It was 2:00 AM.
The city was silent, wrapped in darkness. Only the distant sound of a siren echoed through the empty streets.
Ayan was running.
His breath was uneven. His heart pounded violently against his chest.
Something was chasing him.
He didn't dare to look back, but he could feel it—two crimson eyes glowing in the shadows behind him.
"I just wanted to take a shortcut…" he muttered under his breath.
Suddenly—
The ground in front of him cracked open.
From the darkness, a massive shadow rose. It had a human-like shape… but no face. No features. Just an overwhelming, terrifying presence.
Ayan stumbled backward until his back hit a cold brick wall.
There was nowhere to run.
"Run…"
A whisper echoed inside his head.
"Who's there?!" Ayan shouted, panic rising in his voice.
At that moment, a blue translucent screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[Shadow System Activated]
Host Detected: Ayan Rahman
Compatibility: 99%
Emergency Quest Triggered
"What… what is this?!"
The shadow lunged at him.
Ayan closed his eyes, bracing for impact.
But the attack never came.
Instead, a surge of electricity rushed through his body. Power—raw and overwhelming—flowed in his veins.
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step – Level 1]
Before he could understand what was happening, his body moved on its own.
In the blink of an eye—
He vanished.
And reappeared several meters away.
Ayan stared at his trembling hands.
"I… teleported?"
The shadow creature let out a distorted screech and charged again.
This time—
Ayan didn't feel fear.
Something inside him had changed.
Dark energy swirled around his body. His eyes flickered with a faint black glow.
"System… give me strength."
[New Title Acquired: The Chosen of Shadows]
The entire alley was swallowed by darkness.
And in the center of it—
Ayan stood still.
Calm.
Powerful.
Unaware that this was only the beginning of a destiny long forgotten.
To Be Continued…