Triple X System

’I thought I’d lost you.’ Kyle telepathically spoke, earning a light giggle from snow.

[I didn’t know you’d miss me this much, hubby.] She remarked with a playful tone, making Kyle slightly shake his head. Retaining his bright smile.

Before he’d died, he could feel it. The connection between him and the system fading, like an irresponsible thread was being severed. He didn’t know how, but it was like a part of him was fading.

But that wasn’t the scary part; He was well aware of his dying process, seemingly more attuned to his senses and environment than never before.

Snow’s word echoing in his ears while he faded into a dark bit. Drowning in his a forgotten darkness that’d suddenly decided to claim him.

’I’ve changed snow.’ He relayed with certain emphasis on the word changed.

[I’m aware Kyle. Even though I was offline for sometimes, we were still connected the moment you came back. So I the information from your experience during death is vividly stored in your mind.] She softly spoke in his head, ascertaining his unexpected encounter and growth.

Her voice laced with a tinge of joy and awe.

’Why does it feel like you’re not only congratulating me, but also falling for my charms.’ His lips curved upwards into a light smile, making his cheeky system guide grumble.

[Pervert!] Snow retorded with a light scoff, which Kyle inwardly shook his head.

Kyle’s eyes locked onto Zha’thik, his grip on his shadows tightening. The air was thick with tension, the space guards watching with bated breath.

”Snow, I need your help,” Kyle whispered, his voice barely audible.

The AI’s voice, like a gentle breeze, whispered in his mind. [I’m here, Kyle. But my systems are still recovering from your... incident. Demon skills, like dark flames, are offline for now.]

Kyle’s eyes narrowed. ”What do I have?”

[Shadow Weaver abilities are online,] Snow replied. [But be warned, Zha’thik is a master of manipulation. He’s slippery, even for a Shadow Weaver.]

’Seriously? He looks just like a normal reptile to me.’ Kyle scoffed, with a disappointed glare.

After his death and ressurection in the world tears, he was certain something had changed within him. It wasn’t just his class, his skills but his entire personality!

Becoming more confident and authoritative, still retaining his human nature. But refined, like step that’d been reforged and reshaped in hot soul cleansing flames.

[Don’t look down on him kyle, something about his readings doesn’t sit right.] Snow warned.

’Of course.’ Kyle nodded, his eyes fixed on Zha’thik. The snake man was coiling, his body twisting into impossible shapes.

”You’re a slippery one, aren’t you?” Kyle said, his voice cold.

Zha’thik’s chuckle was like a rusty gate, his eyes gleaming with amusement. ”I’ve been waiting for you, Shadow Weaver. You’re just in time for the main show.”

Kyle’s shadows surged, tendrils of darkness wrapping around Zha’thik’s coils. But the snake man was too quick, his body dissolving into a pool of darkness.

’He can use shadow abilities too?’ Kyle frowned, shocked to see the snake man’s body turn into darkness.

[Not shadow ability, but pure darkness. I can’t explain it, but it’s refined dark magic. I’m guessing he must be a weak level spell caster who somehow has a bypass with dark magic.] Snow explained.

The space guards watched, their weapons turned on Zha’thik, but they knew they were no match for the snake man’s magic.

”W-what the hell is that thing?” A female guard stuttered.

”It looks like a hybrid of snake and-” The male guard paused, squinting his eyes at the abomination of an entity. ”I-is that a man?”

”Great, so we’re fighting snake men now.” Another sarcastically added, the fear in his heart taking over.

Snow’s voice whispered in Kyle’s mind. [Zha’thik’s power is rooted in his connection to the shadows. He’s a master of the dark arts, but he’s not invincible.]

Kyle nodded, his eyes fixed on Zha’thik’s re-forming body. He summoned his shadows, creating a vortex of darkness that pulled Zha’thik in.

The snake man laughed, his body twisting, but Kyle’s shadows held fast. ”You’re strong, Shadow Weaver,” Zha’thik hissed. ”But you’re no match for me.”

Kyle’s grin was cold, his eyes flashing with power. ”We’ll see about that.”

With a swift motion, Kyle conjured a shadow blade, its edge glowing with a faint, ethereal purple light. Zha’thik’s eyes widened, his body recoiling from the blade’s power.

”Impossible,” he hissed. ”You shouldn’t be able to wield that kind of power.”

Kyle’s smile was thin, his eyes fixed on Zha’thik. ”I’m full of surprises.”

The shadow blade sliced through Zha’thik’s defenses, striking true. The snake man let out a pained cry, his body dissolving into a pool of darkness.

The space guards watched, awestruck, as Kyle stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion.

Snow’s voice whispered in his mind, [Well done, Kyle. But Zha’thik’s just the beginning. The real challenge lies ahead. I’m detecting multiple sources similar in traces to Zha’thik essence approaching fast.]

Kyle nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. He knew that Kraken was just the start of a much larger, darker journey.

The space guards approached, their expressions wary. ”Kyle, what was that thing?” Lucias asked, his voice low.

Kyle’s eyes were cold, his grip on his shadows tightening. ”That’s what happens when you mess with the shadows.”

The guards exchanged nervous glances, their hands on their weapons. They knew they were in over their heads.

Snow’s voice whispered in Kyle’s mind, [Time to regroup, Kyle. The system is still recovering, but I can give you a few more minutes of Shadow Weaver abilities.]

Kyle nodded, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He knew that Kraken was just the beginning, and he was ready to face whatever came next.

The darkness swirled, and five more snake men emerged, their eyes glowing like embers. Zha’thik’s defeated form dissipated, but his kin were not so easily deterred.

”Kylieee...” The snake men hissed in unison, their voices sending shivers down the spines of the space guards.

Lucias and Layla stood shoulder to shoulder with Kyle, their guns trained on the snake men. The remaining guards formed a semi-circle, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger.

Snow’s voice whispered in Kyle’s mind, [Be careful, Kyle. These snake men are more powerful than Zha’thik. Their magic is rooted in the dark energies of Kraken.]

Kyle nodded, his grip on his shadows tightening. ”Bring it on.”

The snake men charged, their bodies twisting into impossible shapes. Kyle summoned his shadow blade, its edge glowing with a faint, ethereal light.

The battle raged, the snake men striking with precision and speed. Kyle danced, his shadows weaving a deadly pattern around him. Lucias and Layla provided cover fire, their guns blazing as they took down one of the snake men.

But the guards were no match for the snake men’s magic. Two of them fell, their bodies dissolving into pools of darkness.

Kyle’s anger surged, his shadows growing stronger. He took down two snake men with swift, deadly strikes, his blade slicing through their defenses.

One of the snake men escaped, slithering into the darkness. Kyle’s eyes narrowed, his grip on his shadows tightening.

The remaining snake man was badly injured, its body coiled around a rock formation. Kyle approached cautiously, his blade at the ready.

”Why are you here?” Kyle demanded, his voice cold.

The snake man’s eyes glowed with a malevolent light. ”We... serve... the darkness...”

Kyle’s blade sliced through the snake man’s neck, its body dissolving into a pool of darkness.

The remaining guards stood, their chests heaving with exertion. Lucias and Layla looked at Kyle, their expressions wary.

”We need to get out of here,” Lucias said, his voice low. ”There are more of them out there.”

Kyle nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. ”We’re not leaving without answers.”

Snow’s voice whispered in his mind, [Kyle, the system is still recovering. We need to get back to the ship and regroup.]

Kyle’s grip on his shadows tightened. He knew that Kraken was just the beginning, and he was ready to face whatever came next.

The group moved cautiously, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. They reached the ship, and Kyle’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the damage.

”We need to repair the ship,” Layla said, her voice low.

Kyle nodded, his eyes fixed on the horizon. ”Get it done. We’re not staying here any longer than necessary.”

The guards set to work, their movements efficient. Kyle stood watch, his shadows coiling around him like a living entity.

He was a Shadow Weaver, and he was ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead.

It didn’t take long before the repairs were completed, Kyle’s eyes narrowed. ”Let’s get out of here. We have a kingdom to save.”

”D-did he just say that?” Layla muttered with wide eyes, not believing her eyes.

”That appears to be the case.” Lucia’s replied, also shocked by Kyle’s unnatural shift in attitude.

The ship lifted off, leaving Kraken’s darkness behind. But Kyle knew that the true challenge was just beginning.