chapter 2

--Would you like to activate the Shadow Legacy System?--

--"Yes/No"--

Truly, if not for this, I would have thought last night was just a very strange dream of living in a different life, but it seems like I reincarnated. Yes, reincarnation, not transmigration, because it seems like the shadowy heart was in my soul since birth, and only now has its first seal broken, awakening the memories of my past life and the Shadow Legacy System.

I take a deep breath to calm my rapidly beating heart and think of choosing "yes," and a different panel appears.

--Welcome to Shadow Legacy System--

Shadow Legacy System

Rank: D

Name: Alex Rene

Race: Human

Age: 17

Title: Shadow Monarch's Successor

Shadow Heart: Sealed State (2/3)

Physique: E-Rank

Mana (Low Grade): 100,000/100,000

Passive Recovery Rate: 6-7 mana/min

Active Recovery Rate (Meditation): 40-50 mana/min

Skills:

1. Shadow Extraction

2. Shadow Switch

3. Shadow Storage

4. Shadow Conversion/Sacrifice

5. Shadow Manipulation

And it is exactly like I thought: "I have the heart of Shadow Monarch, and it's in a sealed state." I don't know how I got it or why it is sealed or who sealed it, but I am happy I got it because I am reborn in a very dangerous universe - why? Well, because this is Marvel or an alternate MCU. Honestly, it would be good if it were MCU, but it's not, because there is already an Iron Man in 2004. Yeah, that's another thing; it seems I got reborn 18 years back from 2022 in my original world.

"I think I will get the answer to how I got the Shadow Heart after the 2nd seal on it breaks... but I don't know how to break it. Hah, no use thinking about it; let's check if the skills are the same as Sung Jin-Woo's."

1. Shadow Extraction: Extract shadows from deceased beings to create loyal soldiers with upto tw rank above you - 1,000 mana per extraction; permanent extraction with a 100% chance requires 100,000 mana. Command: Arise.

2. Shadow Switch: Can create a shadow portal to switch positions with shadow soldiers, limited by mana/distance - 1 mana/km.

3. Shadow Storage: Store shadow soldiers and non-living items. Shadow soldiers with growth perks can stay in shadow storage; the rest of the extracted shadows dissipate after a time limit according to their strength and the amount of mana used to extract them.

4. Shadow Conversion/Sacrifice: Can absorb temporary or permanent shadow soldiers to increase strength. Conversion rate: 1/10th of the temporary shadow's strength. There is a low chance to gain a skill or ability. One of the permanent shadow soldier's specific skills and abilities can be absorbed if sacrificed, or can convert them into items; temporary shadow soldiers can also be converted into items and retain their skills or abilities.

5. Shadow Manipulation: Can manipulate shadows into physical constructs to fight or save them in shadow storage for later use, limited by mana and weakened Shadow Heart.

These skills seem a little different or are weaker versions of the original. Shadow Extraction has two options; I can extract temporary shadow soldiers or permanent ones, but permanent ones require all my mana. I can't do that in the battlefield. Shadow Switch is also limited by mana; Shadow Storage seems simple; it should have been Shadow Preservation, but now it's like an inventory. I will check if it's empty later. Shadow Conversion/Sacrifice is a new skill and an awesome one because it allows me to get stronger with it, so maybe that's compensation for the leveling system, and I can turn an enemy into an item that I or someone else can use.

Hmm, now I don't mind the limits on the Shadow Extraction skill...and then comes Shadow Manipulation; that's an interesting one because I didn't see Sung Jin Woo use it much, other than maybe the shadow armor in the fight against Dragon Monarch.

I lift my hand and focus... soon, a pitch-black shadow condenses around my hand like a glove. I flex my hand, and it feels like a normal glove, but crude. I check my MP (mana points) and see I used 60 MP.... damn, that's too much; I only used it for 30 seconds. Maybe I don't have enough control? After some practice, it should consume less MP.

let's check my Shadow Storage. "I hope the previous monarch left me something." I focus on the skill, and I feel like I can open it in my shadow or anywhere I want. I put my hand on my shadow on the bed, and it sinks in; I feel the inside, like I'm seeing it.... strange but understandable, after all, how would I take specific things out if I couldn't see inside?.