The inky blackness was a familiar friend to the Shadowlings as they stepped out from the small crevice, their ebony forms blending seamlessly into the surrounding darkness. Just out of sight of the entrance, the warrior and rogue exchanged a few instinctive hand gestures. The rogue pointed at the fighter, who shook their head. The fighter then pointed at the rogue, who made a potentially obscene gesture. The two then smacked a hand into their palm and raised it in unison, each holding their fingers in different positions. The fighter slouched and then made an obscene gesture to the rogue, as they turned their back and strutted off.
As the rogue moved further from the cave, they crept through the shadows, noting the terrain. At first, the dense foliage offered very little visibility and threatened to disorient the Shadowling entirely. However, as the rogue continued to attempt to navigate the black forest, notifications popped up in the corner of their vision.
> Your stealth skill has reached level 1.
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> Your natural dark vision skill has reached level 1.
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> Your pathfinding skill has reached level 1.
Confused, the rogue paused their quiet trek and attempted to hide away in the shadows to look at the weird notifications. Almost immediately after doing so, the rogue received another blinking notification.
> Your hiding skill has reached level 1.
After several minutes of moving their head around, blinking, pressing the empty air with their hands, and inwardly threatening the text to explain itself or do anything other than blink, the rogue felt something click into place.
> Due to your past experience and attempts to move quietly, your knowledge of moving undetected has increased in level. Subsequent skill levels will be harder to achieve. Continue practicing to improve your knowledge and capabilities!
The new information text took up the rogue's full field of vision, but they could see the original notifications in the corner of their vision fade slightly. A few mental threats later, the rogue was able to remove the damnable text screen from their field of vision entirely. Curious, the rogue went through the rest of the notifications, slowly forcing the distractions out of its vision.
Deciding that they may as well get back to their task, the rogue stealthily advanced. However, before their foot touched the ground, they paused mid-step to evaluate how they were stepping. A small voice echoed in their thoughts, encouraging them to change the angle of their steps and avoid the crunchy foliage - something they hadn't previously been conscious of.
Looking around, the rogue noticed small droplets of neon green light amidst the foliage and canopy of trees. While the world around it remained a dark prison, the new details helped the rogue determine small distinguishing features in the environment around them.
The rogue's progress wasn't necessarily faster or better, but they were more aware of their intentional interactions with the world around them. As the rogue continued to stealthily search, as Vex had requested, the rogue found itself contemplating their new summoner.
The rogue was reasonably certain that if Vex ever managed to have an intelligent thought related to his self-preservation, it would die alone in the emptiness of his mind. Why would someone who is the primary food source of an apocalypse monster try to pick it up? For the rogue, the creature had an ominous red glow, with more of the strange text floating above its head. Yet, he who wanted to commit suicide by monsters decided to casually stroll over to the gremlin and pick the damn thing up! Granted, it was hilarious for the rogue to witness the same idiot flail around and run away, screaming into the darkness without looking at where he was going. The rogue wasn't going to forget the high-pitched shrieks of his summoner, coming to the sudden realization that playing with something that considers you its primary food source was one of the fastest ways to leave a dumb corpse.
Yet, despite his stupidity, the rogue felt that Vex had somehow managed an ideal set of talents for the Shadowlings. Even without any memory beyond the past few hours, the rogue knew there was something unusual about their current bond. It had instinctually noticed that the world it was now in was somehow connected to a guild and that they had access to personal storage. There was a certainty in the rogue's mind that Vex wouldn't last long. Yet, the Shadowling held out some hope that Vex would manage not to die for long enough that it could explore this new paradigm. Preferably, Vex would also stay in this world and forget about the Shadowlings. Even if it meant the summoner would be forced to use all of his meager intelligence on his own survival.
The rogue's mind continued to race with thoughts and questions, but there were no answers to be found within the murky depths. With resignation, the rogue pressed onward, their senses alert. The darkness enveloped them like a cloak, hiding them within the world as they continued their reconnaissance. At least until under the inky blackness of the canopy of foliage and stars, the rogue's eyes locked onto a mesmerizing sight. Amidst the dark wilderness speckled with drops of neon, a bush stood out amongst the vegetation.
Faintly glowing with an ethereal beauty, the bush stood with a certain regal grace, its branches reaching up and out like the outstretched arms of a benevolent deity adorned in luminescent beads. Each berry on the bush's branches was a tiny jewel, glowing with a soft light that seemed to come from within. Glimmering softly in the starlight, about half of the berries were a dark midnight hue, contrasting with the lighter twilight purples of the rest of the bunch. The tiny fruits seemed to pulse with a mystical glow, luring the rogue closer with their otherworldly beauty.
Cautiously, the rogue approached the bush and carefully picked the tiny fruits, adding them to his storage. The rogue had no specific knowledge of what the berries could do. However, it didn't matter, as the dark forests hadn't revealed anything else of interest.
After carefully collecting and storing several of the berries, one of the damnable flashing notifications blinked back into the corner of the rogue's vision, forcing it to pause and channel myriad threats aimed at doing lewd things to the messages' maker. Clearly, the blinking messages were as committed to their task as Vex was to his quest not to suffer the forethoughts of his own dumb actions. Still, the rogue was successful in mentally coercing the notification to stop blinking and disappear.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
> Your foraging skill has reached level 1.
Starlight and canopy shadows cast an eerie glow across the forest floor as the rogue deftly plucked the berries from the bush. As each tiny fruit was picked, a subtle yet sweet aroma filled the air, reminiscent of the morning dew on spring flowers. The scent was enchanting, almost as if it was inviting the rogue to try one. Suspecting a trap, the rogue preferred letting Vex have the first taste, and so it stayed on task. The rogue's fingers were nimble and quick as they gently plucked the remaining berries from their branches. The skin of each fruit was surprisingly smooth, almost velvety to the touch, with a slight firmness that indicated their ripeness.
Once the last of the berries were in the rogue's storage, they reoriented themselves to retrace their steps through the dark woods. However, a guttural snarl broke the silence before they could completely dip back into the dense vegetation. A twisted figure emerged from the shadows, its gnarled limbs twitching with anticipation as it raced toward the rogue. Beady eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and the rogue almost didn't recognize the malicious presence before him – one of the gremlins.
Unlike the furry ball of cuteness witnessed earlier, this decrepit creature was now completely hairless. The gremlin's skin had become rough and pebbled, resembling the texture of a toad's back. The lack of hair also highlighted why this pint-size beast was something no idiot should touch. Its knobby fingers were tipped with sharp claws, ready to rend and tear at its prey. The gremlin's body had become twisted and grotesque, highlighted by a jagged mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and glowing yellow eyes that seemed to pierce into one's soul. Its pointed ears constantly twitched, picking up every sound in the surrounding area. And while racing towards the rogue, its movements were quick and jerky, almost like a marionette controlled by an unseen puppeteer.
The stars cast a ghastly glow on the forest floor, illuminating the rogue's breath as it hung in the cold air. Knowing running would be pointless, the rogue gritted its teeth and readied its daggers, eyes locked on the gremlin before him. With a guttural growl, the gremlin pounced, its claws slashing through the air like serrated knives. The rogue dodged with ease, its lithe body twisting around the attack. As the creature stumbled forward, the rogue retaliated with a swift strike of their dagger, aiming for the jugular. But the blade skipped across the gremlin's rubbery skin, not leaving a mark.
The gremlin, unfazed by the rogue's failed attack, lunged forward again with ferocious speed. This time, its movements were more calculated, its small form lunging like a twisted shadow in the starlight. The rogue barely had time to react as the gremlin's sharp teeth closed around their full arm and sank in, piercing into the wispy and ethereal limb. Pain shot through the rogue's body, a searing sensation that threatened to overwhelm their senses. As the rogue fought against the initial agony, the gremlin made a slurping sound through its clamped teeth.
The rogue's world seemed to slow down as the gremlin's teeth sank deeper, and the creature continued attempting to draw in the rogue's arm. Time hung suspended in that chilling moment as the rogue turned from disbelief to disgust. Their pain temporarily forgotten as their mind raced, the rogue pulled one of the dark purple berries from its personal storage into its trapped hand. The gremlin, still attempting to use the rogue's arm as a pacifier, choked as it sucked the tiny fruit out of the rogue's hand and swallowed.
A moment of stillness followed, broken only by the heavy breath of the gremlin. Then, a sudden realization dawned on the creature's face as it thrashed back and forth, nearly tearing the rogue's arm off. The gremlin gurgled and sputtered, its face contorted in shock. But it was too late – the effects of the berry had already begun to take hold. The gremlin's claws scrabbled at the dirt, its eyes bulging as it clutched at its throat. The rogue's heart pounded in his chest as they watched the creature's suffering. The prospect of killing something so viciously sent a shiver down their spine.
Only a few breaths later, the gremlin collapsed onto the ground with dark purple foam bubbling from its mouth, its spasming body twitching for several moments before finally going still. The rogue stood over the lifeless corpse, clutching their injured arm as they watched in grim satisfaction. Once the beast had laid still for several seconds, the rogue gave the corpse a swift quick, only to watch in surprise as the body dissipated into a dark smoke.
Being fully fed up with the night, the rogue took a moment to curse their luck. Their dagger was gone, there wasn't a corpse to take their frustrations out on, and those damned flashing notifications were back. The rogue mentally threatened the blinking characters by venting their frustrations through several lewd gestures and mentally derogative reprimands.
> Your evasion skill has reached level 1.
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> Your dagger fighting skill has reached level 1.
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> Your poisoning skill has reached level 1.
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> You have killed a level 11 mature gremlin of the apocalypse. You have gained 5,200 experience points.
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> The linked Guild Acquisitions talent allows you to loot a level 11 gremlin of the apocalypse on behalf of your guild.
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> Twenty-seven copper and two silver pieces have been deposited into the guild storage.
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> An apocalypse shard has been deposited in the guild storage.
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> Two sharp claws have been deposited in the guild storage.
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> Your dagger (common, soul-bound) has been returned to your personal storage.
Finally rid of the damnable blinking characters, the rogue inspected its injury. Their arm, which only moments ago was a solid extension of their shadowy form, now hung limply at their side, wisps of shadow dissipating from it in a slow, ethereal dance. The stars's eerie glow cast a haunting light on the wounded limb, revealing that the rogue's ebony form now appeared less tangible. The rogue flexed their fingers experimentally, but the sensation was strange, like moving through thick fog.
Deciding there was little else to lose for the night, the rogue pulled out one of the light purple berries and swallowed. Waiting for the inevitable to happen, as they grinned to themselves. At least they wouldn't be spending Vex's final moments in their sub-optimal state, and even if the idiot managed to survive, the rogue instinctually knew it would be automatically re-summoned.
After several seconds of waiting for the void to take it, the rogue looked around in disappointment, realizing it wouldn't suffer the same fate as the gremlin.
Then, with a sudden shudder, the rogue felt its wounds knitting back together. The sensation was a bit off – as though the fabric of reality was struggling to make sense of the layers of ethereal shadows holding sway over its arm. Yet, the wounds still stitched together, the limb regaining full functionality.
In utter exasperation, the rogue hung its head low and kicked the ground. While sulking, they retraced their path through the woods with slow, melancholic steps. The stars had returned to a faint silver glow over the forest, casting distorted shadows through the forest canopy that seemed to dance in a macabre waltz. The rogue, utterly dejected, remained oblivious to it all as it returned to the tiny cave and shoved a random berry into Vex's mouth, refusing to check the color.
As the rogue trudged back out of the cave, the weight of the night's events pressed heavily on their shadowy form. The rogue's mind churned with a mix of frustration and resignation, having long since decided that the fates were absolute dicks. Still prepared to find at least some silver lining, the rogue was ready to boast about killing a gremlin when they finally looked up and noticed the fighter leaning on its sword next to a pile of dead gremlins.