"How the fuck am I supposed to fight this thing?" Richter moaned. The thought was a reflex, the gut reaction of a man who had lost all hope in mere seconds.

In the center of the chamber stood a creature so massive, so daunting, that Richter could do nothing but gape in disbelief. It was an absolute behemoth, with bark-like skin and eyes that glowed with an inner fire. Vines and foliage sprouted from its form, and it seemed as if the dungeon itself had come to life to challenge him.

[Trial of the Predator: In front of you lays the representation of the Forests Wrath, the very being you angered not long ago.

Objective: Get past the Forest's Wrath, and exit through the door.]

Richter glanced at the trial prompt again, the words mocking him with their simplicity. "Get past the Forest's Wrath," it said, as if it were a simple matter of strolling through a park rather than dodging whatever earth-shaking tantrum this thing was about to throw.

"Seriously?" Richter grumbled, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Well, isn't this just peachy. The system throws me a monster that looks like it could bench-press a mountain, and all I've got to help myself are some Half-Chewed leaves and a dress that wouldn't even impress a blind date. Fantastic." He spat.

Since the day he got here, the system had been less than generous with providing useful gear to aid him. To add it all up, it has provided him with nothing but some leaves that couldn't look more unappetizing if they tried, and a dress that seemed more suited for a tea party than a dungeon crawl.

Richter surveyed his surroundings, taking in the sheer scale of the challenge before him. The creature loomed like a living mountain, its every breath a gust of wind that threatened to knock him off his feet.

Richter's gaze was locked onto the figure that defied the laws of nature and the limits of his imagination. It stood as a gargantuan entity, dozens of meters tall, tried and true as the trials description stated - the literal representation of the forest's wrath. Its immense body was a fortress of living wood, with bark as thick as armor plating, grooved and knotted like the most ancient of trees. Its limbs, taut and powerful, were like the trunks of great oaks, each step shaking the earth and echoing through the cavernous chamber with the authority of a primal drumbeat.

Its head was like a sculpted monument of nature's wrath, with eyes that burned with a ferocious, unyielding green flame. They were deep pools of pure, undiluted rage, truly representing the status as the untamed spirit of the forest. The beast's mouth, a gaping maw filled with jagged, stone-like teeth, exhaled a breath that was like the hot wind of summer's peak, and the roar that occasionally escaped it was the like sound of a thousand storms breaking against the mountainside.

From its back sprouted a canopy of branches and leaves, a true, living mantle that moved with a life of its own, rustling with the sounds of the forest. The beast stood as a guardian, a deity of natural order, its sheer presence a testament to the power that lives in the wilds. The air around the beast was electric, charged with the essence of life and growth, and it hummed with an energy that Richter could feel resonating in his very bones.

The trial room itself was a vast, organic cathedral like the dungeon before, showing the dungeon's ancient origin. It was as though Richter had stepped into the hollow of the world's oldest tree, the space around him alive with the pulse of the earth. The walls pulsed with the subtle movement of roots and vines, and the ceiling arched high above, lost in a tangle of branches that seemed to cradle the very sky.

The ground was a tapestry of moss, branches and twigs, soft underfoot, yet firm at the same time. In some places, the floor gave way to clear pools of water, perfectly still and reflecting the soft light that filtered down from some unseen source above. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the resinous smell of pine and cedar, a fragrance that was both comforting and relaxing.

At the far end of the room, behind the gargantuan figure of the beast, nestled between the cracks of the wall, was the door Richter sought. It was no mere wooden gate or simple door, but a swirling portal carved into the roots dungeon itself, bound in iron and adorned with runes that glowed with an inner light.

“I’m fucked. Like, it’s that simple. I’m fucked! What am I supposed to do to this thing, punch it? Please, enlighten me oh-great-system.” Richter said, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

He paced back and forth, his boots kicking up little puffs of moss as he went, his mind racing with the absurdity of his situation. "Oh, I get it," Richter snickered, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "This is one of those 'teachable moments,' right? Let me guess, ‘learn the value of friendship by getting squashed by a tree monster’. Brilliant! Jeez, who writes this stuff?"

The creature shifted at the commotion, its movements causing a symphony of creaks and groans that filled the chamber. Richter froze, eyes wide. "No need to get up on my account! I'm just passing through, definitely not here to turn you into kindling or something. Cross my heart and hope not to be stomped." Richter nervously laughed, waving his hands and doing his best to look non threatening.

Richter started pacing back and forth once the beast went back into hibernation, his hands animatedly gesturing as he continued his one-sided conversation with the system. "Alright, let's brainstorm this, since I’m clearly missing something. I can't go through it or fight it—that's suicide. Can't go around it; it's too big. Can't go over it; I left my jetpack at home. Under it is a no-go unless I suddenly develop mole-like tunneling skills. So, system, my dear, what's left? Seduce it? 'Hey big guy, how about we forget this whole trial thing and grab a cup of coffee?'"

[Reminder: The trial must be completed to proceed.]

“Wow, thanks captain obvious, I never came to that conclusion.” Richter spat, rolling his eyes at the notification and continuing his pacing around the cavern, his brain on overdrive.

Richter paused mid-pace, an idea flickering to life in his mind like a struggling flame in a hurricane. It was ludicrous, certainly bordering on insanity, but it was an idea nonetheless. His eyes flicked to the pile of Half-Chewed leaves in his pocket, and for a moment, he allowed himself to entertain the notion.

"Okay, hear me out," Richter drew out his words, addressing the air as if it could offer some sort of affirmation.

“I’m in a foresty dungeon, right? And this big walking timberyard got ticked off because I pocketed its shiny pebble. What if... what if I give back to the forest? Offer a peace offering?"

Richter eyed the leaves in his pocket once more, a crazed smile slowly creeping onto his face. Sure, he had briefly come to the conclusion that giving the actual stone back might be a better option than some shitty leaves, but that felt extremely counter productive. The stone might be more useful later down the road, and if he gave it up now, there was no way for him to get it back. Either way, the leaves should make an excellent offering to appease the forest. They’re the newest addition to the forest cuisine, after all.

With a confidence that bordered on the absurd, Richter approached the behemoth with a dashing smile, his arms filled to the brim with the crumpled foliage. "Hey, big guy!" he called out cheerfully. "I've got a peace offering for you! Check it out, all-natural, organic, locally sourced, Half-Chewed leaves! They're the latest trend in forest cuisine, I promise!"

The behemoth stared down at him, unblinking, as if contemplating whether this tiny creature before it was an oddity, a nuisance, or simply insane.

"Look, I know we got off on the wrong... root," Richter quipped, hoping his pun would bridge the gap between man and monstrosity. "But let's leaf the past behind us, okay? I'm turning over a new leaf, literally!" Richter couldn’t help but snicker at his terrible joke, and with a delicate, if not slightly theatrical bow, Richter placed the leaves at the behemoth's roots and took a step back, crossing his fingers and waited for the forest to accept his apology and let him pass without a fight.

For a moment, there was silence, and Richters brows raised in anticipation. The beast creaked and groaned with the weight of mountains, shifting its weight to look at the tiny creature in front of it. Richter smiled and internally cheered, thinking that the beast actually accepted his offer.

Then, with a swift movement that defied its size, the behemoth's limb swept through the air, faster than Richter could react. He was flung like a ragdoll, the world spinning wildly before he collided with the wall with a sickening thud that knocked the wind out of him. He crumpled to the ground in a heap, the leaves flying around him like confetti at the world's saddest party.

Richter lay against the wall, gasping for breath as he tried to regain his bearings. The room was spinning, his heart pounded in his chest, and his ears were ringing from the impact. He could taste the iron of his own blood in his mouth, a grim reminder of how close he had come to death.

"Well," Richter managed to croak out, his voice hoarse from the impact, "That was a... wake-up call."

Richter shook his head at his reckless actions and thoughts. He had been far too flippant with this trial, and it had nearly cost him dearly. Richter pushed himself up with a grimace, shaking his shoulder whilst wincing from the pain. He couldn’t afford to joke around any more, or give any more underestimations. Richter wiped the blood from his lip, shaking his head once more at his actions and assessed his surroundings with a newfound focus.

This trial was clearly designed to not be fought through. Since arriving in this new world, Richter had relied solely on brute force and strength to overcome his challenges, but this was simply not a problem he could punch his way through. Deciding to make better use of his time, Richter revisited the trial prompt, wondering if there was something he had overlooked the first time he read it.

[Trial of the Predator: In front of you lays the representation of the Forests Wrath, the very being you angered not long ago.

Objective: Get past the Forest's Wrath, and exit through the door.]

“‘Get past’ it says… pretty broad term, if you ask me.” Richter mumbled, his mind racing. The instructions didn’t exactly say ‘defeat’ the Forest’s Wrath, all it said was to ‘get past it’. But how could he do that? Could he really just walk past it? That didn’t seem likely, as the enormity of the beast covered nearly the entire room.

But maybe… maybe he could do just that, actually. What if there was a way he could walk past it, in plain sight? If he could somehow sneak past the beast without it seeming him, he’d be able to walk right to the door it guarded.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Stealth. That was the key he had been missing in his arsenal. In every game he'd played, in every story he'd read, there was always a way to move unseen. Why should this world be any different with what it’s shown him so far? With the lumbering beast standing guard, unmoving, the most viable approach would require him to become invisible to the eye, or at least undetectable.

“That actually doesn’t sound bad… on paper at least.” Richter mumbled, his eyes flicking back to the beast.

“But it’s always easier said than done. How am I supposed to get around to doing something like that?” Richter grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose in thought. In the past, he had gotten skills and abilities simply through doing normal actions he hadn’t really thought about, such as his [Traveling] or even [General Crafting] skill. All he had done was continue to walk, and that gained him the [Traveling] skill. Following that logic, maybe if he did actions that involved being stealthy, he could gain a skill that would help him with the trial.

Richter tried looking at his environment, looking for a source of inspiration. The cavern was dark and more gloomy than the previous parts of the dungeon, but also filled to the brim with flora and plant life. The cavern also had deep pools of water with mud encircling the ponds, and branches and leaves covered the entire cavern floor.

Richter cracked a smile as an idea began to form in his mind. It was rudimentary, and probably wouldn’t work, but it was a good start to his idea. Richter walked over to one of the large ponds and began grabbing handfuls of mud, studying it for a moment before eventually shrugging, and smeared the globs all over his dress. The mud absorbed into the material nicely, and not very long after he had huge splotches of mud covering his entire dress. Next, he moved deeper into the cavern and began collecting branches, leaves, twigs, anything that looked like it would help blend him into the environment better. He stuck the foliage onto the mud, smiling when he saw it start to stick to his dress.

“Hell yeah! Now we’re talking. What’s better for learning how to be stealthy than a homemade ghillie suit?”

Richter stood back and admired his handiwork. The once bright polka dotted dress now looked like a lumpy, mud-splattered tapestry of the cavern's floor. With bits of ferns and mismatched leaves sticking out at odd angles, he now looked less like a wannabe bumblebee and more like a walking compost heap.

Richter's first attempt at moving in his new ghillie suit was anything but graceful. He stumbled and tripped, the suit catching on branches and twigs, making more noise than a herd of elephants. He looked like a human-sized, mud-caked, foliage-covered tumbleweed, rolling and bouncing through the cavern.

He didn’t relent though, and taking tentative steps, Richter continued to practice moving quietly, his movements exaggerated and comically slow as he tiptoed around the cavern. With each step, leaves rustled and twigs snapped underfoot despite his best efforts.

Richter didn’t really know how else to prove to the system he was trying to learn how to be stealthy, other than moving slowly and carefully around the cavern. He ducked behind rocks and hid behind trees, always staying low and quiet. It was funny, really, trying to be stealthy while wearing a giant mud suit. But as he moved, he felt something change. He felt lighter, less visible, as if the suit was helping him blend into the environment.

"Focus on your breathing and your footwork! Move with purpose!" Richter coached himself aloud in hushed tones. "You are one with the forest... You are one with the bushes… You am one-"

Richter screeched to a halt as the hairs on the back of his neck shot up as he suddenly had the feeling of watching eyes on him once more. Richter's body froze, refusing to move as it suddenly felt like the presence and weight of an entire mountain was upon him. He slowly creaked his head to the side, the bones in his neck popping from the stiffness as his eyes settled on an impossibly dark spot on the other side of the cavern.

The darkness seemed to consume the spot, making it nearly impossible to make out any details. He knew he wasn't imagining it. The presence was palpable, an aura so malevolent that it crept into his very being. Richter immediately knew it wasn't a part of the dungeon, not even the system he’s become so familiar with. This was something else, something… sinister. It was as if the eyes of an apex predator were fixed on him, causing a primal instinct to scream at him to run.

Something was moving in the shadows. A dark, shadowy silhouette that seemed to pulse with chaotic energy. It was moving far too fast for Richter to track, its shape blurring and distorting as it darted across the cavern.

The silhouette was a blur of darkness, a spectral apparition that seemed to be made of entirely shadows. It moved with an unnatural grace, its movements too fluid, too smooth to be real. Richter watched in horror as it darted from one side of the cavern to the other, its form flickering and shifting like a mirage.

Richter's heart thundered in his ears, his breath hitched in his throat. He felt a cold dread seeping into his bones, a chilling sense of dread that made his skin crawl. It was as if the very air in the cavern had grown colder, pressing down against the shadowy figure like it was trying to fight back against the foreign entity.

"What... what is that?" Richter whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. He watched in horror as the silhouette moved, its form shimmering and flickering like a ghostly apparition. It was as if the darkness itself had taken on a life of its own, becoming a sentient entity that seemed to be watching him.

Richter's skin prickled with goosebumps, the hairs on his body standing on end like a cat's fur puffing up in fear. The presence was overwhelming, a force so powerful it felt as if the cavern itself was trying to fight back against the pressure. The walls seemed to press in from all sides, as the dungeon began to hum a shrill, eerie tune. Richter felt trapped as he could feel the tells of a panic attack start to show from being pinned down by the weight of the presences.

Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the presence vanished. Richter's eyes widened in shock, releasing a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. The cavern became silent once more, the only sound the echo of his own heartbeat. His gaze was fixed on the spot where the figure had vanished, his mind racing as a notification popped up in his vision.

[Through hard work and dedication, you have created a new skill! Skill (Basic Stealth) gained! Experience gained!]

[Basic Stealth (Common) - A rudimentary, beginner stealth skill that helps the skill user become more undetectable. Helps the skill user blend into the environment around them, and makes it more difficult for a being to detect your aura.]

[You have leveled up! Level 4 reached!]

Richter stared at the spot where the entity had vanished, his heart pounding in his chest. He barely registered the torrential surge of golden energy that entered his body, strengthening it and revitalizing him simultaneously. Instead, his eyes remained locked on the same dark spot where the entity had been.

That presence he had felt was unlike anything he had ever experienced, even considering the enormous creature that still lay in front of him. It reminded him of his first encounter with the system, back when he had been captured in that bubble and subjected to unimaginable torment. But even then, despite being unimaginably powerful, the system's presence had been neutral, indifferent almost, as if it was above such petty emotions. This… this presence was different. It was purely malevolent, like all the hatred in the world was directed at him at once.

Richter eyed the notifications he received, surprised at the ease of gaining the stealth skill. He had barely worked on it, his movements still clumsy and crude, yet as soon as that specter disappeared he had gained the skill. It was strange, definitely, but Richter had nothing to complain about. It cut him a lot of time, and he even got another level out of it.

[STATUS]

Name: Richter Alma l Level: [4] [F] l Race: [Human] [F]

Path: [?] [F] l Profession [?]

Health: 307/320 l Mana: 220/220 l Stamina: 207/320

…

Stats:

Strength: 26 (+20%) [Path - Locked]

Agility: 24 (+20%) [Path - Locked]

Endurance: 32 (+20%) [Path - Locked]

Vitality: 26 (+20%) [Path - Locked]

Wisdom: 21 (+20%) [Path - Locked]

Intelligence: 22 (+20%) [Path - Locked]

Willpower: [EST. 44] (N/A)

Free points: 6

…

Bloodline: [Indomitable]

Titles: [Chosen Initiate] [Bloodline Patriarch] [Born Conqueur] [Newcomer] [Made for this]

…

Skills (Passive): [Traveling (28)], [General Crafting (1)], [Temptation’s Resilience (23)]

Skills (Active) - [Hand to hand combat (3)], [Basic Stealth (1)]

Richters eyes raised in surprise. His stats have grown a lot since he last looked at them. It wasn’t too surprising, mostly because he hadn't looked at them in a while, but since then his stats had literally tripled his strength since he started his trek towards the mountain. It was silly that his first thought went to the anomaly, but it brought a smile to Richters face. If he and that anomaly were to fight again, it would probably go a lot more smoothly than the first time.

Richter turned his gaze back towards the Forest Wrath. The beast was massive, its body covered in thick, shaggy fur that stood on end as it eyed the intruder in its territory. Its eyes glowed ominously in the dim light, a menacing glow that seemed to pierce straight through him.

Richter took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs and causing him to shiver. He felt the power of his new skill coursing through his veins, a strange sensation that was both exhilarating and terrifying. He took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate. The mud on his dress made a soft squelching sound as he moved, but he barely noticed. His focus was entirely on the Guardian, his gaze never leaving the beast as he moved closer.

As he got closer, he could feel the beast's gaze on him, its piercing stare causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up. But Richter didn't flinch. Instead, he continued to move, his steps soft and silent. Richter felt like a ghost, as he could barely hear his own footsteps as he continued to move closer to the door.

The Guardian's eyes widened as Richter approached, the beast's gaze flickering in surprise. But Richter didn't stop. He kept moving, his steps staying light and quiet. The Guardian watched in confusion as Richter approached, its gaze darting around in search of any signs of movement.

And then, just as Richter was about to reach the Guardian, he was forced to stop. He held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he stood just a few feet away from the beast. He felt like he was standing on the edge of a precipice, a thin line separating him from succeeding and being turned into paste.

He waited for a moment, his gaze fixed on the Guardian. And then, just as he was about to make his move, the Guardian's eyes narrowed. It lunged forward, a roar echoing through the cavern as it charged at Richter.

But Richter was ready. He moved with the newly gained speed, his body blurring into the environment as he dodged the Guardian's attack. His movements were like a ghost, a spectral figure that was slipping through the air. The Guardian roared in surprise as Richter disappeared, its gaze dipping to the ground just in time to see Richter's figure vanish into the shadows.

Richter didn't stop moving, his steps carrying him past the Guardian and towards the door. He felt like a phantom, a spectral figure that was slipping through the world unnoticed. It was an incredible feeling, a sense of power and control that he had never felt before.

The portal was within his grasp, and Richter extended his hand towards it with eager anticipation, ready to escape the dungeon trial. However, just as he was about to touch the portal, a deluge of shadows suddenly engulfed it.

Richter's forward momentum was abruptly halted as he slammed into the shadows, his breath lodged in his throat as the shadows coalesced into an impenetrable barrier. The darkness seemed to pulse with malevolence, and an overwhelming sense of dread filled the cavern.

The presence that descended upon the cavern was palpable, a pressure that held the weight of mountains on Richter's shoulders and twisted in his gut. It was old, ancient even, and it carried with it the echoes of a thousand secrets and untold power.

The voice behind him dripped with a mixture of amusement and an underlying threat that Richter couldn't ignore. He took a slow, steadying breath and pivoted on his heel to face the owner of the voice. His eyes widened as he registered the figure standing before him—an entity that seemed to be woven from the darkness itself, its form indistinct at the edges, as if it were not fully present.

"Oh... well this is quite the delightful surprise," the silhouette cackled, its voice dripping with malice.