Forest trial I

Elias staggered backward, his legs trembling as the weight of what he'd just done crashed over him. 

 The blade slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground with a dull thud.

His hands were slick with sweat, his pulse pounding so hard it felt like his chest might burst.

 His mind reeled. He had just killed something....a living thing.. he had killed a living creature. 

 He had fought. He had killed. And somehow, he had survived

 A soft chime echoed in the air, startling him and pulling his attention to the translucent screen as it flickers to life before him.

 Victory! >

[ Congratulations Elias]

[ You had your first kill] 

[You have defeated a Lesser Hound.]

[Monsters killed: 1.]

[Aether Core synchronized: Combat potential increased.]

[Reward unlock] 

[5 experience points granted.]

 Elias stared at the screen ,his breathing ragged.The words felt surreal, like they belonged to someone else's story. His fingers twitched at his sides as he tried to process what had happened. 

Another voice, taunting and sharp, filled his mind.....a voice that sounded eerily like Hermes's:

"Elias, you just managed to kill a monster. Barely." he said,his voice dripping with dry amusement," That thing almost shredded you into pieces.

Elias scowled at the empty air. " Thanks for the pep talk," he muttered,his voice hoarse. His body ached, his muscles screaming in protest, but deep down , something had shifted. 

 The core's steady pulse radiated through him, its warmth spreading through his body like a soothing balm.

He didn't understand it...how it worked, why it had chosen him but for now. It was the only thing keeping him alive.

 Aether Core synchronization…" Elias whispered, the words rolling off his tongue . "What does that even mean?"

The screen had mentioned "combat potential." Was this what it meant? The sudden clarity he'd experienced during the fight, the whispers that had guided his blade? It wasn't adrenaline; it was something more.

 He glanced at the blade, still lying in the dirt, its edge stained with the creature's blood.

Bending down, he picked it up, his grip firmer despite the tremor of his hands.

He glanced around the forest, its shadows seeming darker now, more menacing. Somewhere out there, more creatures waited, bigger, stronger, deadlier. 

 He didn't know how long he could survive in this world or what trials lay ahead but all he knew was that he had no choice but to move forward.

He wiped the blade on his tunic and sheathed it, his fingers still trembling. "If this is just the beginning," he murmured, "I'm in deep trouble."

The forest stretched endlessly before him, its depths hiding both danger and answers.

Elias took a hesitant step forward, then another. The path was unclear, the stakes high, but he wasn't just a weak boy anymore. He was now a player. 

 The trees seemed to close in around him,their branches casting long, twisting shadows across his path. With each step,the forest seemed to grow quieter,the air heavier with the promise of danger.

But Elias didn't falter. The aether core's pulse steadied him, its rhythm a quiet reminder that it was there.

 The eerie silence of the forest pressed against him, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves and distant bird calls.

A soft chime rang out again, accompanied by a glowing screen that materialized before his eyes.

[Player Stats Updated]

Name: Elias (User #223)

Race:( Human)

Level: 1

Experience Points (XP): 5/20

Stats:

Attributes : 

Strength: 6

( Base 5 +1 from core synchronization)

Agility: 8 

(Base: 7+1 from Core Synchronization)

Endurance: 5

Intelligence: 4

Perception: 6

Luck: 3

[New Skill Unlocked!]

[Skill: Instinctive Dodge]

 Description : Your agility allows you to evade attacks with a slight premonition of enemy movements.

Elias stared at the glowing screen in awe, his mind racing. His stats weren't exactly impressive, but the notification gave him a glimmer of hope. He might not be helpless after all.

 The words confirmed what he already felt....the core was changing him. Enhancing him. But the stats weren't exactly reassuring. Luck: 3. He snorted, his lips twisting in a bitter smile.

 "Well, that explains a lot," he muttered. "Three luck points. No wonder I almost died back there."

 The memory of the Lesser Hound flashed in his mind, its snarling maw and razor-sharp claws. If not for the core's influence… No, he didn't want to think about that.

"Alright," he said aloud, trying to boost his morale. "One down. How many more to go?"

A soft chime rang out again and a translucent screen pop up

 What's it again ??

 I am going to go crazy at this rate!! 

User : Elias(user 223)

[New Quest Added!]

[Objective:Survive the Forest Trial.]

[Defeat at least two more creatures.]

[0/2 creatures defeated]

[ Reward : hidden ] 

Reach the Safe Zone within three hours.

[Warning!]

[Countdown begins now!]

[2 hours 59 minutes and 54 seconds]

 The glowing screen faded, leaving Elias staring into the dense forest ahead. He didn't know what the "Safe Zone" was, but the clock ticking down in his mind told him he had no time to waste. He has to keep moving forward now.

 He doesn't want to wait to see what kind of punishment will come from not getting to the safe zone on time coupled with the fact that he was expected to kill two creatures.

 And yet, the thought of facing two more creatures…

"I really hope I don't run into anything worse than that Hound," he muttered, gripping the blade tightly.

 The Next Encounter

 The forest seemed to close in around him, the air growing colder with each step. The chirping of insects faded into an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. Elias tightened his grip on the short blade, the weight reassuring but far from comforting.

 As he stepped into a small clearing, a sudden growl froze him in his tracks.

The sound was low, guttural, and dangerously close. Slowly, he turned toward the source, his eyes scanning the shadows.

From the darkness emerged a sleek, panther-like creature, its black fur glistening with an unnatural sheen. Its eyes glowed an eerie yellow, filled with a predatory intelligence that sent chills down Elias's spine.

[Ding!]

[Alert!]

[Enemy encountered: Shadow panther.]

[Threat level: low]

[Weakness: Light-based attacks.]

[0/2 creatures killed]

[Defeat or die trying] 

[ Reward : Hidden ] 

 Elias swallowed hard, the blade trembling in his grasp. The creature let out a low snarl, its muscles coiling like a spring ready to snap.

"This just keeps getting better," he muttered under his breath.

 The Shadow Panther's eyes narrowed, its lips curling back to reveal razor-sharp fangs. It prowled closer, its movements eerily silent despite its size.

Elias took a shaky step back, his mind racing. Light-based attacks. What the hell was he supposed to do with a regular blade?

 He didn't have any light-based attacks or any attacks, really, beyond wildly swinging his sword. His only option was to rely on speed and whatever the Core might grant him.

 Elias tried to calm his racing thoughts, focusing on the creature's movements.

"Alright," he muttered. "Focus. Dodge. Strike." 

It was now or never 

The panther lunged.

Time seemed to slow as the core's pulse surged through him, sharpening his senses.

His body moved before his mind could catch up, the blade coming up in a desperate arc as he threw himself to the side 

 The edge struck the creature's flank, but it barely flinched, its ichor-coated skin absorbing the blow. Elias cursed under his breath.

"You've got to be kidding me."

[Skill Activated: Instinctive Dodge]

You narrowly evade an attack.