready for—" She stopped mid-sentence, eyes narrowing. "You look terrible."
"Good morning to you too."
She pushed off the wall, striding toward him. Her gaze swept over him with unnerving precision.
"Did you sleep at all? You've got bags under your eyes, your shoulders are stiff, and you're moving like an old man." Her eyes dropped to his hands. "And what happened to—"
She grabbed his wrist before he could pull away.
Chris tensed as she turned his hand over, revealing the blisters and raw skin.
Iris's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "Chris. What did you do?"
"Training," he said simply. "Needed to improve my swordsmanship."
"Training." She stared at him. "You trained so hard you did *this* to yourself? In one night?"
"I'm fine."
"You're clearly not fine." She didn't let go of his wrist. "This is—how many strikes did you do? A hundred? Two hundred?"
"Just a hundred."
Iris closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and muttered something in Elvish that sounded distinctly uncomplimentary.
Then her hand began to glow.
Soft green light wrapped around Chris's palm, warm and soothing. The pain faded almost immediately. He watched, fascinated, as the blisters shrank, the raw skin knitting back together until his hand looked normal again.
She repeated the process with his other hand, then stepped back, releasing him.
"There. Good as new." She crossed her arms, expression somewhere between exasperated and impressed. "You're insane, you know that?"
"I've been told."
"Most people ease into training. Build up gradually. You know, so they don't destroy their hands?"
Chris shrugged. "I don't have time to ease into anything. This world doesn't wait for people to catch up."
Something flickered in Iris's eyes. Understanding, maybe. Or recognition.
She was silent for a moment, then sighed.
"You're not wrong. But you can't help anyone if you cripple yourself." She poked his chest lightly. "Next time, pace yourself. Or at least tell me so I can heal you *before* you show up looking like a reanimated corpse."
"Noted."
Iris studied him for another moment, then her usual smile returned. "Well, since you're so eager to train, I found us a perfect quest."
She handed him a brown quest paper.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ QUEST DETAILS ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ Quest: Goblin Nest Clearing ║
║ Rank: E ║
║ Objective: Eliminate goblin nest ║
║ (Estimated 6-8 goblins) ║
║ Location: Eastern Woods - North Sector ║
║ Reward: 10 Copper per goblin confirmed ║
║ kill ║
║ Danger Level: Moderate ║
║ ║
║ Note: Goblins fight in groups. Party ║
║ of 2+ recommended. ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Chris read it over. Six to eight goblins. That would give him significant progress toward the ten-kill milestone.
"E-rank quest," he noted. "Isn't that above my level?"
"Technically, yes. But you're with me, and I'm D-rank. The guild allows mixed-rank parties as long as the average meets requirements." She grinned. "Besides, I watched you fight that corrupted wolf. You can handle a few goblins."
"With your help."
"Obviously. I'm not letting you die before you get interesting enough to be worth the investment."
Chris shook his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "You have a strange definition of friendship."
"Who said we're friends?" Iris's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You're my project. There's a difference."
"Right. My mistake."
"Come on." She turned toward the exit. "Let's kill some goblins before the good daylight is gone. And Chris?"
"Yeah?"
She glanced back over her shoulder. "Whatever you're pushing yourself for... be careful. Strength means nothing if you burn out before you reach your goal."
Before he could respond, she was already walking away.
Chris stood there for a moment, her words echoing in his mind.
She sees more than she lets on.
He followed her out into the morning light.
---
The walk to the Eastern Woods was becoming familiar.
Chris and Iris fell into a comfortable rhythm—her leading, him following, both alert but relaxed. The city gave way to open fields, then the treeline appeared on the horizon.
"So," Iris said casually, not looking back. "What made you decide to train like a maniac last night?"
Chris kept his tone neutral. "Told you. Need to get stronger."
"Most people say that. Few actually do it." She glanced at him. "What's driving you, Chris? What are you running from? Or running toward?"
He considered his answer carefully.
"I don't want to be useless."
Iris slowed her pace slightly, walking beside him now. "Useless?"
"My whole life, I was... ordinary. Invisible. Just another face in the crowd." He stared at the path ahead. "I don't want that anymore. I want to matter."
It wasn't the whole truth. But it wasn't a lie either.
Iris was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke, her voice softer than usual.
"I get that."
Chris glanced at her. "You do?"
"More than you'd think." She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I wasn't always D-rank, you know. I started at F, just like everyone else. Weak. Scared. Barely surviving."
"What changed?"
"I lost someone." The words were simple, but the weight behind them was immense. "Someone important. And I wasn't strong enough to save them."
Chris felt something tighten in his chest. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It was a long time ago." Iris's smile returned, warmer this time. "But it taught me something important. Strength isn't just about power. It's about what you do with it. Why you fight."
She looked at him directly.
"So what are you fighting for, Chris?"
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
What *was* he fighting for?
Survival? That was part of it. But not all.
To become strong enough that no one could force him into the shadows again? Maybe.
To prove to himself—and the god watching—that he was more than entertainment?
Possibly.
"I'm still figuring that out," he admitted.
Iris nodded, accepting the answer. "That's fair. Just... don't lose yourself in the pursuit, okay? Strength without purpose is just violence."
Before Chris could respond, they entered the forest.
The transition was immediate. Sunlight dimmed beneath the canopy. The air grew cooler, damp with the scent of moss and rotting wood. Bird calls faded, replaced by an uneasy silence.
Chris's Shadow Sense spread automatically, sweeping the area.
Nothing yet. But the forest felt wrong.
"Notice it?" Iris whispered.
"Yeah. Too quiet."
She gripped her staff tighter. "The corruption is spreading. Slowly, but definitely. This area was fine a week ago."
Chris scanned the trees. Now that she mentioned it, he could see the signs. Bark that was too dark. Leaves with purple veins. Patches of ground where nothing grew.
"Do you know what's causing it?"
"No one does. The guild's been investigating, but so far, nothing conclusive." She frowned. "It's like the Darklands are... bleeding into the world. Slow. Deliberate."
That word sent a chill through him. *Deliberate.*
"You think someone's doing this on purpose?"
"I don't know. But natural corruption doesn't move this methodically." She shook her head. "That's a problem for higher ranks, though. Our job is just the goblin nest."
They walked deeper into the woods, following the directions from the quest paper.
After twenty minutes, Iris stopped.
"There."
Chris followed her gaze.
Ahead, partially hidden by thick undergrowth, was a crude structure—wooden stakes driven into the ground, bones hanging from twine, and a dark opening leading underground.
A goblin nest.
And judging by the tracks around the entrance, it was active.
Iris turned to him, her expression serious.
"Standard formation. I'll provide ranged support and crowd control. You handle close combat. Don't get surrounded, and if things go wrong, we retreat immediately. Understood?"
Chris drew his sword, feeling the familiar weight settle in his grip.
"Understood."
"Good." She raised her staff, wind beginning to swirl around her. "Let's clear this nest."
---
The first goblin emerged before they even reached the entrance.
It was small—barely four feet tall—with mottled green skin and yellowed teeth. It wore scraps of leather armor and carried a rusted short sword. Beady red eyes locked onto Chris and Iris.
It screeched.
Immediately, more goblins poured out of the nest entrance. Two. Four. Six. Eight.
More than expected.
"Damn," Iris muttered. "Quest said six to eight. This is at least ten."
The goblins spread out, encircling them with surprising coordination. They chattered to each other in a harsh, guttural language, clearly planning something.
Chris's Shadow Sense flared, tracking each creature's position.
Eight in front. Two circling behind. No immediate hostility yet—they're testing us. Waiting for an opening.
"Master, recommended tactic: eliminate the leader first. Goblin packs rely on hierarchical command structure. Fourth from the left—larger, better equipped, others defer to it."
Chris spotted it. The goblin the System had indicated was indeed bigger, with actual metal armor and a cleaner weapon.
"Iris," he said quietly. "Fourth from the left. The big one. That's the leader."
She glanced at him, surprised. "How did you—never mind. Good eye." Wind gathered at the tip of her staff. "I'll create an opening. You take it down."
"On your mark."
"Three... two... one—NOW!"
Iris thrust her staff forward. A blade of compressed air shot toward the goblin pack, scattering them. The leader stumbled back, momentarily isolated from its group.
Chris moved.
His feet carried him forward in a burst of speed, sword raised. The leader recovered quickly, bringing its weapon up to block.
Their blades met with a harsh clang.
The goblin was stronger than expected, muscles bulging as it pushed back. Chris felt the impact jar his arms, but his improved form held.
Hip rotation. Core engagement. Let the blade do the work.
He twisted, redirecting the goblin's force to the side, then stepped in close.
Precision Strike.
The skill activated instinctively. Time seemed to slow for a fraction of a second. Chris's vision sharpened, and he saw it—the gap in the goblin's armor, right below the ribs. A weak point.
His sword moved almost on its own, guided by the skill.
The blade punched through the gap with surgical precision, sliding between armor plates and into flesh.
Critical Hit.
The goblin's eyes widened. It gasped, blood bubbling from its mouth, then collapsed.
One down.
"NICE!" Iris's voice rang out. "Keep moving!"
The other goblins screeched in fury, charging forward as a group.
Chris pulled his blade free and spun to face them.
This was going to get messy.
Three goblins rushed him from the front. Chris parried the first strike, ducked the second, and sidestepped the third. His movements were smoother than before—hours of training paying off in real time.
Shadow Sense fed him information constantly. Attack from the left. Dodge. Thrust from below. Parry. Overhead strike incoming. Roll.
He wasn't just reacting anymore. He was predicting.
Wind blades whistled past him, cutting down two goblins before they could flank. Iris was controlling the battlefield, keeping the pack scattered and disorganized.
"Four left!" she called out.
Chris engaged the nearest goblin, their blades clashing in rapid succession. This one was faster, more aggressive. It pressed the attack relentlessly, forcing Chris back.
Then it overextended.
Chris saw the opening—a split-second gap when the goblin committed too heavily to a downward strike.
He sidestepped, letting the blade pass harmlessly by, and countered with a horizontal slash.
Precision Strike activated again.
The sword found the goblin's throat with perfect accuracy, cutting deep. The creature gurgled, clutching its neck, then fell.
Two down. Three to go.
Movement behind him. Shadow Sense screamed a warning.
Ambush.
Chris spun, bringing his sword up just in time to block a strike from a goblin that had circled behind. The impact drove him to one knee, but he held firm.
Before the goblin could follow up, vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around its legs and yanking it off balance.
"Focus forward!" Iris shouted. "I've got your back!"
Chris trusted her and turned his attention to the remaining goblins in front.
The last two charged together, clearly hoping to overwhelm him with numbers.
Not this time.
Chris met their charge head-on, engaging the first while keeping the second in his peripheral vision. Shadow Sense tracked both, feeding him split-second predictions.
Slash. Parry. Dodge. Counter.
The rhythm of combat was becoming natural. Not effortless—every movement still required thought, focus, precision—but familiar.
He feinted left, drawing the first goblin's guard out of position, then struck right.
Precision Strike. Critical hit. Throat.
The goblin dropped.
The last one hesitated, realizing it was alone. It looked at Chris, then at the bodies of its companions, then back at Chris.
Fear entered its eyes.
It turned and ran.
"Oh no you don't!" Iris raised her staff, and a gust of wind slammed into the fleeing goblin, sending it tumbling across the ground. Vines sprouted immediately, pinning it down.
Chris approached slowly, sword ready.
The goblin thrashed against the vines, screeching desperately.
For a moment, Chris hesitated.
It's helpless. Already defeated. Do I really need to—
"Master, quest objective requires elimination. Mercy in combat is a luxury reserved for those with overwhelming power. You are not yet in that position."
The System was right. Harsh, but right.
This was a quest. A job. And goblins were dangerous—if he let it go, it might attack other travelers. Other adventurers.
Chris raised his sword.
The goblin's screeching stopped. It stared up at him with wide, terrified eyes.
He brought the blade down.
Silence.
Chris stood there, breathing hard, sword dripping red.
Five goblins. Five kills.
His hands were shaking.
"Chris?"
Iris's voice pulled him back to the present. She stood a few feet away, concern written on her face.
"You okay?"
He looked at her, then at the bodies around them. Five dead goblins. Killed by his hand.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I'm fine."
Iris stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "First time killing something that looked at you like that, huh?"
Chris nodded.
"It gets easier," she said softly. "Not better. Just easier." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "But don't let it become too easy. The day killing stops bothering you is the day you should worry."
Chris appreciated the words more than he could express.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it." She squeezed his shoulder once, then released him. "Come on. Let's check the nest. Make sure there aren't any more hiding inside."
They approached the nest entrance cautiously, but Shadow Sense confirmed it was empty. The goblins they'd fought were the entire pack.
Inside the crude structure, they found the typical goblin hoard—scraps of stolen goods, rusted weapons, a few copper coins.
Nothing valuable. But Iris collected the coins anyway—five copper total—and divided them evenly.
"Two and a half each," she said, handing Chris his share. "Plus the quest reward. Ten copper per confirmed kill, so fifty copper total. Not bad for an hour's work."
Chris pocketed the coins. Combined with what he already had, his funds were growing. Slowly, but growing.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ !! QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE !! ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ Quest: Path of the Blade ║
║ ║
║ Milestone [2]: Defeat 10 enemies with ║
║ sword only ║
║ ║
║ Progress: 6/10 ║
║ ║
║ Note: Four more kills required for ║
║ next reward unlock. ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Six out of ten. More than halfway there.
"Let's head back," Iris said, stretching. "Report the completion, claim our reward, and maybe grab lunch. I'm starving."
Chris nodded, sheathing his sword.
As they left the nest behind, Chris couldn't help but glance back at the bodies.
Five more steps toward strength.
And five more lives on his conscience.
He turned away and followed Iris into the forest.
---
Night fell over Rendercity like a familiar blanket.
Chris sat in his room at The Copper Coin, waiting for the transition. He felt it the moment the last traces of sunlight vanished—the shift in his senses, the sudden sharpening of awareness, the connection to darkness strengthening.
Night Phase Activated.
His Shadow Sense expanded immediately, reaching far beyond the walls of his room. He could feel the innkeeper downstairs, still cleaning tables. A few late-night patrons in the common room. The night guard patrol passing by outside.
No one near the training yard.
Perfect.
Chris slipped out of his window, dropping silently into the alley below. He moved through the shadows like a ghost, his path illuminated only by moonlight.
The training yard was deserted, exactly as expected.
He vaulted the fence and landed in the center of the open space. For a moment, he simply stood there, feeling the night air on his skin, the darkness curling around him like a living thing.
Then he spoke.
"System. It's time."
"Understood, Master. Initiating Shadow Servant summon."
Chris focused on his shadow, stretching long and dark beneath the purple moon.
"Shadow Rise."
The shadow rippled. Then it moved.
Something emerged from the darkness—slowly at first, like smoke taking shape. Purple eyes flickered to life, glowing faintly in the gloom. The form solidified, becoming more defined.
The shadow goblin stood before him.
It was exactly as Chris remembered—four feet tall, humanoid but wrong. Its body was made of pure shadow, darker than the night around it. No features, no details, just a vaguely goblin-shaped silhouette with glowing purple eyes.
Those eyes stared at Chris, unblinking. Waiting.
Chris felt the connection between them—a mental thread linking his consciousness to the creature's. It was faint but present, carrying impressions rather than thoughts.
Obedience. Patience. Hunger.
"Can you understand me?" Chris asked.
The goblin tilted its head slightly. Not quite a nod, but acknowledgment.
"Good." Chris pointed to a practice dummy across the yard. "Attack that."
The shadow goblin moved instantly.
It didn't run—it *flowed*, shadows propelling it forward faster than any physical creature could manage. In less than a second, it reached the dummy and lashed out with clawed hands.
The strikes were vicious. Shadowy claws raked across the wooden surface, leaving deep gouges. The goblin attacked with animal ferocity, tearing into the dummy until Chris called it off.
"Stop."
The creature froze mid-strike, then turned back to him. Waiting for the next command.
Interesting.
"Return to me."
The goblin dissolved into shadow and flowed back across the ground, reforming at Chris's side.
Chris ran through several more tests.
Offensive commands. Defensive positions. Evasive maneuvers. Complex multi-step instructions.
The shadow goblin obeyed every order without hesitation. It was fast, deadly, and completely loyal.
But it wasn't intelligent.
Chris could feel that through the connection. The creature had no thoughts of its own, no personality, no will. It was an extension of his shadow—a puppet animated by dark magic.
"Master, I must point out that referring to your servant by function rather than designation is inefficient. I recommend assigning it a name for ease of command."
Chris looked at the shadowy figure standing silently beside him.
A name.
He'd been avoiding it. Naming something made it real. Made it personal.
But the System was right. If he was going to use this ability, he needed to be practical about it.
"Fine." He studied the creature for a moment. "Scout. I'll call you Scout."
The goblin—Scout—didn't react. But Chris felt a faint pulse through their connection.
Acknowledgment. Acceptance.
"Alright, Scout. Let's see what you can really do."
For the next hour, Chris trained with his shadow servant.
He practiced coordinated attacks—Chris engaging from the front while Scout flanked. Defensive formations where Scout guarded his back. Hit-and-run tactics using Scout's enhanced mobility.
The more he worked with the creature, the more he understood its capabilities.
Scout was fast. Incredibly fast. In shadows, it could move almost instantaneously, dissolving and reforming elsewhere in the blink of an eye.
It was strong. Not overwhelmingly so, but enough to tear through wooden practice dummies and dent metal plates.
And it was silent. Completely, eerily silent. No footsteps, no breathing, no sound at all.
The perfect assassin.
By the time Chris finished, he was exhausted but satisfied.
Scout stood at attention, purple eyes glowing softly in the darkness.
"Return," Chris commanded.
The shadow goblin dissolved, flowing back into Chris's shadow where it settled like a dormant presence. Still there. Still ready. Just waiting.
Chris checked his status.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Servants: 1/1 ║
║ - Scout (Shadow Goblin) - F rank ║
║ ║
║ Servant Status: Active ║
║ Manifestation: Nighttime Only ║
║ MP Cost: 5 per hour manifested ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
So maintaining Scout in physical form cost mana. Good to know.
Chris turned to leave the training yard, but something made him stop.
His Shadow Sense flared suddenly—a warning.
Someone was watching.
Chris spun, scanning the darkness. His enhanced senses swept the area, searching for the presence.
There.
On the rooftop of the guild building, barely visible against the night sky.
A figure stood silhouetted by moonlight. Tall. Humanoid. Completely still.
Chris's hand went to his sword.
"Who's there?"
The figure didn't move. Didn't speak.
Then it smiled.
Even from this distance, Chris could see it. That wide, frozen smile. Too perfect. Too familiar.
The god.
Terror and anger warred in Chris's chest. The god was here. Now. Watching him directly.
"What do you want?" Chris called out, trying to keep his voice steady.
The figure raised one hand—a casual, lazy gesture.
And then it spoke. The voice came from everywhere and nowhere, just like in the void.
"Just checking in, Chris. Making sure my investment is... entertaining."
"I'm not your entertainment."
"Oh, but you are." The god's smile seemed to widen. "And so far, you're doing wonderfully. Shadow servants. Dual progression paths. A lovely little elf who suspects you're more than you seem." It tilted its head. "You're playing the game exactly how I hoped."
Chris's jaw clenched. "This isn't a game."
"Everything is a game, dear Chris. The only question is whether you're playing to win or simply surviving." The god leaned forward slightly. "But I wonder... how long can you keep your secrets? How long before your shadows betray you?"
Before Chris could respond, the figure dissolved—not into shadow, but into nothing. One moment it was there, the next it was gone, as if it had never existed.
Chris stood alone in the training yard, heart pounding.
The god was watching. Actively. Closely.
And that smile...
Chris forced himself to breathe slowly, calming his racing thoughts.
He couldn't let fear control him. The god wanted entertainment? Fine. He'd give it to him.
But on his terms.
Chris climbed back over the fence and disappeared into the night, returning to The Copper Coin.
Behind him, the training yard stood empty.
But in the shadows beneath the guild building, something lingered for just a moment longer.
A presence. A weight. A watching gaze.
And then it, too, was gone.
[End of Chapter 11]