In the world of Aetheria, where the skies shimmered with the occasional burst of magical energy and the ground beneath one's feet seemed to hum with latent power, being born without a unique ability was akin to being born without a shadow. It was rare, almost unheard of, and yet, there he was—Kael Ardent, a commoner, an orphan, and most embarrassingly, a boy without a shred of unique power.
Kael lived in the bustling city of Luminos, a place where the noble families paraded their bloodline-gifted children like prized peacocks, and the commoners who were lucky enough to be born with a unique ability were treated like minor celebrities. Kael, however, was neither. He was the boy who swept the streets, the boy who delivered packages, and the boy who trained his body to its limits every single day, hoping that sheer physical prowess would be enough to earn him a spot in the world's greatest academy—the Aetherial Academy.
It was a crisp morning, the kind where the air felt like it was laced with tiny needles, and Kael was out for his daily run. His muscles burned, his breath came in short, sharp gasps, but he pushed on. He had to. The Aetherial Academy's entrance exams were just a month away, and Kael was determined to be ready.
As he rounded the corner of the market square, he nearly collided with a group of noble children, their unique abilities on full display. One boy had flames dancing along his fingertips, another had a small whirlwind circling her feet, and a third had a faint golden aura that seemed to make the very air around him shimmer. Kael ducked his head and muttered an apology, but the noble children just laughed.
"Look, it's the powerless wonder!" one of them sneered.
"Maybe he's hoping to impress the Academy with his...sweat?" another added, and they all burst into laughter.
Kael clenched his fists but said nothing. He was used to this kind of ridicule. Instead, he focused on his run, pushing himself harder, faster, until the laughter faded into the distance.
By the time he reached the outskirts of the city, the sun was high in the sky, and Kael was drenched in sweat. He slowed to a walk, his chest heaving, and made his way to his favorite spot—a small, secluded clearing in the woods where he could train in peace.
But today, the clearing was anything but peaceful.
As Kael approached, he heard a strange, guttural growl, followed by a high-pitched screech. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Slowly, he peeked through the trees and saw something that made his blood run cold.
In the center of the clearing was a monster—a hulking, grotesque creature with leathery skin, razor-sharp claws, and eyes that glowed like molten lava. It was a Devil, one of the vile creatures from the realm beyond, and it was locked in a fierce battle with a...cat?
Kael blinked, sure he was seeing things. But no, it was definitely a cat—a small, scruffy thing with fur that looked like it had been through a windstorm. The cat was darting around the Devil, its movements impossibly fast, and every now and then, it would swipe at the creature with claws that seemed to leave glowing marks in the air.
Kael's first instinct was to run. He had no unique power, no weapon, and no chance against a Devil. But as he turned to leave, the cat let out a desperate yowl, and something inside him snapped. He couldn't just leave it to die.
With a deep breath, Kael stepped into the clearing. The Devil turned its glowing eyes on him, and for a moment, Kael thought he might faint from sheer terror. But then the cat darted between them, hissing and spitting, and Kael found his courage.
"Hey, ugly!" he shouted, picking up a rock and hurling it at the Devil. The rock bounced harmlessly off its hide, but it got the creature's attention. With a roar, the Devil charged at Kael, its claws slashing through the air.
Kael dodged, his years of physical training paying off as he rolled to the side and came up in a defensive stance. The Devil swung again, and Kael barely managed to avoid the blow. He knew he couldn't keep this up for long—he needed a plan.
As the Devil lunged at him again, Kael spotted a large branch on the ground. He dove for it, grabbing it just in time to block the Devil's next attack. The branch shattered, but it gave Kael the opening he needed. He kicked out, his foot connecting with the Devil's knee, and the creature stumbled.
The cat took advantage of the distraction, leaping onto the Devil's back and sinking its claws into the creature's neck. The Devil roared in pain, thrashing wildly, but the cat held on. Kael grabbed another branch, this one thicker and sturdier, and swung it with all his might.
The branch connected with the Devil's head, and the creature let out a final, ear-splitting screech before collapsing to the ground. Kael stood there, panting, his arms trembling from the effort. The cat jumped down from the Devil's back and looked up at him with bright, intelligent eyes.
"Thanks," it said.
Kael blinked. "Did you just...talk?"
The cat—or whatever it was—rolled its eyes. "Of course I can talk. You think a normal cat could take down a Devil?"
Kael opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the cat's eyes began to glow, and a strange, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
**"System Initializing...**
**Welcome, Host. You have been chosen to receive the Shadow System. This system will grant you a unique shadow-related ability and provide you with quests to upgrade your power and earn stat points. Do you accept?"**
Kael stared at the cat, his mind reeling. "What...what is this?"
The cat sighed. "It's a system, kid. A gift from the gods, or the universe, or whatever you want to call it. It's your chance to get a unique power and finally stop being such a loser."
Kael's first instinct was to argue, but then he thought about it. A unique power? The chance to finally stand on equal footing with the nobles and the gifted commoners? It was everything he had ever wanted.
"I accept," he said, his voice steady.
**"System Activated. Unique Power Granted: Shadow Manipulation. This power allows the host to control and manipulate shadows, using them for offense, defense, and utility. As the host completes quests and earns stat points, they can upgrade and refine these abilities."**
Kael felt a surge of energy course through him, and for the first time in his life, he felt powerful. He looked down at the cat, who was watching him with a smug expression.
"Thanks," he said.
The cat shrugged. "Don't mention it. Just don't waste this opportunity, kid. You've got a long way to go if you want to get into that Academy."
Kael nodded, determination burning in his eyes. He had a unique power now, and with the system's help, he was going to become the strongest. The nobles could laugh all they wanted—soon, they'd be the ones looking up to him.
As he left the clearing, the cat trailing behind him, Kael couldn't help but smile. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had a real chance. And he wasn't going to waste it.
---
**Quest Received: Train Your Body and Mind**
**Objective: Complete 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats. Then, meditate for 30 minutes to improve your mental focus.**
**Reward: 5 Stat Points**
Kael grinned. This was just the beginning.