The house was falling apart… with the Beldam dead, the power that once kept the Whispering Forest from creeping in was weakening with every passing day. It wouldn't be long before the forest swallowed what remained. Lucky for Damon, he wouldn't be staying that long. He tossed a few more magic crystals into his shadow, solving its insatiable hunger with his [Sacrifice] skill. It also helped boost his mana. The Beldam had quite a few magic crystals—but also a number of magical artifacts. Cursed ones, in her case. His heart ached as his shadow consumed them. But he had to endure. So what if he could've sold those artifacts for millions of zeni? His shadow needed to eat. So he sacrificed them all, keeping only the ones his party had deemed safe for use… and a handful of magic crystals. But even those were rare. He was going to need more soon. He opened his system panel: [HP: 585/585] [Mana: 13,457/13,457] [Strength: 834] [Agility: 657] [Speed: 1185] [Endurance: 565] [Class: Death Dealer] [Shadow: 900] [Shadow Hunger Levels: 0%] [Shadow Level: 9] [Condition: Shadow is full] [Attributes: Umbra] [Skills:] [5x] [Remorseless] [Shadow Perception] [Water Celebration] [Sacrifice] [Shadow Control] [Parkour] [Shadow Armor] [Beholder's Gaze] [Dead Eye] [Spirit Affinity] [Ashborn] [Omen Of Dread] [Dealer's Hand] [Bloodletting] [Shadow Movement] [Shadow] [Mastery:] [Etiquette Lv3] [Swordsmanship Lv1] [Survival Lv3] [Persuasion Lv2] [Deception Lv3] [Bartering Lv2] [Theft Lv3] [Archery Lv2] [Trap Lv2] [Alchemy Lv1] [Dagger Arts Lv2] [Cooking Lv2] [Basic Magic Lv1] [Mana Control Lv1] [Magic Bullet Lv1] [Pain Resistance Lv2] [Mental Contamination Resistance Lv2] [Locked] Damon smiled faintly. He had grown in some areas. His [Deception] had leveled up. So had [Pain Resistance]. The [Mental Contamination Resistance] likely came from the horrors he'd seen in that cursed forest. He bit his lip. 'If I see some of those things with [Shadow Perception]… they can passively kill me. Which means my most useful navigation skill is now off limits…' It pained him to make the decision, but he had no choice. They could all die if he slipped up. As the saying went: If you gaze into the abyss, it gazes back at you. So it was better not to look. Shutting off [Shadow Perception] dulled his view of the world. What was once a kaleidoscope of images, lights, shadows, and hidden forms… now reduced to his single, humble vision. He almost felt disoriented. He always had it on—fully or partially. Now, without it, he felt blind. As if some part of his awareness had been ripped away. "How ironic… I couldn't even process all that information when I first got the skill…" Speaking of skills—he had a new one. Its name was simple. Straightforward. Damon stepped on a shadow, and like slipping beneath water, his body slowly disappeared into the darkness. He moved through the shadows as if gliding through liquid, and slowly, he emerged again. With a sigh, he stared at his palms. "The [Shadow Movement] skill lets me enter shadows physically… but this new one changes everything." He took a step forward—and with that single step, his body unraveled into shadow. His human form collapsed into a dark mass. His very essence lost shape. He fell to his knees, clutching his chest. "Huhuhu… what the hell…" He had become formless—a living, intangible shadow. His body no longer existed, and his mind wasn't used to such an alien state. It made his thoughts swim in a terrible wrongness. A sickening feeling of being too hollow. That was the skill—[Shadow]. He stood slowly, dusting off his clothes with a breathless groan. "This would be useful in a fight if I can transform mid-battle… but it'd be hindered by bright light or sudden flashes." A faint smile crept onto his lips as he looked down at his hand. "Still… I can already see its potential." He glanced at the hovering system panel. The skill description caught his eye—dragging his attention away from the flickering shadows and giving him something to ponder once more. [Shadow] [Description] Magic is built in one's heart and imagination, with countless attributes tied to the three main sources of energy. Among these three, magic is the most free—born of dreams, shaped by will. Anyone was free to create and be whatever they wished. Of the three, mana was abundant and the easiest to wield. But on this vile day, Doom denied the children of Aetherus their birthright. No longer could they shape the world as they pleased. Doom bound all to a single attribute, caging creativity and shackling the spirit. Doom had denied them the gift of choice. Yet magic always finds a way. And so did the witches—favored by the Unknown God—who cheated Doom's decree. [Effect] You are a Shadow, born between light and darkness. Take on an ethereal form, untouchable and intangible. [Type] Active [Cooldown] 0 secs The words carved themselves into his thoughts. The description wasn't just technical—it was telling… revealing something that felt unbelievable. "There are three main sources of energy," he muttered to himself, voice low and uncertain. "Mana's just… one of them?" 'What are the other two…?' the thought buzzed through his head like a gnat he couldn't swat. But no—that wasn't what he should be focusing on right now. His eyes narrowed. His breath caught. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺 The real revelation—the one that made his heart thud against his ribs—was far more mind-shaking. Magic… wasn't always restricted to one attribute. People used to wield multiple attributes—fire, water, space, light, shadow, and more—all at once. Not just one element handed to them like a collar around the neck… but true freedom. True creativity. They shaped the world with dreams and will alone. His gaze traced the phrase again. "But on this vile day… Doom…" Of course he knew who Doom was. Everyone did. The Goddess of Doom—the one who created their very world. Worshiped by all. Praised. Loved. Feared. But why would she do this? Why would the goddess bind the people of Aetherus? Why would she rob them of something so natural… so right? 'This is her world… why would she cripple it?' Damon's fingers curled into trembling fists as something boiled deep inside his chest—hot, bitter frustration rising like bile in his throat. Shadow… his attribute. Rare. Obscure. Non-destructive. And until now, he'd always seen it as a burden—an unfortunate draw in the divine lottery. But now? Now it felt like a shackle. "You're telling me… I could've had a choice? I would've had a choice…" His voice cracked as he hissed the words out loud. "Doom took our right—our right to freely use all magic attributes…" For the first time in his life, Damon felt it. A weight—cold and suffocating—coiling around his neck. Something rightfully his had been stolen. And the thief? She was too powerful. Too distant. It didn't matter whether he knew or not—she had taken it all the same. His eyes fell to the final passage. Magic always finds a way. And so did the witches—favored by the Unknown God—who cheated Doom's decree. Witches. They knew. They had found a way to slip through the cracks, to spit in Doom's face and do the impossible. They were bound by her law…. But still cheated it. Damon clenched his fist tight—nails digging into flesh. He didn't want another attribute just for power. He wanted it because it was his choice. He wanted to defy—even if it was in the smallest way… even if he was just an ant staring up at the stars. He wanted to take back his right to choose. Even if it meant standing against the goddess herself…. The goddess of fate…