The wind cut like knives across the jagged cliffs as Kaelith carried Lyrielle on his back. Her small arms clung to him, trembling, but her trust never wavered. Each step they took carried the weight of the wasteland behind them — the ash of their village, the bodies of parents and beasts alike, and the memory of the masked figure whose gaze haunted him.
The canyon behind them faded into darkness. Ahead, the horizon glimmered faintly with the first lights of the Academy of Swords and Shadows (ASS), perched on a cliff that overlooked a river of liquid silver. The Academy had a reputation even in the wastelands: a place where power, politics, and beauty collided. Kaelith had no illusions. It was a place of learning… and testing.
> [System Notification]
New Quest: Enter Academy of Swords and Shadows
Reward: Access to Intermediate Shop Tier
Penalty: Lifespan -5 years if failed
Kaelith gritted his teeth. "Fine," he muttered. "We'll survive this too."
The system's panel hovered before his eyes again, glowing faintly:
---
[System Status – Kaelith]
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Level: 5
Lifespan Remaining: 48 years
Strength: 27
Speed: 30
Vitality: 22
Anger Bar: 0/100
Skills: Shadow Step (basic), God of Negative Emotions (locked active), Berserk Mode (unlocked)
Negative Points: 50
---
[System Shop – Intermediate Tier]
Item Name Description Cost (Negative Points)
Lesser Lifespan Elixir Restores 5 years of lifespan. 2,500 NP
Combat Tome – Level 2 Increases Strength +10 after training. 1,500 NP
Shadow Cloak Hides presence and aura for 48 hours. 1,800 NP
Escape Rune Teleports user up to 50 km once. 5,000 NP
Healing Elixir – Major Heals severe wounds instantly. 1,200 NP
> More items unlock as Negative Points accumulate.
Kaelith scowled. NP were rare. Every purchase was a choice, a sacrifice of collected hatred, despair, and fear. He would need more.
---
The path to the Academy was treacherous. The forests surrounding it were alive with beasts that had learned the smell of fear and despair. Even now, shadowy forms slithered among the trees, watching. Kaelith gritted his teeth and moved silently, his knives ready.
"Kaelith?" Lyrielle's voice trembled. "Are we safe?"
"Safe's a word I stopped using," he said, his voice low and almost mechanical. But he pressed a gentle hand to her shoulder. "I've got you. Always."
Her eyes glimmered. In that brief moment, he allowed himself warmth — a rare human flicker amid all the darkness.
---
Hours passed. The sun bled into the horizon as the Academy's gates emerged, colossal and impossibly tall, carved from obsidian and silver. Towers spiraled like twisted spears into the sky, and banners of unknown symbols fluttered even at this distance.
Two guards flanked the gates: humanoid, armored, their faces hidden beneath visored helms. One of them spoke, voice echoing across the courtyard.
"State your names and purpose."
Kaelith lifted Lyrielle slightly, his voice cold but steady. "Kaelith Draven. My sister, Lyrielle Draven. We seek entrance."
The guards exchanged a glance. Then, with a subtle nod, the gates creaked open.
> [System Notification]
Intermediate Shop Tier unlocked.
New Currency Available: Advanced Negative Points (ANP)
Kaelith felt the pulse of the system sharpen. ANP allowed access to rarer items: rare weapons, elite combat scrolls, and even temporary lifespans. But the price would always be steep.
---
Inside the Academy courtyard, dozens of students moved like flowing shadows, swords glinting, spells burning faint trails in the air. Some glanced at Kaelith, whispering. A few sneered. Others stared with open curiosity.
"Stay close," Kaelith murmured to Lyrielle. "Don't get noticed."
But notice found them anyway.
A tall figure with hair like molten gold and eyes like liquid sapphire stepped forward. A smile curved her lips. "Well, aren't you interesting? First day, and already carrying a child… or little sister?"
Kaelith's jaw tightened. "Mind your words."
"I'm Seraphine Ardent," she said, bowing gracefully. "And you are?"
"Kaelith Draven. We're… passing through."
She chuckled. "We'll see about that. The Academy doesn't just let anyone walk in. Especially someone with that… aura."
Kaelith's eyes flicked down to his shadowed hands. The system whispered warnings: Unknown aura detected. High negative energy.
Another figure approached — a boy slightly taller than Kaelith, red hair, lean but muscular. His eyes glinted with both curiosity and challenge. "I'm Veylan Corvos," he said. "Looks like we're rivals from the start."
Kaelith didn't answer. Not yet. Rivals meant danger, yes — but also information. He'd need to understand everyone here, use them, avoid them, or destroy them if they stood in his way.
Lyrielle tugged at his sleeve. "Kaelith…"
He knelt down, brushing hair from her forehead. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."
---
Later that night, Kaelith explored the system shop for the first time in the Academy. ANP glowed, rare and dangerous, like a lure in the dark.
> [System Shop – Advanced Tier]
Item Name Description Cost (ANP)
Eclipse Blade Weapon forged from void energy. Strength +20 5,000 ANP
Arcane Grimoire – Level 5 Master spell book. Unlocks fire, ice, shadow spells 4,500 ANP
Temporal Escape Rune Teleports user instantly; cooldown 24 hours 8,000 ANP
Life Extension Serum Adds 10 years to host lifespan. 10,000 ANP
Mirror of Shadows Creates clone from shadow. Lasts 30 seconds. 6,000 ANP
Kaelith's NP and ANP were far too low for anything major — but he noted every price. Every item was a goal. Every item a chance to survive.
> [Negative Points: 120 | Advanced Negative Points: 0]
He pressed the panel shut. Survival wasn't about spending yet — it was about earning, about absorbing despair, fear, and hatred.
---
The next morning, Kaelith found himself in the Academy's training grounds. Rows of students sparred, their attacks both graceful and lethal. He kept Lyrielle hidden behind the shadows of walls, but she watched wide-eyed, fascinated.
"Kaelith," she whispered, "are they… monsters?"
He gave her a small smile, fleeting and fragile. "No… just people like us. Some kind are worse than beasts."
A horn sounded across the grounds — a signal for students to gather. Kaelith's mind ticked. He had to train. He had to survive. And most of all, he had to get stronger faster than anyone else here.
The masked figure from the canyon was still out there. He had seen the glimmer of other forces manipulating the Academy, and Kaelith wasn't about to be caught off guard.
> [New Skill Unlock Preview: Shadow Assimilation – Allows temporary absorption of opponents' negative energy during combat. Requires Anger ≥50. Cost: 3 years lifespan per activation.]
Kaelith's eyes narrowed. Every rival, every student, every beauty and enemy — they were all pieces on a board. And he intended to win them all without mercy if necessary.
As the sun sank behind the spires of the Academy, Kaelith held Lyrielle's hand and whispered:
"I'll keep you safe. No one, no one will hurt you again."
And somewhere, deep within the Academy's oldest towers, eyes glimmered, watching Kaelith's shadow, noting the growth of a new power that could eclipse gods.
— End of Chapter 3