Kenshiro started out early, the pale light of dawn barely brushing the tops of the jagged mountains behind him. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the earthy scent of pine, damp moss, and dew on the forest floor. He tugged his hood tighter and set his sights on the thin column of smoke far in the distance. He didnât know how long it would take to reach itâmaybe a day, maybe two, hopefully not three. Either way, he braced himself for at least one night spent in the wilderness. The terrain was already growing more difficult.
The trail led him downhill, away from the ancient temple and into a vast pine forest. The air here felt fresh, with the occasional sweet smell of sap from the trees, but the thick undergrowth was a far cry from the clear trails he and Tara had hiked back in Colorado. In Rocky Mountain National Park, the paths were well-defined and maintained, their scents mingling with wildflowers in the summer. He and Tara had walked those trails for months, taking it easy during her recovery.
Here, the underbrush fought him at every step. Waist-high grass wrapped around his shoes, its blades scratching at his skin and clothes. The smell of damp earth and vegetation was pervasive, thick and musty in the humid air. Kenshiro cursed under his breath as he tucked his hands into his hoodie to protect his arms from the relentless scraping. The texture of the grass wasnât just rough; it left a faint stinging on his skin, and the itch made him all the more uncomfortable.
Thankfully, Sombraâhis shadow wolfâwas by his side. Her sleek, shadowy form wove through the thick underbrush, her bright eyes sharp as she scouted ahead. Vigilant and protective, she would pause every few steps to look back, ensuring Kenshiro followed close behind. She moved with an almost joyful energy, her tendrils shifting like liquid smoke in the morning light.
âSlow down, Sombraâ he would call every once and a while, his voice breaking the tension a little bit. It was amazing how much having something else to talk with eased his mind.
Eventually, Sombra found a game trailânarrow and winding but much easier to navigate than the dense grass. Grateful for the break, Kenshiro followed the path, though his senses remained heightened. Every shadow seemed to shift, and the eerie quiet of the forest put him on edge.
"Last thing I need is to get jumped out here," he muttered, his pulse steady but quickening. His eyes flicked from tree to tree, searching for any sign of movement.
Sombra, ever watchful, stayed close, her ears twitching at every sound. She loved the freedom of the forest, bounding ahead then circling back, he could feel the shadow wolf move, their mental connection giving him a general idea of her location and her surface emotions.
As they walked, he used Identify on nearly everything that moved. The forest, though alien, had hints of familiarity.
He spotted birds with antlers perched on branches, their strange calls piercing the silence. The squirrels here were double-tailed, quick and nimble as they darted between roots and branches.
Creature: Thorned Kestrel
Rank: 0
Description: A small songbird. Its antlers are used for mating rituals.
Loot: none
Creature: Messig Groundhog
Rank: 0
Description: Common rodent, hides nuts and other treasures until winter. Prolific.
Loot: none
Creature: Shadow Wolf [Summon]: Sombra
HP: 14
Rank: 0
Description: A summoned shadow wolf, protective and loyal, the shadow wolf is ever resolute.
He also discovered many interesting trees and strange flora. Silver bark pines and worldspine cedars towered above him, their trunks gnarled and twisted like ancient sentinels. Even the aspens, though different, reminded him of home. The web aspens had leaves that shimmered as though coated in fine silk, and their trunks whispered in the breeze, making the air around them feel alive.
Despite the natural beauty, Kenshiroâs nerves remained taut. Every rustling leaf felt like a potential ambush. When he saw the small, squirrel-like creatures, he had flashbacks to Monty Python and its deadly rabbit. The thought made him smirk for a moment, but the reality of wherever he was quickly erased any humor.
By midday, the game trail led him to a small river. The water sparkled in the light, the gentle sound of the current soothing as it flowed over smooth pebbles. He crouched by the waterâs edge, splashing the cool liquid on his face and neck, the crisp taste washing away some of his fatigue. The air around the river was fresher, almost sweet with the scent of moss and wet stone, and Kenshiro decided to follow the riverbank for a while.
âWellâ¦â He said, talking to Sombra. âIâm going to guess that whatever village or town we find is going to be along a river. That makes sense right?â Towns usually lay near rivers, and the flat ground made for easier walking, so Kenshiro walked along the riverbank, the shadow wolf skulking ahead.
As the hours passed, the sun dipped lower in the sky, and Kenshiro began to feel the weight of the journey. His legs ached, but the air was sweet, filled with the smells of pine, wet bark, and rich soil. It felt good to be outside, to breathe freely, but the isolation gnawed at him. The safety of the temple seemed far away now, replaced by the vast unknown.
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Suddenly, a shape caught his eyeâa boulder-like mass near the riverbank. âDid the stone just move?â
At first glance, it seemed like a large rock, but when it shifted slightly, his heart skipped a beat. His gut told him something was off, and he quickly cast Identify.
Creature: Herzelian Rock Beetle
Rank: 1
Description: A territorial herd animal. They disguise themselves as stones while resting, can run at high speeds, though they cannot fly despite their wings.
Loot: Rock Beetle Chitin
The massive creature, at least ten feet tall, had a rock-like shell that blended perfectly with the surrounding terrain. Its body was heavily armored, and a giant horn jutted from its head, hidden beneath layers of stone. Kenshiroâs throat tightened as he remembered that he was also Rank 1. Fighting this thing could be suicide.
Sombra growled softly beside him, her posture low and protective. She clearly sensed the threat as well. Kenshiro shook his head, motioning for her to stay quiet. "Not worth it," he whispered, backing away carefully. They made a wide detour through the forest, the beetleâs presence looming in his mind even after they were well clear of it.
The detour cost him nearly an hour, and by the time they returned to the riverbank, the sun had almost disappeared beneath the horizon. Shadows stretched across the land, and the once-vibrant forest seemed to take on an ominous air. The smells of damp moss and decay became stronger in the fading light, and Kenshiroâs body tensed again.
Thatâs when he saw it.
At first, the Tatzelwurm looked like a fallen log, its body covered in moss and vines, blending seamlessly into the forest floor. But as Kenshiro stepped closer, the log moved. The enormous creature slithered between the trees, its body as thick as a downed silver bark spruce. Its head, feline in shape, had flared nostrils and ears that resembled moss-covered lynx ears. It moved with a terrifying grace, silently slipping into the river with hardly a ripple.
Kenshiro froze. His heart pounded as he cast Identify.
Creature: Tatzelwurm - Lynx
Rank: 1
Description: A dangerous predatory serpent. Highly venomous. Said to be able to leap large distances in a single lunge.
Loot: 1 vial of Tatzelwurm paralytic venom
He didnât wait for the creature to notice him. With a silent gesture to Sombra, he veered away from the river and into the woods, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the Tatzelwurm.
As night fell, Kenshiro trudged onward, his Diresight helping him navigate the increasingly treacherous terrain. Every sound seemed amplified in the silence, the occasional snap of twigs or rustling leaves making him flinch. Sombra stayed close, her shadowy form barely visible in the moonlight, but Kenshiro knew she was always watching, her ears perked, her eyes scanning for danger.
Hours passed, Night Passed, and exhaustion crept into his bones. His legs felt heavy, and his movements became sluggish. To keep himself going, he regularly Devoured bits of scrap metal from his pack, the utility of his skills keeping him awake as he focused on putting one foot in front of the other. The night seemed endless, and the shadows played tricks on his mind, making him feel like something was always lurking just beyond his sight.
As we walked, he felt the small bits of metal and junk clink in his little bag. He eyed the branches and sticks around him. He wished he didnât have to carry the frankly awkward and loud metal with him and could just use Devour to consume the rocks and sticks, however, after experimenting in the temple, he had learned that the skill only seemed to work with metals, bodies, and ores. Sticks and leaves as well as other organic material didnât seem to work.
Then, as dawn began to break, Kenshiro heard itâa faint buzzing sound, like the high-pitched ring of a fly. He dismissed it at first, but the noise grew louder as he approached a small clearing by the river. There, hovering over a bloody pile on the ground, were two large, insect-like creatures. Their dragonfly-like wings beat rapidly, keeping them aloft as their long, needle-like proboscises dripped with blood. They had four legs that dangled limply in the air with three large claws on each foot.
Kenshiroâs stomach turned. He quickly cast Identify on them without even thinking about it.
Creature: Adze
Rank: 1
Description: Also known as the malevolent firefly, the Adze consume the blood of fallen creatures to deliver to their young. Highly aggressive.
Loot: Adze Mesh Wing
Before he could react, one of the adze turned toward him, its wings buzzing angrily. But Sombra was faster. With a snarl, she leapt at the malevolent bug, her fangs sinking into its wing as she pulled it to the ground. Sombraâs fangs ripped and tore. The other adze charged at Kenshiro, its sharp proboscis aiming for his chest.
Kenshiro dodged to the side, rolling behind a tree, but the adze was quick. Its needle-like appendage pierced his forearm, lancing it all the way through like a rapier-wielding hell-bug. He screamed in pain as black veins started to spread from the wound, and his health began to drain rapidly.
-5 HP
BLEEDING
With a grunt, Kenshiro drew his ritual dagger and stabbed at the creature, but its exoskeleton deflected the blade. Panic surged through him as his strength waned. Desperately, he drove the dagger into its eye, again and again. Sweat stung his eyes until the adze collapsed in a twitching heap.
Panting, Kenshiro clutched his bleeding arm, his vision swimming. His health dropped dangerously low, the Bleeding words blinking in the corner of his vision.
+200 EXP
-20 EXP (Conduit of Souls)
-1 HP
-1 HP
-1 HP
-1 HP
He felt the blood seeping down his arm as his HP continued to drop down.
Kenshiro ripped off his hoodie and wrapped his bleeding arm. It didnât stop the pain.
-1 HP
-1 HP
-1 HP
-1 HP
Kenshiro felt his connection to Sombra sever abruptly. âShoot!â he yelped as he felt the summon die.
The second adze tore through the air, the buzzing growing louder as it bore down on him. Kenshiro had time to think. He extended his hand towards the flying bug monster.
âSombra!â He summoned. The wolf dove out of his shadow like a bullet tackling the overgrown mosquito. Teeth and claws tearing as his hands went cold. There was a struggle, but after a short fight, fangs won out.
+200 EXP
-20 EXP (Conduit of Souls)
Cold continuing up his arm, Kenshiro staggered. Despite the hard fought battle, Kenshiro had no time to celebrate. He ripped off his hoodie, tying it tightly around his arm in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.
-1 HP
-1 HP
With shaking hands, he pulled out a piece of scrap metal and activated Devour, hoping to counteract the debuff. His health dropped to critical levels until, finally, the bleeding stopped. Kenshiro collapsed to the ground, the pain numbing as the devour kicked in.
Suddenly, golden light enveloped him, surging through his body like a wave of warmth. His health, stamina, and mana surged back to full as a notification filled his vision.
Level up!
###ERROR###
+1 to all Attributes #error!%#
-1 to all Attributes
+1 free Attribute point
##@!YOU ARE UNTETHERED##$%
Kenshiro didnât even care to open his character screen, He just laid on the ground and heaved heavy breaths. He had survived, barely. Sombra, panting softly, nudged him with her nose, her eyes filled with concern.
"Good girl," he muttered, patting her head as her tail wagged softly, the tendrils of her form brushing against his leg.