Walking once more, I turned my focus to my next quest. For a fleeting moment, the temptation to break the medallion tugged at me, but I resisted. Despite fulfilling the Vice Chancellor's demand, I knew it was valuable training. The improvements came quicker here, and I felt my coordination with the sword growing sharper.

As I neared the forest, the first grand, misshapen tree came into view. Its twisted trunks and gnarled branches extended over a vast area, allowing only a few patches of sunlight to filter through the dense canopy.

I placed my hand on the slender leaves, which ranged in color from grey to blue, drooping down in small bunches like mops. The dew trickled down the trunks, wetting my hand, and I quickly wiped it off, detecting a faint rotten scent.

Why do these trees always look like they belong in a horror movie? The hell is wrong with these people? I murmured to myself, pausing to take in the eerie surroundings.

Gazing at the true Mistshade Willow Forest, I paused. It was as if someone had drawn a border separating light from darkness. The side I stood on was dimly illuminated by sunlight, but the darkness deepened as I looked further into the forest.

Beyond a certain point, I couldn’t see anything— not the trunks or leaves of the willow trees. They had grown so large and intertwined their leaves so completely that they formed an impenetrable barrier against the sunlight. Yup, definitely a bad idea. Straight out of a nightmare.

My eyes darted from side to side, but the scene was the same everywhere— an expanse of twisted trees shrouded in darkness. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, gripping the leather handle of my sword tightly.

The familiar feel of the worn leather against my palm provided a small comfort as I slowly entered the Mistshade Willow Forest. Alright, no turning back now. Just me, my sword, and... whatever's lurking in here.

With the first step, I activated my spatial perception, feeling the mana pattern envelop my mind once more. A rough outline of my surroundings began to form, providing a semblance of awareness in this dark, foreboding place. The sense was far from perfect, and a slight worry crept into my mind: could my skill sustain itself for the entire duration of this quest? I hope this doesn't end up being a mistake. My mana reserves aren't infinite.

[ Mana: 125 / 130 ]

My eyesight began to falter, the darkness becoming more oppressive. The rotten smell in the air grew stronger, mingling with the constant buzzing of insects within the forest.

I took another cautious step, the rough, slippery ground beneath my feet feeling unsettlingly different. It crumbled under my boots like rotten tomato flesh but remained stubbornly rooted.

I stepped carefully, wafting through the dangling branches and sturdy trees. The dew from the leaves dripped onto me, making my grip on the sword even tighter. Everything here feels like it's designed to make me slip up. Literally.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement entered my spatial perception range. I jumped a little, raising my sword instinctively. My heart raced as I tried to identify the creature.

It was small, scurrying quickly through the darkness. Before I could react further, the little critter ran away, leaving me in the eerie silence of the forest once more. Bloody jump scares…

"This forest is perfect for training my spatial perception," I muttered to myself, trying to find a silver lining. "But the monsters here... I need to be careful."

Each step felt heavier, the rotten scent more pungent, and the darkness more absolute. The rough outline provided by my spatial skill was my only guide, my eyesight becoming almost useless in the inky blackness.

Then, amidst the gloom, a faint bluish-silver light caught my attention. I squinted my eyes, trying to focus on the distant glow.

Trouble. Stories of horror from the Hunter's book flitted through my mind as I weighed my options. On one hand, my quest was to kill monsters. On the other, I felt confident that the faint light ahead was where I would encounter them. Here we go. Like a moth drawn to the fire.

I gripped the leather handle tightly, and fully focused on spatial perception. And winced from the nauseating, squishy feeling my feet encountered with each step.

As I approached, the source of the light became clearer. It was a large blue mushroom with a flat cap about the size of a bush, emitting a luminous glow that extended only a meter around it. Within its light, I could faintly make out my hands with a bluish sheen. A skill for light would be handy right now. I added another skill to my to-learn list.

What is it? I stared at the mushroom but did not dare to touch it.

The ground was littered with mushrooms and moss, the sources of the wet feeling and the unusual crumbling plants. Wrapping my hands in the empty food sack, I cut a piece of the blue mushroom.

Holding it out, I felt a sense of relief. The piece in my hands still glowed blue. Spatial Perception was good, but walking without my eyesight was worse. Finally, some light. This should make things a bit easier. I could move with this, maybe see about three feet in front. With the natural torch secured in my hand, I scanned my immediate surroundings for any traces of danger.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Swish

I quickly put my back against a willow tree, then thought better of it before my shirt touched the rotten dew. Staying a few feet from the tree, I peered into the darkness beyond my blue light. Something was moving around me.

In my spatial perception, only faint movement of the moss was present. The surrounding area was a mix of twisted, gnarled trunks and tangled branches. If the creature showed a slight bit of itself in my range, I could predict where it would attack from and be prepared.

A low, slow groan sounded in the darkness, akin to the noise of a whimpering puppy. I couldn't help but stare in the direction of the sound. What now? This place just keeps getting creepier.

Suddenly, a claw entered my blue light from the left side. It was as large as a bear's claw but completely pale with hardly any flesh; the skin was so sunken that the bones were clearly outlined. Its fingers were long and thin, with sharp claws extending to the size of a short sword. Oh, you've got to be kidding me. That's just nasty.

I reacted fast with my sword to stop the claw, but another claw came in from the right. The two pale claws swiped down from opposite directions, and I twisted my body backward, forcing them to converge.

I swung my weapon briskly, my sword clashing against the sharp claws. They were unexpectedly dense and tough. I placed my left foot back and braced myself against the tree.

I stopped the claws from advancing, but they got close enough. I cursed inwardly. My high alert had backfired on me, compounded by the nervousness brought on by the darkness. That brief moment when I turned to the source of the groan was the worst mistake. Damn it!

Another claw entered my light and slashed down. I twisted just in time, the blade of my sword clanging against the thick, bony claw. I still could not make out the monster's form, but I could still see its movements through Spatial Perception.

Each time I attempted to advance, the creature slipped back into the darkness, leaving me swinging at air. I spun, ducked, and parried, my sword intercepting swipes from those ghastly claws.

One strike sent a glowing blue mushroom flying, its cap splintering into luminous fragments that scattered across the ground like fallen stars. The once bright fungi were now a mess of pulpy blue bits, trampled underfoot as the battle raged on.

I maneuvered around the forest floor, dodging between twisted trunks and ducking under low-hanging branches. My Spatial Perception guided me through the dark maze, revealing every obstacle in a rough, mana-etched grid outline.

The light from the shattered mushroom began to fade, plunging the surroundings back into oppressive darkness. My Spatial Perception was my only guide now, the mana patterns painting a ghostly picture in my mind. I could feel my frustration mounting, a growl of annoyance slipping through my clenched teeth.

This quest is ridiculous. Why did I think this was a good idea?

[ Mana: 121 / 130 ]

The skill was draining more mana, but it wasn't unexpected given the extra detail I was getting. Small price to pay for not tripping over every root and rock.

[ Spatial Perception Lvl 1 -> 2 ]

The outlines of my surroundings sharpened, the gnarled trees and twisted vines becoming more distinct in my mind's eye. For a moment, I marveled at the clarity, but a dew-drenched leaf slapped against my face, the cold moisture stinging my skin.

I gagged, my stomach lurching as the taste of my morning breakfast threatened to rise. A quick, sharp attack from the creature forced me to refocus, snapping me back to the fight.

I tried to use the terrain to my advantage, stepping behind trees to force the monsters into revealing themselves, but they were relentless, constantly shifting and evading. Each time I thought I had one cornered, another would slip out from the shadows forcing me to abandon my attack.

I gritted my teeth, feeling the frustration mounting as I struggled to keep up with their relentless pace. Eventually, I saw another blue light in the distance. It must be another glowing mushroom! Yes! More light! Finally, some luck.

My heart leaped with relief. I forced myself to move faster, weaving through the twisted trunks and gnarled branches. The smell of rot was all around me, but I ignored them, focusing solely on the light ahead.

As I approached the source, the glow grew stronger, illuminating the immediate area in a ghostly blue hue. My eyes strained to adjust to the sudden light, and I slowed my pace, peering through the dim glow for any signs of movement. The ground beneath my feet felt softer, almost sponge-like, as if it would give way at any moment.

The blue light revealed the glowing mushroom lying on the mossy ground, casting eerie shadows on the surrounding trees. I inched closer, my sword held ready, every muscle in my body tensed for action. Carefully, I reached down and cut a piece of the mushroom, using the food sack as gloves.

With the glowing fragment secured, I kicked it towards the direction of the claw I had seen earlier. The small piece tumbled across the mossy ground, creating a trail of blue light that momentarily dispelled the darkness. I watched intently, waiting for any signs of movement.

Suddenly, the claw slashed towards the blue fragment, but I swiped my sword from the side, changing its course. The claw recoiled, disappearing back into the shadows. I stood still for a moment, listening to the eerie silence of the forest.

Alright, time for the next step.

I cut another piece of the mushroom, repeating the process. Each fragment cast a small circle of light, gradually expanding my field of vision. I placed them near enough that I could protect them from the claws. The claws appeared and disappeared within the shifting glow, moving with an unsettling grace.

With each new fragment, the light extended further, revealing more of the monsters' pale, skeletal forms. As I prepared to cut yet another piece of the mushroom, I noticed a pair of glowing eyes reflecting the blue light. They stared at me from the darkness, unblinking and filled with a predatory hunger. I swallowed hard, gripping my sword tighter.

The rest of its body was unnervingly pale, with a sparse covering of fur running from its chest down to its legs. The face had a human-like appearance, but with disturbingly thin cheeks that made it look almost skeletal. Its mouth was grotesquely wide, stretching all the way to its ears, and filled with multiple rows of sharp, needle-like teeth that gleamed menacingly.

Okay, that's just wrong. Who designed these things?

These sly and horrific monsters circled me, forcing me to constantly shift to face each angle. Large amounts of drool poured from their unnaturally wide mouths onto the ground.

[ Wendigo Lvl. 8 ]

Then the second one entered.

[ Wendigo Lvl. 7 ]