The frigid Afghan night echoed with the blast's reverberation. Dust and smoke obscured the moonlight, shrouding everything in a grey haze. Zhang Wei, now known as Ghost, moved like a shadow in the darkness. The traces of Lang's fury were etched on his face. Two months ago, he had transitioned into "The Day of the Jackal." He had taken the place of Lang, the original team's scout. But this transition wasn't merely a role handover; it came with an unknown system: "Shadow Legacy."
Zhang Wei opened his eyes amidst the rubble. He looked around, encountering a familiar yet alien landscape. Collapsed vehicles, shattered walls, and bloodstains everywhere... Lang's fury had claimed the rest of the team, and innocent civilians. His gaze fell upon Lang, and he saw a figure vastly different from the man he knew. Regret and determination shone in his eyes. Lang knelt amidst the debris, his hands trembling as he looked around. A palpable sense of despair filled his features.
"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" Zhang Wei asked, his voice shaky. He had seen this scene countless times in "The Day of the Jackal," but experiencing it knowing it was about to happen was something entirely different. His knowledge felt like a curse.
"It was something I had to do, not something you needed to be involved in. This life... this is a death machine for politicians... I want to live for myself. I want to leave here," Lang replied, his voice hoarse. There was a long-lost yearning for freedom in his eyes. His shoulders slumped, as if he were carrying the weight of the world. "It's like a shadow play... like what happens behind the curtain of Karagöz and Hacivat ."
A warning flashed in Zhang Wei's mind. The "Shadow Legacy" system had activated. It was as if a whisper, a voice, echoed in his consciousness.
[System Active: Shadow Legacy]
[Core Ability: Shadow Perception - Detects hostility within a 2km radius. Red: Immediate Threat. Yellow: Potential Threat.]
Zhang Wei began to see the world with new eyes. The red and yellow dots he perceived signified danger. The system granted him the ability to see beyond the chaos caused by Lang's fury. Amidst the surrounding wreckage, a red dot appeared—a soldier standing near Lang. A yellow dot was hidden in the distance, behind a ridge. "This ability is like entering a shadow island . Dark and dangerous," he thought.
"What will this ability be useful for?" he mused. What opportunities would this system offer him? And how would he utilize them?
[Shadow Legacy requires 'Shadow Points' to develop abilities. Shadow Points are earned by neutralizing enemies, completing missions, and making strategic decisions.]
Zhang Wei looked at Lang. "We need to find a way out of here. And while doing so, we must utilize this system. Perhaps we can find an intelligence broker, just like Princess Alera ."
[New Mission: Find an Escape Route - Reward: 1000 Shadow Points, Basic Stealth Ability.]
[New Mission: Locate an Information Source - Reward: 2000 Shadow Points, Basic Hacking Ability.]
Zhang Wei scanned his surroundings. He needed to devise a plan for escape. But first, he needed to better understand how this system worked. And perhaps, he needed to learn what had driven Lang to such despair. "This is like following a legacy , like Bartuc's legacy," he murmured. "And this legacy could lead to a dark path."