When I came in to, the clearing was still glowing with that soft, eerie light of the Glowshrooms. The Mushroom King's massive body lay where it had fallen, its spongy form already breaking down into glowing spores. The faint shimmer in the air gave the scene an almost magical feel, though my aching muscles quickly reminded me how real the fight had been.
I sat up slowly, wincing as my arms and legs protested. Everything hurts, but the pride of victory was a strong enough salve to keep me moving.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have gained a Boss Relic Shard.
In my hand, a small fragment of glowing crystal materialized. It was warm, pulsing gently like a heartbeat.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Relic Shards are powerful artifacts left behind by Boss Monsters. Collect and fuse them to create Legendary Relics.
"Legendary, huh?" I said aloud, holding the shard up to catch the faint light. It sparkled faintly, its golden hue making it look like a treasure out of a storybook. "Not bad for a baby ogre."
The system wasn't done with its notifications:
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Skill Acquired: Spore Manipulation (Level 1).
"Spore Manipulation?" I repeated, curious. I focused on the new skill, and a small window opened in my mind, listing its abilities:
Spore Cloud: Release a cloud of spores to obscure vision and hinder enemies.
Spore Burst: Trigger an explosion of spores to deal minor area damage.
I couldn't help but grin. "Now this is something I can work with."
---
Before I could test my new powers, the ground beneath the Mushroom King's body trembled. My heart leapt as I scrambled to my feet, expecting the worst. But instead of the monster springing back to life, a large bulbous pod pushed its way out of the remains.
It was unlike anything I'd seen before, pulsating softly like a heartbeat. The surface glimmered faintly, and the air around it felt heavy with energy.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have discovered a Spore Pod. Do you wish to harvest it?
"Yes, please," I said without hesitation.
The pod cracked open with a wet, squelching sound, releasing a burst of golden light. I shielded my eyes, blinking as the glow subsided to reveal several items:
1. Glowshroom Spores – Seeds for growing Glowshrooms.
2. Boss Relic Shard (x1) – Another piece of the mysterious relic.
3. Rare Material: Luminescent Mycelium – A magical crafting material.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Resource Node Depleted: Glowshrooms will not regenerate for 30 days.
"Guess I'd better use these wisely," I muttered, tucking the items into my makeshift pouch—a tattered scrap of cloth tied around my waist.
---
The forest felt different as I made my way back to the cave. The air was lighter, the usual oppressive atmosphere noticeably absent. It was as if defeating the Mushroom King had somehow lifted a curse from the area.
I stopped in a small clearing to try out my new skill. Concentrating, I activated Spore Cloud. A faint golden mist began to swirl around me, thickening into a dense fog that blocked my vision.
"Not bad," I muttered, waving a hand to clear the air. Unfortunately, I inhaled a bit of the mist and immediately coughed. "Okay, note to self: don't stand in your own cloud."
Next, I tried Spore Burst. A small explosion erupted a few feet away, scattering glowing particles in every direction. It wasn't particularly strong, but the potential was clear.
Grinning, I dusted off my hands and continued toward the cave.
---
The familiar sounds of bickering reached me as I neared the cave entrance. Inside, the adults were squabbling over scraps of food, as usual. Grumpy, sitting by the fire, glanced up as I walked in. His eyes locked onto the glowing shard in my hand, narrowing with suspicion.
"What's that?" he growled, his tone sharp.
"Just something I picked up," I said casually, holding the shard up so it caught the light.
Grumpy's jaw tightened, and I could practically see the gears turning in his head. "You think you're better than us, runt?"
I sighed. It seemed Grumpy had a one-track mind when it came to finding reasons to hate me.
Before things could escalate, the leader of the group stepped forward. He was the biggest of the adults, with broad shoulders and a deep scar running down his face. His sheer size and calm confidence silenced the rest of the cave.
"What's going on?" he rumbled, his voice low and commanding.
"Nothing," I said quickly, slipping the shard into my pouch. "I brought back some food."
I pulled out one of the Glowshroom caps I'd harvested and tossed it toward the group. They eyed it suspiciously at first, but the leader took a bite, his expression shifting from caution to surprise.
"This… this is good," he said, his voice full of approval.
The others swarmed him, grabbing at the Glowshroom and tearing off pieces to eat. The usual grumbles of discontent were replaced by the sound of satisfied chewing, and for the first time since I'd joined them, no one seemed to be glaring at me.
"Looks like I'm useful after all," I muttered, leaning against the cave wall with a small smile.
---
That night, as the others slept, I sat near the cave entrance, staring out at the moonlit forest. The events of the day played over in my mind, each victory filling me with a quiet sense of pride.
I had survived a boss fight, gained a new skill, and even earned a bit of respect from the group. But deep down, I knew this was just the start.
Clutching the Boss Relic Shard, I whispered to the night, "This baby ogre's just getting started."