After having a short-heated discussion with Bram, I found out that he wanted to be placed inside of a construct of some kind. The way he described the thing reminded me more of a mech than any sort of golem construct I have seen this far. I really think he was going mad without having his physical form. The only way I'd be able to purchase anything like that was making it to the capital and I would have to sell the lucrative berries to do so. He had a rash thinking style that I would either need to adjust or adapt to.

Something else started to materialize in front of me, starting as a shimmering black slit and then bursting outwards a few feet. Peering inside shown nothing more than a dark abyss. The outer edges of the wavered with a purple aura.

Sensing rather than seeing Bram spoke; "You already ended it? We would have got through the second floor with ease. Anyways, check to see if me occupying this bow did anything to the description."

Interested I looked at the bow in my hand and the description popped up:

Bow of the Endless Hunt (Soul Bound)

Description:

The bow is crafted from an eerie blend of Darkwood and bone, its limbs sleek yet gnarled, as if shaped by ancient forces of nature. The grip is wrapped in supple black leather, rumored to be tanned from the hide of a legendary beast. Intricate silver runes spiral along the bow’s length, pulsating softly with a faint green glow, resembling the rhythmic breathing of a predator lying in wait. At the heart of the bow, embedded just above the grip, is an occupied soul gem inhabited by a gnome who is known for being a minor alchemist and good tinkerer Grand Inventor which is why this bow is now legendary and one of a kind.

Soul Seeker: This bow is equipped with a soul gem with a bound entity that is a spectral manipulator. With the help of this bound entity it could help guide and manipulate the spectral arrows shot by this bow.

Endless Quiver: The bow generates spectral arrows made of shimmering green energy; each one infused with the essence of a relentless hunt. Max arrows in quiver is 30. Arrow generation rate is 1 per minute.

Cursed by the Hunt: The wielder feels an insatiable drive to pursue their targets, making it difficult to rest or retreat once battle has begun. This effect can cloud judgment if not carefully managed.

I could practically feel Bram crossing out some of the wording in my head and replacing it with his usual snark. Despite his antics, the new weapon was going to be a massive help, especially considering the last time I shot a bow was back in high school, prepping for elk season. That had been a total bust, unless you counted the twelve miles of hiking and zero actual elk sightings.

A flicker from the portal ahead snapped me out of my thoughts. Before stepping through, I figured I should at least give this thing a quick test.

I reached for the bowstring, bracing myself for a heavy draw weight, but the moment my fingers touched it, the string pulled back effortlessly. No resistance, no strain. Just smooth precision. As the string reached its resting spot, a dark green arrow materialized in place, pulsing faintly with a quiet hum.

It felt... alive. The subtle vibrations beneath my fingertips sent a shiver through me, like the bow itself was anticipating the shot as much as I was.

Everything was going great, until Bram’s panicked voice screeched through my head.

"NO! NOT ME WENIS!"

I lost it.

My grip faltered, and the arrow shot loose, flying straight into the cavern wall where it fizzled out into nothingness upon impact.

Doubling over through wheezes I asked. "Your... Wenis?"

"Yeah, you ass be careful where you touch, that tickled." Bram shot back at me.

"Whatever." I chuckled, just remembering something else I asked, "Did you get any levels with completing the dungeon?"

"Yes, I did I'm level six now, but I didn't get any class option. I did get a skill choice though. It's called Spectral Chain it binds an enemy in place for a few seconds, slowing them down. Figured I could at least assist you more with the flailing you call fighting."

I could feel him chuckling through the bow which was an odd experience. I opened up my own status screen and slammed four points into endurance which put me at that stat threshold and put the last one into intelligence. I confirmed the selection and got hit with another message.

Congratulations, you have reached your endurance threshold please select one of the following:

Survivor’s Endurance — Enhances resistance to hunger, thirst, and sleep deprivation by a small amount.

Pain Resistance — Reduces the impact of minor injuries and fatigue, allowing you to stay active longer before feeling the effects.

Lasting Fortitude — Slightly delays the onset of fatigue, allowing you to maintain peak performance for longer periods.

I know most gamers would lose their mind with the choice I was going to make, but I didn't know how much longer I would be stuck in this swampish hell until I found the villagers. I selected Survivors Endurance and accepted it. With that I made sure I had everything ready and walked through the portal.

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The transition was a little weird. Taking the first step through felt like floating weightlessly, adrift in an empty void. Then, without warning, gravity slammed back into me, and I stumbled onto the other side. The damp, heavy air clung to my skin, and the distant croak of frogs echoed through the thick underbrush. Mud squelched under my boots, familiar yet unwelcome. I took a moment to adjust, steadying myself after the abrupt transition. The good news? No monstrous beasts in sight. The bad news? We were still stuck in this miserable swamp. The single, oversized moon hung overhead, casting silver-blue streaks across the murky waters. Shadows stretched and twisted with every cautious step I took. I wished the other two moons were out tonight. Their light would’ve made this swamp a little less miserable, but of course, luck wasn’t on my side.

Besides that, I felt good and could probably run through the night now with Survivors Endurance on my side. Despite the lingering aches from my earlier wounds, my steps felt lighter. The throbbing in my shoulder was already fading, and the scabs felt tight, but solid. I looked around to see if I could find the entrance and before too long, I spotted it and saw my boot tracks in the mud, following it back, carefully to not attract any beasts. It took around a half hour to find the footprints of the villagers and orcs but with that came the fun part... Sprinting.

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After my second break out in the swamp, the night sky had started to lighten, hints of purple and orange creeping along the horizon. Full dawn was only an hour away, and the air carried a damp chill that clung to my skin. I had made good progress, but the swamp wasn’t about to let me leave without a fight.

The only real threat I’d faced so far was a near-invisible snake, coiled and waiting like a living noose. It hung from a gnarled branch of one of the barren swamp trees, blending seamlessly with the bark. I heard the faint hiss before I saw it, the warning just enough for me to leap back as it struck. Heart hammering in my chest, I yanked my bow free and let Bram take over.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Let’s see how your aim holds up, snake breath," Bram muttered, his influence guiding my arms.

The arrow flew true, smacking into the serpent's skull with a dull crack. The creature slumped lifelessly, scales shimmering faintly in the dim light. A system notification chimed in my head, rewarding me with a few thousand experience points and a handful of marsh snake scales. Not bad for a close call.

After that, Bram insisted I slow down. “You’re not a machine, Liam. Even with your shiny new endurance skills, pacing matters.”

I grumbled but listened, reducing my sprint to a steady jog. My lungs burned a little less, and my legs welcomed the reprieve. We still had a ways to go, and I wasn’t about to drop dead before I got there. Or so I thought...

During the next small break I took, I found that my water skin had a gulp of water left. Cursing under my breath I looked down the beaten path we've been following and saw a small trace amount of smoke in the distance. The morning had brought just enough of a blue sky to make it visible; I would catch them within the next hour. I took off with the damp earth squishing beneath my feet the ambition to fill this quest fueling me as I went. Finding this new adrenaline rush, silenced my aching muscles and exhausted lungs.

Dark scenarios filled my mind as I ran. I imagined villagers, half-alive, shackled together in rusted chains, their bodies swaying with exhaustion as cruel whips cracked behind them. Some, too weak to continue, discarded like refuse, left to be swallowed by the merciless swamp—its murky waters and hungry creatures eager to claim them.

The second scenario hit even harder. A towering bonfire, its glow a beacon of suffering. Were they burning supplies... or bodies? My stomach twisted at the thought, and that’s when the acrid scent of smoke finally reached me, cutting through the damp, earthy stench of the swamp.

Before I knew it, I was within two hundred feet of the fire, and everything was out in the open for me to see.

I crouched low, heart hammering in my chest as I took a quick count of how many enemies, I’d have to put down to save the villagers.

Eight orcs in total.

Two were stationed on the outskirts, leaning lazily against their crude weapons, eyes scanning the tree line but clearly bored. Another three stood near a makeshift cage, crudely fashioned from scavenged wood and rope. That's where the villagers huddled together, wide-eyed and trembling. I could see the fear in their faces even from here.

The last three orcs were near the fire, tearing into slabs of questionable-looking meat and exchanging guttural laughs.

I gritted my teeth. Eight orcs. Just me. Bram's voice echoed in my mind, dripping with sarcasm.

"Feeling heroic, are we? Or are we thinking about this first?"

I exhaled slowly, weighing my options. Rushing in would be a death sentence. I'd have to be smart, take them down silently if I wanted any chance at success.

Sneaking forward from the side of the perimeter guards, cutting through the disgusting swamp foliage, I finally made it with 50 feet to the nearest guard. He had zero clue he was being stalked, as he absent—mindedly picked at something on his right hand. Looking closer, I was distracted as my analyze skill kicked in and showed me more details about the orc:

Orc Spearman, Level 6

I was surprised that a text box didn't appear, but the words faintly showed next to his body. Interested I glanced towards the other one that was off to the right a bit, but the analyze skill wouldn't activate. Slotting that information away for later, I stalked closer to the orc nearest to me. I heard the whimpering and talking of the citizens of Larksbury, but couldn't hear clearly enough of what was being said.

Then a guttural shout rang out coming from an orc wielding a double-sided war axe. He stomped up to one of the women and broke her shackles free, the woman cried out in fear an earsplitting scream drawing my attention. He was dragging her towards the fire.

Shit, we need to do something now. I pulled back on the bow hurriedly and aimed towards the closest perimeter guard. The arrow materialized and shot forward at an unnaturally fast force. I pulled back again aiming for the other guard and letting that one fly loose too. The guards wavered and stiffened falling against the swamp floor within a second of each other making only a light smacking/ squelching sound in the process.

I looked down at the bow Holy shit

"The girl, you dolt" Bram hissed in my head.

Looking back over at the orcs ensuring my attack was unseen came up fruitful. Not a single one has noticed. Raising the bow again as the orc with the woman in tow was about 8 feet from the fire. I fired four shots in quick succession hoping Bram wouldn't have a problem keeping up with it. Two of the arrows flew towards the massive barbarian, one hit him squarely in the chest while the other one followed. This one appeared to be doing the same thing until it sharply angled upwards and hit him in the throat. Putting him out of the fight for good.

The girl scrambled towards the other villagers, but before she could make it to them one of the orcs threw a club at her hitting her in the back.

The last two arrows I aimed towards the three near the fire didn't do all that well. One veered off and went into the huge bonfire while the other one hit its target in the thigh.

Shit. By this point they all knew what was going on and freed their weapons, checking the tree line for their attacker. I don't know if it was my stealth in overdrive or I had actually hidden myself quite well bracing against a tree trunk on my knees.

Firing another three arrows in rapid succession, I adjusted my aim, trying to at least get one kill with my own accuracy and without Brams's intervention. The first arrow whistled through the air, striking an orc with a bronze sword in the chest causing him to falter. The two other arrows ended the lives of the feasting orcs, leaving none by the fire and the two over by the prisoners and makeshift cage.

The light shimmering off of the arrows alerted the remaining orcs of my whereabouts making it difficult to approach them now without being seen. I slowly inched my way towards the tree line to get a better shot.

Could you hit them without risking the villagers?" I whispered, keeping my voice low but urgent.

Bram let out a mental sigh, dripping with his usual sarcasm. "Yeah, sure—just as long as you don’t go all Robin Hood again, firing arrows like you’re in an archery contest. One at a time, Liam. I can focus on a single shot, but when you start doubling up, it’s like splitting my brain in half. Three? Forget it. So let the first one hit the target before firing again."

I could feel the heat from the fire reach where I kneeled by a half dead tree trunk. Snapping the bow string back and aiming, I let go and Bram true to his word sunk the arrow right into one of their foreheads. The last orc went crazy as his partner dropped to the ground lifeless, he stirred around before grabbing the chain that linked the villagers together. He reached and grabbed at a young man and put his sword to his throat.

"Well looks like one of them decided to grow a brain." Bram said

The orc holding the hostage tried to disappear into the crowd, using the terrified villagers as a human shield. His eyes darted frantically, searching for the telltale shimmer of an incoming arrow—his inevitable demise.

I steadied my breath, trusting Bram’s skill, and raised my bow. Just then, a middle-aged woman, emboldened by desperation, lunged at the orc. He reacted fast, driving an elbow into her face with a sickening crack. But in that instant, his sword wavered, no longer poised at the man’s throat.

Now.

I released the bowstring. The arrow sliced through the air with a sharp hum, a streak of energy speeding toward its target.

The orc barely had time to lift his sword again, preparing to drive it down into the fallen woman, when the arrow struck home. Instead of piercing, it burst into a wave of shimmering spectral energy, engulfing his skull in a crackling haze. His body tensed, his sword clattering to the ground as he staggered back, then dropped to the floor.

I sprinted over to the huddled villagers, slinging my bow over my shoulder and raising my hands to show I meant no harm. Their eyes, hollow and sunken, barely registered my approach. They looked half-dead, but the moment they saw me, a flood of voices erupted, questions piling on top of each other, frantic and desperate.

I lifted a hand, signaling for silence. The noise died down, but their wide, pleading eyes remained fixed on me.

Through the exhaustion, the relentless running, and the constant fighting, something ugly coiled in my chest. These people had no idea what I had been through for them. No idea how I pushed myself to the brink to save them. And yet, here they were, squabbling over food and water, hands reaching out like I owed them something.

I hadn't eaten in... I couldn't even remember. My stomach twisted in on itself, a dull ache I had long since ignored. And still, they begged.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, anger simmering beneath the surface. It boiled over before I could stop it, seeping through my mental link with Bram.

"Whoa there, champ," Bram’s voice echoed in my head, his usual snark softened. "Breathe. They’re scared, not ungrateful. You're running on fumes, and it's making you think worse of them. Just... take a second."

I exhaled sharply, forcing my shoulders to relax. He wasn’t wrong, I took a moment and spoke out to them. "Who here is the leader?" All eyes shifted over to the unconscious woman who tried to save the young man from the orc. I cleared my throat "Alright then, does anyone know where the nearest town is?"

A gaunt man with wiry muscles and a tattered cloak stepped forward, his face etched with exhaustion and wary hope. “Nearest settlement?" He pointed off into the distance. "Would be Thormer, but it’s a good days walk from here... if we were in better shape.” He glanced around at the ragged group, lips pressing into a thin line. "These people won't make it any further without food, water and proper rest."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, forcing back another wave of irritation. "Great." My mind raced through the options. With my endurance and a little luck, I could make the trip alone and bring rations back but leaving them here... that didn't sit right with me. Another thought hit me; Why would the orcs travel so far to capture humans when there was a closer town nearby?

"Those of you that could defend yourselves take up the weapons from the orcs and stay here. I will be back before nightfall." I spoke out to the survivors and then turned, sprinting off towards Thormer.