Shadow Being System

Chapter 98

The orphanage was quiet, the stillness of the night broken only by the occasional creak of old wooden beams and the soft rustle of the wind outside. William lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind restless. Everyone else was sound asleep—the younger kids dreaming in their shared rooms, and the caretakers no doubt exhausted after a long day.

But William couldn't sleep. Something about being back here brought a longing to experience the freedom he hadn't felt since joining the academy. With a smirk, he swung his legs off the bed and crept toward the window.

Carefully, he slid it open, the hinges whining softly in protest. He froze, listening for any sign of stirring in the rooms nearby. When none came, he climbed out, landing softly on the ground below.

The night air was cool, and the streets were bathed in pale moonlight. William stuffed his hands into his pockets and began walking, his destination unclear. He just wanted to savor the quiet of the night and the freedom of being home.

---

As William made his way back to the orphanage after a brief stroll, his path took him through a dimly lit alley. He hesitated, glancing around. Something felt... off. The faint scuffle of footsteps reached his ears, and three figures emerged from the shadows ahead.

The leader, a fat boy adorned with gaudy jewelry, stepped forward with a sneer.

"Look who we have here," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "The handsome boy, so you aren't dead."

The other two chuckled darkly, their eyes gleaming with cruelty.

William sighed and crossed his arms. "Hi, Billy," he said dryly, his tone laced with mockery. "Why is every bully I meet named Billy?" he thought.(A/N: No offense to anyone bearing Billy) Then, with a smirk, he added, "You're still fat, I see."

The leader's face twisted with rage, his cheeks flushed. One of his lackeys stepped forward, punching his fists together, the sound unnaturally metallic. "Just because you dyed your hair black doesn't mean you can defy us, punk."

William's gaze flicked to the lackey's fists. "These bastards got abilities too," he realized, his chest tightening. But this time, it wasn't fear that filled him. It was something darker—something fueled by memories of his suffering and the silent vow he had made to himself.

He stood his ground, his expression calm, almost bored. "You really think this is going to end the way it did last time?"

Billy smirked, his fat fingers curling into fists. "Oh, it's going to end worse for you this time, boy."

They lunged.

---

It happened in an instant. William's body moved on instinct, his lightning ability honed by months of training at the academy.

The first boy swung a fist, but William sidestepped effortlessly, his hand darting out to grab the attacker's wrist. With a surge of power, he sent a shock coursing through the boy's arm, forcing him to drop to his knees with a scream.

The other two charged toward him, but William raised his free hand, unleashing a crackling bolt of lightning that struck their legs. They collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony, their cries echoing in the narrow alley.

"You… you fucker!" one of them groaned, clutching his seared leg.

William walked toward them, his steps deliberate, his eyes cold. "You know," he said, a sinister grin spreading across his face, "I've been meaning to get creative. How about this?" He crouched next to one of them, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "I'll rip off your arm, shove it up your butt, and use it to pull your intestines out. How's that for payback?"

The fat leader's eyes widened in horror. "You wouldn't dare!"

William's grin widened. "Let's find out, shall we?"

The alley was soon filled with screams—horrifying, gut-wrenching screams that seemed to stretch on forever. Then, there was silence.

---

William stood amidst the carnage, cleaning his hands with the fat bully's shirt. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Gross," he muttered.

The system's voice echoed in his mind, its tone wry. "You sure didn't hold back, did you?"

"They didn't hold back when they tried to kill me," William replied, tossing the bloodied shirt aside. "It's only fair."

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As William made his way back to the orphanage, his adrenaline slowly subsiding, he became aware of another presence. Someone was following him.

He stopped abruptly, his sharp gaze scanning the shadows. "You can come out now," he said, his voice calm but commanding.

A figure emerged from the darkness, dressed in black from head to toe, their face obscured by a mask. Green hair peeked out from under their hood. It was the ninja he had seen before—Zarin.

"You again," William said, his tone annoyed. "What do you want?"

Zarin stepped closer, their movements silent and deliberate. "To protect you."

William narrowed his eyes. "Protect me? From what?"

Zarin hesitated, their eyes meeting William's with a seriousness that made his skin crawl. "I can't tell you that. Not yet."

Anger flared in William's chest. "I'm not some helpless kid, and I don't need protection. If you're going to follow me, at least have the decency to explain why."

"I'm under orders," Zarin replied, their tone unyielding.

"Whose orders?" William demanded.

Zarin didn't answer. Instead, he turned and melted back into the shadows, leaving William fuming.

"Coward," he muttered under his breath as he resumed his walk.

---

By the time William climbed back through his window, the orphanage was still silent, the others deep in sleep. He closed the window softly and sat on the edge of his bed, his thoughts racing.

The night had been anything but ordinary. He had confronted his past, shown his tormentors that he was no longer their victim, and encountered the mysterious ninja once more.

As he lay back down, staring at the ceiling, a new resolve burned within him. Whatever Zarin was hiding, whatever dangers were lurking in the shadows, he would find out—on his own terms.