Shadow Being System

After the class, the group of five exited the room, their footsteps echoing down the wide stone corridors of the academy. The air was thick with a mixture of tension and exhaustion, typical after a session with Mr. John. The clatter of dishes and low murmur of conversation guided them towards the cafeteria. William walked among them, silent and distant, barely acknowledging the sounds around him.

At the lunch table, Eleanor glanced at William, noticing how he picked at his food without much interest before standing up abruptly. "I'll catch you guys later," he muttered, his voice low, almost as if he wasn't fully there.

As he left, Eleanor turned to the others, confusion evident in her eyes. "What's the deal with William lately? He's been acting... off."

Gavin shrugged, chewing thoughtfully before responding, "He's probably trying to form his soul crystal. Get an ability fast, you know? He's an orphan, after all. That's his only real shot."

William sprinted through the academy's outer courtyard, his legs burning but his mind set. Ahead, the forest stretched out before him, the red flowers brushed against his legs as he ran, their petals soft against his skin, but he made a conscious effort to dodge the purple flowers scattered across the grass. Time was slipping away, and he couldn't afford any distractions.

The foggy chasm loomed in the distance, shrouded in mist and mystery. William reached the edge and didn't hesitate. He jumped.

The rush of wind caught him, pulling him into the abyss as the thick fog swallowed him whole. His sight vanished, replaced by a disorienting gray swirl that clung to his skin. His breaths came in short, shallow gasps, the air in the chasm damp and cool, making his lungs work harder. For a moment, he felt weightless, suspended in the nothingness of the fog.

Then, the mist began to thin, slowly revealing the shimmering surface of the magical lake below. Without hesitation, he plunged into the water with a loud splash, the cold liquid engulfing him. The impact drove him deep, bubbles rising quickly as he descended, until his feet touched the rocky bottom of the lake.

William sat cross-legged on the lake's floor, the world above him a blur of moving water and distorted light. The magical essence in the air mingled with his breath, and he focused, shutting everything out. He needed to draw in as much soul essence as possible. Today was the day. Today, he would form his soul crystal.

With each inhale, the soul essence seeped into his body, spreading through his veins like a cool breeze on a hot day. Some of it gathered in his heart, while the rest drifted toward the shadow crystal within him, an ever-present reminder of his otherworldly nature.

Time blurred. William wasn't sure how long he had been there, pulling in the essence of the lake, allowing it to flood his core. His mind became a void, focused solely on the cycle of absorption. Then, it happened—a soft chime in his consciousness, a notification from the system.

[Your heart is full of soul essence. Your soul crystal will now be formed.]

William's lips curved into a smile. "Finally."

It felt as though all the impurities within his heart were being washed away. Warmth spread through his chest, a soothing, peaceful sensation that made his breath hitch in surprise. The soul essence flowed from his heart, surging through his arteries, carried by his bloodstream to every corner of his body. His very cells hummed with newfound strength, his muscles tightening with power.

He squeezed his hand into a fist and marveled at the force he could feel from the simple motion. Another chime echoed in his mind, the system's voice soft yet triumphant.

[Soul crystal formed successfully.] Your next read is at empire

Satisfied, William pushed himself off the bottom of the lake and swam upwards, his limbs cutting smoothly through the water. The night air was cool against his damp skin as he emerged, the fog still heavy and impenetrable around the chasm. The only light came from the lake itself, its ethereal glow casting soft, wavering reflections on the water's surface.

He sat at the lake's edge, gazing out at the glow, lost in his thoughts. The glow danced in his deep black eyes, a haunting contrast to the serenity of the scene.

He called the system into his mind. "Status."

The familiar screen appeared, displaying the same information as before, except for two new additions. The first was the amount of soul essence he now had—seven. Billy Stark, the son of one of the B10, had fourteen, William thought, grimacing. Those rich bastards can afford all the soul potions they need.

The second was his ability. Or rather, the lack of it. The space where his ability should be was blank, a stark reminder that despite forming his soul crystal, he had yet to awaken any special power.

But that didn't matter. Not yet.

"Now let's check our loot," He said with a grin, he summoned the shimmering orb from his inventory. The Orb of Silence floated into his hand, its surface alive with swirling, intricate patterns resembling sound waves. He had "inherited" it from the Anbu who had tried to kill him. The orb could mute an entire area, preventing sound from escaping or entering.

It also blocked spying methods like lip reading.

He had never used it before—without soul essence, it was useless. But now... it was a different story.

"How do I activate it?" he murmured to the system.

"Do you want to activate the Orb of Silence?" the system asked.

"Yes," William replied, his excitement barely contained.

Author's Note:

Hey dear readers! If you're enjoying Shadow Being System, I would really appreciate it if you could add this book to your library and send gifts. Your support means the world to me and helps keep me motivated to bring you even more exciting chapters. Writing is my passion, and with your help, I can focus on this full-time and deliver updates more frequently.

Every gift, comment, and library addition boosts my morale and shows that you're eager to see where William's journey leads. Let's make this book a succ

ess together! Thanks for being part of this adventure!