Shadow Being System

The warmth of the sun's rays seeped through the curtains, causing William to stir from his sleep. His eyes blinked open slowly, and he winced as the brightness overwhelmed his vision. Raising his hand, he shielded his face, letting out a tired sigh. His stomach growled in protest, reminding him that he hadn't eaten properly since the day before.

Reluctantly, he got up from bed, the cool air making him shiver slightly as his bare feet touched the cold floor. His roommates were still nowhere to be found, and the room was eerily quiet. The silence was only broken by the occasional creaking of the wooden floor beneath his weight. William grabbed his towel and made his way to the bathroom.

The hiss of the shower and the cold water against his skin woke him fully, washing away the grogginess from his mind.

After brushing his teeth and dressing in simple attire—a plain shirt and pants—William looked at himself in the mirror. Despite the simplicity of his outfit, there was something striking about his appearance. His face, calm and focused, looked sharper under the soft light. He ran a hand through his slightly damp hair, giving a small approving nod before leaving the room.

Locking the door behind him, William descended the stairs, noticing the soft murmur of students gathering below. As he walked through the corridor, a few students greeted him with friendly smiles and nods, which he returned with a polite nod of his own.

His striking appearance was enough to draw attention, and even though he didn't care for it, William couldn't help but notice how easily people were drawn to him.

Stepping outside, the academy grounds stretched out before him in all their grandeur. The sun was high, casting a golden hue across the tall buildings and manicured lawns. Students moved in clusters, some heading toward various establishments, while others chatted among themselves.

William spotted a few students from his school and even a few unfamiliar faces from the West, each group dressed in their academy uniforms.

Most of them seemed to be heading in the same direction—toward the cafeteria. "Might as well follow them," William thought, his stomach rumbling again. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm food filled the air as they neared the cafeteria. It was massive, bustling with students.

Once inside, William grabbed a tray and joined the line. The cafeteria was loud, filled with chatter, the clinking of cutlery, and the occasional laugh. Despite the chaos, the line moved quickly, and soon it was his turn to serve himself. The sheer variety of food available was overwhelming. Plates stacked high with eggs, sausages, pancakes, and fruit beckoned him, and he didn't hold back.

His tray was piled with food, drawing a few raised eyebrows from nearby students, but William didn't care. Free food was not to be wasted.

He found a quiet corner, away from the chaos, and sat down to eat. The cafeteria buzzed with energy, but William focused on his meal, savoring each bite.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.

A ripple of murmurs ran through the crowd, growing louder as a group of students entered the cafeteria. William looked up, and his eyes immediately locked onto the student at the front of the group. The boy had striking blue hair, styled meticulously, and a proud, smug expression plastered across his face as if the world itself was beneath him.

His presence commanded attention, and everyone in the cafeteria seemed to react to him.

"Is that Billy Stark?" one student whispered to his friend at a nearby table.

"Of course it is! Who else could it be?" the friend replied, his voice filled with awe. "Look at his hair, his face, and that smug expression. He's the son of one of the B10. There's no way you can mistake him."

The B10. The ten most powerful humans, ruling the world with their immense wealth, influence, and strength. Most of them were Originals—beings who possessed unique abilities from birth. To be the son of one of them was a rare privilege, and Billy Stark embodied that privilege to the fullest. As the murmurs grew louder, Billy smirked, clearly enjoying the attention.

William watched with narrowed eyes, but not out of admiration. The blue-haired boy might be the strongest in their age group, but William was no longer impressed by status alone. He felt his lips twitch into a smirk of his own. "Let's see who's stronger," he thought as he mentally activated his 3rd Eye, focusing it on Billy Stark.

The system interface materialized in his mind, and the boy's information appeared before him like a transparent screen:

[Name: Billy Stark]

Age: 16

Strength: 9

Agility: 12

Endurance: 7

HP: 100

Ability: Lightning

Soul Essence: 14

A surge of excitement rushed through William. He now had a reference, a way to gauge his own progress against someone considered elite. "He may be strong, but I'm not far behind," William thought, comparing his stats to Billy's. The gap wasn't as wide as one might expect, and once William unlocked his own abilities, he was confident he'd surpass the boy.

Satisfied with the information, William dismissed the 3rd Eye and resumed his meal, the commotion in the cafeteria fading into background noise.

After finishing his breakfast, William pushed his tray aside and stood up, stretching slightly. The commotion from Billy Stark's entrance had died down, but there was still an excited energy lingering in the air. William ignored it, focused on the next task at hand—completing his admission process.

He stepped out of the cafeteria and took in the academy grounds once more, the towering buildings and sprawling establishments giving the place a city-like atmosphere.

He wasn't entirely sure where the admissions office was, so he asked around. With his striking appearance, it didn't take much for people to offer help. Most of the students, both male and female, were more than willing to point him in the right direction. Some even lingered a little longer, their eyes following him as he walked away, but William was used to this kind of attention.

As he made his way through the academy, he passed several impressive structures—a mall, a sports arena, various shops, lecture halls, and even soldiers and teachers going about their business. He couldn't help but marvel at the sheer size of Military Academy 4, located within Military Base 4, a secretive and sprawling complex known only to those who had access.

It was more than just an academy—it was a self-contained city.

William finally reached the administrative building and stepped inside. The cool air greeted him as he approached the clerical desk, where a man in his early thirties was hunched over a keyboard, typing away. The rhythmic clicking of the keys filled the otherwise quiet room.

William cleared his throat slightly to get the man's attention.

Without looking up, the man muttered, "Name?"

"William," he replied.

"William what?" the man asked, still typing.

"Just William."

At this, the man paused and finally looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. A flicker of pity crossed his eyes, but he quickly masked it. Without another word, the man typed William's name into the system and after a few moments, looked back at him.

"Looks like someone already completed your admission process for you," the clerk said, sounding slightly surprised. "Head over to that office," he pointed to a door further down the hall, "and collect your materials."

William raised an eyebrow. "Someone already did it for me? It must be her," he thought, a shadow of a smile crossing his face.

He thanked the man and walked toward the office. The door creaked open as he entered, revealing a woman in her twenties standing behind a cluttered desk. She had a sharp, confident look about her, her dark hair tied into a sleek ponytail that contrasted with her crisp white uniform.

Her piercing eyes glanced up from the paperwork in front of her, scanning William briefly before softening into a more welcoming expression.

"Good morning. I'm here to collect my materials," William said, his voice calm but firm.

The woman smiled and nodded. "Wait here," she said, her voice carrying a warm undertone.

She moved toward the back of the room, disappearing behind a shelf stacked with boxes and supplies. William stood by the door, his eyes briefly scanning the office—simple, efficient, with files and records neatly organized. The faint rustle of papers and boxes could be heard as the woman rummaged around.

A few moments later, she emerged carrying a large box, placing it gently on the desk in front of him.

"Here you go," she said with a grin. "In this box, you'll find three uniforms, your daily essentials, school ID cards, and a phone." She paused briefly, picking up a pen and jotting something down on a piece of paper. As she finished, she tore the page from the notepad and slid it across the desk toward William. "And this," she added with a wink, "is my number. In case you need any... assistance."

William glanced down at the paper, momentarily surprised, but his expression remained neutral. He collected the box and the note, offering her a polite smile. "Thanks."

As he turned to leave, the woman leaned back against her desk, watching him exit with a sly grin playing on her lips. Once William was out of sight, she reached for the phone on her desk and quickly dialed a number.

The line clicked, and a sharp, cold voice answered on the other end. "What do you want?"

The woman's tone shifted, becoming playful. "You won't believe what I just saw. One of the new students... He's so handsome. I think I'm going to make my move on him." She giggled, twirling a pen between her fingers.

There was a long pause on the other end, followed by a tense silence. Then the cold voice responded, more intense now. "Stay away from him. He's mine."

The woman froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What do you mean 'he's yours,' Mona?"

But before she could get an answer, the line went dead. The cold voice had hung up.