Shadow Being System

It had been a week since William gained the shadow crystal and lost his wind ability. In that time, he had done everything he could to keep his secret safe. Skipping combat classes had been his go-to strategy. It wasn't easy—he had to feign illness, claim extra assignments in Potions and Alchemy, or even pretend to be in another class. Each excuse had stretched his creativity and patience to their limits.

But now, his safety net was gone.

"Next week, we'll be conducting the practical test for combat class," the teacher, a stern-faced man with arms like tree trunks, announced. His voice carried easily over the murmurs in the room. "It will test your reflexes, your ability to utilize your powers effectively, and most importantly, your skill in battle. This will not be an ordinary test—it will be monitored by representatives from the academy council, and your performance could determine your future placement."

Explore new worlds at empire

William felt his stomach drop.

The room buzzed with excitement and nervous energy.

William kept his head down, pretending to write notes, but his thoughts were racing. A test? And combat-focused? There was no way he could fake his way through this. Without his wind ability, the truth would come out, and the consequences could be devastating.

---

Dorm Room Panic

William paced his dorm room, his hands running through his hair. "This is bad," he muttered. "Really bad."

Liam, who was sitting at his desk polishing his training gear, glanced up at him. "What's wrong?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.

"Yeah," Gavin chimed in from his bed, setting aside a book he was pretending to read. "You've been acting weird all week. What's going on?"

William paused, searching for an answer that wouldn't give away too much. "It's nothing," he said, forcing a small laugh. "Just something on my mind."

Liam and Gavin exchanged a skeptical look, but they didn't press further.

William sat on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands. The shadow crystal pulsed faintly within him, a dark reassurance that he wasn't entirely powerless. Still, he hadn't fully mastered its essence, and using it in combat was risky. The shadow energy was wild and unpredictable, and he couldn't afford to lose control in front of the entire class—and the academy council.

The only saving grace was his lightning ability, but even that wasn't strong enough to stand on its own. It was a support skill at best, not something that could hold up against an opponent in a one-on-one fight. And besides, most people already knew he had the wind ability. Using a lightning ability would raise questions he couldn't answer.

He lay down, closing his eyes, trying to think.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

What can I do?

The system's cold, indifferent voice echoed in his mind.

[System Notification]

You just need to have another ability.

William scoffed, his frustration bubbling over. "And how am I supposed to do that? It's not like abilities grow on trees."

The system didn't respond.

William's eyes shot open as a memory surfaced. His heart began to race. "Wait a second..." he muttered, sitting up. "You're right. I just need another ability."

His mind raced back to when he first received his wind ability. The process had involved a unique testing stone, a relic used to draw essence from the user and match them with a compatible ability book.

The description of the stone played in his mind like a mantra: It draws essence from the holder and finds an ability book compatible with the essence.

Essence. Not soul essence.

His shadow essence was an essence too. Perhaps it might work.

A grin spread across William's face as a spark of hope ignited within him. He shot up from his bed, startling Liam and Gavin, who exchanged another confused glance.

"I've got to go," William said quickly, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door.

"Go where?" Liam called after him, but William didn't stop.

If he was right, this could solve everything.

__________________________

When William reached the library, he was greeted by the familiar hum of chatter and the rustling of pages. The first eight floors were bustling with students, each engrossed in their studies or poring over tomes that contained everything from historical texts to advanced theories on soul crystals.

He took the stairs two at a time, weaving through groups of students, until he reached the ninth floor. Unlike the chaos below, this floor was eerily quiet. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched out before him, lined with ancient, leather-bound books. Here, the air was thick with dust and silence, a stark contrast to the bustling energy below.

But William wasn't here for books.

The tenth floor was his destination, and as he climbed the final set of stairs, the atmosphere shifted entirely. The top floor of the library wasn't occupied by any students. It was the most restricted area, where the academy stored its ability books and other valuable relics. Few dared to come here unless they had a specific purpose—and explicit permission.

William hesitated as he reached the door. If he was right, this was where the ability-testing stones were kept. His shadow essence pulsed faintly within him, almost as if urging him forward.

This has to work, he thought, pushing open the heavy door.

---

The tenth floor was unlike anything William had ever seen. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of legendary battles and mythical creatures. In the center of the room stood a circular platform, surrounded by pedestals. Each pedestal held a glowing orb or an open tome radiating faint energy.

And there it was.

On one of the pedestals, several small stones glimmered faintly under the soft light filtering in through the high windows. It was unassuming at first glance—small and dull, with veins of light running through its surface—but William recognized it immediately.

The ability-testing stone.

His heart raced as he approached it. His shadow crystal throbbed, resonating with the stone as if it, too, recognized the relic's purpose.

William glanced around nervously. He wasn't supposed to be here without authorization, but this was his only chance. Carefully, he placed his hand on the stone.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the stone came alive, its veins of light glowing brighter as it began to draw from him. The sensation was strange—a tug deep within his core, not painful but undeniably invasive.

---

A faint glow surrounded the stone, and then, a number appeared, etched faintly on its surface: 92.

He stepped back, staring at the glowing number. His heart raced as he turned to the shelves surrounding the platform. Each row of books was labeled with neatly engraved numbers. He scanned the shelves hurriedly, his breath quickening as his eyes darted across the room.

92… 92…

Finally, his gaze landed on a section near the far end of the floor. He rushed over, his footsteps echoing in the vast, silent space. His eyes quickly scanned the spines of the books until he spotted it—a black leather-bound tome with the number 92 etched in silver.

William reached out and pulled the book from the shelf. It was lighter than he expected, and as he turned it over, the title gleamed under the dim light:

Copycat.

Author's Note: I sincerely apologize for the repeating chapters, it's because I have to be uploading chapters everyday,but I can't write a new chapter daily cause I'm a student.