The poisonous-spined lizard lay dead-still in the clearing, his toxic spines aglow in the moon, but I'd long since forgotten about him now, my brain at war with Ember's words: "There's a bigger game at play here, rabbit. This forest? It's just the beginning.".
What do you mean, bigger game?." I slitted my eyes at the fox. "I thought we were talking of this area.
Ember's tail slid from side to side, her eyes vaguely amused as she walked to a rock and sat atop it. "We are. for now. But don't say you haven't noticed. There's more to this world than just strongest survive. That system you so depend on? Part of something much greater, much older, and much stronger."
I frowned, unsettled by her tone. "I'm listening."
She leaned a little forward, her voice going soft, as if sharing a secret: "This forest is not some plot of land that happened to be here; it is a field of battle, a test site for creatures like us-system-chosen ones. The rules are not all about killing or being killed either. There are other forces at play and hidden powers controlling the creatures within. Some of them. watch.".
Looking?" I asked, my voice quite skeptical.
"Yes, watching," Ember said, eyes keen and grave then. "Do you think it was an act of luck that brought you here, reincarnated into this body with the system? Or maybe the creatures such as the Shadowstalker, or that lizard, wanted to take over this land so bad? This is such a place that means so much, not only to survive, but to hold power. There is someone, or something, giving the orders.
I began to pace back and forth, trying to wrap my head around her words. It had all been so simple beforehand: survive, grow stronger, protect territory. But if Ember was to be believed, then the forest-and maybe the whole world-was part of a much larger and more dangerous game.
But where is it, that secret force? And what does it want?" I returned and asked her.
She shrugged and a tinge of mystery clouded in her eyes. "That's the thing, I am not certain who or what they are, but there's always rumors, or rather, legends, older creatures of the forest talk about. Their system for usage-to turn us into a weapon, or so some say; others maintain that they are old beings long forgotten, yet still willing their will.".
"Old beings…" I said quietly. The thought of secret creatures controlling the world didn't make me feel good. "Why are you telling me this now? Why not just take your part of the land and leave?"
Ember smiled, her face gleaming with almost a sly smile. "Because, rabbit, you are different; you are special. You hold real potential. If I'm going to win this game, I need to be working with someone who will actually be able to help. Someone like you, for instance.
I narrowed my eyes; her words had fired warning bells in my brain. Clearly, Ember was out for her own objectives, yet her aid had turned the tide of battle last time around. If she was right-if there truly existed forces behind the scenes that pull the strings of these creatures-then I was going to need allies. Powerful ones.
But how different it was-the issue of trust.
"I am not looking to be taken as anyone's pawn," I said firmly. "Work with us now, and all that I will need to know next time an opportunity arises is that you're the last one to sell me out.
Ember laughed low in her throat. "I wouldn't dream of it. Also, that wouldn't be any fun if I didn't get to see how far you can go. Like I said, there's a bigger game at play. You and I, we're going to move up.".
I didn't know whether to feel safer this way or to be more cautious. For now, though, Ember was being useful, and until I knew more about the dangers in this world, I couldn't afford to get rid of her.
"Okay," I finally said. "We will team up. But remember this—I don't handle betrayal very well."
Ember giggled. "OK, listen up, about that last predator…
[Territory Defense Progress: 2/3 Predators Defeated]
My system beeped, reminding me that one more foe I had to defeat if I wanted my area truly protected. Yet a thought still lingered in my mind: this was just the beginning. If Ember was right, defeating them means traveling on a path of much higher risks.
What do you know about the third one?" I asked, returning to the main theme.
Ember looked grave over this: "Third, but not least and most dangerous of all, the creature known as the Nightshade Bear.
A bear, of course, it would be a bear.
"Big, all covered in thick fur that absorbs the light. It uses darkness to its advantage: its strength is … too great," she said. "Even the wolves avoided it. It has been asleep some time, but the shift in power from your victories probably awoke it."
I gritted my teeth. A bear that manipulates shadows. this is going to be some bad dream.
[New Predator Identified: Nightshade Bear]
Level: 8
Status: Shadow-infused predator, specializes in darkness manipulation
Abilities: Shadowcloak, Crushing Strength, Berserker Rage
Weakness: Vulnerable to light-based attacks, slow recovery after rage state.
I envisioned its capabilities in my head, and in that instance, I knew the scale of the threat. The bear was way more powerful compared to all that I had fought up to then, and with its strong strength, in the dark, his powers in shadows would make him almost impossible to subdue. What the system did show, however, was one key weakness-attacks that utilize light.
I need light," I said, my mind working. "Against its shadows.
Ember agreed. "That's right. But there aren't many light sources in the forest, especially at night. We will have to think of new ideas if we want to succeed."
I scanned the ground, my head reeling with thought. There has to be something-some sort of light, no matter how blackened the forest with shades everywhere. And then, it clicked.
"The Blossoms of Purity," I said out of nowhere, remembering the bright flowers which had come in so useful after the fight with the alpha wolf. "They glow, right?"
Ember looked surprised. "You're right. The Purity Blossoms could be useful, but they are hard to find. And they can be dangerous to reach."
"I know where they are," I boldly told myself, "I have been there."
Ember smiled. "I think we have a plan. I could help you get blossoms. When we have enough of them, we will take out the Nightshade Bear and drain its energy with the light.
It was not a good plan, but it was far better than a bear charge in the total darkness. The Purity Blossoms represented the best option that would help me not only survive but also eliminate the last predator.
"Let's go," I said, walking into the forest, and Ember walked beside me.
The deeper we ventured into the darkness, the more my mind wrestled with the big question: secret forces, old powers-what Ember had spoken of. Whosoever was playing this game, now included me.
I did not want to lose.