"Temporal Stagnation is a helpful skill. It is one that can help you in battle." Xentor said.
"Cool. What is it like?" Miller asked.
[Temporal Stagnation]
[The user can manipulate shadows to create an area where time seems to slow down for everything within it. This could be used to slow down attacks, projectiles, or even opponents, giving your character an advantage in combat. The skill might have limitations, such as a limited duration or a cooldown period before it can be used again.]
[Note: The Shadow doesn't stop the attack. It only slows it down a bit. Giving the user some time to do what he wants to do.]
[When Activated Successfully, The user shadow would extend to that area. Let's say for example, a fist is headed towards your direction. Your shadow would Immediately appear in front of you and immediately the fists touch that shadow it would automatically slow down]
[Note: The only part that slows down is the part that touchs the shadow, as the other part of your opponent body, would still he moving at a regular rate]
[Your opponent would only slow down. It also depends on how fast your opponent is. For instance if your opponent is faster than the speed of light. Although he would slow down if he touches the shadow. The opponent slowed speed would still be faster than your current overall speed]
[You are advised to use these skill carefully. It can help in battle. But it doesn't guarantee that you wouldn't get hurt and besides the stronger your shadow gets. The more your overall ability would improve]
Those words from the System echoed everywhere as usual.
"I hope you understand how this can give you a slight edge in battle." Xentor said.
"Yes." Miller replied excited.
"So now let us start." Xentor said as he got into a fighting stance. Miller did thesame thing imitating him.
"Currently you have only one shadow. Which is your own personal shadow. Due to the sun, your shadow looks thicker." Xentor said. "You would have to move your Shadow from the ground and put it in front of you."
Miller chuckled.
"It's not funny." Xentor replied a bit annoyed.
Looking at his annoyed face, reminded Miller that Xentor was also a seperate consciousness on it's own and it seems like it also has emotions like the System.
"I am sorry." Miller apologized.
"Good." Xentor replied with a smile. "To bring your shadow upward you would have to feel it."
"Just don't see your shadow as your enemy. It's a part of you, a manifestation of your power. To control it, you need to embrace it and understand it."
Xentor's words were simple, but they struck a chord with Miller. He'd always seen his shadow as a strange, alien part of himself, but maybe that wasn't the way to look at it. Maybe it was a part of him, and he just had to learn to use it. With that thought, Miller closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to feel the shadow within him.
'I can't even feel a thing.' Miller thought.
"I can hear that." Xentor said just to remind Miller that he could hear his thoughts.
"Sorry." Miller said, still with his eyes closed.
Miller breathed in.
Miller breathed out.
"This thing isn't working!" He said angrily to Xentor.
"That's because you still see the shadow differently." Xentor said. "Look at the shadow like a part of you, like your own extension."
"I have tried that and I can't." Miller replied to Xentor.
Xentor then had a creepy smile on his face. "I think I know what can help you."
As Xentor said those words. In an instant Miller's both arms disappeared leaving only his body.
"What did you do to me!" Miller shouted as he felt pain.
SPLAT!
Blood dripped out of the place. It was like his hands were severed by something. Looking under his foot, he saw his own shadow cut it's arms.
'Is that a power i can get.' Miller thought almost forgetting the pain he just felt.
"Yes. That's one power you would develop later. But not now. I just did that to show you how powerful the Shadow Ability is." Xentor said after hearing Miller's thought.
"You were able to control my own shadow." Miller said confused.
"Yes." Xentor said.
"Will my arms grow back?" Miller asked a little scared now.
"Yes. Miller, you arms are not even cut in reality. This is only happening in your mind like i said earlier." Xentor said. "Now use this opportunity to feel your own arm."
"You just cut of my arms remember." Miller said a little annoyed.
"I don't mean your real arm." Xentor replied. "I mean that of the shadow."
"It's part of you. Feel its arm, and then gradually try to feel its entire body," Xentor concluded.
Miller closed his eyes concentrating with it. After a minute of so concentrating, he could feel it. His own arm. It wasn't his physical arm. It was the arm that belonged to the shadow.
As he opened his eyes, he looked at his shadow underneath his foot and the arms of the shadow was shaking like the way he intended it to. It was like his own shadow was alive and not just an image of his body when blocking some part of the sunlight.
"Now concentrate on the whole body." Xentor said those words slowly.
Miller closed his eyes and right now. It felt way easier than last time. He could feel the entire shadow. It was like a part of him that had been missing for a long time. He also felt warmth.
"Finally, you have done it." Xentor said.
As Miller opened his eyes. Behold was his shadow right in front of him. The shadow wasn't underneath his legs like it would have been it was standing in front of him like a living person.
The shadow was entirely black. It just had the exact shape of Miller's body. Miller stretched his hand touching it. But his hand went through and like what Xentor had said. It would slow down a person's attack.
(NOTE: AFTER THE SHADOW APPEARED IN FRONT OF MILLER. HIS ARMS ALSO CAME BACK. THIS IS JUST AN IMAGINATION MADE BY XENTOR. EVERYTHING HERE IS IN MILLER'S MIND AND NOT IN REAL LIFE)
"Now that you have known how to control that Shadow of yours. It's time for you to test how you can stand off against beasts." Xentor said.
"Beasts. But i haven't even..." Miller Couldn't complete his sentence as the ground underneath them trembled.
Three beasts had fallen from the sky...
*******
AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. YOUR VOTE KEEPS ME MOTIVATED TO KEEP WRITING MORE CHAPTERS.
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