The world felt… wrong.
Anish stood still, his breath slow, controlled—but everything around him had changed.
The air was heavier.
Darker.
Alive.
He looked at his hands again. They were trembling slightly, but not from fear.
From power.
"…What is this feeling?" he whispered.
It was as if something was flowing beneath his skin—something cold, yet incredibly potent.
Then—
[Initialization Complete]
[Welcome, Host: Anish]
[Shadow System Fully Activated]
A translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
Not real… yet undeniably present.
[Status Window]
Name: Anish
Level: 1
Title: None
Power: Shadow Essence (Locked – 10%)
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 7
Anish's eyes widened.
"This… is like a game…"
But this wasn't a game.
He could feel it.
Every number.
Every stat.
It was real.
[New Skill Unlocked]
→ Shadow Sense (Passive – Lv.1)
Suddenly—
His vision shifted.
The darkness around him sharpened.
He could see things he hadn't noticed before.
Movements.
Tiny distortions in the air.
Even the faintest sound echoed clearly in his ears.
"…Unbelievable…"
For the first time in his life—
He wasn't weak.
But then—
A chill ran down his spine.
[Warning]
[Host has been detected]
Anish froze.
"Detected… by what?"
The rooftop fell silent.
Too silent.
Then—
A low growl echoed from the shadows behind him.
Grrrrrr…
Anish slowly turned.
His heart stopped.
Standing at the edge of the rooftop—
Was something… not human.
Its body was twisted.
Black.
Covered in moving shadows.
Eyes glowing faintly red.
"…What the hell is that?" Anish stepped back.
[Shadow Beast – Level 3]
Threat Level: Moderate
The creature stared at him.
Hungry.
Violent.
Ready to attack.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Anish clenched his fists.
Just moments ago, he was a normal guy.
And now—
He was facing a monster.
The beast moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
It lunged at him with terrifying speed.
"Damn it—!"
Anish reacted instinctively.
His body moved on its own.
He dodged.
Barely.
The creature slammed into the ground, cracking the concrete.
"So this is how it is…" Anish muttered, breathing hard.
"No time to think… just survive."
The beast attacked again.
Claws slicing through the air.
This time—
Anish didn't panic.
He focused.
Shadow Sense activated.
Everything slowed.
Just a little.
But enough.
He stepped to the side—
And grabbed a broken metal rod lying nearby.
"Let's see…"
He tightened his grip.
"…what this power can do."
The beast roared.
And charged again.
This time—
Anish didn't run.
He stepped forward.
"Come."
At the last second—
He swung.
CLANG!
The rod collided with the beast's body.
A sharp sound echoed.
The creature staggered.
"…It worked?"
But not enough.
The beast growled.
Angrier.
Stronger.
"Yeah… figures."
Anish smirked slightly.
"This won't be easy."
The next attack came faster.
More brutal.
The claw slashed across his arm—
"Ah—!"
Blood spilled.
Pain shot through his body.
But—
He didn't fall.
Instead—
He smiled.
"…Now I get it."
This wasn't just power.
This was a test.
"Fine…"
Anish wiped the blood from his arm.
His eyes darkened.
"Let's see who survives."
The shadows around him began to move.
Reacting to him.
Listening to him.
And for the first time—
The darkness didn't feel scary.
It felt like his.
END OF CHAPTER 2