Ember and I trod carefully but quickly through the woods under the moon overhead. Every rustling of leaves, every snapping twig, seemed to resound louder in the still of the night. Nightshade Bear, the fight looming ahead, played in my head. If the darkness of the forest wasn't enough, then the rarest and most dangerous animal I had ever laid eyes on certainly was.
This time, however, I was not alone.
As we approached the grove where the Purity Blossoms were kept, I turned towards Ember. The fox was proving to be very useful, but her incomprehensible warnings about secret powers unnerved me. At any rate, for now, our goals aligned: eliminate the last predator and secure my territory in safety.
"We're close," I whispered, and with that said, I slowed my pace.
Ember nodded, peering hard into the undergrowth. "The flowers should be right in front of us. All the same, be careful. Those things that guard them aren't too friendly.
What came to my mind was that the last time I came here, there was something like some sort of weird, otherworldly creature; ghostly owl-like beings attracted by the glow of the Purity Blossom. They hadn't attacked me at the time, but I came for the flowers, and that wasn't what I wanted.
Before me was the glade, bathed in that soft eerie light. Blossoms of Purity glittered star-like across the glade-their pale blue blossoms alight in the darkness with soft light. As we drew near, I felt the tranquil emanation coming out of them, so opposite to the tension and menace which pervaded the whole forest.
"We need enough to make a bright light," I said, eyeing the flowers. "It's to weaken the powers of the shadows of the bear.
Ember squatted beside me then, eyes fixed intently on the flowers. "I'll keep watch; you gather what you can.
I nodded and went ahead, being very careful not to step on any of these fragile plants. I started to pick them, and the soft lights lighting my fur as I went cast soft illumination around. Each flower felt cool to the touch, and the energy of them vibrated light under my fingertips. We were in a hurry-we didn't have much time left any more.
[Purity Blossom Harvest: 3/10 Collected]
As I stooped to pluck another flower, some far soft hooting echoed through the glade. Straightening up, I peered into the clearing. Then the owl-like birds were there, too, their shadowy wings unfolding from the dark, their silvery bodies slimly gleaming as they settled in the spiral branches above-huge, shining eyes watching me.
"They're watching," Ember said low, her voice very quiet.
I continued to harvest, moving at a steady yet cautious pace. The creatures did nothing to hinder me, but neither were they simply standing there. It felt as if they were watching me, judging my next move to decide whether I was a threat.
[Purity Blossom Harvest: 7/10 Collected]
Just a few more, I replied, reaching to take the next flower, when one of the owl-like birds flew noiselessly down and softly was before me, as though to stay my hand. Its great, shining eyes looked deep into mine, and in that instant, I felt that uncanny connection of an ancient knowing-a feeling from another world.
Yet, he did not attack. He only turned his head towards me and stared. I stood still, not knowing what to do next.
"Don't get them angry," Ember warned from behind me. "They're not aggressive unless you make them."
I slowly lowered my paw and stepped back, giving it space. With a soft hoot, the bird spread its wings and flew to its perch. I let out a sigh of relief; it didn't escalate the fight, anyway.
[Purity Blossom Harvest: 10/10 Collected]
It was now or never. I carefully lashed the flowers together, and the light brightened up at this grouping. With these, we had a trump card against the Nightshade Bear. I turned to Ember, who was still on the watch for any dangerous signals.
"Let's get out of here," I whispered.
She nodded, and out of the grove we went in a jiffy-the owl-like beings still standing there-and much further into the forest to where bright light from the Purity Blossoms dimmed somewhat in between darkened shadows.
[Purity Blossom Lamp Created]
Status: Ready for use
Effect: Emits a radiant light that weakens shadow-based enemies within a 20-meter radius
"Good job," Ember said, and we continued more slowly. "That lamp should really help us."
"Let's hope it's enough," I said softly. To this day, the Nightshade Bear really bothered me; everything, even from the fact that its strength sent a shiver up my back, to those shadows that were something else altogether, the way it would use the dark to its advantage during its appearances and disappearance-to-attack instances when I least expected them.
By the time we approached my neighborhood, a low growl stirred from the trees. I froze, ears forward, all muscles strained with it. Low and powerful, the very earth seemed to growl, like a storm slowly brewing.
"He's close," Ember breathed, excitement laced through every word. "It's starting."
I nodded and clutched the Purity Blossom Lamp tightly in my paw. The bear was arriving, and the fight was going to decide not only the issue of my territory but even my right to exist in a world full of predators.
First, a great shape loomed ahead from the darkness, hard to see under the shadows. It was the Nightshade Bear. His fur was very black, blotchy, just about invisible under the moonlight. However, its bright red eyes shone bright, like two hot coals amidst the night, full of bad intentions and hunger.
[Enemy Identified: Nightshade Bear]
Level: 8
Status: Aggressive
Abilities: Shadowcloak, Crushing Strength, Berserker Rage
Weakness: Vulnerable to light-based attacks.
With that, he let out a loud growl and began running towards us with great speed. I hardly had the time to act, and it appeared in front of us, its big paws landing exactly on the spot where I was standing a second before.
"Now!" Ember yowled, dodging to the side to go for the thing's flanks. I flicked the Purity Blossom Lamp on and held it high. The light strengthened, filling the clearing. The bear backstepped, its dark silhouette capering in the light. I saw its movements begin to slow, the dark flair along its edges melted to nothing as the lamp's magics began to take hold.
It only did not fully stop the bear. Surrounded by anger, he roared while his big sharp claws swiped to me with great power. I moved out of the way, feeling the rush of air as its paw simply missed me.
"Keep going! It's not going to catch you!" Ember screamed, dancing fast in and out of the shadows, her quick form no more than a blur as she distracted the bear.
I lifted the lamp high above my head and circled around the Nightshade Bear, searching for an opening to strike. It was weakening, yet it still was too strong-too strong for a straight-on fight. I needed to wear it out-make it less formidable.
The bear growled once more, his dark form wrestling with the light. I knew there was anger in those eyes, that furious attempt to break free from the light of the lamp. I would not let it, though-not this time.
I sprang forward with my paws in an attempt to hit its stomach-the only weak point I'd noted in the system's description. With my claws, I lacerated its fur, and the bear let out a wild roar of pain.
[Critical Hit!]
The Nightshade Bear is staggered!
"Now, Ember!" I said.
She did not need telling that, of course. With one smooth leap, she launched herself in from the flank, her razor teeth sunk deep in the bear's exposed flank. Again the bear roared and wheeled crazily round, trying to shake us off.
The bear was acting weirdly, weakening every minute as its powers were continually lost with the light emanating from the Purity Blossoms. Finally, it gave a final and desperate roar and fell on the ground, its huge body gasping as it tried to rise.
But it couldn't.
I stared and stared at the fallen animal; my heart was pounding hard in my chest, thinking of that sad-looking creature.
[Predator Defeated: Nightshade Bear]
Experience gained: 600 XP
Quest Complete: Territory Defense
New Title: Sovereign of the Shadows – You have conquered the predators of your domain. All shadow-based abilities now have enhanced power.
I didn't really hear the chimes of notification in my head from the system, but whatever. I had defeated the final predator, secured my territory, and earned a new title.
I had to gaze and gaze some more at the dead body of the Nightshade Bear but knew somehow this victory was only just a beginning; more was yet to be done, more mysteries waited for their answer, terrors lurking in the dark.
Ember strode up beside me, an almost contemplative look in her gaze, staring at the fallen bear. "Not bad," she said with a little grin. "You seem to be more than just a lucky rabbit, after all."
It took me a while to answer since my mind had been filled with all that had happened. "What now?" I whispered.
Ember's grin slid, her face turning sober. "Now? Well, now we plot what the next step in this game is. It was my woods, but I knew this world had bigger challenges other than beasts that I just overpowered.
The system showed me a bit of power, placed me on a path, but I fully didn't understand it. Out there, in the dark, were the forces that Ember had told me about, still looking. Waiting.