Finn set off early the next morning, heading eastward, away from the goblin cave and the territories of the Cobalt Clan. Krokk had mentioned during their conversation that the lands to the east were uncharted by the goblins, largely ignored due to their mysterious and potentially dangerous nature. It was precisely this intrigue that drew Finn. The prospect of uncovering new opportunities, challenges, and perhaps power was too enticing to ignore.
For the first few days of his journey, Finn focused on covering as much ground as possible. He travelled with determination, keeping a steady pace while remaining vigilant of his surroundings. The forests grew denser the farther east he ventured, and the terrain became more rugged. The vibrant greenery slowly gave way to an eerie stillness, as if even nature itself was cautious of what lay ahead.
Despite his focus on progress, Finn made time to hunt two monsters each day, ensuring he could fulfil Riven's daily requirement for sacrifices. This ritual had become second nature to him, and while it did not grant him XP, he knew the favour he built with Riven could yield powerful rewards in the future.
Each evening, Finn retreated into his dimensional subspace to rest. The space had proven to be invaluable, offering a safe haven from the dangers of the wilderness. Inside, he could lay down his weapons and relax without the constant threat of ambush. It was a luxury he had never experienced before, and it only fueled his determination to grow stronger.
By the fourth day, Finn began to notice subtle changes in the environment. The trees grew taller and more twisted, their branches forming a near-impenetrable canopy that blocked out much of the sunlight. Strange sounds echoed in the distance—low growls, rustling leaves, and the occasional eerie howl that set his nerves on edge. The air itself felt heavier, charged with an unexplainable energy that made his skin prickle.
This was no ordinary forest. Finn could feel it in his bones. Whatever lay ahead was likely untouched by goblin hands for good reason. Yet, the mystery only deepened his resolve.
"I wonder what secrets this place holds," Finn muttered to himself as he pressed on, his eyes scanning the shadows for movement. Whatever awaited him in this uncharted territory, he was ready to face it head-on.
Walking further, Finn stumbled upon a massive tree with twisted roots and a gaping passage carved into its trunk. The tree seemed ancient, its bark covered in moss and glowing faintly with a soft, green hue. The opening was dark and foreboding, but Finn's curiosity got the better of him.
"Looks like something worth exploring," Finn muttered to himself, gripping his weapon tightly as he stepped inside.
The interior was damp and cool, with water trickling down the walls and roots that hung from above like natural chandeliers. Droplets echoed through the passageway, adding an eerie rhythm to the silence. Despite the unsettling atmosphere, Finn pressed forward, his steps cautious but determined.
Eventually, he came to a fork in the path. Two tunnels stretched before him, each disappearing into shadow. He paused, unsure which way to go, before deciding to test one of his new abilities.
"Time to see what this [Summon Familiar] skill can do," Finn said, focusing his mana.
He felt energy gathering in his chest, spreading outwards to his tattoos. The intricate designs began to glow, pulsating as the mana swirled around him. With a flash of light, a strange entity materialized before him—a shifting mass of gas that flickered with an otherworldly light.
Finn instinctively knew its name and purpose: Shift, a familiar capable of transforming into anything of equal or smaller size than Finn himself.
"Shift, scout the left path," Finn ordered, his voice steady.
The familiar floated silently, its form pulsating slightly as it moved down the left tunnel. Finn waited patiently, his senses on high alert for any signs of danger. After what felt like an hour, Shift returned, its movements communicating what it had found.
"A dead end, huh?" Finn said, nodding. "Good to know."
Satisfied with the information, Finn turned and headed down the right path, Shift trailing behind him. The familiar's presence gave him an odd sense of comfort, a reminder that he wasn't entirely alone in this mysterious place.
Whatever lay at the end of this passage, Finn was ready to face it, knowing that his growing abilities—and his newfound companion—would see him through.
-------
After walking for several minutes, Finn's sharp senses picked up movement ahead. Two humanoid lizards came into view, their scaly green skin glinting faintly in the dim light of the tree's interior. Each lizard wielded a trident their postures alert as they spoke in a guttural, foreign language that Finn couldn't understand
Finn crouched low, observing them carefully. They were clearly guarding this area, and he needed to deal with them quickly
"Shift, sneak up on the one furthest back and bind its legs," Finn whispered, giving his familiar its first real combat order.
The gaseous entity silently floated toward the target, its form shifting as it approached. By the time the lizard noticed something was wrong, it was already too late-Shift had transformed into thick, ethereal bindings, wrapping tightly around the creature's legs and immobilizing it.
The bound lizard thrashed and hissed, drawing the attention of its companion The second lizard turned toward its struggling ally, its focus momentarily diverted. Finn seized the opportunity activating [Teleport (Short)] to close the gap in an instant.
Appearing directly behind the unsuspecting lizard, Finn thrust his dagger into its neck with precision severing vital arteries. The creature gurgled and collapsed to the ground, dead almost instantly.
Turning to the remaining lizard, Finn moved swiftly to assist Shift. The bound lizard lashed out with its trident, but its restricted movement made it easy for Finn to dodge. With a series of quick, calculated strikes, Finn and Shift subdued the creature, finishing it off efficiently.
Breathing heavily, Finn stood over the two corpses. "Not bad," he muttered giving Shift an approving nod before performing the [Sacrifice] skill to send their bodies to Riven.
Feeling a faint surge of satisfaction from the act, Finn pressed on deeper into the passage.
------------
After several more minutes of walking the tunnel widened into a small cavern illuminated by a strange, pulsing glow. Five more humanoid lizards stood in a loose circle, their attention focused on a bizarre, radiant plant growing in the centre of the room
The plant's twisting, luminescent vines coiled around a singular fruit, small but exuding an unnatural, enticing light. It was clear that this plant was important either to the lizards or to whatever force inhabited this place
Finn crouched at the edge of the cavern, assessing the situation. The lizards were armed and alert, their positions spread out just enough to make a direct assault difficult
"Five against one,' Finn whispered, glancing at Shift. "This might be tricky."
He formulated a plan quickly. "Shift, take the form of a distraction- something to draw them away from the plant. =
The familiar shimmered in
acknowledgment, morphing into a small, glowing orb and darting toward the lizards. The sudden movement and light caught their attention, and two of the lizards broke off to investigate
With their group split, Finn activated [Teleport (Short)], appearing behind one of the remaining lizards. Before it could react, he drove his dagger into its spine, silencing it instantly. The others turned in alarm, but Finn was already moving throwing a fireball from his [Elemental Mastery] skill to scatter them further.
The fight was intense but brief. Shift's distraction, combined with Finn's agility and magic, allowed him to pick off the lizards one by one. In the end, the cavern was silent except for the faint hum of the glowing plant
Exhausted but triumphant, Finn stood over the bodies. "This fruit better be worth it," he muttered, sacrificing the lizards' corpses to Riven before turning his attention to the mysterious plant.
__________
If your liking the story so far then you should join the discord.
https://discord.gg/CKNJJdK484