Shadow Being System

The Tension Before the Storm

The tunnel was dark and gloomy, with only a faint ray of light streaming through the jagged opening in the blown roof. Dust particles floated in the beam, suspended in the still air. The convoy was eerily quiet, as if the very walls of the tunnel were holding their breath.

The soldiers stationed at the front and back of the convoy remained on high alert, barricades set up and security devices blinking faintly in the dark.

Among the soldiers, those with physical strength abilities worked tirelessly, their muscles bulging as they cleared the debris blocking the road. The sound of rocks scraping against the concrete floor echoed through the tunnel, but it did little to ease the sense of impending danger that hung over everyone. The air was thick with fear.

Soldiers glanced at each other nervously, while the students huddled together, whispering anxiously among themselves.

Leaning against the cold, damp wall of the tunnel were two figures. The first, a boy of sixteen, wore a white shirt now stained with dirt and sweat, his gray trousers wrinkled and torn at the knees. His name was William, and though he appeared outwardly calm, inside he was anything but. Next to him sat Miss Mona, her eyes half-closed as she tried to steady her breathing.

She was in her twenties, her perfect jacket and jeans no longer pristine after the earlier chaos.

Miss Mona's mind raced, guilt and relief mixing in equal measure. She couldn't shake the thought of what might have happened if William hadn't warned her. We would have all been dead, she thought, the weight of that truth settling on her chest like a stone. She glanced at William out of the corner of her eye, wondering what was going through his head. He had saved them all, but at what cost?

William, however, felt no such remorse. Inside, he was smiling as he saw the system notification flash before his eyes:

"Chain Quest 1 Completed"

"Rewards Awarded"

He wanted to check his rewards, but before he could, an old man approached them. It was the bus driver. His head was bandaged, and he moved slowly, still recovering from the earlier events. He stopped beside them, sitting down heavily against the wall with a sigh.

"Thank you," the old man said, his voice rough from the dust and strain.

Miss Mona shook her head, brushing her hair away from her face. "I was just doing my job," she replied softly, though her voice lacked conviction.

William, still focused on the notification in his mind, spoke absentmindedly. "I just wanted to save myself."

The old man chuckled, a deep, rasping sound. "Regardless, you saved us all. I still can't believe that bastard managed to pass through my eyes," he muttered, his face darkening as he activated his ability—Super Sight.

Suddenly, the old man's eyes widened in terror. His body went rigid, and he shot to his feet, panic overtaking him. Miss Mona noticed instantly.

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"What is it?" she asked, her voice urgent, her heart rate spiking.

The old man stood there, as if frozen in place, his mind racing to process what he saw. Finally, he spoke, his voice trembling with fear. "They're coming."

William felt a chill run down his spine. "Who's coming?" he asked, though he already had an idea.

"The Heretics," the old man whispered.

Miss Mona was on her feet in a flash, her exhaustion forgotten in the face of this new threat. "How many?" she asked, her voice sharp, already calculating their odds.

"I don't know," the old man said, shaking his head, "but there are hundreds of them."

Without another word, Miss Mona sprinted toward Commander Charles, who stood at the head of the formation, his face set in grim determination. As she reached him, she barely needed to speak. Commander Charles nodded.

"I know," he said quietly. "Our sensors have detected them. They'll be here soon." His voice was calm, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his worry. "Gather the students. We need to protect them."

Miss Mona nodded, turning to the other teachers as they began to herd the terrified students into the center of the formation. Commander Charles stepped forward, addressing his soldiers.

"All units prepare! Hundreds of enemies approaching from both directions. Hold the line!" His voice boomed through the tunnel, but it did little to ease the growing panic.

The students were in chaos, some crying, others shouting questions that no one could answer. Are we going to die? Why us? Why not another military academy? The questions hung in the air, unanswered, as the soldiers began summoning their weapons and armor.

William watched in awe as the soldiers' gear materialized in their hands—blades, shields, hammers, and guns—all appearing with a flash of light. Their armor, some bulky and intimidating, others light and agile, shimmered in the dim light of the tunnel. Each piece was crafted from the soul crystals of beasts, their power humming with energy.

As William marveled at the soldiers' abilities, another notification appeared before his eyes:

"Chain Quest 2 Given"

Quest Description: Thousands of mindless traitors detected. Do your best not to die.

Enemy Description: 1 Heretic, 1 Commander-Tier Beast, 1 Warrior-Tier Beast, 1 Newborn-Tier Beast, and 2,316 Ferus-Tier Individuals.

Additional Quest: Slay enemies for more rewards.

Quest Reward: ???

William's heart pounded in his chest. Thousands? he thought, his stomach twisting in fear. He glanced around, realizing that the soldiers had no idea what they were truly up against. This wasn't just a few hundred attackers. This was an army.

He quickly asked the system, How strong is the Heretic?

The system's voice rang in his mind. "The Heretic is stronger than Commander Charles, though this is just a speculation. Remember, rank is not the only thing that determines the outcome of a battle—terrain, experience, and skills all play a role."

William swallowed hard. No hope, he thought. If the Heretic was stronger than Commander Charles, their best fighter would be occupied. They stood no chance.

William cursed under his breath, realizing the gravity of their situation. How are we supposed to fight thousands of enemies? His gaze flickered over to Commander Charles, the only person who might stand a chance against the Heretic. But then he thought of the beasts—the Commander-Tier, Warrior-Tier, and Newborn-Tier monsters lurking among the enemy ranks.

If Commander Charles is held up fighting those beasts, who's going to protect us?

His thoughts raced as he asked the system another question. I thought there weren't supposed to be any beasts on Earth?

The system responded with a cool detachment, as if the chaos of the situation had no effect on it. "While no beasts naturally reside on Earth, there are ways to summon them. The Heretics must have brought them here to bolster their forces."

William sighed, realizing their situation was far worse than anyone could imagine. As he processed the information, he turned on his heel and walked back to his bus. He reached under the seat and pulled out the sword that Mr. Beth had given him. The weight of it felt oddly comforting in his hand. This is my only chance, he thought.

Stepping back out into the tunnel, William joined the other students, standing among them like one of the crowd. Miss Mona and the other teachers had already formed a protective line around the students, their faces grim and determined. They were prepared to die if it meant protecting the young lives in their care.

Commander Charles stood at the front of the formation, his expression unreadable, but the tension in his body was unmistakable. His sharp eyes scanned the far end of the tunnel, where the enemy would soon arrive. He muttered under his breath, "This doesn't feel right."

His instincts screamed at him that this was more than just a simple raid. The Heretics wouldn't send just a couple of hundred soldiers on such a bold attack. He was certain they had something far more sinister planned. Without wasting a moment, he turned back toward his vehicle, the door now missing from when it had been torn off earlier. He grabbed his communicator and made a call.

The voice on the other end picked up immediately. "Commander Charles, we've already dispatched reinforcements. Hold your position."

"No," Commander Charles said, cutting the man off. "The situation's changed. We're under attack."

The voice on the other end sounded alarmed. "By who?"

"The Heretics," Commander Charles replied gravely.

"How many?" the man asked, his tone shifting from surprise to urgency.

Commander Charles' face tightened. "Close to a thousand. They'll be on us in less than five minutes."

There was a brief silence on the other end before the man replied, his voice filled with dread. "Hold on as best you can. Reinforcements will arrive in twenty minutes."

The line went dead, and Commander Charles let out a long sigh. Twenty minutes. It felt like an eternity, especially when the odds were stacked against them. He hung up the communicator and stepped out of the vehicle. As he looked over the terrified faces of the students, he steeled himself for the battle ahead.

I just have to hold on for twenty minutes, he thought, taking in the sight of his soldiers gearing up for the fight of their lives. His mind wandered briefly to his usual coping mechanism, a track he always listened to after stressful missions. After all this shit, I need to listen to 'Eu Sento Ganbu Phonk' he mused.

Commander Charles moved back to the front of the formation, an air of quiet determination settling over him. Strangely, unlike his men, he was not wearing any armor or wielding a weapon. His abilities were all he needed.

The tension in the tunnel was suffocating. The students, huddled together, whispered nervously among themselves, their voices filled with fear and uncertainty. Some were crying, their sobs echoing off the walls. Others stood silently, their faces pale and eyes wide with terror. Why us? they asked each other.

Why can't the Heretics attack another military academy? Why does it have to be us?

The soldiers, too, felt the weight of the moment. Their weapons—blades, shields, hammers, and guns—gleamed in the faint light, all forged from the soul crystals of beasts. Their armor hummed with energy, protecting their bodies, but it did nothing to shield their minds from the fear creeping in.

Many of them were young, their faces tight with anxiety as they prepared for a battle unlike any they had ever faced.

Meanwhile, in Military Base 4, the man who had spoken to Commander Charles hurried down the corridor toward the top floor. He reached a door labeled "General," and knocked, his heart pounding in his chest. A voice from inside called out, "Come in."

The man pushed the door open, saluting as he entered. Behind the desk sat a man in his late fifties, calm and composed, lazily rocking back and forth in a chair. He held a traditional Chinese fan in one hand, idly fanning himself. The office was a strange mixture of ancient and modern—decorated with plants, antique furniture, and the bones of exotic animals mounted on the walls.

A large glass panel stood to one side, inside of which coiled a massive red snake with no eyes, its scales glistening in the dim light.

The general didn't look up. "What is it?" he asked, his voice calm and detached.

"Sir, we've just received a call from the West Convoy. They're under attack by the Heretics and have requested reinforcements."

The general stopped rocking in his chair. Slowly, he lowered his fan and turned his head toward the man. "The West Convoy? That's Commander Charles' unit, right?"

"Yes, sir," the man confirmed.

The general frowned, his brow furrowing slightly. "Commander Charles is one of our best. If he's asking for reinforcements, the enemy must be strong."

The general stood up from his chair, walking over to the window and staring out into the distance, lost in thought. After a moment, he turned back to the man. "Send the backup."

The man nodded. "How many soldiers should we send, sir?"

The general thought for a moment. "Send fifty, mainly those with utility abilities—healers, telepaths, anyone who can support the fight."

The man hesitated for a second before asking, "Sir, don't you think that's too few?"

The general smiled faintly, a glint of confidence in his eyes. "Don't worry. It's not too few." He pau

sed, the smile growing slightly wider. "Because I'll be there too."