Codex397

He died on Earth with nothing—no legacy, no power, and no second chances... or so he thought.

After getting hit by a truck, a disillusioned young man awakens in the body of a boy named Zane, in a war-torn fantasy world where nations clash over power, and magic is the law of survival. Gifted a mysterious book from parents he barely knew—and now lost forever—Zane accidentally awakens the Void System, a cold, cryptic force that offers power... at a price.

In a world of monsters, systems, and bloodshed, Zane doesn’t get a choice.

Survive, or vanish into nothing

The Void's System

The arena thrummed with energy—cheers, murmurs, and tension mixing into a pressure that weighed heavy on every entrant. The polished stone reflected the daylight, but above, hovering enchantments muted the harshness of the sun, casting a serene glow across the coliseum-like structure.

Zane stood at the edge of the staging platform, arms folded, his eyes scanning the crowd with quiet detachment. He could see instructors, nobles, merchants, and even veteran adventurers watching from the stands—each waiting to witness who would rise and who would fall.

"This is more than a trial, you know. They're searching for power... and stories."

Zane exhaled slowly. "Guess I'll give them both."

A sudden buzz signaled the next match. His name lit up on a floating projection rune.

Zane's brows lifted. Whitecrest? That name alone was enough to draw blood.

Lucia Whitecrest. Daughter of the prestigious House Whitecrest—an elite noble lineage that boasted some of the continent's most powerful Light mages. Rumors whispered that she had blinded a professor during training and had never apologized. She was gifted, ruthless, and worst of all… protected by power.

The platform beneath his feet shimmered, then lifted. In a blink, he stood in the center of the grand arena. The stone beneath his boots radiated soft magic—reinforced by centuries of enchantment. Around the circular boundary, a glowing golden line marked the safety zone.

Across from him stood Lucia herself—radiant as the sun and twice as sharp. Her pristine white dueling robes were stitched with platinum thread. Her blonde braid whipped in the wind, and her staff, an heirloom no doubt, shimmered with runes older than most of the arena audience.

Lucia tilted her head, giving him a glance that hovered between amusement and condescension.

"I expected a brute," she said, her voice amplified for the crowd. "Not a shadow crawling through corridors."

Zane smirked. "And I expected someone less... dramatic."

The crowd chuckled lightly. Lucia's smile faded just a little, and she raised her staff. Light danced at her fingertips.

"You'll regret that," she said coldly. "My light exposes all things. Even worms."

The instructor raised his hand, energy swirling around his palm.

Shadow and Radiance: Part 1