Cold wind swept across the massive stone courtyard of Ravencrest Academy.
Dark clouds hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ancient walls. Hundreds of students stood around the training arena, watching with amusement in their eyes.
At the center of the arena lay a boy.
Blood slowly spread beneath his body.
His chest rose and fell weakly as he struggled to breathe.
That boy was **Lucien Void**.
A name that meant nothing in Ravencrest Academy.
Weak.
Pathetic.
Useless.
Those were the words people used whenever they spoke about him.
Lucien slowly lifted his head, his vision blurred. His body ached everywhere. Every breath felt like fire burning through his lungs.
A tall boy stood in front of him, looking down with a cruel smile.
Marcus Valerian.
The son of a noble house.
One of the strongest students in the academy.
Marcus wiped his gloves as if Lucien's blood had dirtied them.
"You're still alive?" Marcus said with mock surprise.
Laughter erupted from the crowd of students surrounding them.
Lucien clenched his fists.
"I… didn't lose yet…" he whispered weakly.
Marcus burst into laughter.
"You didn't lose?" Marcus mocked. "You can't even stand."
Lucien tried to push himself up, but his arms trembled and collapsed beneath him.
More laughter spread through the crowd.
Someone shouted, "Look at him! The trash of the academy!"
Another voice followed, "Why does the academy even allow someone like him to stay here?"
Lucien lowered his head.
He had heard those words thousands of times.
Ever since he arrived at Ravencrest Academy three years ago.
This was a world ruled by power.
Magic.
Strength.
Talent.
Every student in the academy possessed some form of magical ability.
Except him.
Lucien Void was the only student who had awakened **no magical core**.
A complete failure.
Yet somehow, he had survived here for three years.
Not because he was strong.
But because he refused to quit.
Marcus stepped closer and grabbed Lucien by the collar, lifting him slightly off the ground.
"Let me give you some advice," Marcus said quietly.
"You should've died the day you entered this academy."
Lucien stared into Marcus's eyes.
For a moment, something dark flickered in his gaze.
But it vanished just as quickly.
Marcus shoved him back onto the ground.
"You disgust me."
The instructor watching the duel finally raised his hand.
"That's enough," he said.
"This match is over."
Marcus shrugged.
"As you wish."
He turned and walked away, the crowd following him while laughing and talking.
Within moments, the arena was almost empty.
Only Lucien remained.
Alone.
Broken.
The sky above began to darken as thunder rolled in the distance.
Lucien slowly dragged himself toward the edge of the arena.
Every movement sent waves of pain through his body.
His vision blurred again.
Blood dripped from his lips.
"…Why…"
The word slipped from his mouth.
Why was his life like this?
Why had fate given him nothing?
No talent.
No power.
No family.
Nothing.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
For a brief moment, the world turned white.
Lucien finally collapsed near the edge of the courtyard.
His body refused to move anymore.
Footsteps suddenly echoed behind him.
Lucien forced his eyes open.
Three figures approached.
Marcus stood at the front.
Two other students stood beside him.
Lucien's heart sank.
"…What do you want…" he whispered.
Marcus crouched down beside him.
His smile had disappeared.
Instead, his eyes were cold.
"You heard the instructor earlier," Marcus said calmly.
"This match is over."
Lucien frowned.
"Then… why are you here?"
Marcus leaned closer.
"To finish what we started."
Lucien's eyes widened.
Before he could react, one of the other students kicked him violently in the ribs.
CRACK.
Lucien screamed as pain exploded through his chest.
Marcus grabbed his hair and forced his head up.
"You should never have existed," Marcus said quietly.
Lucien's vision shook.
"…Why… do you hate me…"
Marcus's eyes hardened.
"Because trash like you makes the academy look bad."
He pulled a dagger from his belt.
The blade gleamed under the lightning flashing across the sky.
Lucien's breathing became uneven.
"So this is how it ends…"
Marcus pressed the dagger against Lucien's chest.
"You should feel honored," he whispered.
"The son of House Valerian personally sending you to the afterlife."
Lucien closed his eyes.
His body was too weak to resist.
Too broken to fight.
The dagger plunged down.
A sharp pain tore through his chest.
Warm blood spread across the ground.
Lucien's heart slowed.
His breathing faded.
The world slowly grew darker.
Then…
Everything went silent.
…
Darkness.
An endless void surrounded him.
Lucien felt as if he was floating in nothingness.
No pain.
No sound.
No light.
Just darkness.
"…So this is death…"
A strange calm filled his mind.
Maybe it was better this way.
No more suffering.
No more humiliation.
No more pain.
But then—
A strange voice echoed in the darkness.
Cold.
Mechanical.
Emotionless.
**[Detecting compatible host…]**
Lucien frowned.
"…What…?"
The voice continued.
**[Host condition: Critical]**
**[Heart activity: Stopped]**
**[Initiating emergency protocol…]**
Lucien's eyes widened.
"Who's there?!"
The darkness trembled.
Then the voice spoke again.
**[Forbidden System detected.]**
**[System sealed for 10,000 years.]**
**[Seal condition broken.]**
A blinding light suddenly exploded within the darkness.
Lucien covered his eyes.
"What is this?!"
The voice returned.
Louder.
Clearer.
**[Compatibility with host: 100%]**
**[Host identity confirmed.]**
**Lucien Void.**
Silence filled the void for a moment.
Then the voice spoke the words that would change everything.
**[The Forbidden System has chosen you.]**
Lucien's heart pounded.
"What… system…?"
The darkness shattered.
A glowing interface appeared before him.
Strange symbols floated in the air.
Then the system spoke again.
**[Do you wish to accept the Forbidden System?]**
**[YES / NO]**
Lucien stared at the floating words.
His mind raced.
He was dead.
Yet something was offering him power.
A second chance.
Lucien slowly clenched his fists.
Images flashed through his mind.
Marcus.
The academy.
The humiliation.
The pain.
His eyes filled with cold determination.
"…Yes."
The moment the word left his mouth—
The system activated.
**[Command accepted.]**
**[Beginning resurrection sequence.]**
Suddenly—
Lucien's eyes snapped open.
His body jerked violently.
Air rushed into his lungs as if he had been drowning.
He gasped.
The cold stone courtyard surrounded him once again.
Rain had started to fall.
His blood still covered the ground.
But his wound…
Was gone.
Lucien slowly sat up.
"What…"
A glowing screen suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.
**[Welcome, Host.]**
**[Forbidden System Activated.]**
Lucien stared at the message in shock.
"What… is this thing…"
The system responded instantly.
**[You have been granted the power of shadows.]**
**[New ability unlocked.]**
**Shadow Extraction.**
Lucien's heartbeat quickened.
"Shadow… extraction?"
The system continued.
**[You may extract shadows from defeated enemies.]**
**[Shadows will become your eternal servants.]**
Lucien froze.
Servants?
An army?
Before he could ask anything else—
Another message appeared.
**[Warning.]**
**Host is not safe.**
Lucien frowned.
"Not safe?"
Footsteps suddenly echoed behind him.
Lucien slowly turned his head.
Marcus and the other two students stood several meters away.
Their eyes widened in horror.
"…Impossible…" Marcus whispered.
"You were dead."
Lucien slowly stood up.
Rain fell across the courtyard.
Water dripped from his dark hair as he stared at them.
Something inside him had changed.
Something cold.
Something dangerous.
Lucien spoke quietly.
"You're right."
"I was."
The system voice echoed once more.
**[First mission available.]**
**Kill your enemies.**
**Reward: Shadow Servants.**
Lucien looked at Marcus.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"For the first time in my life…"
His eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"I finally have power."
Marcus took a step back.
Something about Lucien felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Lucien raised his hand slowly.
Shadows on the ground began to move.
The darkness beneath Marcus's feet twisted unnaturally.
Marcus's face turned pale.
"What… what is that…"
Lucien whispered a single command.
"Extract."
The shadows exploded upward.
And Marcus screamed.
**To be continued…**