Journal Entry
Day 18 of Exile.
Korrin's map was accurate, but it didn't warn me about the Void Cult—or how fiercely they guard what they claim is theirs. My last encounter with them wasn't a fight I could win outright, but it gave me insight. Their movements are precise, their techniques deliberate. They serve the Void, but it doesn't mean they understand it completely.
The shard is still ahead. The Riftwood grows darker, more oppressive with every step, and the whispers cut deeper into my thoughts. The Void tests me, but I'll pass.
---
Present Action: First-Person Narration
The further I ventured into the Riftwood, the stranger it became.
The trees grew denser, their branches twisting together to form a canopy that blocked out what little light there was. The air was thicker now, heavy with the scent of decay and something acrid, almost metallic. The ground beneath my feet felt spongy, like stepping on rotting flesh.
The whispers had changed again. They weren't words, but emotions: fear, anger, and an overwhelming sense of anticipation.
'Something's close,' I thought, gripping my dagger tightly.
Every step felt like an intrusion, like the forest itself was watching, waiting for me to falter.
---
The Trial of Shadows
I was halfway through a narrow path when the air shifted, the faint breeze vanishing entirely. The forest fell silent—not just quiet, but utterly devoid of sound. Even the whispers stopped, replaced by a tension so thick it was suffocating.
I turned, sensing something behind me, but there was nothing.
And then it struck.
A shadow detached itself from the trees, moving with impossible speed. It wasn't a beast or a human—it was something in between. Its form was humanoid but distorted, its limbs unnaturally long, its face featureless save for two glowing violet eyes.
I barely had time to dodge as its clawed hand slashed toward me, the air hissing with the force of its strike. Activating Voidstep, I reappeared several feet away, my heart pounding.
'Fast. Strong,' I thought, circling the creature warily.
It moved again, its motions jerky but fluid, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. I parried its next attack with my dagger, the impact rattling my arm.
'This thing's stronger than anything I've faced before,' I realized.
---
Unlocking Void Net
The creature attacked relentlessly, forcing me to stay on the defensive. I activated Voidstep repeatedly, the strain building as my Qi reserves dwindled. Each time I dodged, the creature adjusted, its movements becoming sharper, more focused.
I needed to change the game.
Focusing my Qi, I extended both hands, channeling energy into the air around the creature. The Void Qi shimmered, forming into threads that wove together into an intricate, glowing web.
"Void Net," I muttered, the name coming to me as the technique solidified.
The net fell over the creature, binding its limbs and forcing it to the ground. It thrashed wildly, the violet glow in its eyes flaring as it tried to break free.
The strain of holding the net was immediate, a sharp ache blooming in my chest, but I didn't let go.
Summoning the last of my strength, I formed a Void Spear and hurled it toward the trapped creature. The spear struck its core, and with a distorted scream, the shadow dissolved into mist.
---
The Forest Responds
The silence that followed was oppressive. My breathing was ragged, my head buzzing with the familiar ache of overused Void Qi. But I didn't have time to recover.
The whispers returned, louder and more mocking than ever. The forest itself seemed to shift, the trees twisting and warping as if reacting to my presence.
The path ahead narrowed, the ground sloping downward into what looked like a ravine. Faint violet light pulsed from the depths, and I could feel the shard's energy calling to me.
'This has to be it,' I thought, forcing myself to move.
---
The Ravine's Guardian
The ravine opened into a cavern, its walls lined with jagged crystals that pulsed faintly with Void energy. At the center of the chamber, embedded in a pedestal of black stone, was the shard.
It was smaller than I'd expected, no larger than my palm, but the energy it radiated was overwhelming.
I stepped forward, but before I could reach it, the air grew heavy. The whispers surged, a cacophony of voices that made my head throb.
A shadow loomed from the far side of the cavern, massive and hulking.
The creature that emerged was nothing like the humanoid figure I'd fought earlier. It was quadrupedal, its body covered in jagged black spikes that pulsed with violet light. Its eyes burned with Void energy, and its growl echoed like thunder in the enclosed space.
A Primal Void Beast.
---
The Battle
The beast wasted no time, lunging toward me with terrifying speed. I activated Voidstep, reappearing behind it just as its claws tore into the stone floor.
It twisted with unnatural agility, its spiked tail whipping toward me. I raised a Void Shield, the barrier absorbing the impact, but the force sent me skidding back.
'This thing's no ordinary guardian,' I thought, my mind racing.
The beast roared, the sound shaking the cavern, and charged again. I summoned a Void Spear, hurling it toward its flank. The spear struck true, but the beast barely flinched.
'It's too resilient,' I realized. 'I'll have to outlast it.'
---
The battle became a game of survival. I dodged and countered, using Voidstep to stay ahead of the beast's relentless attacks. Each strike from its claws or tail carried enough force to shatter stone, and my Void Qi reserves were rapidly depleting.
As the beast lunged again, an idea struck me.
I activated Spatial Lock, freezing the beast mid-charge. Its form jerked violently, the Void energy in its body flaring as it tried to break free.
'This won't hold for long,' I thought, summoning every ounce of Qi I had left.
Focusing on the space around the beast, I extended both hands and channeled Void energy into the air itself. The threads of energy wove together, forming a glowing Void Net that fell over the creature, binding it completely.
The strain of holding both techniques was immense. My head throbbed, my vision blurred, and my legs trembled under the weight of the Void Qi.
But it was enough.
With one final effort, I summoned a Void Spear, pouring everything I had into it. The spear crackled with unstable energy as I hurled it toward the beast's core.
The impact was devastating. The beast let out a deafening roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into black mist that was quickly swallowed by the cavern.
---
Claiming the Shard
The cavern fell silent, the oppressive weight lifting as the beast vanished. I dropped to my knees, my body trembling from exhaustion. My Qi reserves were completely drained, and my head felt like it was splitting open.
But the shard was still there, pulsing faintly with violet light.
I forced myself to stand, staggering toward the pedestal. My fingers closed around the shard, and the moment I touched it, a surge of energy rushed into me.
---
Breakthrough
The Void Qi coursed through my veins, igniting every nerve and forcing my dantian to expand once more. Pain flared through my body, but I embraced it, guiding the energy as it settled into a powerful rhythm.
Breakthrough.
'I've reached the Qi Condensation Realm, 2nd Layer,' I thought, a faint smile breaking through the exhaustion.
The shard left behind more than just power. A new technique unfolded in my mind, its purpose as clear as the energy coursing through me.
I extended my hand, focusing on the space in front of me. The air shimmered, forming a small portal that led into the glowing pocket of space I'd created earlier.
The Space inside..is a bit large
"Pocket Dimension Lv. 2," I muttered, testing the name.
---
Journal Entry (That Night)
The shard was worth every drop of energy it took to claim. Another breakthrough, another step forward. But the Void doesn't give freely—the beast it left in my path was proof of that.
I can feel the Rift's pull growing stronger. The Void is testing me, but I'll pass. I have to.