Forest trial III
They moved deeper into the forest, the oppressive silence returned, broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath their feet.
The air grew colder, the trees casting long, twisting shadows that seemed to reach for them.
Lyra walked ahead, her posture relaxed, as if the dangers around them were no more than a minor inconvenience.
Elias's muscles remained tense.
The battle with the Shadow panther had left him bruised and aching, but he was too wary to complain.
Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, set his heart racing.
He gripped his blade tightly, his knuckles white, his eyes darting to every flicker of movement in the darkness.
"Relax," Lyra said without turning around. "You'll know them before they attack. That's what the quest tab is for"
"Easy for you to say," Elias muttered. "You have a glowing staff and… whatever that light attack was."
Lyra smirked but said nothing.
The faint rustle of leaves ahead made Elias freeze.
Lyra stopped too, her silver eyes narrowing as she raised her staff slightly.
The sound grew louder and closer.
The air around them grew heavier, thick with scent of decay and smoke
From the darkness ahead, two pairs of eyes glimmered, like molten gold piercing through the shadows, gleaming with predatory intent.
They didn't blink or waver.
Elias froze, his heart lurching in his chest.
Lyra came to an abrupt halt, her staff raised. "Two this time," she muttered. "Lovely."
"What are they?" Elias whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Shadow wolves," Lyra replied, her tone sharp.
"Smarter than the panther and vicious as well. Stay on your toes."
Before Elias could respond, the wolves emerged from the shadows.
Their bodies were sleek and sinuous, coated in inky black fur that seemed to ripple like liquid. Smoke trailed from their paws, dissipating into the air with every step.
Their lips curled back, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
There was a soft chime.
Ding!
[User 223: Elias]
[New Quest added ]
[Objective: survive the forest trial]
[Enemy encountered: shadow wolves]
[ Defeat the shadow wolves or die trying]
[ Creatures slain: 1/2]
[ Reward: hidden]
Warning:
Get to the safe zone in three hours
[Timer: 1 hours 40 minutes 52 seconds]
It is like this timer isn't even slowing down at all.
How am I supposed to get there in time if we keep encountering creatures in every step. Elias thought.
The "die trying" isn't even helping matter, just pronounce my death at everything opportunity it gets.
Hermes' voice chimed in his head, laced with mock enthusiasm. "Oh, you'll be fine. Maybe. Statistically speaking, though, I'd start writing a will."
Elias groaned inwardly. "Now this! Just great."
One wolf lunged without warning, its speed blinding.
Elias barely managed to sidestep, swinging his blade in a wide arc.
The wolf twisted in midair, avoiding the strike with a fluidity that made Elias's stomach churn.
It landed gracefully and immediately launched another attack, its jaws snapping inches from his arm.
The second wolf circled around, its glowing eyes locked onto Lyra.
Lyra moved with eerie precision, spinning her staff to deflect the wolf's strike.
A burst of light erupted from the staff's tip, forcing the creature back. "Focus!" she barked. "Don't let it outmaneuver you!"
Elias's attention snapped back to his own opponent, which had begun circling him like a predator sizing up its prey.
His Core pulsed, and the world seemed to slow.
[Skill: instinctive dodge activated]
He could see the subtle shifts in the wolf's muscles, the way its claws dug into the dirt before it leaped.
When it lunged again, Elias was ready.
He ducked low, feeling the air whip past his face as the wolf sailed overhead.
Spinning on his heel, he drove his blade upward in a calculated strike.
The edge of his sword grazed the wolf's flank, drawing a line of black ichor.
The creature yelped, but its cry quickly turned into a snarl. It whipped around, its tail snapping like a whip.
Elias threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding the blow, still in pain from the last battle.
He won't get caught off guard the second time.
His boots slid against the dirt as he regained his footing, his breath coming in sharp gasps.
The wolf charged again, this time feinting to the left before darting to the right.
Elias reacted too late. The creature's claws raked across his shoulder, tearing through fabric and skin.
Pain flared, but Elias gritted his teeth, refusing to let it slow him down.
He shifted his grip on the sword, holding it in both hands.
When the wolf lunged again, he stepped into its attack, sidestepping at the last moment and driving his blade into its side.
This time, the weapon sank deep.
The wolf howled, its body writhing as black smoke poured from the wound.
It stumbled, its movements sluggish, before collapsing to the ground and dissolving into shadows.
Ding!
Victory!
[Enemy Defeated: Shadow Wolf.]
[ Congratulations Elias, you have successfully completed the forest trial ]
[ Creatures slain: 2/2]
[Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
Congratulations, Elias! You Didn't Die This Time. Miraculous. The voice chipped in as usual.
Elias turned just in time to see Lyra facing off against the second wolf.
Her movements were a blur, her staff spinning in intricate arcs that left trails of glowing light in their wake.
The wolf darted in, its jaws snapping at her legs.
Lyra leaped back with surprising agility, raising her staff above her head.
A sphere of light formed at its tip, growing brighter with each passing second.
The wolf lunged, aiming for her throat. Lyra's expression remained calm as she swung her staff downward.
The sphere of light burst on impact, engulfing the creature in a blinding explosion.
When the light faded, nothing remained of the wolf but wisps of black smoke.
Elias collapsed to one knee, his blade digging into the ground for support. His shoulder throbbed, blood seeping through his torn shirt.
Despite the pain, a faint sense of triumph stirred in his chest.
He looked to where he had killed his own shadow wolf and a faint shimmer caught Elias's eye amidst the blackened soot it left behind.
Kneeling, he brushed the ground with his hand, revealing a small, obsidian token card etched with intricate runes that glowed faintly.
Ding!
[Item Acquired: Shadow Wolf Token Card.]
[Reward Unlocked: Access to Reinforced Fur Armor in the Safe Zone.]
Elias blinked at the notification, holding the card up to inspect it. The runes pulsed faintly, as if alive. "What is this?"
Lyra glanced at it and snorted. "Lucky. That's a token card. Exchange it at the safe zone for some decent armor.....or fur armor, in this case. Not bad for a rookie."
Elias's lips twitched into a small, triumphant grin despite his exhaustion.
The thought of better protection eased the tension in his chest, even if only slightly.
Lyra walked over, her silver eyes narrowing as they scanned his injuries. "Not bad," she said, her tone begrudging. "You're still alive, so I guess that's something."
Elias shot her a glare. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Lyra smirked, clearly amused. She held out a small vial filled with a shimmering golden liquid. "Drink this. It'll help."
Elias eyed the vial suspiciously. "What is it?"
"Something I looted off a chest earlier," Lyra replied casually. "Healing potion, probably. Unless you'd rather bleed out."
Elias sighed and took the vial, uncorking it with his teeth.
The liquid was warm and tasted faintly of honey as it slid down his throat.
Almost instantly, the pain in his shoulder began to fade, the wound was slowly knitting itself back together.
Lyra turned away, scanning the forest with a wary expression. "We should move. The noise will attract more of them."
"More?" Elias groaned as he stood, his legs shaky but functional.
Lyra glanced back at him, her smirk returning.
"Welcome to the forest, rookie. The fun's just getting started."
My name's Elias, I will suggest you use that to rookie.
Do I really care,she shrugged and moved on.
Elias tightened his grip on his blade and followed her into the shadows, his Core pulsing faintly as if urging him forward.