The morning had passed. Ayan walked through the crowded streets on his way to school, trying to act normal. But nothing felt normal anymore.
He could feel the faint hum of energy in the air, the shadows shifting just out of the corner of his eyes.
"Stay calm," he muttered to himself. "Just another day… right?"
At the school gate, something unusual caught his attention. A boy his age, standing alone, wearing a black hoodie, with an unreadable expression.
Ayan felt a strange pull—like a thread connecting them.
[System Notification]
Unknown System User Detected Nearby
Caution Recommended
Ayan froze.
The boy noticed him and smirked slightly. "I've been expecting you," he said.
Before Ayan could respond, the air around the boy shimmered, and dark energy started swirling around him.
Ayan's system chimed urgently:
[Skill Suggestion: Shadow Step – Use to Assess Threat]
Instinctively, Ayan activated Shadow Step. In the blink of an eye, he was behind the boy.
The boy's eyes widened, then narrowed. "Impressive… not many can do that so quickly."
The crowd seemed oblivious to the dark aura surrounding them, but Ayan could feel the tension.
"You're another System User," Ayan said cautiously.
The boy nodded. "And I'm here to see if you're ready… for what's coming."
Before Ayan could ask what he meant, the boy vanished in a swirl of shadows.
[System Alert]
New Quest Triggered: First Rival Encounter
Objective: Discover Identity and Strength of Nearby System User
Ayan's heart raced. This was bigger than a simple monster fight.
The shadows of the city had grown deeper, and so had the dangers.
Ayan knew one thing: he wasn't alone in this world—and the real test had only just begun.
To Be Continued…