Chapter 4: The Awakening of Shadows
Alex stood over the remains of the Goblin Lord, breathing heavily as the adrenaline from the battle began to fade. The world around him felt still, yet his mind raced. The Plunder ability had given him power, but the experience of the fight—of winning—was something else entirely.
His fingers brushed against the dirt, and in that moment, a bright flash of light filled the air, causing Alex to squint against its intensity. His body felt a rush, and suddenly, a notification appeared before him:
[Level Up: You have reached Level 5]
Alex stared at the message. Level 5. It was a monumental milestone, but there was no time to celebrate. Not yet. His focus shifted as another notification appeared:
[Ranking Board Unlocked]
His heart skipped a beat as the Ranking Board materialized in the air, a shimmering display of names and levels. It was clear that his actions had caught the attention of something far bigger than the goblins he had slain.
Before he could absorb the weight of the new revelation, another notification popped up:
[What name do you want to put on the Ranking Board?]
Alex hesitated. The idea of being known, of being ranked, was strange to him. But in this world, names held power. And in that moment, a thought surfaced—an alias that he had already used in his mind many times before. He typed it out, his fingers moving with purpose:
[Name chosen: Shadow]
Just as Alex's chosen name confirmed itself, another notification appeared:
[You have received a new skill: Identification]
Alex blinked. He had barely registered the significance of the Ranking Board when this new skill surfaced. He focused on the notification, his curiosity piqued.
[Skill: Identification]
Effect: Allows you to view the status of anyone not more than 10 levels above you.
Effect: Can be used on yourself as well.
"Identification," Alex murmured to himself. He felt the power of the skill, knowing it would serve him well in this strange world. As he absorbed the new knowledge, his status window changed, now reflecting this latest development.
And with that, the Ranking Board hung in the air, waiting for the world to see the Shadow.
This aligns with your sequence for Alex: leveling up to Level 5, the appearance of the Ranking Board, the prompt for Alex to choose a name, and the Identification skill notification following that.
After receiving the Identification skill, Alex couldn't help but feel the weight of it. This was a tool that could allow him to see through the strength of others, to understand them—perhaps even better than they understood themselves.
His fingers twitched, instinctively pulling up his Status Window. It was time to assess the full extent of his newfound power.
Status Window
Name: Alex
Alias: Shadow
Level: 5
Talent: Chaos (Fragment of Chaos)
Talent Skill: Plunder
Skill: Damage Increase (Increases damage by 200%)
Leadership Skill: Increases strength by 50% when fighting alone; 100% when leading.
Unique Skill: Identification
Effect: Allows you to view the status of anyone not more than 10 levels above you.
Effect: Can be used on yourself as well.
Attributes:
Strength: 75 (Due to Leadership Skill bonus)
Agility: 50
Endurance: 50
Defense: 50
Attack Speed: 50
Hidden Attributes (Visible Only to Alex):
Luck: ?
Charisma: 7
Combat Power: 250 (Strength + Agility + Endurance + Defense + Attack Speed, factoring in Leadership)
Alex stared at the screen in front of him, noting the power that pulsed through his veins. His strength had increased substantially due to the Leadership skill, a boon from his victory. Yet, one thing puzzled him—the Luck attribute was still a question mark.
"What's with the luck?" he murmured, tapping the screen in frustration. "Why can't I see it?"
There was no answer, but the nagging question lingered in his mind. He would have to figure it out later.
With a deep breath, Alex turned his focus to the Ranking Board once again. He was at the top, but for how long? There were so many unknowns in this world, and he had a feeling his journey was just beginning.
Shift in Perspective: Jonathan's POV
Meanwhile, across the city, atop a massive skyscraper that pierced the heavens, sat Jonathan—a man who believed the world was his to command. His posture was perfect, his features sharp, and his eyes gleamed with the arrogant conviction that he was the strongest of them all. Nothing could touch him.
Jonathan had spent his entire life cultivating his power, forging connections, and acquiring influence. His family was wealthy, his strength unparalleled, and his name known across the land. He had always been at the top, but the sight of the Ranking Board shattered that illusion.
[Ranking Board Update]
[1st: Shadow - Level 5]
[2nd: Celestina]
[3rd: Karls]
[4th: John]
[5th: Jonathan]
Jonathan stared at his name in the fifth position, his lip curling in a sneer. How could this be? His power was unmatched, his connections were unrivaled. Yet, some nameless figure—Shadow—had taken the top spot. A person with no family name, no history, no pedigree. Someone who could not possibly be stronger than him, yet had the audacity to claim the number one spot.
His fists clenched as he scrolled through the Ranking Board, only to find the other names were from equally powerful families. But Shadow? No family, no history, no influence.
"Who is this… Shadow?" Jonathan muttered to himself, his tone dripping with venom. His ego flared, and a dark, seething rage began to boil inside him.
This is not acceptable. Someone like this does not belong in the top spot.
Without hesitation, Jonathan slammed his fist onto the desk, his anger palpable. His talents were powerful, and he knew they could only make him stronger. His first talent, Pride, gave him strength that grew based on his belief in his superiority. The more he thought of himself as the best, the stronger he became.
And his second talent, Arrogance, was even more insidious. It made everyone around him weaker, the more they cowered or acknowledged his superiority. If Shadow truly thought he was stronger than Jonathan, the fight would be over before it even began.
"I'll find you, Shadow," Jonathan growled. "And when I do, you'll regret ever taking that position."
He sent orders through his network—he would find Shadow, and either bring him under his command… or crush him entirely.
Shift in Perspective: John's POV
Elsewhere, in the heart of another great city, John stood in front of a massive forge, his eyes gleaming with ambition. He was a man of extraordinary talents, and his focus was singular: creating the strongest weapons the world had ever seen.
His talent, Ruler's Weapon, was a rare Rainbow Rank ability. It allowed him to forge weapons stronger than any others—far stronger than their original level. A Level 1 weapon crafted by John would be as powerful as a Level 3 weapon. But there was a price to pay. Anyone wielding his weapons would only gain half the experience, with the other half going directly to John himself. Over time, this meant John would grow far stronger than anyone could imagine, while others remained stunted, their progress hampered by his creations.
The potential was limitless. If he could make everyone in the world use his weapons, he would have a constant, endless stream of experience. He could become the most powerful being in existence.
However, as he scrolled through the Ranking Board, he found himself watching Shadow's rise with suspicion. The unknown player who had taken the top spot? Was he really that much of a threat? John wasn't sure, but he knew that Shadow's unknown strength was something that couldn't be ignored.
Despite his doubts about the other rankings—particularly those above him—John believed that he could eventually surpass them. He had the Ruler's Weapon talent, after all, and that meant he would always be in control. The others would be pawns in his game.
And as for Shadow?
John would find out soon enough who this person was—and if they were worth his time.
End of Chapter 4: The Unseen Forces