Enchanted Woodlands [Pt 4]

With my heart still racing from the intense battle with the Shrouded Terrors, I felt a mix of relief and excitement as the mechanical voice declared, "System specializing and waking up from sleep mode."

It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I eagerly awaited the rewards, anticipating some useful items or knowledge.

However, my elation quickly turned to shock as the system mentioned the "First phase of the Final trial."

My mind raced with questions. What did it mean by a final trial, and how many phases were there?

Despite the uncertainty and the lingering sense of danger in the Enchanted Woodlands, I couldn't deny that my luck seemed to be holding up.

The mysteries of this place were deepening, and it appeared that I was being drawn into something far greater than I had ever imagined.

With a sense of curiosity and a touch of apprehension, I decided to check the Status screen to see what rewards and information had been allocated.

"System." (Alex) 

**[Status]**

Name: Alex Delius

[Rank: F+]

[Max Rank Potential: No limit]

—> Stats:

[Strength: D]

[Agility: D-]

[Intelligence: C]

[Stamina: F]

[Magic: F]

[Charisma: D+]

[Luck: E+]

[Exp: 0]

[Profession: Swordsman Lvl. 2]

[Techniques: Higher Swordsmanship (D-)]

[Quests]

[Shop][Locked] (Collect 300 experience points to unlock the shop)

[Skills]

"Oh my god!! I became stronger than the Main character in terms of strength!" (Alex) 

As I gazed at my updated Status screen, my eyes widened in astonishment.

The words before me painted a picture of a profound transformation.

My overall rank had leapt from F to F+, a significant upgrade that left me in disbelief.

But what truly took my breath away were the changes in my individual stats.

My strength, which was once a lowly F-, had improved dramatically and now stood on par with the story's main character.

It was as if I had unlocked some hidden potential within myself.

My agility, stamina, charisma, and luck had all received a boost, each of them increasing by one rank.

It was as if the very essence of my being had evolved in the heart of this mysterious forest.

Even my sword technique rank had improved, and my profession had ascended to level 2.

'Wait, wait! Why did I get the rewards now? Why did I not get it before?'

Emotions swirled within me - amazement, excitement, and a touch of fear. How had all this happened? Was it the influence of the Enchanted Woodlands or that nasty god?

I couldn't deny the sense of power that coursed through me, a newfound confidence that came with these upgrades.

With my heart pounding, I decided to test my newfound abilities. I unsheathed my sword and executed a few swift strikes.

The blade moved with a grace and precision I hadn't felt before. My agility and swordsmanship had indeed improved.

The realization that I had been granted extraordinary gifts both thrilled and excited me. It was clear that my journey in the Enchanted Woodlands was far from over.

As I marvelled at my newfound strength and abilities, a robotic voice resounded in my mind, cutting through my amazement.

It declared with an unwavering tone, "The second phase of the Final trial will begin in 10 seconds."

My heart raced as the countdown commenced.

Ten...

I was filled with excitement and apprehension.

Nine...

The mysteries of the Enchanted Woodlands were about to deepen even further.

Eight...

My mind raced with questions about what lay ahead.

Seven...

I clenched my sword, ready for whatever challenge awaited.

Six...

The forest seemed to hold its breath.

Five...

My pulse quickened.

Four...

I braced myself for the unknown.

Three...

The anticipation was nearly overwhelming.

Two...

What would the second phase bring?

One...

And then, the second phase began.

As the countdown reached zero, I braced myself for the second phase of the Final trial. Yet, nothing happened.

The forest remained eerily silent, and the suspense weighed heavily on my shoulders.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, my anticipation turning into impatience.

After 40 long minutes, my legs began to throb with pain from the prolonged tension.

Frustration built within me as I questioned the system's intentions. Was this another test of patience?

Unable to endure the discomfort any longer, I decided to take a short rest.

I sat on a nearby moss-covered stone, closing my eyes and trying to calm my racing heart.

Slowly, my body started to recover its energy.

 With newfound energy, I ventured further into the ruins.

The ancient stone structures whispered their secrets, and I couldn't resist the allure of the undiscovered mysteries that lay within.

After walking for what felt like an hour, I entered a large, dimly lit chamber. Strange symbols adorned the walls and floor, the same ones I had seen earlier.

The air felt charged with an unsettling energy.

I proceeded with caution, but curiosity got the better of me.

As I walked past the symbols, they suddenly sprang to life, their ghostly outlines gaining substance.

Supernatural barriers formed around me, trapping me within an arcane prison.

Panic surged through me as I realized I had walked into a trap.

The symbols pulsated with an eerie glow, and before I could react, they unleashed a barrage of arcane attacks.

Fire, ice, and lightning shot from the symbols, converging on me with blinding speed.

I was unprepared and overwhelmed by the sudden assault.

The impact was brutal.

The attacks slammed into me, and I was thrown backwards with tremendous force.

I collided with a stone wall, the impact sending waves of agony through my body.

"Ahhhhhh!!"

It felt as if my bones were being shattered, and I cried out in pain.

For a moment, I struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

The world spun around me, and my vision blurred. The pain was excruciating, and I clutched my chest, gasping for breath.

My body felt broken, and I couldn't control the overwhelming agony.

Darkness encroached on the edges of my vision, and I knew I was on the brink of losing consciousness.

The symbols had taken me completely off guard, and their power was beyond anything I could have imagined.

As I teetered on the precipice of unconsciousness, my last thoughts were of regret for underestimating the dangers of this place.

The Enchanted Woodlands had proven to be a realm of unimagined challenges and perils.

And now, as I succumbed to the darkness, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the end of my journey, or if there was more to this mysterious world that I had yet to uncover.