MARTIAL PEAK: SHADOW OF LILITH

The rain fell soft and cold upon the quiet streets of Lisbon, washing away the dust of another unremarkable day. Amidst the glistening cobblestones and flickering streetlights, one figure moved with slow determination, clutching a small bouquet of wildflowers.Ryota Azevedo's steps were uneven, his mind weighed down by years of sacrifices no one remembered. Eighteen years—an age many took for granted—but for him, each day had been a battle. His mother's illness had robbed him of youth, freedom, and dreams. While his peers laughed and chased futures bright with promise, Ryota breathed sickness and fatigue, his nights sleepless beside a frail woman whose very breath depended on his care.Yet despite the exhaustion, despite the endless struggle, Ryota clung to hope—her smile after weeks in the hospital, the faint color that returned to her cheeks. This fragile rebirth was why he walked now, soaked by the drizzle yet stubbornly alive.He thought, Tomorrow, things will be better. I will rest. I will live.The street seemed quieter than usual, an uncommon hush hanging in the air. As he moved across the empty intersection near his home, headlights suddenly blazed into view. Time slowed, the world narrowing to a pinprick of terror and light.A screech shattered the calm.Pain exploded like wildfire—sharp, overwhelming, and all-consuming.When darkness finally claimed him, Ryota thought it was the end.The void stretched infinitely—black, cold, and silent. No gravity, no ground beneath his feet, no sky above. Just endless emptiness that pressed gently against his mind, as if waiting.Ryota's senses flickered like a failing light bulb. His breath was no longer his own; his heartbeat had vanished. But consciousness lingered—fragile and flickering like a candle flame in the wind.From the nothingness, a whisper emerged, soft and lilting, threading through the silence like silk on glass."Rise, Ryota Azevedo."With no body, no form, he felt a presence approaching, shapes coalescing beyond the black. The air itself shimmered as a figure took shape—tall and graceful, white hair falling like a waterfall of moonlight, eyes burning crimson with otherworldly fire."Who... are you?" Ryota's voice was a ghost."I am Lilith," she replied, her voice both a lullaby and a razor's edge. "A remnant cast out from the cosmic order, a shadow between worlds."Ryota struggled to comprehend, but the void twisted around her words."You died before your time, a soul tethered to mortality by sacrifice and sorrow. But death is not your end.""I... I don't understand."Lilith smiled, a curve both cruel and tender. "You will. For now, take this."Her hand reached out, slender fingers brushing his chest. Symbols, ancient and unknowable, ignited across his essence—etched not upon flesh, but upon his soul."From this moment, you are reborn. You will walk the path of Martial Peak—a realm of strength, secrets, and endless strife. But know this: your power will come at a price."The void convulsed, bright with cosmic fire, and then silence reclaimed the vastness.Light pierced his eyes like shards of crystal. Pain seared through his limbs—a burning, raw agony that anchored him back to corporeal existence. He gasped, coughing air thick with dust and the scent of crushed pine.Nie Yong sat up slowly, his hands brushing against rough stone and coarse grass. His new body was unfamiliar—taller, stronger, his skin rough and weathered. Dark hair hung unevenly across his forehead; his eyes took in the foreign sky above, stained crimson like a dying sunset.Memories flickered and fragmented in his mind—the life of Ryota, the hospital nights, the accident—but now they felt distant, like echoes in a dream.A strange glow shimmered before his vision—an ethereal interface, translucent and vibrating with energy.[Lilith's Covenant System Activated]Lines of text scrolled before him in an ancient dialect, which somehow his mind instantly understood:Copy Ability – Steal and replicate one talent from any opponent or ally.Growth Multiplier – Progress through cultivation stages ten times faster than normal.Lilith's Favor – Hidden, unlock conditions unknown.Nie Yong blinked, incomprehension battling awe. What was this power? What did it mean?Suddenly, a rustling noise shattered the uneasy calm. From the trees emerged rough figures—scarred men clad in tattered robes, teeth bared like beasts. Bandits."Look what the forest spat out..." one snarled. "A juicy prize, maybe?"Nie Yong's heart raced, instincts sharpening beyond human limits. The leader drew a jagged blade and lunged.A voice echoed in his mind—Lilith's gift.[Copy Skill: Sword Intent]His vision blurred, knowledge flooding into him—battle strategy, fluid movements, piercing strikes. Energy surged through his arms like wildfire.Nie Yong didn't hesitate.His arm swept forward in a graceful arc, and the blade met his palm. The impact exploded like thunder, yet he stood firm, the force ripping the sword from his opponent's grasp. With a swift follow-up, he struck the bandit's throat, crimson blossoming across ragged fabric.The forest fell silent again.His heart pounded wildly—not from fear, but exhilaration. For the first time in his new existence, Nie Yong felt power radiate from his bones. He had not earned his strength through years of training or painful trials. He had taken it. Stolen it.And yet, beneath the thrill, a faint whisper of dread lingered—power this easily gained might carry a terrible cost.As Nie Yong ventured deeper into the wilderness, each battle became a teacher. Bandits, wild beasts, and rogue cultivators fell before him, their skills imprinted within his mind and muscles. Every copied technique sharpened his instincts and broadened his capacity for cultivation.But late at night, when the moon was a sliver in the sky, Lilith's voice returned—not soft and inviting, but cold and insistent."Do not forget, Nie Yong. Each stolen talent leaves a mark."He shivered. What mark? What corruption?Around him, the world of Martial Peak was waking—a realm steeped in brutal sect wars, ancient mysteries, and celestial power. Nie Yong was a stranger here, a soul reborn with borrowed strength and unknown destiny.And Lilith's covenant hummed perpetually beneath his skin, a reminder that his journey would be unlike any before.In the distance, mountains pierced the sky—the hinted peaks of martial glory.Nie Yong clenched his fists, determination hardening his gaze."I will climb. I will survive. I will uncover the meaning behind Lilith's gift… and find my place on Martial Peak."