"W-where am I?" I asked slightly frightened, everything had happened too fast for me to comprehend... there was a screen floating in front of me - eerily attached to nothing it just floated... no matter where I looked there was darkness apart from the slight light illuminating the screen before me.
This screen is a simplified version of your current abilities in a format we have found that humans are most familiar with; a system status menu. A term you humans usually give it, however more accurately it's a mental representation of your own knowledge of your abilities.
Name: Lewis Jones
Race: Human (Shadow)
Abilities:
Shadow Diving (Lvl 1)
Shadow Whisper (Lvl 1)
Ruler (Lvl 1)
Title: Monarch of Shadows (Inactive)
Stats:
(Menu Inactive please progress to level 10)
Level: 1 (Exp: 4/100) +1 Per Minute in Shadow Realm
Let me know if you dislike this layout, honestly I feel a bit bothered by it myself - this is my first time attempting to use a system so please any criticism is welcome although I don't think it can be considered a system due to it being more of a tracker to allow Lewis to accurately gauge his abilities it doesn't provide him with the ability to overcome his peers through instant power-ups either so please don't expect such a thing to happen in the future, the fast growth is Innate to a Shadow Monarch although it'll be explained later thanks ;) )
With that explanation finished I will now send you to a location of your desire, anywhere within your own world is possible - afterward I suggest calling the name of your abilities to see how to use them and their usages...
I stared blankly, anyone else may have taken a while to adapt to the situation - suddenly placed in an unknown situation and given abilities resembling those out of a novel, it was laughable but my mind instantly went to what if I'd taken something? It'd happened before.. but never to this extent, I was used to the feeling that it gave though - this was nothing like that. This was more comforting as if I could trust everything that was happening as reality, it was a helpful ability in a way to remind myself that this was all real.
"New York.." I mumbled, I had no idea if whatever was speaking to me had heard me but it was almost impossible it hadn't - this space was empty, devoid of all sound and life.
Very Well.
Those were the last words I heard from the strange voice in the darkness before again I felt my entire body go light as if being lifted off the ground, in an instant, all my senses were bombarded with noise, smell and a blinding brightness that blinded me. It wasn't long before I could see around me, I was in a dark alleyway, looking forward the bright sounds and smells of the city I had shortly called my home for a month was in front of me - it was just one of the places my brothers had no influence due to their notoriety in this part of the globe.
I was alone in a city where there is an abundance of homeless people, one more wondering the street shouldn't garner any suspicion - luckily I had a US Citizenship from my previous stay, something I had arranged to make it more convenient for myself. Finding out about my abilities should be my next task I guess. Mentally I began to set goals for myself, something I had grown fond of doing as a child to feel like I was "worth" something.
"Shadow Diving." I honestly felt ridiculous saying it out loud, I had a gut feeling that nothing would happen - everything I had experienced was just a drug-induced dream yet reality defied instinct.
Shadow Diving: An ability given to the Monarch of shadows, allows for the swift movement through shadows - currently at level 1 the Monarch can only spend a maximum of 5 minutes within the shadow realm, please level up the ability to increase usages and time limit. To use this ability the Monarch simply has to stand/touch a shadow and think of merging with the shadow, navigating will become like instinct once this has happened due to the traits of the title Shadow Monarch (Inactive).
The information astonished me, but what confused me about this was that it said my title was inactive - yet I could still benefit from it? Intrigued I attempted to ask for more information.
"Shadow Monarch" I whispered, experimenting whether it mattered how loud I said the words or not - it didn't.
Shadow Monarch: A title given to the Monarch of Shadows, only one can exist in the universe at a time (Further information omitted) The title grants traits that will be exposed with time.Current Known Trait: Second Instinct (The Monarch will be able to move within the shadow realm as if they had been doing it their whole lives). This title is currently inactive although the traits will still benefit the user, their full potential will not be unleashed until the host activates the title.
It was a lot to take in, to say the least. I went from a prison cell to the streets of New York in an instant and now I had been given this 'title' of a Monarch - it was overwhelming but I calmed myself down if I had only learned one thing from my father it was that everything had a price. Whether you paid it now or later however was a different story...
I was down to my last 2 abilities, not wasting any time I wanted to discover how they could help me.
"Ruler, Shadow Whisper"
Two dark lines of text appeared side by side detailing the abilities, it seemed that I wasn't limited to how many times I could summon these "lines" but they would disappear after I had finished reading them, most likely something to do with the darkness telling me that it was linked to my mind.
Ruler: All shadows acknowledge that you are their King, all shadows will obey you and listen to your commands - current limitations of this titles level however mean that you cannot command shadows to kill themselves, harm themselves or do harm to other shadows, raise the level of this ability by giving commands to your subjects. Give them meaning to their lives.
Shadow Whisper: An ability that allows you to listen to the shadows of living beings, shadows represent the darkness living within all - they hide one's secrets, lies, deceptions, and fears. Use this ability with the title Ruler to truly show off the power of a Monarch of Shadows.
A small grin crossed my face, the power these abilities could have when utilized together would be immense, one could topple a dynasty if they had such an ability if we went back in history let alone cooperations which were mainly built on secrets and lies... "Seems like life will become interesting for me..." I laughed to myself as I walked out of the alley into the world, I was going to make sure I had my revenge... All I needed was time.
