The journey to the Maxima Kingdom was a two-day trek through the treacherous Jungi Forest, a region known for its low-level monsters and bandits. As they traveled by carriage, Shiv drifted off to sleep, while Varun engaged in conversation with Manasa. Ravi chatting with the merchant Laxman, and Sahara cleaning her wand.
Shiv had a premonition that bandits were about to ambush them. Suddenly, a commotion erupted. The carriage had stopped, and Laxman was shouting that they were surrounded by bandits. Shiv and the other adventurers rushed to the scene, their hearts pounding.
The bandits, numbering around twenty, demanded that Laxman surrender his merchandise. Undeterred, the group refused, warning the bandits to flee or face the consequences. As the bandits charged, Shiv, eager to test his newfound abilities, requested that Ravi and the others let him handle the situation. "But you're just an F-rank adventurer," Ravi protested, his voice filled with concern. "How can you take on so many bandits alone?".
Shiv remembered his rigorous training and confidently swung his sword. A powerful force propelled the blade, sending several bandits flying. The remaining bandits and the other adventurers were stunned by Shiv's display of strength. Realizing they were no match for Shiv, the bandits turned to flee. But Shiv's movements were too swift. He disappeared into the crowd, catching and disarming the bandits one by one.
Shiv and his companions continued their journey, taking the captured bandits along with them. Ravi watched Shiv with newfound respect. "I still can't believe you're an adventurer who only registered yesterday," he remarked. Manasa was equally impressed by Shiv's skills. "You looked incredible during the fight," she said. Shiv shrugged off the praise. "It was nothing special."
Shiv fell into deep thought, pondering the premonition he had experienced. He concluded that it must be related to the meditation practices. With renewed focus, Shiv began to meditate, concentrating on his breath. As the sun began to set, he delved into his subconscious mind and saw the writings from the Rudra book flowing into his thoughts.
The group set up camp near a water settlement, preparing their meal under a nearby tree. As Shiv meditated, he developed an enhanced awareness of his surroundings. He could sense movements within a 20-kilometer radius, even the slightest rustle of grass.Noticing Manasa approach, Shiv broke his meditation and joined the others for dinner. After the meal, Ravi and Varun volunteered to guard the carriage, while the rest retired for the night.Eager to increase his powers, Shiv awoke in the middle of the night and attempted to venture into the forest. However, Ravi caught him. "Where are you going at this hour?" Ravi asked."I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd take a walk," Shiv replied."Be careful out there," Ravi cautioned, relieved that Shiv was simply going for a stroll.Shiv ventured into the forest, keeping the camp within his range as he meditated. After an hour, Ravi noticed a bright white light emanating from the forest. Curious, he left his guard duty to Varun and approached the source of the light.As Ravi drew closer, he could see nothing but the blinding light. He infused his eyes with magic to protect them and continued his approach. When he was finally close enough, he saw an unusual symbol with a closed vertical eye at its center. The sight overwhelmed him, and he lost consciousness.Shiv observed Ravi approaching him, but remained focused on his meditation. He understood the ancient scripts that appeared in his subconscious mind and from the Rudra book. Noticing Ravi's unconscious state, Shiv broke his meditation and returned to the camp.When he reached Varun, he saw Ravi lying unconscious. "What happened to him?" Varun asked, his voice filled with fear.Shiv silenced him. "Shhh, if Sahara and Manasa wake up, they'll worry. But there's nothing to worry about. He just lost consciousness in the forest," Shiv explained."We need to be extra cautious," Varun replied. "I think some unknown force is lurking in the forest."Varun asked Shiv to assist him in guarding the carriage, and Shiv agreed. As Shiv stood guard, he realized he should create a barrier around himself while meditating to prevent others from seeing the light emitting.As the night deepened, Shiv and Varun kept watch over the carriage. The forest seemed eerily quiet, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the hoot of an owl.A sense of unease crept over Shiv. He felt a strange energy emanating from the forest, an unseen presence that seemed to be watching them.Suddenly, a chilling scream pierced the night air. Varun jumped to his feet, his eyes wide with fear. "What was that?" he asked.Before Shiv could respond, a horde of dark, shadowy creatures emerged from the trees. They were grotesque creatures, their forms distorted and twisted.Shiv and Varun fought valiantly, their swords flashing in the moonlight. But the creatures were relentless, their numbers overwhelming.Just as it seemed that all was lost, a blinding light erupted from the forest. The creatures were momentarily stunned, their forms writhing in pain.A figure emerged from the light, a tall, imposing figure cloaked in shadow. It has the same presence Shiv had sensed in his meditation, the one that had emanated the strange energy.The figure raised its hand, and the shadowy creatures retreated, their forms dissolving into thin air. The creature turned to Shiv and Varun, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light."You have awakened a power within you, young warrior," the creature said in a deep, resonant voice.The creature vanished into the darkness, leaving Shiv and Varun in awe. They had faced a terrifying ordeal, but they had also witnessed something extraordinary. The mysterious force that had saved them was a power far beyond their understanding.As the first rays of dawn painted the sky, Shiv and Varun returned to the camp. They found Sahara and Manasa, who had been awakened by the commotion.Shiv and Varun recounted their encounter with the mysterious creature, their voices filled with wonder and awe. The others listened intently, their faces etched with disbelief.The journey to the Maxima Kingdom had taken a dramatic turn. They had faced danger, confronted their fears, and Shiv had discovered a hidden power within himself.Upon reaching the Maxima Kingdom, the merchant was satisfied with their work and distributed the reward among the group. Impressed by Shiv's exceptional skills, Laxman gave him an extra reward and his business card, saying, "If you ever need any help, please visit me. I'd be glad to assist you." then departed.Shiv was determined to uncover the secrets of the Rudra book, the mysterious figure, and the many mysteries. His adventure was far from over.Shiv and his companions parted ways, with Ravi shaking hands and expressing his admiration for their teamwork. Manasa, reluctant to part, said, "I hope we'll meet again soon." After submitting the quest completion paperwork at the Adventurers' Guild, Shiv inquired about the location of Captain Thor. Eager to meet with him, Shiv rushed off.