Just as the morning sun began to cast its golden rays over the village, Auralis appeared in a flash of ethereal light. His form shimmered as he floated above the ground, a playful grin on his face.
"Ah, my brave Awakened! How are we feeling today? Ready for another round of fun?" Auralis chimed, his voice tinged with a mischievous tone.
The crowd of Awakened looked at each other, still weary from the previous days but intrigued by Auralis' demeanor.
"Today's game is a bit different," Auralis continued, his eyes twinkling. "You see, you've been the hunted so far, but now it's time for you to become the hunters! Your mission, should you choose to accept it—well, you don't really have a choice, do you?—is to venture into the forest and defeat the enemies lurking there. Each defeated foe will drop a mark. Collect ten of these marks within the next 12 hours. Fail, and well, let's just say you won't like the penalty."
With a flourish, Auralis vanished, leaving behind a crowd of Awakened buzzing with a mix of anticipation and concern.
Lleyn wasted no time. "We should split up from the other awakened. More ground covered, more marks collected," he suggested.
The Awakened nodded, quickly forming into teams. Lleyn's group consisted of Elena, Dorian, Selene, and Lyria. Armed and ready, they stepped into the forest, their senses heightened.
----------------------------------------
The forest was a labyrinth of towering trees and dense foliage. Soon enough, they encountered their first enemies—goblin-like creatures with twisted features.
"Ready... aim... fire!" Lleyn commanded softly.
Elena's crossbow bolt soared through the air, hitting its target with deadly accuracy. Dorian's axe and Selene's spear dispatched the remaining foes. Each creature dropped a glowing mark, which they eagerly collected.
Elena's training clearly paid off as she took down five more enemies, each shot as precise as the last, earning her five marks. Dorian, wielding his axe with newfound skill, collected three marks, while Selene's spearwork earned her four.
Lyria was in a bind. Her Mana Bolt spell had missed a couple of times, and she had only managed to collect two marks.
"I've got enough mana for just four more shots," she admitted, looking concerned.
Lleyn nodded. "Use it wisely. Aim only when you're certain."
Lyria took his advice to heart, knowing that her mana was a precious resource they couldn't afford to waste.
"We've done well so far," Lleyn said, looking at his team. "But remember, the game's not yet. Stay focused."
With that, they moved forward, each step taking them closer to their goal and further into the unknown.
As the group continued their journey through the dense forest, Elena felt a sudden surge of energy coursing through her veins. It was as if the very essence of the forest was infusing her with vitality. Her vision sharpened, and her hands steadied as if guided by an unseen force. A notification popped up in her vision, announcing that she had acquired a new skill: Sharpshooting Lv1. It was a skill that would change the dynamics of their group forever.
"Guys, I got a new skill!" Elena exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. She couldn't contain her joy at this newfound ability.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Lleyn looked at her and smiled, his eyes reflecting his genuine pride. "That's great, Elena! Let's see it in action."
Elena felt a newfound confidence as she shouldered her crossbow. It felt lighter in her grip, and her aim was steadier than ever before. She scanned the surroundings, and her eyes locked onto a distant goblin lurking behind a gnarled tree. With a deep breath, she steadied herself and released the bolt. It flew straight and true, hitting the goblin right between the eyes.
The creature let out a guttural screech and fell to the ground, lifeless. The group erupted in cheers as Dorian went ahead to collect another mark from a fallen enemy.
Lyria had been struggling during their previous encounters. She had exhausted her mana reserves using her Mana Bolt skill, leaving her feeling vulnerable. She glanced at her staff, which hardly helped in melee fights, then at the small dagger she had kept as a backup.
With a sigh of resignation, she unsheathed the dagger and tightened her grip. Her eyes scanned the forest, searching for any lurking threats. It didn't take long before she spotted a goblin skulking nearby. With quick reflexes and a bit of luck, she managed to sneak up on the creature and quickly stabbed the blade into the back of its neck. The goblin let out a pitiful scream before collapsing.
A few more battles ensued, and with the assistance of the others, Lyria managed to collect her tenth mark.
"Good job, everyone. We've got our marks. Time to head back," Lleyn announced, his gaze sweeping the sky. The sun revealed it was now a little past midday. The group nodded in agreement, thinking they were in for a relatively easy journey back to the village.
But fate had other plans. Just as they ventured deeper into the forest on their way home, a low, menacing growl echoed through the trees. The group froze, their eyes scanning the darkening woods with growing trepidation.
From the shadows emerged three direwolves, their eyes glowing like fiery embers in the dim light. Lleyn, their leader and protector, stepped forward, drawing the wolves' attention away from the rest of the group.
"Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice calm but firm. The direwolves, sensing a challenge, snarled and lunged at him, but Lleyn was prepared. With calculated movements, he dodged and parried, keeping the wolves focused solely on him. This gave the others the opportunity to attack from behind.
Elena's bolts found their marks with deadly accuracy, Dorian's axe sliced through fur and flesh with precision, Selene's spear pierced through the wolves' sides, and even Lyria's dagger found its way into one of the wolves' throats. Within minutes, the direwolves lay defeated, and the group let out a collective sigh of relief.
Upon reaching the village, the group felt a sense of accomplishment but also deep exhaustion. They had completed their quest, but the day had taken its toll on them physically and mentally.
Lleyn looked at his team, his eyes meeting each of theirs before he finally spoke. "I'm heading back into the forest," he announced, his voice carrying an air of determination.
The group looked at him in disbelief. "What? Why?" Selene questioned, her eyes filled with concern.
"I’m going to kill more of them," Lleyn replied, his voice tinged with a seriousness that made them uneasy. "But I'll be going deeper into the forest, and I can't guarantee your safety there."
Despite protests from the group, Lleyn remained resolute. "I've got to do this. Trust me," he said, his eyes meeting Elena's last. She nodded, understanding that he had his reasons.
Lleyn turned and walked away, disappearing into the thickening darkness of the forest. Using the system map that had guided them thus far, he ventured deeper into the heart of the forest. His goal was clear: to hunt down as many remaining monsters as possible for additional experience and marks.
He moved swiftly and silently, his senses heightened, his sword ready for any potential threats. Lleyn took down one creature after another, collecting marks and gaining valuable experience. It was grueling work, but he was determined to make the forest safer for everyone.
But just as he thought he was making good progress, a chilling sensation crept up his spine. He turned around, his heart pounding in his chest, to find ten wraiths floating toward him. Their eyes glowed with a sinister red, and malevolence oozed from their ethereal forms. They had noticed him before he had a chance to retreat.
There was a moment of uncertainty as Lleyn assessed the situation. He was outnumbered, and the wraiths were a formidable foe with their otherworldly powers. But there was no turning back now; he had made his choice.
With his sword in hand and his resolve steeled, Lleyn prepared for what was perhaps the most challenging fight of his new life so far. The wraiths closed in, their ghostly faces twisted in malevolent grins, as if they were savoring the moment before the kill.
Lleyn wasn't going down without a fight. He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on his sword, and lunged forward, his blade glowing with determination as he met his enemies head-on. The clash between the mortal and the supernatural was about to unfold, deep in the heart of the forest and its hidden dangers.