Here's the thing about fighting someone who can literally throw fire at you: it sucks.
The enforcer lunged again, his fists glowing with heat. He wasn't just tossing fireballs for show—this guy was a Gifted Combatant, someone trained to turn Mundane like me into ash.
And me?
I was a pizza delivery guy who, until five minutes ago, thought magic was just something I'd never have.
I dodged the first punch. The second one? Not so much. His fist hit my ribs, and I swear I felt something crack. I stumbled back, gasping, and instinctively swung my arm.
The shadow tendril lashed out. It wasn't graceful or controlled or more like a flailing rope, but it connected, slamming into his side.
He grunted, caught off guard, and staggered a step.
Holy crap. Did I actually land a hit?
"You're dead," the enforcer snarled, his runes glowing brighter.
"Oh, cool, love that for me," I wheezed, clutching my ribs.
[Combat Warning: Host health critical. Magic drain increasing.]
The System's voice echoed in my head like a snarky sports commentator. Not helpful. The shadows around me felt heavier like they were feeding off my energy. My legs were already shaking, my breath coming in short, panicked bursts.
I couldn't win this. I didn't even know what I was doing.
"Stop wasting my time."
The enforcer raised both hands. Fire flared between them, forming a spinning orb of molten death.
"You're not even worth the paperwork."
Well, that was just rude.
The fireball shot toward me, and instinct kicked in again. I threw up both hands, and the shadows exploded outward, forming a dome around me. The fireball hit the barrier with a deafening crack, and I felt the impact all the way down to my teeth.
When the flames cleared, the enforcer was already charging, and my shadow shield was falling apart, fading back into the dark corners of the room.
"You've got one trick," he said, closing the distance between us. "And it's not enough."
Maybe he was right. Maybe this was it for me. But then the System chimed in again.
[Hint: Shadow Grasp can be used offensively. Target vital areas for maximum effect.]
Vital areas? What, like his face? His throat? His—oh. Right.
Desperate, I reached out, and the shadows responded instantly, lashing around his ankle. With all the strength I could muster, I yanked.
The enforcer went down hard, slamming onto the cracked tile floor. I didn't wait for him to recover—I sprinted toward the exit, adrenaline doing its best to drown out the pain in my ribs.
"Get back here!"
I burst out of the library and into the night, gulping down cold air. My bike was still where I'd left it, leaning against a crumbling wall. I jumped on, pedaling as fast as my legs would go.
Shard City blurred around me again, but this time it wasn't neon lights and smog—it was shadows. They clung to me, swirling at the edges of my vision, like they were alive. Like they were waiting for me to mess up again.
By the time I reached my apartment, my body was on the verge of collapse. I stumbled up the stairs, unlocked the door, and practically fell inside.
My place wasn't much—a one-room box with a mattress on the floor, a mini fridge, and a pile of laundry I kept meaning to deal with. But it was mine. My safe space.
Or at least, it was.
Because as soon as I closed the door, the System spoke again.
[Congratulations, Host. You survived your first combat encounter.]
"Yeah, no thanks to you."
[Incorrect. My guidance ensured your survival. You're welcome.]
"Guidance? You mean the part where you let me get punched in the ribs?"
[Physical injury was unavoidable given your lack of training and poor reflexes.]
"Wow. Brutal."
The glowing interface reappeared in my vision, displaying a simple status screen:
> Host: Kai Rivers
Level: 1
Abilities: Shadow Grasp (Tier 1)
Energy: 5%
Status: Exhausted, Injured
5% energy? Was that why I felt like death warmed over?
[Shadow Magic is a high-maintenance resource. Energy depletion will result in physical and mental strain. It is advised to rest and recover.]
"Rest? I don't have time to rest. That guy's probably tracking me right now!"
[Incorrect. Your shadow aura disrupted his magical signature. He cannot follow you. You are safe… for now.]
"For now," I repeated, dragging a hand through my hair. "Yeah, that's comforting."
I lay back on the mattress, staring at the cracked ceiling. My ribs ached, my head was pounding, and my brain was still trying to process everything that had happened.
Forbidden magic. Shadow powers. A System in my head that sounded like a passive-aggressive GPS.
This wasn't real. It couldn't be.
But the shadows curling around my fingers said otherwise.
"Okay," I said, sitting up. "Let's say this isn't some kind of fever dream. What's the deal here? Why me? Why now?"
The System's response was immediate.
[You were chosen by the artifact. Your compatibility with Shadow Magic is unusually high for a Mundane.]
"Yeah, but why me?"
[Unknown. The artifact operates on criteria beyond your comprehension.]
"Wow. So helpful."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Alright, fine. What happens now? I just… keep using this magic until someone kills me?"
[Incorrect. The goal is survival and growth. With proper training, you can master the shadow abilities and ascend to higher tiers.]
"Ascend? Like, level up?"
[Simplistic phrasing, but accurate.]
I sat there for a moment, letting that sink in. Ascend. Grow stronger. The words lit a spark in me, one I hadn't felt in a long time.
For most of my life, I'd been powerless. A nobody. Just another Mundane scraping by in a city that didn't care whether I lived or died. But now? Now I had something. A chance.
"Alright," I said, standing up. The shadows coiled tighter around my wrists, responding to my determination. "Let's do this. Teach me how to use this magic. Properly."
The System hesitated.
[Very well. But be warned: the path you've chosen is dangerous. Your power will attract enemies far greater than the enforcer you faced tonight.]
"Enemies, huh? Guess that means I'll just have to get stronger."
The System paused again, as if considering my words. Then it spoke.
[Lesson one: Shadow Magic thrives in darkness. Begin by extinguishing the lights.]
I glanced at the single flickering bulb overhead.
"Extinguish the lights? Yeah, sure. Why not."
With a flick of my hand, the shadows surged upward, swallowing the light.
For the first time in my life, the dark didn't scare me.
It felt like home.