The thing rushed toward Aiden—
silent, fast, and disturbingly familiar.
Its shape was identical to him:
same height, same build…
same posture.
Only its eyes were empty black voids.
Aiden barely dodged as it crashed into the concrete, shattering the ground where his head had been.
it's strong. Too strong.
The system window flickered again:
```
Synchronization: 0.01%
Host body unable to handle prolonged combat.
Warning: Shadow Essence is unstable.
```
"Perfect," Aiden muttered.
The shadow rose, liquid darkness dripping from its limbs.
Students who were watching stepped back even further.
"What kind of spell is that?"
"Is he a Shadow user?"
"No… I've never seen anything like that."
Aiden moved despite the fear creeping up his spine.
He grabbed the broken metal pipe from earlier, flipping it in his hand.
"You look like me," he said under his breath.
"Let's see if you break like me too."
The shadow blurred—
blinked—
and appeared behind him.
Fast!
Aiden twisted, blocking the attack with the pipe—
but the shadow's fist hit with unnatural force, launching him several feet back.
He skidded across the cracked pavement, chest burning, arms numb.
Everyone watched in stunned silence.
The guard yelled, "Kid! Do you need help? What is that thing?!"
Aiden spat dust.
"I don't know," he said.
"But if it's me…"
The shadow charged again.
Aiden planted his feet.
"…then I can beat it."
He took a deep breath—
then sprinted straight at the clone.
The two collided.
The pipe whistled as Aiden swung it sideways—
The shadow ducked.
Aiden pivoted—
Shadow lunged.
They moved almost identically, except—
The shadow didn't hesitate.
Aiden jumped back, barely dodging a spear of darkness the clone had formed from its arm.
He glanced at the system window for answers.
```
Tip:
Shadow mimics host's physical skills.
Exploit weaknesses the host personally knows.
```
Aiden's eyes widened.
"Of course…"
Shadow Aiden was a perfect mirror.
It copied his strengths—
and his weaknesses.
Which meant…
Aiden sprinted left—
The shadow copied—
Aiden suddenly changed direction, stopping abruptly—
The shadow tried to stop too—
but Aiden knew his own flaw:
He could never stop cleanly while sprinting.
The shadow slipped.
Opportunity.
Aiden leaped with everything he had and slammed the pipe straight into the shadow's head.
CRACK!
Darkness exploded outward.
The clone staggered.
Aiden didn't give it time to recover.
He attacked again—
and again—
rapid blows until the shadow started destabilizing, its form flickering like dying flames.
The system suddenly buzzed loudly:
```
Host is in danger.
Activating emergency synchronization.
```
A black ripple spread from Aiden's chest—
the ground darkened—
shadows pulled toward him like water draining into a hole.
The clone froze, trapped.
Aiden felt cold energy flood through his veins—
His vision tinted black for a moment—
Then—
BOOM!
The shadow burst apart, dissolving into particles of darkness that sank into Aiden's feet.
A pulse went through his body, sharp but exhilarating.
The system chimed:
```
[DAILY QUEST COMPLETE]
Reward granted.
Synchronization: 1.00%
Skill unlocked:
— SHADOW SENSE (Passive)
```
The guard stared at Aiden like he had witnessed the birth of a monster.
Students whispered in disbelief.
Aiden wiped blood from the corner of his lip.
Shadow Sense?
A new ability?
Before he could explore it, someone stepped out of the academy gates.
A tall man wearing a long black coat, silver patterns running across its surface.
His eyes were sharp, calculating.
Professor Kairon Elthar.
One of the most feared instructors of Arcane Dawn Academy.
He looked down at the shattered pavement—
at the dissolving darkness—
at Aiden.
Then his lips curved into something between a smirk and a warning.
"Aiden Vale," he said.
His voice was smooth, cold.
"Welcome to the Academy."
Aiden's breath caught.
How… did he know my name?
---