Caden's fingers still tingled from the Fragment of Vigor, the shard now securely tucked into his pack. The feeling of power was intoxicating, like a warm current running through him. But it wasn't just physical strength—it was something deeper, a subtle shift in his very being. He felt as if he could take on the world itself, yet beneath that, an unsettling feeling lingered.
With the wolf's body now gone, nothing but a faint, dissipating mist remained, Caden stood in the silence of the clearing. The green glow of the fragment slowly dimmed, its light fading as the moment passed. A whisper of wind stirred the leaves, and the weight of the forest seemed to press even harder against his chest, as if trying to warn him of what lay ahead.
[New Objective: Leave the Forest of Shattered Echoes.]
Caden read the message, his pulse quickening again. Leave? Wasn't he supposed to find the other fragments? Why had the System told him to leave now? But as soon as the question entered his mind, the forest answered with a low, rumbling growl.
He spun around just in time to see two more wolves emerging from the shadows, their glowing eyes burning with hunger. But these weren't the same as the first. Their forms seemed even more twisted, their movements unnaturally smooth, as if they were extensions of the forest itself.
[Enemy Detected: Corrupted Shade Wolves. Threat Level: High.]
Caden's heart skipped a beat. The System hadn't warned him of a new threat like this—these wolves were different, more dangerous. The first one had been bad enough, but now it seemed as if the forest was actively conspiring against him.
One of the wolves leapt at him with terrifying speed, its jaws snapping. Caden barely dodged, feeling the rush of wind as its fangs grazed his shoulder. He staggered back, instinctively reaching for his sword—but then he remembered. His sword was nowhere near him.
[Item Lost: Inventory Access Blocked.]
He cursed under his breath. The System had cut off his access to the inventory. It was just him and his abilities now.
The other wolf growled low, circling to his left, its eyes glowing like two burning coals. Caden could feel the pressure mounting, the danger closing in on him. His mind raced. He still had the Temporal Blink ability, but the fatigue from using it earlier was starting to settle in.
[Skill Status: Temporal Blink: Cooldown in 30 seconds.]
He had to buy time. Caden dashed toward the nearest tree, hoping to use it for cover, but as soon as he moved, one of the wolves darted forward, faster than before. Its teeth sank into his leg, tearing through his pants and leaving a trail of burning pain. He gritted his teeth, trying not to scream. This was bad—really bad.
[Warning: Vital signs critical. Health: 45%.]
Caden's vision blurred from the pain, but he didn't have time to focus on it. The System's message was a reminder that he didn't have much longer to fight before his body gave out.
In a moment of desperation, Caden reached for the shard of Vigor in his pack. The power it radiated seemed to pulse, almost like it was aware of his distress. He ripped it free, clutching it tightly. As soon as the shard made contact with his skin, the energy within surged through him once again, more powerful this time. His muscles twitched and surged with raw strength, the pain in his leg lessening almost instantly.
[System Fragment Activation: Enhanced Reflexes. User Speed Increased.]
He could feel the change almost immediately. His body felt lighter, faster. The world around him seemed to slow down. He couldn't waste this moment.
The wolf that had bitten him was still attached to his leg, its teeth digging deeper, but Caden gritted his teeth, his new strength allowing him to push the beast back with ease. His free leg kicked out, striking the wolf square in the ribs with the force of a battering ram. The creature yelped, tumbling backward.
But before Caden could catch his breath, the second wolf lunged, aiming for his throat.
He twisted, using the trees as leverage, and with a burst of speed, he shot forward, his body moving almost faster than he could comprehend. The wolf missed by mere inches, and before it could adjust, Caden lashed out with a punch, his fist connecting with the side of its head. The wolf's skull snapped to the side, and it collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud.
[Enemy Defeated. Vital Essence Acquired.]
The other wolf had already recovered, snarling and ready to charge again. But Caden was no longer the same. His senses were heightened, his body attuned to every shift in the air, every sound.
He didn't wait for the wolf to attack. Instead, he darted forward, drawing on the raw power that now thrummed through him. The wolf lunged, but Caden was faster. He sidestepped, grabbing the wolf's neck in one fluid motion and using its momentum to slam its head into the ground.
The wolf let out a final, strangled yelp before dissolving into mist.
[Enemy Defeated. Vital Essence Acquired.]
Caden took a moment to breathe, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His body felt like it could keep going for hours. The power from the fragment had enhanced him beyond his normal limits, but at what cost?
[Warning: Overuse of System Fragments may lead to unexpected consequences.]
The message appeared as a cold reminder that he couldn't rely on this power forever. He needed to find the next fragment—and fast.
[Quest Updated: Leave the Forest of Shattered Echoes. New Objective: Seek Shelter.]
Caden didn't question the System's urgency. He had no idea why it had told him to leave, but it was clear now that staying in this cursed forest was dangerous, even with his newfound strength. The dangers had only escalated, and he didn't want to imagine what might happen if he stuck around longer.
He turned and made his way toward the edge of the forest, the eerie stillness pressing in on him from all sides. As he neared the forest's boundary, a flicker of movement caught his eye—a shadow that darted through the trees. Caden's instincts kicked in, but when he reached for his weapon, it was gone again. Instead, he clenched his fist and prepared for whatever lay ahead.
With the fragment's power coursing through him, he felt ready—ready to face the world that had been turned upside down by the Shattering.