The morning light filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns across the sanctuary's floor. Falin and Shae sat in silence, finishing off the last of their meager meal. The air was cool and filled with the scent of damp earth, a calm moment before the storm they both knew was coming.
As Falin took a sip from his canteen, a soft chime sounded in his head, followed by the appearance of a familiar blue screen. He raised an eyebrow as the words materialized before him:
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Tutorial: Trial by Nature
Difficulty: Intermediate
Objective: Prove your worth as a Druid and learn to command the forces of nature. Survive the Trial by overcoming three challenges—The Hunt, The Binding, and The Offering.
Reward: Skill Upgrade, Class Knowledge
Warning: Failure to complete the Trial will result in a loss of rank and temporary restriction of abilities.
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Falin read the message aloud, his voice uncertain. Shae leaned over to get a better look at the screen, her brows furrowing as she studied the details.
"Looks like the system’s got plans for you," Shae remarked, her tone sharp with curiosity. "Three challenges? It’s not messing around."
Falin frowned, dismissing the screen with a wave of his hand. "The system’s always like this—vague, cryptic, giving us just enough to keep us on our toes. But it’s the first time it’s laid out something this specific. It feels... important."
Shae shrugged, her eyes scanning the surrounding forest as if searching for unseen threats. "I haven't gotten anything like this since I woke up. Maybe the system treats us differently depending on our class. Or maybe it just likes keeping secrets."
Falin couldn’t help but nod. The system’s mysteries had weighed heavily on him since the Awakening. It had thrust powers into his hands without much explanation, leaving him to stumble through the chaos of a world transformed. It seemed to guide him, but it never revealed its true purpose—why he was chosen, why the city had become a wild battleground.
He looked at Shae, seeing the same uncertainty reflected in her eyes, even if she hid it behind her usual confidence. She had adapted quickly, but the unanswered questions clearly bothered her as much as they did him.
"What do you make of all this?" Falin asked, gesturing to the twisted landscape around them, the sanctuary now overrun with nature’s wild reclamation.
Shae’s expression softened, just for a moment. "I think... I think the system wants us to be something more. It doesn’t care if we live or die; it cares about whether we can adapt, whether we can use what it’s given us. And maybe that’s the only way to survive in this new world—by taking whatever advantage we can, even if we don’t understand it."
Falin considered her words, feeling a quiet resolve settle in his chest. Whatever the system’s true intentions, he knew he couldn’t afford to fail this trial. If he did, he might lose the only chance he had to grow stronger, to control the powers that had been thrust upon him.
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THE FIRST CHALLENGE: THE HUNT
The screen shifted before Falin’s eyes, updating with new instructions. His heart quickened as he read the details of the first challenge:
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Challenge 1: The HuntObjective: Hunt down and subdue a corrupted beast that lurks within the sanctuary’s forest. Use the environment and your abilities to weaken and capture it alive.
Tip: Pay attention to the whispers of the land; nature can be a powerful ally.
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Shae raised an eyebrow. "A corrupted beast, huh? Sounds like it's right up your alley, Druid."
Falin nodded, focusing on the task at hand. "The system mentioned that nature could be an ally. That probably means I'll need to use my powers to their full potential. If the beast is anything like the creatures we fought last night, I can’t afford to hold back."
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and reaching out with his mind. The Wild Instinct skill flared to life, and he felt his senses sharpen, the forest around him becoming clearer. He could hear the rustle of leaves, the trickle of distant water, and the faint movements of creatures hidden beneath the underbrush.
But beyond that, he felt something else—an unsettling presence, like a dark stain upon the natural world. It was moving through the woods, heading toward a deeper part of the forest, where the trees grew thicker and the shadows deeper.
"Got it," Falin muttered, opening his eyes. "It’s not far from here, heading deeper into the sanctuary. But we need to be careful. It feels... wrong, like it's twisting the natural energy around it."
Shae rested a hand on the hilt of her blade, nodding. "Lead the way. I can’t help you directly, but I’ll cover your back."
With a final glance at the sanctuary behind them, the two moved out, following the trail of corrupted energy that Falin sensed. The air grew colder as they ventured deeper into the woods, and the trees around them seemed to close in, their branches intertwining like skeletal hands.
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CONFRONTING THE CORRUPTED
After nearly an hour of tracking, Falin and Shae reached a clearing at the heart of the forest. The ground was scorched in places, the grass blackened and twisted, as if something had burned away the life that once thrived there. In the center of the clearing stood the corrupted beast—a creature that might once have been a deer, but now its body was covered in blackened veins that pulsed with a sickly, green glow.
The beast's eyes were a dull, hollow yellow, and its antlers twisted unnaturally, like jagged branches reaching for the sky. Its breath came in ragged gasps, each exhale releasing a cloud of dark mist that lingered in the air.
Falin felt a shudder run through him as he stared at the twisted creature. The system had given him power over nature, but this thing was something else entirely—nature warped and twisted into something grotesque.
"Remember, Falin," Shae whispered, her voice barely audible over the eerie silence. "The system wants you to subdue it, not kill it. Use your roots, slow it down. I’ll keep anything else from sneaking up on us."
Falin nodded, focusing on the energy pulsing beneath the earth. He spread his hands, calling on his Summon Roots ability. The ground trembled in response, and thick roots burst from the soil, winding toward the corrupted beast like serpents.
But the creature was fast—too fast. It leapt to the side, dodging the roots with an unnatural grace, then charged directly at Falin. He barely had time to react, diving out of the way as the beast's antlers slashed through the space he had occupied.
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As he rolled to his feet, Falin clenched his fists and called upon Nature’s Calamity. Energy surged through him, building like a storm in his veins. He released it in a shockwave that rippled through the clearing, sending leaves and dirt flying. The ground buckled beneath the corrupted beast’s hooves, and it stumbled, giving Falin an opening.
With a flick of his wrist, the roots surged forward again, catching the creature’s legs and pulling it to the ground. The beast thrashed and howled, a guttural sound that echoed through the forest, but the roots held firm, tightening around its body like a vice.
"Got it!" Falin shouted, breathing hard as he struggled to maintain his hold on the creature. The strain of channeling so much energy was starting to take its toll, but he couldn’t afford to lose focus now.
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UNSEEN FORCES
As Falin concentrated on subduing the beast, Shae stood watch, scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. But even as she kept her eyes on the treeline, a strange feeling crept over her, a sensation like cold fingers brushing against the back of her neck. It was a cold, insistent presence, creeping through the air like a chill before a storm.
She turned sharply, her hand hovering over the hilt of her blade, but saw nothing—only the trees swaying in the breeze. Yet the feeling persisted, growing stronger with each passing second. It was as if the forest itself was warning her, whispering a silent message that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Falin," she called out, her voice low and urgent. "Something’s wrong. We’re not alone."
Before Falin could respond, a shadow detached itself from the edge of the clearing, moving with a silent, predatory grace. The darkness clung to it like a cloak, obscuring its form until it seemed to melt into the night itself. Shae’s eyes widened as she realized what it was—one of the enhanced attackers from before, its body wrapped in a shroud of darkness, its movements eerily smooth and calculated.
Falin swore under his breath, struggling to maintain his grip on the roots as he glanced toward Shae. The corrupted beast beneath his control writhed violently, its limbs jerking against the bindings. The roots strained under the pressure, creaking like old wood about to snap. "I can’t let go of the beast! You’ll have to handle that one!"
Shae gritted her teeth, her hand tightening on her blade. She lunged forward, meeting the shadowy figure head-on. Steel clashed against shadow, and Shae’s movements blurred as she fought to keep up with the creature’s speed. Her strikes were precise, each one aimed at its vital spots, but the figure twisted and bent around her attacks, its form shifting like smoke.
Meanwhile, the corrupted beast beneath Falin’s control thrashed even harder. Its body convulsed as it fought against the tightening roots, veins bulging as dark energy pulsed through them. The beast’s antlers, twisted and sharp, dug into the earth as it pushed up, trying to break free. A low, guttural growl escaped its throat, a sound that vibrated through the ground and rattled Falin’s bones.
Falin clenched his teeth, feeling the strain building in his mind and body. The energy surging through him felt like a river threatening to burst its banks, wild and uncontrollable. He focused, pouring everything he had into the roots. They responded, growing thicker, their surfaces roughening as they coiled tighter around the beast’s legs and torso, digging into its corrupted flesh.
The creature's resistance only intensified. With a roar, it threw itself against the bindings, thrashing with such force that the ground beneath it cracked. Its antlers slashed through the air, narrowly missing Falin’s face, the air buzzing with the dark energy radiating from the creature’s twisted form. The roots shuddered, their hold weakening as the beast’s power flared, warping the natural magic that bound it.
Desperate, Falin dug deeper, calling on Nature’s Calamity with a new urgency. He reached out to the earth itself, feeling the heartbeat of the forest, the ancient rhythms that lay beneath the soil. He could feel the roots’ struggle to maintain their grip, and he willed them to draw strength from the very essence of the sanctuary.
Energy surged through him, a wave of raw, untamed power that flowed into the roots. They responded with renewed vigor, growing thorns that dug into the beast’s hide, drawing ichor that sizzled where it touched the ground. The creature let out a keening wail, its thrashing growing more erratic as the roots tightened like a vise, constricting its movements.
Yet still, it fought. The beast’s eyes, glowing with a sickly, hollow yellow, blazed brighter, burning with a desperate hatred. It thrashed against the ground, using its antlers as leverage to drag itself forward, pulling against the roots with sheer, brute strength. One of the roots snapped with a sharp crack, and the beast lurched, nearly freeing a foreleg before Falin poured more power into the bindings, forcing the roots to regrow and rewrap around the limb.
The struggle between them was like a clash of wills, each second stretching into an eternity. Sweat dripped down Falin’s face as he pushed himself to the limit, feeling the raw power of the forest coursing through him, barely contained. He could sense the beast’s resistance waning, its energy flickering like a dying flame, but it fought on, refusing to be subdued.
A sharp yelp of pain broke Falin’s focus for a heartbeat—Shae, locked in a fierce struggle with the shadowy figure. Her blade flashed through the darkness, cutting deep into the figure’s side, but it retaliated with a swipe that sent her stumbling back. Blood trickled from a fresh gash on her arm, but she held her ground, her eyes blazing with determination.
"Finish it, Falin!" she shouted, her voice strained as she parried another attack. "I can’t hold this thing off forever!"
Falin took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus despite the chaos around him. He drew on the last reserves of his strength, pouring everything he had into the roots. They surged upward, coiling tighter, thorns digging deeper into the beast’s corrupted flesh. The roots glowed with a faint green light, their energy melding with the natural magic of the forest, forming a barrier that the dark energy could not break.
The creature let out a final, desperate howl, its limbs convulsing as if its very essence was being torn apart. Its struggles weakened, the dark energy pulsing through its veins dimming as the natural magic choked off its corrupted flow. The beast shuddered violently one last time, then collapsed, its limbs going limp as the last vestiges of twisted power faded from its body. The ground trembled beneath it, as if the forest itself sighed with relief.
Falin released the breath he’d been holding, his chest heaving as exhaustion washed over him. He knelt beside the creature, his hands still trembling with the remnants of the energy he had channeled. The roots that bound the beast began to loosen, their glow fading as they returned to the earth, leaving behind the faint shimmer of natural magic that lingered in the air.
The corrupted creature lay still, its twisted form no longer fighting against the forest’s embrace. Falin couldn’t tell if it was alive or dead, but he knew the challenge had been completed. As he looked up, he saw the system screen flicker before his eyes, displaying a new message:
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Challenge 1 Complete: The HuntYou have successfully subdued the corrupted beast.
Proceed to the next challenge: The Binding.
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He barely had time to read the message before Shae’s voice cut through the quiet, strained but victorious. "You good, Druid?"
Falin managed a tired smile, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Yeah. Thanks for the assist." He glanced at her wound, his concern evident. "You alright?"
Shae wiped sweat from her brow, ignoring the cut on her arm as she sheathed her blade. Her chest rose and fell with the exertion, but she managed a smirk. "Had worse. You handled that thing well enough. Maybe you’re finally getting the hang of this Druid business."
Falin couldn’t help but chuckle, though his limbs felt like lead. He glanced down at the unconscious creature entangled in the roots, its form returning to something more natural, the corruption slowly receding. But as he looked around the clearing, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come. The shadows seemed to cling to the edges of the forest, like predators waiting for their moment.
"So that’s one challenge down," Shae said, her voice taking on a more serious note as she followed his gaze. "Two more to go. What’s next on the system’s list of nightmares?"
Falin glanced at the screen, reading the new instructions that materialized before him. His expression grew grim as he saw the details of the next challenge. "The Binding," he said slowly, the words heavy with foreboding. "And something tells me it’s going to be even harder than this."
As the forest settled back into an uneasy quiet, Falin and Shae shared a look, both knowing that the real trials were only just beginning.