Forbidden forest

Alex receives a bow and arrow from one of the village hunters and begins learning the skill under the hunter's guidance. Novice villages offer various skills that can be learned, provided one gains favor with the teacher.

Devin retrieved the Origin Sutra from his storage ring and as he read it, the technique instantly imprinted itself into his mind. A silhouette demonstrated the moves, showing him precisely how they were to be performed.

[Temporal Perception]

Effect: This technique enhances one's perception of time, allowing for swifter and more accurate reactions. By perceiving opponents' movements in slow motion, they can dodge attacks with precision and swiftly adapt to changes.

[Glide Stride]

Effect: This ability allows one to effortlessly glide through the air for a short period. By briefly defying gravity, they can utilize controlled leaps and glides to navigate wider gaps or reach higher platforms. This technique works best when used in conjunction with Origin Boots.

[Origin Annihilation]

Effect: With this technique, energy is concentrated into the sword, enabling the disintegration of everything within its range. However, it can only be utilized when the player is at Level 1.

Devin donned his Origin Suits, except for the cloak, which surprised Alex but with the task ahead he chose to ask later.

As they made their way towards the forest they crossed into the forbidden range, a palpable sense of heaviness permeated the air. Suddenly, a system prompt rang out:

[You have entered the forbidden area of Sun Haven village Triggering bthe dungeon. Players will be affected by the air-borne plague.]

Thankfully, the charm given to them by the village chief was secured on their chests. As it detected the presence of the dark aura, a soft glow emanated from it, enveloping them. The charm acted as a protective debuff against the forest's aura, granting them the ability to breathe more easily and are not negatively affected.

[Congratulations to players Devin and Alex on triggering the quest "Shadow of the Forgotten" and earning 10 World Reputation points.] The system of Oasis is stingy with reputation points and it's hard to gain reputation points as the virtual game progresses.

Reputation points are very useful with it one will be able to earn the trust of the natives easily and get entrusted with task.

As they made their way through the forest, they encountered corporeal beasts that had taken form from the dark aura swirling in the air.

These corporeal beasts were of low level, so Devin and Alex found it relatively easy to defeat them. Working together seamlessly, they swiftly dispatched the low-level beasts. By the time they had dealt with all the corporeal beasts in the area, they had each gained 200 experience points.

As they ventured further into the forest, they began encountering level 1 corporeal beasts, posing a greater challenge but promising increased experience rewards. They fought relentlessly for an hour before finally leveling up.

[Congratulations to players Devin and Alex on reaching Level 1] the system announced.

Devin called up his panel to check his progress:

Name: Devin James

Title: Sun Haven Village Owner (locked. 0%)

Class: Unallocated

Level: 1

Race : Human

Exp: 1000/2000

Reputation: 10

Skills:

- Appraisal skill (advanced)

- Origin Sutra

- Art of Medicine (locked)

Devin let out a sigh of relief as he realized he had finally reached Level 1. This marked the beginning of his grand journey in Oasis.

Despite their recent accomplishment, there was no time for Devin and Alex to catch their breath as the shadow beasts continued to pour out from the forest. Most of these creatures were now level 2, with the exception of one level 3 beast lurking amidst them.

Devin felt relieved that he could finally utilize the Origin Annihilation skill. Meanwhile, Alex utilized his control skill to confuse the beasts, providing a distraction. Taking advantage of the situation, Devin unleashed the devastating AOE skill, Origin Annihilation, disintegrating everything in its vicinity. The sheer magnitude of this technique left them in awe. The level 3 shadow beast was left with just a sliver of life, and it met its end when Alex's arrow found its mark.

As they continued to clear more beasts of the same level, they heard the familiar prompt resounding once more:

[Congratulations to players Devin and Alex for leveling up to level 2]

[Congratulations to players Devin and Alex for leveling up to level 3]

The reason they were gaining experience points faster than expected was because they were fighting above their level. If they were fighting opponents of a similar level, their experience gains would have been meager in comparison.

Deep within the heart of the forbidden forest, an ancient and malevolent entity patiently waits. Its mere presence exudes a palpable aura of malevolence, sending a chill down the spines of Devin and Alex as they cautiously approach.

This ancient entity adopts a grotesque and ever-shifting form, defying comprehension with its nightmarish appearance. Its eyes, filled with an unholy luminescence, pierce through the darkness, reflecting an insatiable hunger for power and destruction.

Whispers of its unsettling voice echo through the forest, evoking a sense of impending doom that grips the hearts of Devin and Alex. Consumed by paralyzing fear, their thoughts become clouded, leaving them vulnerable to the entity's sinister influence.

The once-thriving flora of the forbidden forest now withers and decays under the entity's sinister presence, malformed and twisted in grotesque shapes. The air hangs heavy with an oppressive darkness, shrouding the surroundings in an eerie stillness, silencing the once teeming wildlife.

The entity draws its wicked power from a relentless desire to devour the life essence of all that is pure and good. With each innocent soul it consumes, its strength grows, fueling an insatiable hunger that threatens to engulf the entire realm in eternal darkness.

As the charm on their chest lost its protective aura, the oppressive darkness began to corrupt the minds of Devin and Alex. Devin's will is stronger, so he fought off the effects, but Alex succumbed and began hitting his head against a tree. Devin realized they had underestimated the strength of the malevolent entity they had encountered.

Drawing upon his experience, Devin unleashed his most powerful skill, Origin Annihilation, to clear away the encroaching darkness. He quickly made the decision to carry the unconscious Alex outside the area affected by the entity, where the darkness was milder.

The darkness dissipated, revealing the true form of the malevolent entity. It loomed before Devin, its hulking frame covered in matted, black fur that seemed to absorb all light. Jagged and razor-sharp fangs protruded from its gaping maw, dripping with a vile and putrid ooze that corroded everything it touched. Its elongated limbs ended in talons capable of rendering through solid steel effortlessly.

The entity's eyes, now glowing orbs of malevolence, pierced through the darkness with an overwhelming intensity. The flickering red hues within its gaze showcased a cruel intelligence that defied simple instinct. As it moved, shadows danced and writhed around its monstrous form, adding an eerie and otherworldly aura to its already terrifying presence.

Devin was taken aback by the sight of the beast, realizing that the description in the Haven Guild's story hadn't prepared him for this formidable form. They never mentioned any entity, they only spoke if shadow beasts.

What Devin didn't realize is that, the presence of the Origin Seed had evidently altered the nature of Oasis, making it far more dangerous than Devin had anticipated.

Before Devin could fully process the situation, the beast unleashed an arrow of dark aura, hurtling towards him with incredible speed. Reacting swiftly, Devin utilized his Origin Boots and Glide Stride to evade the attack. However, the beast refused to relent, releasing a barrage of arrows from different angles, forcing Devin to continue evading.

Utilizing his Temporal Perception skill, Devin managed to narrowly escape each arrow, but one grazed his face, causing a searing pain fueled by the darkness's corruption. In retaliation, Devin unleashed another Origin Annihilation attack, causing injury to the beast. However, it seemed merely amused by the attack, mocking Devin as it broke free from its seal.

The beast's mocking laughter filled the air, taunting Devin with its words. It expressed gratitude to Devin for freeing it from its constraints, promising a painless death as it planned to consume their souls and bodies. Devin's frown deepened as he suddenly realized the true purpose of the beast's coordinated attack – it had maneuvered him towards the area of the seal.

Devin could feel the peculiar nature of his blood, a result of the Origin Seed and Origin Sutra's influence on his body. It possessed the power to break the seal that held the beast and inflict harm, just as he can feel the wound in his face healing,

further emphasizing the transformative effects of the Origin powers within him.

The beast continued its taunting, relishing in the belief that the Origin Seed had made a grave mistake by choosing a human as its host. With a contemptuous laugh, it deemed Devin's weakness a stroke of luck, considering him a delectable nourishment.

However, Devin refused to succumb to fear or doubt. He stood his ground, a flicker of determination burning within him. The ancient entity would soon come to learn that Devin's connection to the Origin Seed had granted him powers far beyond what it anticipated.