It was too quiet. Too quiet.
Kael had his head tilted back, gazing up at the sky. Normally, on any night, even a cloudy one, there would be a distant silver sheen of moonlight peeking through. Tonight, nothing. Just a lid of darkness descending, heavy enough to iron out the stars from existence. The atmosphere was heavy and damp, and it smelled of something he couldn't identify—of iron and smoke.
He rubbed his arms, but not for cold. His skin crawled as though ants traveled beneath it. His stomach knotted, saying the same thing it always did on the night before trouble: Run.
But where was he to run?
The village looked very normal on initial observation. Small wooden huts stood in rows along the dirt road. Some windows had oil lamps lit in them, the orange glow weak and flickering. In the distance, a bark, and another. And then nothing. Not even the crickets sang.
Kael frowned. "Right. Totally normal. Definitely not creepy or anything. Horror movies don't start like that or anything."
He nervously laughed at his joke, but it was brittle in the stillness.
Then the earth shook.
At first, far away, the sound of a cart rattling past. But it grew. Heavier. Louder. Wooden buildings groaned, crockery shattered, shutters banged. Babies wailed, their high voices against the silence.
Kael stumbled and grasped a post. His heart pounded in his chest, each beating a torment.
The earth split wide.
In the very center of the village square, the ground tore apart like paper. The cracks spread out in every direction, and black smoke spat from the tears. It was not regular smoke—it had purpose, twisting and winding like living serpents. The shadows moved higher, stretching into abominable shapes. Too many eyes. Too many arms. Not human. Not animal. Just… wrong.
Kael's breath had caught in his throat. His mind was screaming at him to run, but his legs wouldn't move.
"Oh. Okay. So… this is how I die."
Worse than that occurred.
Green glowing text appeared in front of him.
[System Awakening…]
Kael blinked. Once. Twice. The words still stayed.
".What?" He rubbed his eyes, but the green glowing text did not go away.
[System Synchronization in progress…]
Oh no, no, no. No way I am signing up for this. Did they poison the water? Am I sleeping? Or—" He silenced himself as the letters rearranged.
[Eclipse System Online.]
Kael's stomach dropped. "System? As in. what, like some magical software update? Do I need to click accept? Where is the 'I agree' checkbox?"
[Correction: Integration complete. Host successfully bonded.]
"Wait. Bonded? To me? Excuse me, I don't remember filling out any paperwork!
[Warning: Host is in direct danger.]
Kael gasped raggedly. "Oh gee, thanks, floating text. Totally hadn't noticed the nightmare beasts bursting forth from the ground."
A dark-thing screamed, its scream so piercing it rang his ears. It charged at him, red glowing eyes locked on his chest.
Kael threw up his hands, pure instinct.
Green sparks spat from his fingers, streaming down his arms in channels of caged lightning. The air snapped with energy. He burned and hummed on the inside of his skin. The sparks snapped outward and stamped into the shadow beast.
The beast screamed, thrashed, and dissolved into smoke.
Kael gazed at his shaking hand. Pale green radiance flowed between his fingers, pulsing and warm.
.Alright. Either that was magic, or I just made glow-stick fists. Either way, I'll take it."
But the cracks continued. More shadows crept up out of the ground. Their eyes glowed, their bodies stretching and twisting, forming claws and teeth where none should be. Dozens of them. All of them looking at him.
Kael's heart was pounding. His shirt clung to his chest, dripping with sweat. His legs shook, but his body refused to move.
"Alright, Kael," he snarled to himself. "Step one: don't pee yourself. Step two: don't get yourself killed. Step three: repeat steps one and two."
The monsters spat.
The System flashed once again.
[New Function Available.]
[Skill Unlocked: Eclipse Bolt (Basic).]
[Would you like a tutorial?]
Kael's jaw dropped open. "A tutorial? Now? Do you really think I've got time to watch a slideshow while shadow demons are attempting to consume me?"
[Recommended: Accept tutorial. Survival rate boosted by 200%.]
"Okay, okay! Just. make it fast!"
[Processing…]
[Skill: Eclipse Bolt. Channel energy into palm. Unleash forward. High success against shadow-born creatures.]
"Channel energy. palm. yeah. Like a punch but with fireworks.".
The nearest creature lunged at him, saliva trickling from its wide-open mouth.
Kael screamed and threw his hand forward. Green light flashed out in a beam, more brilliant than ever. It hit the beast in the chest, making a hole straight through its body. The creature disintegrated into black powder, fluttering like charred paper.
Kael blinked. Shuddering all over, his whole body shook, but his lips curled up in a weak smile.
"…Okay. I'm officially a wizard. Someone get me a hat."
But there was no time to celebrate. Five more shadows slithered forward, claws scraping the dirt.
Kael's hands lit up again. His arms ached like he'd been lifting boulders, but he forced the energy out. Bolts of green ripped through the dark, tearing one, then another apart. The smell of burnt smoke filled the air.
His chest groaned. His vision dimmed. Every breath agony.
"System," he gasped, "inform me that you can create a cheat code for endless stamina."
[Negative. Host must adapt naturally.]
Kael clenched his teeth. "Typical. There's always sucky programmers in every game."
The creatures pushed on, crawling out of the crevices like a never-ending ocean. Their eyes burnt hotter, their screams shattering the air.
Kael's stomach flipped. He knew he couldn't keep blasting forever. His arms shook violently, his palms raw from the sparks. He stumbled back, nearly tripping over a loose stone.
"System, I'm out of gas! Any other tricks up your glowing sleeves?"
[Checking…]
[Skill upgrade available: Eclipse Surge.]
[Warning: Activation will cause extreme strain on Host's body. Side effects: muscle tearing, organ stress, possible unconsciousness.]
Kael's eyes widened. "Possible unconsciousness? You're sparing me, aren't you? You mean 'you'll probably die,' don't you?"
[Correction: Chance of survival: 47%.]
"Whoa. Less than half. Thanks for the morale boost."
The beasts screamed again, closing in on him from all sides. Their red eyes glowed, advancing.
Kael's fists trembled. Sweat fell down his jaw. His lungs were burning.
Then he laughed. It was a hard, crusty laugh, but it cut through terror.
"Fine. If I'm going down, I'm taking some of you with me."
He rose, green sparks erupting wildly. The night burned in a blinding flash as Kael screamed and unleashed everything.
---
When the light faded, the square was still.
Most of the creatures were gone, turned to smoldering ruin. The cracks in the earth hissed softly, still oozing darkness, but more slowly now. Kael dropped to his knees, his chest heaving. His eyes blurred. His entire body felt like it was composed of aching bones.
He hacked up blood. His arms felt heavier than lead.
"Still… alive," he gasped. "Barely."
[System Log Updated.]
[First Eclipse Surge successful.]
[Host Potential… confirmed.]
Kael's head dropped forward. Darkness tugged at his eyes.
.Great. Magic powers, monster apocalypse, and glowing green text that won't leave me alone. This is either best or worst day of my life."
He collapsed over on his side, eyes closed as the world went dark and silent.
The night of disaster had only just begun.