[1]

"You- You will not escape me you worm" A man clad in a black trench coat spat through his teeth while chasing me

I was quickly escaping by using the pathways I knew but saw no change in me advancing away from him, instead, it seemed that he was gaining on me.

Wait wait wait, let me explain how I got into such a situation, firstly my family situation was difficult, It seemed that my parents had perished in battle and I was given to an orphanage, and with the weight on my shoulders that I was left alone in such a scary world, I distanced myself from humans often getting into thoughts of my own.

From a young age, I knew very little but I knew the most important thing about this world... was money. I know I know, It may seem that it's a basic answer but if you truly thought about it, a lot of things could be solved with money.

Such as maybe being able to buy favors from people or just buy simple necessities needed in life like clothes and food. Now what way could a kid from an orphanage who was only 8 get money, It's not like I could get a job so the way out was obviously stealing. I don't know the reason but It seemed that I was naturally great in the shadows as I would do best with my theft in the nighttime.

Sometimes I may be hooded up and as I walk by someone deftly take their belongings or sometimes I would take an easier approach and just bump into someone and seem very intimidated and, to be honest, I'm a great actor as when someone bumps into someone there initial reaction is to be hostile but when seeing someone look so powerless and pleading, they immediately dismiss it and don't even realize that I've just committed a soundless robbery.

This happened for 2 more years until I was 10 and today it seemed that I had finally caught the biggest fish. Walking up the block of a crowded area, a man donned a black trench coat, and a fedora and walked around with the sound of coins in his pocket.

"*Ching ching*"

After hearing the sound I licked my lips as I gazed at my prey of the day, I walked up to him and bumped into him and did my charade of a scared man who would attack no one and as soon as I made contact with him I reached in his pockets and took all the coins.

"Sorry sir sorry sir" I kept saying while bowing down multiple times and I scurry off before he can let off another word.

Behind me, if I was looking I would have seen the man feel his pockets and as he realizes that his precious coins have been taken he would have had the most furious look on his face. I scurry away with a cruel smile on my face while thinking in my head.

'Too bad for that man, It seems with this haul I will be able to have a savory dinner' I think as my mouth starts to drool unconsciously

But before I could continue stepping away I hear that same man yell

"HEY BOY! COME BACK HERE"

And without missing a beat, I run, I run as fast as I can hoping that he will just stop after chasing me for a little bit but 5 minutes have passed and the old man is still filled with as much vigor as he had before as I turn back to see him and I see no sweat appearing on him. I start to question if he's truly human as I am panting heavily.

5 more minutes pass and I reach a dead end, the man approaches me and says with disdain

"You thought you could get away from me you little demon, you don't know who you just messed with, I am a man that has close ties with the great Akamatsu Clan and you have just resigned your death," the man says in a ghastly tone

I shiver under this pressure and killing intent and before I could speak any longer, the man dashes at me and delivers a blow to my stomach which causes me to cough up blood violently

His onslaught didn't stop there though as he continued to barrage me with punches as I feel that my bones are breaking under the pressure. A minute of this torture continued until he stated coldly

"It seems you have suffered sufficiently, It's time to kill you"

And with that, A blade was summoned by his side and he brought it down to slash me but before it could reach me, suddenly shadows enveloped the entire being of the man as the only sounds left in that alleyway were the wretched sounds of my heavy panting and blood spilling the floor.

With that, silence ensued for 5 seconds before I heard a ding and read in front of my eyes saying

"[Child Of Shadows. Arise!]"

With that, the start of my long journey began

I quickly did what any human would do after awakening and called out to my system.

'Stats'

[Child Of Shadows]

Race: Shadow Spawn

Name: Koichiro Hakai

Age: 10

Magic: Shadow

Rank: Awakened

Strength: 4

Agility: 6

Stamina: 5

Intelligence: 8

Defense: 4

Charisma: 5

Shadow Abilities: [Shadow Helper]

(Description) {With no one left that you could trust in this world, there's only one thing that you can rely on, your shadow, you can will or command it to follow any action as long as it's in the range of what is possible for your Shadow}

After seeing my stats I quickly noticed my race

'Huh? So I'm not human anymore?'

I dismiss that thought trying not to pry into it anymore as I felt just as normal as I did moments ago except for my affinity for shadows, It seemed like I was at home, the most comfortable I have ever been when I was in the darkness.

Then my eyes followed down to abilities, It seemed that I was able to command my shadow to do some of my bidding and I stared at my shadow expecting it to only do something after told but the wicked thing waved at me

'Uh what the hell' I say as I give off a flabbergasted look. I mentally command the shadow to disband from me and It does and then the unthinkable happened, It was like my sense of seeing was being split and I was able to see what my shadow saw, I then tested its range and saw that 30 feet was its maximum which was okay for now, I would be able to do some very good reconnaissance with this to see things that I usually wouldn't be able to see.

I also punched the ground, yes I know you might think I'm an idiot, but just wait. I saw that I left a small dent, very minimal albeit but a dent nonetheless. then I tried to wrap the shadow around my body and it proved sufficient as It worked and then I punched the ground and was left awestruck by what I saw.

Yes, it seems that my shadow was able to augment my body and make it stronger than previously which was a great thing to learn as I would be able to augment my weapons and much, much more.

With all that said and done, with my newly acquired magical prowess, I knew that I have to fully learn about this world so It's time to dive into the library!

**

After walking for 10 minutes to get to the local library I walk in and see the librarian, It's a male that looks no older than 30 with dark black hair and amethyst eyes that radiate a certain mysteriousness to them.

As I approach the counter the man says

"Hello sir, what would you be looking for today from Grand Archive Library?"

I ponder for a bit to think about what I should start with and say

"Sir, I would like to know what book would give me the most knowledge on the kingdom."

"Great, for that you would want to look for maybe The Past of Zathage Dynasty."

"Thank you, may you lead me to where I could find that?"

He smiles and adds "It would be my pleasure" as we start going to the history aisle. I found the book and thanked him and went to a table to start reading about what the Zathage Dynasty entails and found out that there were 5 members that had formed this country and were able to keep it stable for a long long time until one day, Monsters had started coming in from a place that has never been explored before that was called the dark continent and slowly but surely, placed that humans resided in were being taken over by the demonic creatures.

After that us humans were in a losing war until the Gods had granted us a blessing and gave us magical powers so we could combat them and then with this newly acquired thing available for humans, we would open up academies to train and become strong enough to help eliminate these creatures.

After finishing your time at the academy, you will be presented with a place to join to help with this war, there are 3 great clans that go by the name Shattersins, Jadevale, and Helldawn. With these clans in mind, the creators obviously being powerful people started to populate and some of their abilities and elements would be passed down to their kids which we would call legacies as they held something precious from the parents.

There was also the government you could join or finally, you could become a mercenary which was another sound choice. You would be able to join the academy at the age of 14 and it wouldn't be until 4 more years until you finish the curriculum that the Zathage Dynasty gives.

'What an informational book' I think as I close the book. I realize that It's been 2 hours and I put the book by, wish the man a good day, and start running back to the orphanage.

**

I arrive back at 'Home' and enter my place and lay in my bed while looking at my ceiling, I reach out thinking about the things I want to attain and something unexpected happens. A letter materializes in my hand and I fall out of my bed which causes the caretaker to yell for me

"ARE YOU OKAY KOICHIRO?"

"YES MA'AM"

I quickly get back on my bed and read the contents of the letter.

Dear Koichiro,

I'm sure by the time you read this then I and your mother are already dead so I wish to clear up a few things, you may be confused and alone and we're sorry for leaving you in this treacherous world but we have left you an inheritance, the shadow power you posses now comes from a figure that we will not discuss about now but just know that you will be able to reach heights that have usually been impossible. Second I would like to tell you that we have not died of a natural cause that the world might say, we were hunted by the powerful clan leaders that reside in this Zathanage Dynasty because we were powerful and they deemed us a 'Threat' so they got rid of us. I don't wish for you to follow the path of revenge but I want you to know that not everybody in this world is gonna be kind as they may have a facade that they uphold but on the inside they're demons worse than the creatures that reside in the dark continent. with all this information that I've given you, I hope that you find out the secrets of the world and become unrivaled to the point where no one can stand up to you, Love from your father and mother.

Sincerely, Joutarou and Machiko.

My head starts hurting after I finish as I think about all that I'm told in this letter

'My parents didn't die of a natural cause? and if they were so powerful I guess it does make sense that the only thing that could wipe them out were the clan leaders. But why eliminate someone on the side of humanity?'

All these questions spiraled into my head as I realize that this life is gonna have way more in store for me as I place an cold look on my face

'Seems I have to pay these so-called clan leaders a visit when I become strong enough'

And with that, I got up, took a piece of paper, started jotting down a training regimen, and fell asleep as the thought that I have 4 years before I enter the domain of the strong. one thought lingers before I lose consciousness

'Seems like I have a lot of things to do in this life'