Rain slicked streets glistened under the dim glow of neon signs. Lucien crouched atop a building, eyes locked on the armored truck rolling slowly down the alley. Tonight was just another job. Simple. Clean. Profitable.
But as he watched, a familiar tightness gripped his chest—a warning he had learned to ignore.
"No mistakes tonight," he muttered, checking his equipment. Lockpicks, a grappling hook, smoke pellets—everything in place.
Then it happened.
A sudden shimmer in his vision. Words hovered before him, transparent and glowing:
[Shadowhand System Activated]
Welcome, User. First Quest: Retrieve the Valerian Gem from the armored truck. Rewards: Experience + Skill Points.
Lucien blinked. A system? This isn't some game… is it?
No time to ponder. The truck slowed near the loading dock. Lucien dropped silently, landing on the roof of the vehicle with a soft thud. Every step was precise, calculated. His heart raced—not from fear, but anticipation.
He picked the lock. Smooth. Practiced. Then, as he opened the cargo door, he froze.
Inside lay more than money—rows of crates marked with red seals. Valuable. Dangerous. And heavy.
"Focus," he whispered.
But before he could reach for the gem, a guard rounded the corner. Lucien's calm mind calculated his options. Hand-to-hand? Take him out silently? Or—
A low, chilling chuckle erupted from his own throat.
Lucien blinked. His reflection in the polished truck surface was wrong—eyes sharper, face twisted with something darker.
"Oh… you want to play, do you?" The voice was his, but not his. Faster, stronger, almost feral.
Before Lucien could react, his split personality surged. Every movement was lightning-fast, every punch precise and brutal. The guard didn't even cry out before hitting the cold pavement.
Lucien stumbled back, gasping. The adrenaline left him shaking. Had he done that? No… he had.
The system blinked again:
[Split Personality Detected: Combat Bonus Unlocked. Aggression Skill +1]
Warning: Uncontrolled personality may affect mental stability.
He swallowed hard. This system wasn't just helping him steal—it was unlocking something dangerous inside. Something he didn't fully control.
Taking a deep breath, Lucien ignored the creeping fear. He had a job to finish. One crate. One gem. One more step, and he would own it.
As his fingers brushed the Valerian Gem, a whisper slithered through his mind, almost playful, almost sinister:
"The night is ours, Lucien… let's show them who we are."
He froze, heart pounding. The gem was in his hands. But for the first time, he wasn't entirely sure who was holding it.