Shadow Being System

The academy, sprawling under the cover of night, seemed almost serene. Tall towers cast shadows over the silent courtyards, with the moon hanging high, its pale light illuminating the sharp, angular architecture of the military school. Yet, despite the stillness, there was an unspoken tension in the air, like a predator lurking in the dark, unseen but felt by those who paid attention.

Far from the dormitories, in the tallest building, on the highest floor, an office light flickered. Inside sat a scrawny, skeletal man, his face gaunt and his fingers long and thin, like the talons of a vulture. His desk was immaculate, save for a single lamp that bathed the room in a dim, yellow light.

The man's cold, sharp eyes were locked on the document before him, but his focus was far beyond the words on the page.

A knock on the door broke the silence, reverberating in the stillness of the office. "Enter," the principal said, his voice thin, barely rising above a whisper.

The door opened, and a soldier stepped in, his military uniform crisp, his posture rigid as he saluted. "Principal."

The man behind the desk looked up, a ghost of a smile pulling at the corners of his thin lips. "How was it?"

The soldier lowered his hand. "He has successfully infiltrated the academy."

The principal's smile grew slightly, his pale eyes glittering with satisfaction. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly. "Good. You've done well." His tone was dismissive, and the soldier, recognizing his cue, saluted once more before leaving the room. The door closed behind him, leaving the principal alone once again in the dim light.

He tapped his long fingers on the desk, his smile fading as his thoughts drifted toward something unseen, something darker.

---

Back at the dorm, William's room was cloaked in a heavy, oppressive silence. The only light came from the soft moonlight filtering through the narrow window, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. The atmosphere was thick, charged with a tension that made the air feel heavy. William could feel it—a creeping dread that curled in his gut, his eyes fixed on the two figures standing in his room.

The ninja, with his katana still sheathed, stood poised like a coiled spring, every muscle in his body ready to explode into action. The Heretic, his eyes gleaming with malice, was the first to move. Without a word, he lunged forward, his short blades glinting in the dim light, the tips dripping with a deadly poison that glistened darkly.

The room exploded into chaos.

Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

The Heretic's movements were a blur, fast and deadly, his poisoned claws slashing through the air with terrifying precision. But the ninja was faster. He sidestepped the attack, his movements so fluid it was as though he was dancing through the strikes. He didn't draw his sword, instead, he deflected each attack with bare hands, his motions precise and controlled.

With every clash, sparks flew, the sound of metal meeting metal echoing in the small, confined space. William could only watch, frozen in terror as the two combatants clashed, the force of their strikes shaking the walls around him.

The Heretic's strikes were vicious and wild, his poison-tainted blades aiming for lethal hits, but the ninja seemed almost untouchable, weaving through each attack with grace and ease.

As the battle raged, the destruction in William's room grew. The walls were slashed, furniture shattered, and the window cracked under the force of stray blows. If not for the ninja's quick reflexes, William would have been sliced apart several times by the Heretic's deadly claws.

Instead, the ninja, always a step ahead, shielded William from every stray attack, pushing him back toward the corner of the room where he'd be safer.

The Heretic, growing frustrated, snarled and launched himself at the ninja again, his movements more erratic, more dangerous. Poison dripped from his claws, hissing as it hit the floor, burning through wood and fabric alike. The ninja, however, remained calm, never once losing his focus. With a swift motion, he disarmed the Heretic, knocking one of his short blades across the room with a sharp clang.

Breathing heavily, the Heretic stumbled back, his remaining blade clutched tightly in his hand. His eyes burned with fury, and a dark energy began to radiate from his body. The air in the room shifted, growing colder, heavier. William's heart raced as he felt the dark power swirl around the Heretic, his skin crawling with dread.

Suddenly, the Heretic unleashed a wave of dark energy, the force of it so strong that it rattled the very foundation of the room. The dark aura enveloped the Heretic's body, warping his form. His muscles bulged, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light. The transformation was grotesque, his already sinister appearance becoming more monstrous, more dangerous.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

William's hair stood on end as the transformation completed, his stomach churning at the sight of the Heretic's new form. The dark energy crackled around the Heretic, and he let out a low, guttural growl.

The ninja, however, remained unfazed. His eyes narrowed, his hand still resting calmly on the hilt of his katana. Despite the overwhelming power radiating from the transformed Heretic, it was clear that the ninja held the upper hand. His movements, still graceful and fluid, seemed effortless compared to the Heretic's wild, chaotic attacks.

But now, the fight was far from over.