Shadow Being System-Chapter 115 - 14

Kaden leaned back against the tree, letting out a contented sigh. A faint grin played on his lips as he gazed up at the patches of sky visible through the thick canopy. He’d finished the beginner course of the system, and honestly, it felt too good to be true—almost impossible.

His mind drifted back to the AI’s explanation about the origin of his newfound abilities. The flower that granted him this power had grown from the blood of a demon—a revelation that should be impossible, flowers are only known to grow from the blood of the Lords, not the demons, but he got one grown from the blood of the demon, which still sat uncomfortably with him. Demons didn’t exactly have the best reputation, to say the least.

They were the ones who had betrayed the Lords, plunging the world into chaos and destruction. Their war with the Lords had been the stuff of legends, a battle so fierce it had led to the deaths of both sides. If the demon’s blood could still create flowers capable of granting power, it raised unsettling questions about what other remnants of their existence might remain.

Still, skepticism gnawed at him. The AI’s words were clear, but the idea of carrying something so sinister within him made his stomach churn. And yet, here he was—alive, stronger, and capable of feats he could never have imagined.

The system itself was fascinating. It felt almost like a game. Quests were assigned, rewards were given, and progress was tracked. He recalled how, during the beast’s attack, the system had issued him a quest to kill the creature. He hadn’t even realized it at the time, but when he managed to kill the beast, the system had rewarded him with a level-up.

Curiosity piqued, Kaden remembered what the AI had told him earlier about commands. There was one in particular that lingered in his memory. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, he thought the words the AI had instructed him to use.

"Status."

A translucent screen appeared before him, floating mid-air, glowing faintly with red and black hues.

---

Name: Kaden Rossi

Level: 1

Rank: ?? (Reach level ten to unlock rank)

Health Points (HP): 102/102

Strength: 3

Agility: 2

Endurance: 3

Intelligence: 0.001

Demon Blood: 1

Abilities: Demon Blood Manipulation

Current Quests: None.

---

William’s eyebrows rose as he studied the screen. "No way," he muttered, his grin widening. "It really is like a game."

The stats were straightforward enough, but the abilities were what caught his attention. He’d expected something related to strength seeing the strength he used to rip the beast mouth apart, but Demon Blood Manipulation? He remembered the AI mentioning the black veins in his hand was demon blood. He glanced down at his hands and flexed his fingers. "Can I really move the blood to other parts of my body?"

The system gave him a boost in all his stats when he leveled up, but it made him wonder. "Was my strength really that low before?" His eyes flicked back to the screen. "And what the heck is wrong with my intelligence stat?"

His gaze lingered on the Demon Blood line, slight fear creeping into his heart. "What would happen when the demon blood completely filled his body? Would he still be human, or would he turn into a demon?’ The thought made his skin crawl.

"I definitely don’t want to look as ugly as a demon."

Then, as if his own mind couldn’t resist a jab, another thought whispered back. "Even as a human, you’re already as ugly as a demon."

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

He let out a dry chuckle, brushing the thought aside. His attention turned to the other stats. The HP seemed to increase by two with each level, and the locked rank intrigued him. "What rank will I gain once I reach level ten?" But then another question arose: "How do I even level up?"

It wasn’t as if hordes of beasts roamed freely on Earth. Beast portals weren’t common; he’d only encountered them twice in his lifetime. His only option would be to wait for another tier-one portal to open.

Kaden closed the screen with a thought, the interface vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. Leaning back against the tree again, he exhaled deeply. His mind raced with possibilities.

If this system truly worked like a game, then every quest, every fight, every victory, and every level-up would bring him closer to something greater. But it also brought risks—risks tied to the very essence of what he was becoming.

His stomach grumbled loudly, pulling him out of his thoughts. Hunger gnawed at him, but panic didn’t set in this time. He still had the beast he’d killed. A bittersweet pang shot through his chest. If only Lila were alive, he thought, I’d be able to feed her, too.

Shaking off the melancholy, Kaden pushed himself to his feet. His legs felt a little unsteady, but he ignored it as he made his way toward the beast. The creature lay lifeless on the ground, its grotesque form a reminder of the world’s harsh reality.

Kaden stared at it, his hands clenching into fists. The only way to survive in this world is to get stronger, he thought. The Lords had abandoned him and countless others. If they wouldn’t help him, then he’d find his

own path.

_____________________________________

Kaden crouched over the lifeless beast, its grotesque form sprawled on the forest floor. Its hide was thick and unyielding—he’d learned that the hard way during their fight. His fists, no matter how desperate, couldn’t penetrate it. Carving through the exterior was pointless.

If he wanted to eat, he’d have to go straight to the source.

With a grimace, Kaden shoved his hands into the beast’s gaping mouth, fingers navigating the sticky, cold flesh. The stench hit him like a wave, and bile rose in his throat as he pushed deeper, searching for something even remotely edible.

Suddenly, his fingers brushed against something that wasn’t flesh. Smooth. Solid. Cold. His brows furrowed in confusion. It doesn’t feels like bone also.

"What the—" he muttered, gripping the object and pulling it free with a sharp yank.

When his hand emerged, his breath caught.

In his palm rested a glowing crystal, no larger than his fist. It shimmered with a strange, otherworldly brilliance, as if the entirety of the cosmos was trapped within its translucent surface. Stars twinkled in its core, swirling in a chaotic yet mesmerizing dance. Constellations bloomed and faded as he turned it slightly, the light casting soft reflections on his dirt-streaked face.

It was beautiful, almost sacred—a stark contrast to the beast it had been pulled from.

Kaden’s heart pounded as fragments of a long-buried memory surfaced. Back in primary school, during one of the rare lessons, his teacher had spoken of something extraordinary: "beast crystals".

They were remnants of energy condensed within beasts, she’d explained. Treasures. These crystals were sought after by factions, researchers, and adventurers. Their uses were countless—fueling technology, forging weapons, enhancing supernatural abilities. Most importantly, they were the key to ascending tiers of power. When absorbed, beast crystals pushed ability users closer to their potential.

Kaden stared at the crystal in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly. This wasn’t just a find. It was a chance to rise, to grow stronger.

But what should he do?

Two options presented themselves.

The first was to sell it. Beast crystals were incredibly rare in the market. Those who found them rarely sold them because strength was always more valuable than wealth. "What’s the use of money if you aren’t alive to spend it?" he thought grimly.

That left the second option: absorbing it.

His mind drifted to that same lesson from years ago. The teacher had explained how to absorb a beast crystal.

It was rather simple in theory but difficult in practice. The process required swallowing the crystal whole.

Kaden stared at the glowing object in his hand, imagining it passing through his throat. It was laughable, impossible. Yet, the memory nagged at him, urging him to try.

With hesitation, he brought the crystal to his lips. His breath hitched as the cold surface touched his skin. Just as he was about to press forward, a sharp "ding" echoed in his mind.

[Warning: Dangerous object detected.]

Startled, Kaden jerked the crystal away from his mouth. His brow furrowed in confusion. Dangerous? How could it be dangerous? He thought back to the teacher’s lesson. Beast crystals were supposed to enhance abilities, not harm.

"What do you mean dangerous?’" he muttered aloud, directing the question to the AI.

He asked the system directly, his voice shaky. "What happens if I absorb it?"

The system’s response was immediate and chilling:

[Death.]

Kaden’s eyes widened in alarm. His fingers loosened reflexively, and the crystal tumbled to the ground. He scrambled back, putting distance between himself and the glowing object.

He stared at the crystal, his chest heaving. Why was it dangerous for him? What made him different? Beast crystals were supposed to be the path to power. If he couldn’t absorb them, how was he supposed to ascend tiers?

For several long moments, he stood there, the weight of the system’s warning pressing down on him. But curiosity and determination soon overpowered his fear. Slowly, he stepped closer, his gaze locked on the crystal.

Bending down, he picked it up again. This time, the system remained silent. There were no warnings, no flashing messages. It seemed holding the crystal was safe—it was only the act of absorbing it that posed a threat.

Kaden sighed, his frustration giving way to acceptance. "Fine. If I can’t absorb it now, I’ll just store it for later," he muttered.

He sighed and sent a mental command to the system. "Store it in the inventory."

The crystal vanished from his hands in an instant. Kaden blinked, surprised by how seamless it was. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"That’s… cool."

The inventory was another feature the AI had explained earlier. It was like a personal spatial storage space, capable of holding inanimate objects. The current size was limited, comparable to a travel bag, but it would grow larger as Kaden leveled up.

The system had restrictions, of course. Only non-living items could be stored, and larger objects were out of the question for now. But the practicality of it made Kaden feel a small spark of hope.

Rising to his feet, he glanced at the spot where the beast crystal had been moments ago. He clenched his fists.

If he couldn’t absorb the crystal now, then he’d find a way later. For now, survival was the priority.

"And the first step to that is to go grill this crap meat." He thought looking at the beast.

His eyes narrowed as resolve hardened in his heart. "So what if the Lords have forsaken me?" he thought. "I’ll strike a deal with the demons if I have to."