The Core pulsed again, stronger this time, flooding Elias with a surge of clarity.
The Shadow panther circled him, its glowing yellow eyes burning like twin beacons in the darkness.
Each twitch of its muscles gave away its intentions...its body coiled and ready to strike.
When it lunged again, Elias ducked and rolled, his movements more fluid than before, coming up behind the creature with a burst of unexpected speed.
With a desperate yell, he drove his blade into the panther's exposed side.
The weapon sank deeper this time.
Black, smoky ichor sprayed from the wound, and the creature let out a guttural screech.
Its glowing eyes burned with fury, and it twisted in midair, landing with a feral grace.
A second later, it lunged again, its claws carving through the air in a blur.
Elias barely managed to raise his sword to deflect the blow, but the force of the strike sent him staggering backward.
His arms ached from the impact, the vibrations traveling up to his shoulders.
The panther's tail whipped out like a striking serpent, catching him hard in the ribs.
The force of the hit knocked him off his feet, and he crashed to the ground with a sharp cry.
Pain lanced through his side, and for a moment, the world blurred as he struggled to breathe.
Get up! Elias screamed at himself. If you don't, you die.
Pain shot through his ribs, a sharp, searing reminder of his fragility.
He clutched his side, gasping for air as the Shadow panther loomed over him, its claws gleaming under the faint moonlight.
Its growl was low and guttural, filled with a savage promise of death.
Desperation clawed at Elias's mind.
Get up! Fight! Don't give up now! His mind screamed at him, but his body refused to obey.
The panther's yellow eyes glowed brighter, and it crouched, preparing for a final, deadly pounce.
The moment seemed to stretch, every heartbeat a thunderous echo in his ears.
Elias raised his blade weakly, his trembling hands gripping it like a lifeline.
He braced himself for the inevitable, his heart pounding as time seemed to slow.
Then, out of nowhere, a brilliant flash of light pierced the clearing.
The Shadow panther recoiled with a pained hiss, its glowing eyes dimming as it staggered backward.
Elias blinked, his vision struggling to adjust to the sudden brightness.
A figure stepped out of the shadows, wielding a glowing staff that pulsed with faint, otherworldly energy.
"Need a hand?" a calm voice asked, carrying a hint of amusement.
Elias blinked again, his mind sluggish from pain and confusion.
The figure stepped closer, revealing a young woman.
Her sharp, angular features were illuminated by the faint glow of her staff. Piercing silver eyes, almost otherworldly, seemed to look straight through him.
Her long, dark hair flowed behind her like a shadow, and her movements were graceful, fluid, almost ethereal.
The woman didn't wait for a response.
She raised her staff, and a concentrated beam of light shot toward the Shadow panther, striking it square in the chest.
It let out a final, agonized screech before its body dissolved into black smoke.
Elias stared at her, stunned and speechless.
A soft chime echoed in the air.
[Victory!]
[Enemy Defeated: Shadow Panther.]
[Creatures slain: 1/2]
[Experience Gained: 5 XP.]
[You managed to escape death once again....with help this time. Weakling!]
The familiar taunting voice of the system cut through Elias's thoughts like a blade.
He let out a shaky breath, his body trembling from exhaustion and relief.
The Core within him pulsed again, warmth spreading through his limbs as a notification appeared before him.
Player stats updated
[User: Elias]
Experience Points (XP): 10/20
Stats:
Attributes :
Strength: 7
( Base 5 + 2 from core synchronization)
Agility: 9
(Base: 7+2 from Core Synchronization)
Endurance: 6
Intelligence: 4
Perception: 6
Luck: 4
[Aether Core Synchronization: Combat potential increased by +1.]
Elias pushed himself to his knees, clutching his ribs as the pain dulled slightly.
At least some things are beginning to change in his stats.
His gaze shifted to the woman who had just saved his life.
She stood a few feet away, her staff now dimmed but still radiating a faint glow.
"Who are you?" he managed to ask, his voice hoarse and breathless.
The woman tilted her head, studying him with a faint smirk. "Call me Lyra," she said, her tone cool and confident.
"And you're lucky I showed up when I did. That thing would've shredded you."
Cocky !!
Her bluntness grated on Elias, but he couldn't deny she was right. "Thanks, I guess," he muttered, his pride stung. "But what are you doing here?"
Lyra shrugged, her silver eyes glinting. "Same as you, I imagine.
Trying to survive this cursed forest. You're not the only player here, you know."
Her words sent a chill down Elias's spine.
Other players? He had totally forgotten that there were other players since the last few minutes in this damned place were spent on learning to survive.
Before he could ask more, Lyra turned on her heel and started walking away.
"Wait!" Elias called after her, forcing himself to his feet despite the ache in his ribs. "Where are you going?"
"To the Safe Zone," she replied without looking back. "If you want to live, I suggest you follow."
Elias hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious.
But staying alone in the forest wasn't an option.
He sheathed his blade and hurried after her, his mind racing with questions.
His ribs were still aching from the Shadow Panther's blow.
Lyra led the way, her glowing staff casting long shadows on the gnarled trees around them.
The forest seemed to whisper with unseen dangers, and the timer in his head ticked away relentlessly.
Two hours and twenty minutes left," he muttered, glancing at the translucent countdown hovering in the corner of his vision.
Keep up, slowpoke," Lyra called over her shoulder, her voice tinged with amusement.
"The forest doesn't get any kinder the longer you stay in it."
Elias bit back a retort, focusing instead on keeping pace.
She walked with a calm confidence that irritated him, as though the forest and its monsters were no threat to her.
"So," he said, breaking the tense silence, "are you going to explain who you are? Or do I just keep following you like a lost puppy?"
Lyra chuckled, not slowing her pace. "I told you, my name's Lyra.
That's all you need to know right now."
Elias narrowed his eyes. "What about that light attack? The staff? And this… 'player' stuff. You clearly know more than I do."
Lyra stopped abruptly and turned to face him, her silver eyes narrowing.
"Look, rookie, the forest is full of things that will kill you without hesitation.
You want to chat about our life stories? Wait until we're somewhere safe." She paused, her expression softening slightly.
"But since you're so curious, I'll give you a hint. My 'light attack,' as you called it, comes from my patron."
"Patron?" Elias echoed.
She tapped the glowing crystal atop her staff. "A divine being, or whatever passes for one in this messed-up system.
They grant abilities in exchange for… let's just say, allegiance."
Ohhh patron...yes
Lyra tilted her head, studying him like he was some strange creature.
You don't have one?? Do you?? they haven't revealed themselves yet. Or maybe you're just not worth their time."
Elias scowled but didn't respond.
Her bluntness stung, but he couldn't argue.
He doesn't have to tell her his death severed his tie with a patron and he wasn't worthless.
But still, He didn't know what he was doing, and his survival so far felt more like dumb luck than skill.