Lucius had lived in the shadows for most of his life. As a hunter in his old world, he had always been one step ahead of death, always lurking in the darkness, using his surroundings and instincts to hunt and kill. But this... this 'shadow power' he felt inside him now was something entirely new.
One morning, while sitting in the large library of the Ekhard mansion, Lucius decided to test this power. His mother was outside with Idris, and the servants were busy with their daily tasks. He focused on the strange sensation, trying to pull it out, to manifest it somehow.
At first, nothing happened. But then, slowly, his shadow on the ground began to move — not with the sunlight, but in response to his will. The shadows twisted and stretched, dark tendrils curling outward like living creatures. His heart raced. 'What is this?'
Suddenly, the shadow tendrils lashed out, destroying a small stack of books on the floor. Lucius recoiled, startled by the violent outburst. The power felt uncontrollable, raw, and unstable. But there was something exhilarating about it. He had never felt this kind of energy in his previous life as Qamar. It was as if the shadows themselves obeyed his every command.
'System Notification: Atomic Power unlocked.'
'Warning: Power is currently unstable. Training required to harness full potential.'
'Atomic Power?' Lucius thought. It wasn't just a shadow ability. This was something more. It had weight, density, and it could reshape the environment around him. As the system mentioned, though, it was dangerous and unstable in its current state.
---
That evening, Lucius sat in his room, gazing out at the moonlit sky. He now had the "Atomic Power", but he didn't fully understand it. What he did know was that it was something tied deeply to his soul, a force that mirrored his ability to fight from the shadows. He couldn't deny the thrill it gave him. And with the system providing him with a way to regain his "old powers" from his past life, he was on the path to becoming stronger than he ever was.
But there was also a sinking feeling. This world wasn't just peaceful. He could sense it — danger lurked beneath the surface. His memories of his old life told him that the world never stayed calm for long. His instincts were right. The peace he felt now would shatter soon.