Chapter 3: The Forgotten Path

Allen couldn't tear his eyes away from the glowing Crystal Core in his hand. It pulsed faintly, warm against his palm, as if it were alive. The rest of the team gathered their loot from the shattered remains of the Guardian, too preoccupied to notice the strange light emanating from his prize.

[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The Forgotten Path.]

Objective: ???

The cryptic message lingered in his mind. Hidden quests were rare, even among higher-ranked Hunters. They often held immense rewards but came with even greater risks.

"Hey, lightning boy," the fire mage called out, snapping him from his thoughts. She raised an eyebrow. "You okay over there?"

Allen slipped the Core into his inventory, the faint light vanishing. "Yeah, just… catching my breath."

"Don't get too comfortable," Zhao said, hefting his hammer onto his shoulder. "The loot's split evenly. Don't think about keeping anything extra for yourself."

Allen nodded, though he said nothing. The Crystal Core wasn't ordinary loot, and he wasn't about to advertise it.

The group stepped back through the shimmering portal, returning to the bustling streets of Beijing. The familiar sounds of the city greeted them, a stark contrast to the silence of the dungeon.

Allen's System chimed again:

[Quest Complete: Crystal Caverns – Rank E Dungeon Cleared.]

Reward: 100 EXP, 1 Skill Point.]

He dismissed the notification quickly.

The fire mage, whose name he'd learned was Liu Mei, stretched her arms. "That wasn't bad for a warm-up. I'm heading to the guild bar. Anyone else?"

Zhao and the others exchanged glances before nodding. "You coming, rookie?" Zhao asked.

Allen shook his head. "I've got some things to take care of."

"Suit yourself," Liu Mei said with a shrug. "Good luck out there, lightning boy."

As they walked off, Allen slipped into a quieter side street. The city's noise faded, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Allen opened his inventory and retrieved the Crystal Core. It floated just above his palm, radiating a soft blue glow.

The System's cold voice spoke again:

[Analyze Item: Crystal Core – Rare.]

Description: A fragment of crystallized mana left behind by the Crystal Guardian. Contains ancient energy that resonates with hidden paths.]

"Hidden paths?" Allen muttered.

Before he could ponder further, the Core began to pulse rapidly, the light growing brighter. A new notification appeared:

[Do you wish to activate the Crystal Core? Y/N.]

His instincts screamed caution, but curiosity overpowered him. He tapped Y.

The Core dissolved into a stream of light, which swirled around him before rushing into his chest. A sudden wave of energy coursed through his body, making him stagger.

[Hidden Path Activated: Trial of the Forgotten.]

Objective: Complete the Trial. Reward: ??? Failure Penalty: Death.]

The air around him shimmered, and the alleyway twisted into darkness. When the world stopped spinning, Allen found himself standing in an unfamiliar landscape.

The ground beneath his feet was smooth obsidian, reflecting the faint glow of a blood-red sky. Strange monoliths jutted out of the earth, inscribed with glowing runes that he couldn't decipher.

A chilling wind swept through the desolate plain, carrying with it a voice.

"Prove your worth, or be forgotten."

Ahead, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was humanoid but featureless, its body a shifting mass of black energy. The System chimed:

[Opponent: Forgotten Warden – Level 10.]

Allen clenched his fists, electricity crackling around him. At Level 2, the gap between him and the Warden was immense. But there was no turning back.

The Warden moved with unnatural speed, closing the distance in an instant. Its arm morphed into a blade, slicing through the air toward Allen.

He barely dodged, the blade grazing his side and leaving a burning sensation.

[HP: 90/100.]

Allen retaliated, releasing a bolt of lightning. It struck the Warden, but the creature absorbed the energy, its form rippling as it reformed.

"Great," he muttered. "This thing's resistant."

The Warden lunged again, forcing Allen to roll out of the way. He needed a new strategy.

Allen's mind raced. His attacks wouldn't work as they were, but he remembered something Emma had once said: Lightning isn't just for offense. Think strategically.

Summoning his energy, he slammed his hand against the ground, sending electricity surging outward. The current spread across the obsidian floor, lighting up the runes on the monoliths.

The Warden hesitated, its body flickering as the runes glowed brighter.

"Got you," Allen said, focusing all his power into the runes. The monoliths pulsed, and beams of light shot out, striking the Warden.

The creature writhed, its form destabilizing. With a final roar, it dissolved into shadows, leaving behind a glowing orb.

[Opponent Defeated: Forgotten Warden – 500 EXP Gained.]

[Level Up! Current Level: 5.]

Allen staggered, his breaths heavy.

The orb floated toward him, merging into his chest.

[Trial Complete. Reward: Skill Unlocked – Chain Lightning.]

Before he could process what had happened, the world shifted again.

Allen found himself back in the alley, the faint hum of the city returning. The Core was gone, but its power lingered in him.

A new notification appeared:

[Hidden Quest Progress: The Forgotten Path – Step 1 Complete.]

As he stepped back into the crowded streets, he couldn't shake the feeling that something or someone was watching him.

"I am being watched"