Shadowed Ascendance: The Forbidden System

A blanket of cold gray light filtered through ragged curtains, rousing Reziel Blackwood from a fitful doze. Blinking grit from his eyes, he realized he was half-sitting, half-slumped against the cracked plaster wall of an abandoned workshop. The place smelled of dust and rusted metal, a relic of some forgotten blacksmith's trade. Moonlight and the early traces of dawn mingled in the air, forming a haze that seemed both comforting and ominous.

His entire body ached. He tried to shift, only to let out a hiss of pain when his left shoulder flared with soreness—a reminder of last night's encounter with that violet-hued magic. With effort, Reziel pulled away the remnants of his shredded coat to examine the wound, only to find it barely more than a scab. Considering he'd been struck by a violent spell, it was surprisingly well-healed.

Almost like it didn't happen… except for this throbbing headache, he thought grimly.

A flicker in the corner of his vision made him freeze. The same glowing text he'd seen before—the System—lingered like a hovering specter just out of full focus. When he turned his head, the words darted away. Eventually, after letting out a slow breath, he decided to stare straight ahead at the cracked floor and let his peripheral vision do the work.

Sure enough, ghostly letters faded in:

Forbidden System – Initialization Complete

Host: Reziel Blackwood

Condition: Stable

Quests Available: 1

Skills Unlocked: 0

Stats – Hidden

Reziel's mouth went dry. It was all too surreal. In tales sold by traveling storytellers, "Systems" were rumored to exist in distant lands—tools from ancient gods or relics of lost civilizations that gave chosen warriors special powers. But those were bedtime stories or exotic rumors. Yet here it was, spelled out in shimmering script.

He lifted a trembling hand toward the words, not expecting a reaction. To his shock, the text rippled as though sensing his intent.

Quest [Maiden's Step]:

Your first step down the forbidden path demands you prove your resolve. Fulfill a dark or selfish desire for personal gain, no matter the moral cost, and the System shall grant you its first boon.

Reward: Unlock 1 Random Skill (Beginner Tier)

Reziel frowned. A prickle of unease darted across his skin. Fulfill a dark or selfish desire… The System was openly pushing him toward something questionable—maybe even criminal or cruel. He was no saint, but neither was he a cold-blooded monster. He'd done things to survive on the streets—small thefts, hustles, and picking pockets when truly desperate. Still, the phrase "no matter the moral cost" turned his stomach.

"Just because I have you inside my head doesn't mean I'll murder someone to feed your twisted cravings," he muttered.

Silence. The screen disappeared, leaving only the faint echo of that mechanical voice in the back of his mind. He exhaled shakily. Perhaps the System wouldn't force him into something… but it promised power in exchange for crossing a moral line. The possibilities teased him.

Tucking those swirling thoughts away, Reziel stood, wincing at the twinge in his shoulder. He had to figure out his next move. If he stayed here too long, local thugs or city watch patrols might find him. Rumors of the carnage in the slums would spread fast. The last thing he needed was to be detained or questioned about a forbidden ritual.

He needed food. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn't properly eaten since scrounging stale scraps the day before. Although the sun was just starting to rise, Reziel decided to slip into the city's busier districts where petty thieves like him could blend in.

Luxaria's capital awoke beneath a sky streaked with pastel blues and oranges. Shopkeepers unbarred wooden shutters; fishermen hauled crates of river-caught eels to market stalls; the aroma of fresh bread curled through the winding streets. Reziel moved with practiced stealth among the thickening crowd, keeping his hood low.

He paused by a bakery, drawn in by the sweet scent. If only I had enough coin… The memory of the System's quest flickered in his mind. A "dark or selfish desire"—the simplest route would be theft. He'd done it before, though rarely these days. Was it worth it just for the promise of power?

As he debated, a raucous commotion broke out a few stalls down. Shouts erupted, and Reziel saw a portly shop-owner sprint from behind his cart, brandishing a wooden club. A young pickpocket—no older than twelve—darted away, clutching a small bag. The child's eyes brimmed with terror, and onlookers either gasped or turned away to avoid involvement. That could have been me, once, he thought, biting his lip. The memory of being chased through these very streets not so many years ago sent a jolt of empathy through him.

Reziel shifted, torn between ignoring the drama or intervening. His hand twitched reflexively, recalling the dark swirl of magic that coursed through him last night. Before he could make a decision, the kid stumbled into a larger man—a guard, perhaps—and was swiftly seized.

"Thief!" the shop-owner roared, raising his club. "I'll teach you to steal from me!"

The crowd parted, some murmuring in disapproval, others watching with grim curiosity. The guard did nothing to stop the shop-owner from bringing down the club. Instinct took over. Reziel lunged forward, grabbing the wooden weapon mid-swing. His muscles screamed in protest—but a strange surge of energy flared through him, as if the System had momentarily lent him greater strength.

"Back off," Reziel growled. "He's just a kid."

The man jerked the club free, glaring. "Mind your own business, urchin!"

Reziel's eyes flicked to the trembling child. A trickle of guilt nagged at him. He'd set out to avoid attention, yet here he was, causing a scene. Still, he couldn't stomach watching someone beat a starving kid for a loaf of bread. Gathering his remaining coin—only a few coppers—he pressed them into the shop-owner's hand.

"He's paid now," Reziel said, voice flat. "Let him go."

The shop-owner spat on the ground, muttered curses, but ultimately shrugged and stomped away. Relieved, Reziel gestured for the guard to release the boy. The child bolted, vanishing into the crowd like a startled cat.

Reziel exhaled, the tension draining from his limbs. Yet the moment he turned to slip away, he found several pairs of eyes upon him. In the hush that followed, he heard it—a distant, mocking chime in his head:

Quest [Maiden's Step] remains incomplete.

Kindness does not serve the Forbidden System's hunger…

He grimaced, ignoring the internal voice. He had no desire to feed that vile command. Let it remain incomplete if it demanded vile acts. He could survive without the System's help—he always had.

Slipping into a narrower side street, Reziel calmed his racing mind. Maybe I should lay low, he thought. He could hole up in an abandoned building, gather scraps, avoid entanglements until the ritual incident blew over.

But fate had other plans. As he emerged from the alley, four men stood in a loose semicircle, blocking his path. Their smirks told him everything: they'd been waiting.

"Well, well," drawled a stocky man with a scar across his cheek. "If it ain't Reziel Blackwood. The rat who meddled in last night's business."

A jolt of fear whipped through him. Were these men tied to the robed cultists? He doubted it—these thugs looked more like a local gang. Maybe they'd simply heard rumors that he was near the scene of the bizarre explosion. In the underworld, any connection to forbidden magic painted a target on your back.

Reziel feigned casual confidence. "I've got no quarrel with you. Let me pass."

They chuckled, and one cracked his knuckles. "You may be too skinny to be worth much," he sneered, "but I hear you might know something about… certain magical happenings. We're curious, see. Might be folks willing to pay for that info."

The air felt thicker. Adrenaline stabbed at Reziel's nerves. He scanned the street—deserted except for them. Typical. He shifted his stance, mentally urging the System to stay silent. The last thing he needed was some cryptic voice egging him on to do something reckless.

The gang stepped closer. Scar-cheek glowered. "So tell us what you know."

"I don't know anything about last night," Reziel said truthfully. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The thug spat. "Likely story. Boys, maybe we rough him up a bit, jog his memory."

They advanced. Reziel cursed under his breath. He could try running, but they had him semi-surrounded. Fight or flight?

Host— a silky voice whispered in his mind.

—darkness rises when survival is threatened…

A flicker of violet danced in Reziel's peripheral vision. Subtle energy coiled around his fingertips, invisible to all but him. He recognized the same force from the alley. Would it appear if he let his anger flow?

He clenched his fists. The men lunged.

Reziel ducked the first blow, adrenaline pumping. He drove an elbow into the attacker's gut. The man staggered, and Reziel felt something new—a surge of satisfaction. The System's presence sharpened it, resonating with his desperation.

Punch! A second thug grazed Reziel's jaw, sending him stumbling back. Blood filled his mouth, metallic and bitter. Another swung a crude knife, slashing at Reziel's shirt. He narrowly twisted aside, heart pounding.

I can't fight all four. I'll lose at this rate. The voice in his head seemed to read his mind.

Embrace the quest, it urged. Call upon the System's hunger.

Reziel's pulse hammered. Did it really want him to kill these men? Or simply to feed the power with violence? Time slowed in that dire moment. He either had to do something drastic or get beaten to a pulp—maybe worse.

Scar-cheek smirked, knife glinting in his hand. "Should've cooperated, boy."

Reziel saw no escape route. Cornered and desperate, the bruises on his ribs screaming, a raw fury swelled. I'm sick of being at the mercy of stronger people, he raged inwardly. If the System wanted dark impulses, it was about to get them.

Quest [Maiden's Step] Update:

Condition: Engage in an act of selfish aggression to secure your safety.

A rush of cold fire raced down Reziel's arm. He raised his hand—and a swirl of violet energy ignited around it. The nearest thug's eyes widened. Before the man could react, Reziel thrust his palm forward, and a wave of shadowy force erupted, hurling the thug off his feet. He crashed against the alley wall with a sickening thud, collapsing unconscious.

The others gaped. "Wh-What the hell?" one stammered, stumbling back.

Reziel's own shock flared—he hadn't realized the System could let him do that on instinct alone. But the fight wasn't over. Two more lunged in a panic. One slashed at Reziel's side with the knife. Pain exploded, and Reziel hissed, staggering. The System whispered again—demanding more aggression, more darkness.

Chest heaving, Reziel dropped low, swept a foot around, and knocked one attacker to the ground. He then pressed his palm to the man's chest, letting that violet spark discharge. The thug screamed, twitching, eyes rolling back before falling still.

Scar-cheek, the last standing, took one glance at the dark aura flickering around Reziel's hand and turned tail, sprinting away. His footsteps echoed, receding into the labyrinth of streets. The alley fell silent, the only sound Reziel's ragged breathing.

Quest [Maiden's Step] – Complete

You have taken your first step.

Reward Unlocked: 1 Random Skill (Beginner Tier)

A new string of text glowed:

Skill Gained: [Dark Pulse – Tier E]

Unleash a condensed wave of negative energy that momentarily stuns and repels targets within close range.

Reziel stared at the glowing interface, shock and horror mingling in his chest. He had harnessed the System's power to attack, maybe seriously injure these men. Yes, they were threats, but the raw violence he'd just unleashed was undeniably fueled by the System's dark push. A knot twisted in his gut.

This is just the beginning… a small voice inside him intoned.

He looked around. Two thugs lay groaning or unconscious. He didn't have time to check if they'd survive. Sirens or watch patrols could turn up at any moment—urban conflicts rarely stayed secret for long.

Reziel winced, pressing a hand to his bleeding side. He wanted to feel relief at escaping danger, but the cost weighed heavy. He had stepped onto a forbidden path, spurred by desperation and fear. Could he ever turn back?

With no answer forthcoming, Reziel forced himself to limp away, darkness crackling at the edge of his vision. The System's presence was stronger now, as if it had fully anchored inside him. And as dawn broke in the distance, Reziel wondered if he'd just sealed his fate in more ways than on