Epictalestudio

In the kingdom of Asheria, where magic is a gift from the gods, Kalen is born with a cursed mark — the Shadowbound Seal. Hated by his own family and abandoned at birth, Kalen grows up in the shadows of society. But on his 18th birthday, the curse unlocks a hidden system known as The Shadowbound Codex — a mysterious interface that allows him to steal abilities from fallen enemies and master forbidden spells.

As war looms between kingdoms and ancient secrets rise, Kalen must uncover the truth behind his curse, defy destiny, and rise from the shadows to claim his rightful place as the forgotten heir

The Shadowbound Heir

The basement was silent, save for Kalen's steady breathing. The flickering torch barely illuminated the stone walls, but the darkness around him felt… different. Alive. Responsive.

Kalen raised his hand, and the shadows coiled around his fingers like wisps of black mist. It wasn't just his imagination—he could control it.

- Conceals the user's presence in low-light environments.

- Reduces detection chance by 30%.

The words floated in the air before him, part of the system known as the Shadowbound Codex. He had read about ancient systems in old books, but never had he imagined wielding one himself.

For the first time in his life, he felt capable. But before he could experiment further—

Task: Defeat a creature of darkness.

Reward: Shadow Dagger (Basic), +5 EXP

Failure Penalty: System Deactivation for 24 Hours

Kalen's excitement faltered. A creature of darkness?

He had no weapon. No experience. And yet, the mission expected him to hunt something down?

From the shadows near the farthest corner of the basement, something moved.

A low growl echoed through the room, sending a chill up Kalen's spine. His fingers tightened into fists as two gleaming red eyes emerged from the darkness.

The creature stepped into the dim light—a Nightfang.

It was a low-level beast, something he had only heard about in whispered stories. A wolf-like entity made of living shadows, its body flickering like smoke. Its claws scraped against the stone floor as it crouched, preparing to strike.

[Warning: A Nightfang has detected you!]

- Shadow Veil effectiveness reduced against creatures of darkness.

Kalen barely dodged in time, rolling across the floor as claws slashed through the air where he had stood moments ago. He scrambled backward, heart pounding.

As if responding to his thoughts, the system's interface flashed.

[Shadow Dagger Available – Claim Now?]

Dark mist surged around his palm, and in an instant, a dagger of pure black formed in his grasp. Its blade shimmered like liquid night, absorbing the dim light around it.

The Nightfang lunged again. This time, Kalen countered.

He sidestepped, slashing with the dagger. The blade sank into the creature's shadowy flesh, dispersing part of its form like smoke. The Nightfang howled in pain, staggering backward.

The beast wasn't invincible. He could kill it.

His grip tightened around the dagger, confidence surging through him. As the Nightfang prepared for another attack, Kalen took the initiative.

The creature swiped at him, but this time, he was ready. He ducked, twisted, and drove his dagger deep into its chest.

The Nightfang howled, its body convulsing as cracks of light split through its form. Within moments, it dissolved into nothingness.

[Mission Complete: The First Hunt]

Kalen exhaled, his hands trembling slightly.

He looked at the dagger in his palm. It no longer felt foreign—it felt like an extension of himself.

"So this is what power feels like."

And this… was just the beginning.