[Mission in progress.

Mission complete.

Let the game begin.

Objective: Get 200 points on the first day. [00:19:58:42]

Progress: 100%

Reward: A shadow skill.

Failure: All stats set to negative.]

[Ding!]

[User has obtained a shadow skill.]

[Ding!]

[Skill acquired: Shadow Manipulation.]

[User Stats:

Name: Leo.

Age: 18.

Class: Lunar, Year 8.

Affinity: Shadow.

Skills:

Shadow Manipulation: Allows the user to manipulate darkness at will.

Details: No specific usage, depends on the user.

Mana Usage: Dependent on level of manipulation.

Reset Timer: None.

Proficiency: 20%.

Strength: 7.

Endurance: 5.

Agility: 10.

Intelligence: 23.

Mana: 110/200.

Charm (AFP): 100 (Limit of human).

Available Points:

SP: 0.

AFP: -243 (Negative) / +800 (Positive).]

"Why do I have so much positive AFP?" I muttered, staring at the number. Out of everything on the screen, that one made the least sense to me.

[I have no idea. Maybe because someone broke the limits of the charm stat?]

The sarcasm was completely unsubtle.

"But from who?" I asked. The only girl I’d actually encountered had tried to put an arrow through my head without hesitation.

[Are you sure all of them were actually attacking you?]

"Huh?" I frowned at that, not sure what to make of it, but before I could think it through any further:

Whoosh.

"Speak of the devil," I muttered, barely dodging the arrow by instinct alone.

She was back. The archer girl, and the calm, unreadable expression she’d had before was completely gone now, replaced by something that looked a lot like genuine hatred. Her brownish-green hair was disheveled from the shelf stunt I’d pulled earlier, and her uniform had seen better days, though now really wasn’t the time to notice that. I took a step back, then another, keeping the distance between us.

"I will kill you," she said.

That was enough for me. I turned and ran.

How was I supposed to use Shadow Manipulation against her when the skill description gave me absolutely nothing to work with?

Whoosh.

"CRAP!"

BOOOOOOOOM.

I went through multiple shelves like I weighed nothing, hit the ground hard, and rolled. Pretty sure I cracked at least one rib.

"Damn it," I groaned, scrambling sideways.

BOOOOOOOOM.

The strap on my bag snapped, and everything inside scattered across the floor.

I was about to write it off entirely when I saw something among the spilled contents, and a thought hit me immediately.

Can this actually work?

Another volley came down before I could think it through further.

BOOOOOOOOM.

The veil of darkness caught most of the explosion, but it was already burning away at the edges, light eating through it fast. I ignored it, lunged forward, and grabbed the empty gun from the floor.

She saw it and reacted instantly, nocking another arrow and firing to cut off whatever I was planning. I anticipated it and threw myself behind a shelf, then came back up and pointed the gun directly at her.

Now came the part that could go very wrong.

[You know this could blow up in your face, right?]

"I know, that’s why the size has to be perfect," I muttered, feeling the darkness beginning to pull together inside the barrel.

I was making a bullet out of shadow mana, and if I got the density even slightly wrong, the whole thing would backfire, literally. But I was out of options, and this was the only idea I had.

She nocked a single arrow, aimed directly at me, and held it.

We both fired at the same moment.

PUM.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.