The morning sun broke through the treetops, bathing the village of Valtros in a soft golden light. The air was cool, and the village was already bustling with activity—people preparing food, tending to small gardens, or working on repairs to their huts. It was a scene that almost felt peaceful, though Ethan knew better than to let his guard down.
Ethan, Aria, and Kael stood near the edge of the village, Garrick beside them, his face lined with concern. They were gathered around a makeshift map that Kael had drawn in the dirt—a rough sketch of the surrounding area, marking the known resonance points, the watchtower, and the location of the village. Garrick's expression was serious, his eyes scanning the map.
"If what Kael says is true," Garrick began, his voice low, "these resonance points are key to our survival. We need to secure them, to make sure no one else can use them against us."
Kael nodded, his eyes thoughtful as he studied the map. "The nearest one is about a day's journey from here," he said, pointing to a spot on the map marked with an 'X'. "It's not going to be easy. The resonance points are protected—either by creatures or by the land itself. But if we can secure it, it will give us an advantage."
Ethan felt a knot of tension settle in his chest. The idea of traveling further into the High Continent, of facing whatever dangers guarded the resonance point, was daunting. But he knew they didn't have a choice. If they wanted to grow stronger, if they wanted to protect the village, they needed to act.
Aria looked at Ethan, her eyes filled with determination. "We need to do this. The village is vulnerable, and if others come looking for these points, we need to be ready."
Ethan nodded, his gaze shifting to Garrick. "We'll do it. We'll leave today."
Garrick sighed, his expression softening. "Be careful out there. We don't know what lies ahead, but you've already proven yourselves. The village will be waiting for your return." He paused, then reached into his satchel, pulling out a small leather pouch. "Take this. It's not much, but it might help."
Ethan took the pouch, feeling the weight of it in his hand. Inside were dried herbs, some bandages, and a small vial of a deep green liquid. Garrick offered him a faint smile. "A healing salve. It might not work miracles, but it could make the difference in a tough situation."
"Thank you," Ethan said, his voice sincere. He looked at Aria and Kael, both of whom gave him a nod. It was time to go.
---
The journey to the resonance point was long and exhausting. The path took them through dense forests, across rocky outcrops, and through streams of clear, cold water that chilled Ethan to the bone. They moved in silence for the most part, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures.
Kael led the way, his movements confident and precise, as if he had been in the High Continent for far longer than either Ethan or Aria. Ethan watched him carefully, still unsure of how much he could trust their new companion. Kael spoke of knowledge and power, but his motives were shrouded in mystery, and Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that Kael was hiding something.
Aria walked beside Ethan, her eyes scanning the forest around them, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. She glanced at Ethan, her expression softening for a moment. "How are you holding up?" she asked, her voice low.
Ethan let out a small sigh. "I'm okay. Just... trying to stay focused. This place—it feels like it's testing us at every turn."
Aria nodded, her eyes meeting his. "It is. But we're not alone. We've got each other, and we're going to make it through this. One step at a time."
Ethan smiled, her words giving him a sense of comfort. They had faced challenges together before, and he knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.
They reached a clearing by late afternoon, the sun hanging low in the sky. The air was still, the forest quiet, as if holding its breath. In the center of the clearing stood a stone pillar, its surface covered in glowing symbols—similar to the ones Ethan had seen in the ancient ruins. The energy in the air was palpable, a hum that resonated deep within Ethan, the mark on his arm warming in response.
"That's it," Kael said, his voice barely a whisper. "The resonance point."
Ethan stepped forward, his eyes locked on the pillar. He could feel the power emanating from it, the energy calling to him, urging him to come closer. He glanced at Aria, who nodded, her expression filled with determination.
As they approached, the ground beneath them began to tremble, a low rumble that grew louder with each passing second. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, and he could see the symbols on the pillar glowing brighter, the light pulsating with a rhythm that matched his own heartbeat.
Suddenly, the ground erupted, and a creature burst forth—a massive beast covered in jagged scales, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It let out a deafening roar, its maw opening to reveal rows of sharp teeth. The creature lunged at them, its movements swift despite its size.
Ethan raised his hand, the mark on his arm glowing as he called upon the energy of the Ascendant's Gift. A shield of light formed in front of him, just as the creature's claws came crashing down. The force of the impact sent Ethan stumbling back, his arm aching from the strain, but the shield held.
Aria moved with practiced precision, her dagger flashing as she struck at the creature's side, the blade biting into its scales. The beast roared, twisting to face her, its eyes filled with rage. Kael stepped forward, his own mark glowing as he unleashed a burst of energy, striking the creature's head and momentarily dazing it.
"We need to focus our attacks!" Kael shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Aim for the weak points—the joints!"
Ethan nodded, his eyes locking onto the creature's leg. He focused, the energy of the Ascendant's Gift flowing through him, and he released a blast of light, striking the creature's knee. The beast let out a pained roar, its leg buckling as the force of the attack shattered the joint.
Aria moved in, her dagger finding its mark as she drove it into the creature's neck, the blade piercing through the scales. The beast let out one final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching once before falling still.
Ethan stood there, breathing heavily, his body aching from the exertion. He looked at Aria, who was equally exhausted but smiling, her eyes filled with relief. Kael lowered his hand, the glow of his mark fading as he let out a sigh.
"Well done," Kael said, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and admiration. "The resonance point is ours."
Ethan stepped towards the pillar, the symbols glowing brightly in response to his presence. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the stone, and he felt a surge of energy—warmth spreading through his body, the mark on his arm glowing brightly. The system panel flickered into view, the words clear before his eyes.
**[Resonance Point Secured: Attribute Boost Acquired]**
**Strength +4, Vitality +3, Energy +2**
Ethan smiled, the exhaustion mingling with a sense of accomplishment. They had done it. They had faced the trial, secured the resonance point, and grown stronger. He turned to Aria and Kael, his heart swelling with determination.
"This is just the beginning," Ethan said, his voice steady. "We're going to find more of these points, grow stronger, and protect the village. We're going to survive this."
Aria nodded, her eyes filled with resolve. "Together."
Kael smiled, a hint of respect in his eyes. "Together," he echoed.
The High Continent was filled with dangers, but it was also a place of power, of growth. And Ethan knew that with each trial they faced, with each resonance point they secured, they were one step closer to surviving the Conquest—and perhaps even finding a way to end it.
Together, they turned away from the pillar, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The High Continent was a place of trials, but it was also a place of hope—and Ethan was determined to seize that hope, no matter what it took.