Chapter 11: The Journey into the Pillar

Liam began his journey towards the pillar, which he estimated would take him approximately three days to reach. The massive structure loomed in the distance, its size and brightness inspiring both awe and curiosity.

As he traveled, the landscape gradually changed. The forest thinned out, replaced by a snowy, rocky terrain. The air grew colder and more crisp, and Liam could feel the chilling breeze on his face.

The journey was far from uneventful. As Liam made his way across the snow-covered landscape, he encountered several hostile animals. The first was a pack of snow wolves, their fur white as the snow, blending seamlessly with the environment. Their icy blue eyes glared at Liam, their sharp teeth bared as they growled menacingly. Using his agility and combat skills, Liam managed to fend off the wolves and continue on his way.

Later, as he was traversing a narrow, snow-covered path between two steep cliffs, a large snow bear lumbered into his path. The bear was massive, with thick white fur and a powerful build. Its eyes narrowed as it locked onto Liam, clearly perceiving him as a threat. Liam had no choice but to engage the bear in combat, using his Weapon of Opportunity skill to create a makeshift weapon from a nearby fallen branch. With a combination of strength, cunning, and strategy, Liam was able to defeat the snow bear and continue his journey.

Finally, after three days of trekking, Liam reached the perimeter of the pillar's zone. As he crossed an invisible boundary, a system message appeared before him:

{System Message: You have entered the Pillar Zone. Prepare yourself}

With a determined nod, Liam continued forward, his eyes set on the center of the zone. The terrain inside the zone was even more treacherous than before, with jagged rocks and steep, snow-covered cliffs making the journey arduous. He braced himself for the challenges that awaited him as he ventured further into the heart of the Pillar Zone.

As Liam journeyed deeper into the Pillar Zone, he soon found himself facing a swarm of snow-dwelling creatures that seemed to have been drawn to his presence. These creatures were unlike anything he had encountered before, their bodies made up of a mixture of ice, snow, and some sort of hardened, dark energy. They moved in eerie unison, their glowing blue eyes fixated on Liam, as if sensing the power he possessed.

Liam knew that he couldn't take these creatures lightly, especially given the increased difficulty of the Pillar Zone. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the battle that lay ahead. He flexed his fingers, feeling the familiar weight of his makeshift weapon, and quickly assessed the terrain around him. He needed to find a way to use it to his advantage.

The snow-dwelling creatures began their advance, moving as a single mass, their numbers seemingly endless. They crawled, slithered, and floated through the air, leaving icy trails in their wake. Liam could feel the chill emanating from them, threatening to freeze him in place if he didn't keep moving.

The first wave of creatures lunged at him, their elongated limbs stretching out to try and ensnare Liam in their icy grip. With a burst of speed, Liam sidestepped their attack, using his agility and reflexes to dodge their strikes. He moved fluidly, like water flowing around obstacles in a river, and struck back at the creatures whenever he found an opening.

Each time he landed a hit, the creature would let out a shriek, its icy body shattering into a cloud of snow and dark energy. Liam knew that he couldn't afford to let himself become overwhelmed, and so he focused on staying mobile and striking at the creatures with precision and efficiency.

The battle continued, and the number of creatures seemed to only grow, their relentless assault testing Liam's stamina and willpower. He could feel the cold seeping into his bones, the frigid air making it harder for him to catch his breath. The creatures were relentless, and Liam knew that he had to find a way to turn the tide of battle in his favor.

As he fought, Liam noticed that the creatures seemed to be more vulnerable to attacks on their dark energy cores – the swirling masses of darkness that seemed to power their icy forms. With a new strategy in mind, Liam began to focus his attacks on these cores, using his Rapid Regeneration skill to help him recover from any injuries he sustained in the process.

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The tide of battle began to turn in Liam's favor. As he struck down more and more of the snow-dwelling creatures, he could feel the weight of their numbers starting to lessen. His perseverance and determination were paying off, and he allowed himself a small grin of satisfaction as he continued to cut through their ranks.

However, the creatures seemed to sense their impending defeat, and they redoubled their efforts, their attacks becoming more ferocious and coordinated. Liam found himself having to adapt to their new tactics, using his environment and the skills he had acquired thus far to stay one step ahead of them.

He used the snow and ice to his advantage, leaping and sliding across the frozen ground to evade their strikes. He climbed the jagged rocks and steep cliffs, using the terrain to put distance between himself and his enemies, forcing them to follow him and making them more vulnerable to his attacks.

Liam continued to fight, his body aching and his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he refused to give in. He knew that he had to overcome this obstacle, not just for himself but for the sake of his sister and his family. The thought of them gave him the strength to carry on, even as the cold threatened to freeze the very blood in his veins.

As the battle raged on, Liam began to notice a pattern in the creatures' movements. They seemed to be drawn to some sort of central point, as if they were being controlled by a single entity. Liam felt a surge of hope – if he could find and destroy this controlling force, he might be able to put an end to the seemingly endless horde of snow-dwelling creatures.

With renewed determination, Liam fought his way through the swarm, his makeshift weapon cleaving through ice and dark energy as he made his way toward the center of the battlefield. The creatures seemed to sense his intentions, and their attacks became even more relentless, as if they were trying to protect their controlling force from harm.

Finally, Liam reached the heart of the battlefield, where he discovered the source of the creatures' power – a massive, pulsating orb of dark energy, hovering above the ground and radiating an icy chill. Liam knew that this was the key to ending the battle, and he steeled himself for one final push.

As he launched himself at the dark energy orb, the snow-dwelling creatures swarmed around him, trying to block his path and protect their source of power. Liam fought with everything he had, his body battered and bruised, his muscles screaming in protest, but he refused to be deterred.

With a final, desperate lunge, Liam reached the orb and plunged his makeshift weapon into its core. The orb let out a piercing, unearthly scream, and the world around Liam seemed to shatter into a million icy fragments.

The snow-dwelling creatures crumbled into piles of snow and ice, their dark energy cores extinguished, and the battlefield fell silent. Liam stood there, panting and covered in sweat, his body shaking from the exertion and the lingering cold.

In the aftermath of the battle, the black orb began to disintegrate, its dark energy seemingly absorbed by Liam's body. As the last remnants of the orb vanished, Liam felt a strange sensation coursing through his veins. He wasn't sure if the absorbed energy would have any lasting effects, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration at the thought of gaining even more power.

Liam's body ached from the intense fight, and exhaustion threatened to overtake him. He knew he needed to rest and recover, but his excitement at the prospect of testing himself within the Pillar Zone spurred him on. This first obstacle had been a daunting challenge, but he had emerged victorious, and the thrill of the unknown beckoned him further into the Zone.

As Liam trudged through the snow, his breath visible in the cold air, he couldn't help but think about his progress so far. He had faced countless challenges and grown stronger with each one, and he couldn't wait to see what other obstacles awaited him in the Pillar Zone. With each step, his resolve grew stronger, and he became more determined than ever to prove himself in this new world.

Before continuing his journey, Liam took a moment to survey the battlefield, the remnants of the snow-dwelling creatures scattered across the icy landscape. It was a stark reminder of the harsh reality of this world, and the dangers that he would undoubtedly face as he ventured further into the unknown.

Shaking off his weariness, Liam pressed on, his heart pounding with anticipation as he made his way deeper into the Pillar Zone. The mysteries of the Zone called to him, promising new challenges and untold rewards, and Liam couldn't wait to face them head-on. With each step, he felt his excitement build, and he knew that he was ready to conquer whatever trials lay ahead.

Level: 5

Race: Human

Class: Survivalist

Profession: N/A

Skills: Endurance, Weapon of Opportunity, Rapid Regeneration

Traits: Fearless

Faith:

Blessing: Nature