“Minor Heal!”
Yareeth’s voice was a lifeline, a thread of light cutting through the shadows. He felt a warmth spread through him, a gentle, soothing energy that eased the pain in his chest, the burning in his lungs. He gasped, his vision clearing as the healing energy flowed through him, mending his wounds, restoring his strength.
Kael’s breath steadied as the healing light flowed through him, the warmth of Yareeth’s magic filling the hollow spaces where pain and fear had taken root. His gaze locked onto the Alpha, the creature’s form looming before him, its shattered body held together by sheer will and the malevolent energy that pulsed in its core. A surge of fierce determination flooded him. He gripped the club-hammer, feeling the Shard’s energy thrumming beneath his skin, a wild, desperate force that he harnessed with a single, focused intent.
With a roar that echoed through the cavern, he surged to his feet, the weapon a blur of dark light as he swung it upward in a devastating arc. “Shattering Impact!” The hammer connected with the Alpha’s chest, the impact releasing a thunderous shockwave that cracked the air like a bolt of lightning. Stone and bone shattered beneath the force, the creature’s torso exploding in a rain of jagged shards and black ichor. The Alpha’s roar turned to a garbled cry, its eyes dimming as the light within them flickered and died. It staggered back, its massive frame collapsing in on itself, the malevolent energy unraveling, dissipating like smoke in the wind. Kael stood over the crumbling form, his breath ragged, the hammer slipping from his grasp as exhaustion washed over him in a dizzying wave. It was over. They had won.
Stonegrinder Alpha Killed
Muscle Power +1 Explosive Power +1 Endurance +1
Shattering Impact +2 Minor Void Burst +1
Stonegrinder Alpha Killed
Muscle Power +1 Agility +1 Precision +1 Toughness +1
Defensive Tactics +1 Slashing Weapons +2 Minor Heal +1 Survival Instincts +1
But he saw it—the way Yareeth staggered, the way her scales dulled, as if something inside her was draining away. Her hand was pressed to her side, a faint, flickering light glowing beneath her palm as she cast the spell again, the healing energy washing over him in a wave of warmth and light.
“Yareeth, stop!” he shouted, his voice raw with fear. He could see the strain on her face, the way her breath hitched with every word. “You’re using too much!”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, but there was a tremor in her voice, a shadow in her eyes. “Just… Just stay still for a moment.” She approached him, her hand trembling as she cast Minor Heal again, the glow flickering as the spell took hold. He felt the pain recede, the wounds on his chest closing, the deep gash on his side knitting together under her touch.
Minor Heal+1
But with each cast, she seemed to weaken, her scales losing their luster, her movements slower, more labored. He reached out, his hand closing over hers, stopping her before she could cast again. “Enough,” he whispered, his voice rough. “I’m okay. Don’t… don’t hurt yourself.”
She looked at him, her eyes wide, fear and exhaustion etched into her features. “I had to. I couldn’t—” Her voice broke, the words trailing off as she lowered her hand, the last of the healing light fading from her fingers. She swayed, unsteady, and he caught her, pulling her close, his heart pounding in his chest.
“Rest,” he murmured, his voice soft, soothing. “Just rest. It’s over.”
They sat there for a moment, the silence of the cave broken only by the faint, ragged sound of their breathing. The Alpha lay in a crumpled heap before them, its body shattered, the dark energy that had once animated it now dissipated into the air. The battle was over. They had won.
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But the cost…
Kael held her close, his arms wrapped around her trembling form, his own body still aching, drained. He could feel the Shard’s energy ebbing, the violent surge of power fading into a dull, aching emptiness. He’d pushed too hard, used too much. But they were alive. That was what mattered.
After a few moments, Yareeth stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “We… we need to gather the materials,” she said softly, her voice a whisper of determination despite the exhaustion that hung over her like a shadow. “The shards… the herbs. We can’t leave without them.”
Kael nodded, helping her to her feet. His body protested, every movement a reminder of the brutal fight they’d just survived, but he forced himself to stand, to move. They couldn’t afford to leave anything behind.
Together, they moved through the cave, gathering the remnants of their battle. The Stonegrinders’ shattered forms lay scattered across the ground, their bodies broken and lifeless. Kael knelt beside one of the fallen creatures, his fingers prying loose a jagged shard of obsidian from its spine. The material was dense, cool to the touch, its surface glimmering with a faint, inner light. He tucked it into his pack, the weight of it reassuring.
They collected several more shards, each one unique, each one a testament to the creatures they’d faced. The dark, oily fluid that had spilled from their wounds had already begun to congeal, thickening into a viscous sludge that clung to the stone. Yareeth scraped some of it into a small clay pot — left over from the antidote that has saved Kael —, her hands steady despite the tremor that still lingered in her limbs.
“It’s… different,” she murmured, her voice thoughtful as she studied the vial’s contents. “It’s not just blood. It’s something more. Maybe… maybe it’s what animates them.”
Kael nodded, his gaze drifting to the Alpha’s shattered form. The creature’s chest cavity was a ruin of broken stone and splintered bone, the dark energy that had once pulsed within it now gone. He reached into the remains, his fingers brushing against something smooth, cool. He pulled it free, his breath catching as he held it up.
It was a crystal, irregular in shape, its surface dark and translucent, shot through with veins of some silvery, metallic substance. It glowed faintly in the dim light, the energy within it a muted, pulsing thrum. An uncommon material, valuable, and rare.
“Look at this,” he said, turning the crystal in his hand. “This… this could be worth something.”
Yareeth’s eyes widened as she took it from him, her fingers brushing against his. “This… It’s beautiful. And powerful.” She held it up, the light from the crystal casting shadows across her face.
They worked together, gathering what they could from the fallen Stonegrinders. Shards of obsidian, fragments of bone, even a few pieces of the creatures’ jagged claws. The work was slow, methodical, a quiet ritual of recovery that eased the lingering tension in their bodies.
Finally, when they had collected everything they could carry, Kael took one last look at the cave. The shattered remains of the Alpha lay before him, a grim reminder of the battle they had fought, the victory they had won. He turned to Yareeth, his heart swelling with a fierce, protective pride.
“Let’s go home,” he said softly, his hand closing around hers.
She nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Together, began the journey back to the portal.
When they stepped through the portal, the swirling light enveloping them in its embrace. The cave vanished, the cold, stony silence replaced by the familiar warmth of the Nexus. They were back.
Realm Cleansed...
Realm Energy Extracted...
Refining...
Converting...
Imbuing...
Gained 2 Stat Points
Gained 2 Skill Points
Void Shard Slots Replenished
Rewards Received:
50XP
2x Mixed Ore (Common)
2x Stony Hide (Common)
Level Up!
Congratulations Yareeth, You Have Reached Level 3!
Stat Points Earned: 5
Skill Points Earned: 5
Skill Tokens Earned: 0
XP Until Next Level: 880
Kael let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, the tension in his shoulders easing as he looked around. The Nexus was quiet, the air still and calm, the torch flickering softly in its sconce. It felt like a different world, a world removed from the violence and chaos of the realm they had just left.