I stand near the settlement's edge, weighing my next move. I have fragments, I have levels, and I've proven my worth. Liss has slipped away after our success in Blackwood Hollow, leaving me to my own devices. The Undead Soldier stands at my shoulder—now UC-Tier, its armor thicker, stance steadier. My battered sword rests in my scabbard, coins jingle in my pouch, and fragments promise greater power if I gather more.
The settlement's center feels cramped today. Adventurers mill around, eyeing quest postings, haggling for potions, or licking their wounds after failed ventures. I'm no longer some clueless newcomer. I've earned a place here, even if no one calls my name or pats my back. They've seen me return from impossible tasks. That's enough.
I approach a ragged merchant stall to see if I can trade some of my loot—scrap metal, plant fibers, antlers, all manner of junk that might fetch a few coins. The merchant, a grizzled man missing an eye, eyes my wares and grunts. He offers a few coins for my Thorn Fur and Enchanted Bark. Not great, but I accept. Every coin helps. With that done, I wander toward the guild hall, a lean-to structure the clerk uses as his office. Maybe he'll have something challenging. I need a reason to push harder. Without that, I'm just standing still.
Inside, dim lantern light falls across a cluttered desk. The clerk looks up when I enter. "You again," he says, voice neutral. "Heard you cleared Blackwood Hollow. Good work." He frowns thoughtfully. "If you're looking for bigger prey, there's a contract that's been gathering dust. Most who tried it never came back."
I raise an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
He leans forward, tapping a parchment. "A sealed shrine deep in the north. Rumor says it's filled with elemental apparitions and undead knights. The prize is a rare summoner's relic. Something that might increase the number of summons you can maintain or unlock a new class skill. At least that's the rumor. The old scribes call it the Shrine of the Last Choir." He shrugs. "Few dare seek it."
A rare relic that could let me maintain more summons at once? That's exactly what I need. If I can control multiple units at once, I'd become more lethal—archer at the back, soldier at the front, maybe something else if I find another scroll. My heart pounds, but I keep my voice steady. "I'll take it."
The clerk slides the parchment over. The text is faded, the writing cramped. It mentions wards that must be broken by collecting three spirit keys scattered in shrines around the region. "You'll need to find these spirit keys first," the clerk says. "They're not going to hand you that relic. You're Level 9, right? Might want to reach Level 10 or more before you face what waits inside."
I consider my resources. I have two lesser healing vials left. My gear is still mediocre. If I'm heading to a sealed shrine guarded by undead knights and elemental apparitions, I should invest in something sharper or sturdier. I nod to the clerk and step out into the settlement again, searching for a blacksmith's sign. I find a corner where a stout woman hammers at heated metal. Her forge is barely more than an anvil and a crude furnace, but maybe she can improve my blade.
She glances up as I approach, looks at my sword, and scowls. "This thing is about to snap. I can rework it with some metal scraps if you got 'em. Make it less likely to break on a monster's skull."
I hand her the scrap metal I collected. She hammers, folds, and grinds. After a short wait, she returns my sword. The blade looks straighter, less brittle. A prompt appears:
Weapon Upgraded: Battered Longsword -> Sturdy Longsword (Common)
Slight increase in damage and durability.
Not a grand weapon, but better than before. I pay her a handful of coins and thank her.
I pick up some cheap healing vials from a traveling apothecary, ignoring his suspicious gaze at my Undead Soldier. A summoner strolling around with a skeletal warrior at his side is not common. Now equipped with a sturdier weapon and a few potions, I consider my next step: locating one of the spirit keys. The clerk mentioned shrines scattered about. I open my overmap. Beyond the settlement, several icons blink, too faint to have noticed before. One stands out: the Emberfang Grove, said to hold a spirit key. It's west, over a range of charred hills.
I confirm travel. The world blurs, depositing me at the edge of a gloomy woodland. The ground crunches underfoot, ash drifting in patches. The Undead Soldier stands ready. My Sturdy Longsword feels balanced in my hand. I move forward until a prompt appears:
Encounter: Ash Wolves (x3). Engage? Yes/No
I sigh, "Yes." The wolves appear as shadowy shapes with ember-like eyes. Turn order: one wolf first, then me, Soldier, the other wolves. The first wolf lunges, snapping at my leg. HP drops from 140 (my new max after leveling) to 125. I swing, cutting into its flank. The Soldier follows, cleaving through the wounded wolf. The second and third wolves dart in, one biting my arm (HP: 110), the other trying for my Soldier (85/90). I parry a strike and slash again, killing the second wolf. The Soldier dispatches the third. Done.
Victory!
+70 EXP
Loot: Ash Fur (2), Charred Fang (1)
I push deeper into Emberfang Grove. The trees here are blackened husks, and the smell is sour. Another prompt pops up after a few steps:
Encounter: Ember Sprites (x2), Blazing Boar (x1)
Yes/No?
I accept. The Sprites fling sparks at me, knocking me to 100 HP. I retaliate, cutting one Sprite down. The Soldier crushes the second. The Boar charges, slamming into my side, HP: 80. I strike back, trading blow for blow until it falls, leaving behind a hunk of charred meat and some glimmering ash. No fragments. Just more minor junk. At least I inch closer to Level 10.
A faint glow in the distance suggests a clearing. I move carefully. The Soldier's footsteps grind softly against charred soil. The clearing holds a small stone structure—a half-collapsed shrine etched with runes. A prompt:
Mini-Boss Encounter: Emberfang Guardian (1)
Yes/No?
If this is where a spirit key lies, I have no choice. "Yes."
The Emberfang Guardian emerges—a hulking beast of blackened bark and molten veins. It stands on two legs, holding a club studded with crystals. Turn order: Guardian first, me second, Soldier third. The Guardian lifts its club and slams it down. A shockwave rattles my bones. HP: 60/140, Soldier: 70/90. I gulp a healing vial mid-fight, back to 100 HP, then slash at the Guardian's trunk-like leg. Minor damage. The Soldier swings, chipping off a chunk of crusted bark. The Guardian snarls and breathes a gout of flame, scorching us. HP: 80/140, Soldier: 50/90. Pain radiates through my shoulders.
I try a different tactic. I use Analyze:
Emberfang Guardian: Weakness to cold attacks, Resistant to fire. HP: Medium-High.
Cold attacks? I have none. Guess I'll rely on brute force. I attack again, carving another line in its bark. The Soldier presses, scoring a deeper wound. The Guardian smashes its club into my Soldier, dropping it to 20/90 HP. My summon won't last another hit. I need to finish this fast. I slash twice, forcing the Guardian to stagger. The Soldier drives its sword home. The Guardian roars and collapses.
Victory!
+200 EXP
Loot: Emberfang Key Fragment (1), Charred Bark (2)
Emberfang Key Fragment (1)? The quest said I need a spirit key. Maybe I must gather pieces of it. A message appears:
Quest Update: Spirit Key (Emberfang) requires 3 Fragments.
Of course it can't be that simple. The shrine behind the Guardian sparkles faintly. I approach it, and a panel of text appears:
Emberfang Shrine: 1/3 Fragments acquired. Seek further guardians in Emberfang Grove.
So I must hunt two more guardians. I check my HP and resources. Low on healing again, and my Soldier is battered. I consider summoning the Archer instead for ranged advantage, but the Soldier's bulk saved my life just now. Maybe I should recall the Soldier and resummon it, giving it full HP. Yes, I dismiss it with a thought. It dissolves in greenish haze. Resummoning the Undead Soldier costs some MP, but I have enough. It reappears fresh and ready.
I push deeper into the grove. Another prompt soon:
Encounter: Charcoal Raptors (x2)
Yes/No?
I sigh, "Yes." The Raptors attack with sharp claws, but my restored Soldier holds them at bay while I strike from behind. Victory. More ash, more worthless loot. I keep moving, looking for signs of another guardian. After several more minor fights—wolves, sprites, boars—I find another clearing. A large stone pillar stands, etched with runes similar to the Emberfang Shrine.
Mini-Boss Encounter: Emberfang Guardian (Variant) (1)
Yes/No?
Variant. Probably stronger. I crack my knuckles and choose "Yes." This guardian looks similar but wields a stone axe instead of a club. We trade blows. It's brutal, costing me both my last healing vial and some HP, but we prevail. It drops another Emberfang Key Fragment. One more to go.
Leveling up mid-battle helps. I hit Level 10, HP climbing to 160/160, MP up too. The Soldier also scales, tougher than before. Now I can handle more. After another stretch of ash-covered ground and a few more encounters, I find the last clearing. Another guardian, another vicious fight, but with careful strikes and the Soldier's unwavering sword arm, I bring it down. The third Emberfang Key Fragment falls into my hand. The fragments merge automatically:
Spirit Key (Emberfang) Formed.
Perfect. Now I have one of the three keys needed for the sealed shrine. The overmap shimmers. I return to the settlement, battered but victorious. The clerk, surprised at my quick return, only shakes his head. I don't bother to explain. I have one key down, two more to find. With a Spirit Key in hand and Level 10 under my belt, I'm closer to claiming the relic that can let me summon multiple units at once.
I stand alone near the settlement wall, the Undead Soldier at my side. The path forward is clear. I've tasted teamwork with Liss, fought tough guardians alone, and upgraded my summon. Soon I'll have a real army at my command. The sealed shrine awaits.