Ethan tightened the straps on his scavenger's bag as he followed Kael through the narrow streets of Fortress Haven. The Shadow Wolf cub padded quietly beside him, its glowing yellow eyes darting back and forth, constantly alert. Kael walked ahead with a practiced ease, her swords clinking softly against her armor.
"So, kid," Kael said without turning around, "what's your deal? You don't strike me as the typical greenhorn."
Ethan's hand instinctively went to the rusted dagger at his hip. "What do you mean?"
Kael glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "You've got the look of someone who's been kicked around but hasn't given up. That's rare."
Ethan didn't respond, his gaze fixed ahead. He wasn't interested in sharing his life story, especially not with a stranger. Kael seemed to sense his reluctance and let the conversation drop, her smirk lingering as they approached the city gates.
The guards at the gate eyed them warily but waved them through without incident. Beyond the walls, the world stretched out in an endless expanse of untamed wilderness. The Wailing Forest lay a short trek to the east, its name whispered with equal parts awe and dread among hunters.
As they walked, the Shadow Wolf cub nudged Ethan's leg, letting out a soft whine. He crouched down, scratching behind its ears. "You feeling okay?" The cub's tail wagged slightly before it trotted ahead, sniffing the air.
Kael watched the exchange with interest. "Cute companion. Shadow Wolves are rare, especially for someone at your level. How'd you get it?"
Ethan straightened, his expression unreadable. "Luck."
Kael raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Fair enough. Just make sure it doesn't slow you down."
The Wailing Forest loomed ahead, its towering trees casting long shadows across the ground. The air grew colder as they entered, the faint sound of whispers drifting on the wind. Ethan's grip tightened on his dagger as he scanned the dense underbrush. The Shadow Wolf cub's ears twitched, its body tense.
Kael stopped abruptly, holding up a hand. "We're close. Keep your eyes open."
Ethan nodded, his heart pounding. The System's interface flickered to life, displaying a new notification:
"Dungeon Entered: Wailing Forest (E-Rank). Objective: Defeat the Forest Warden and claim its core."
Kael glanced at him as they moved deeper into the forest. "Stick close. This place has a way of separating groups if you're not careful."
Ethan fell into step behind her, his senses on high alert. The whispers grew louder, an eerie melody that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Suddenly, the Shadow Wolf cub growled, its fur bristling.
"Something's coming," Ethan said, his voice low.
Kael drew her swords, her stance shifting. "Ready yourself."
The underbrush rustled violently, and three figures emerged. They were humanoid in shape but twisted and malformed, their bark-like skin blending seamlessly with the trees around them. Their hollow eyes glowed with a faint green light, and their elongated fingers ended in razor-sharp claws.
"Analysis: Forest Shades. HP: 30. Weakness: Fire."
"Fire? Great," Ethan muttered, raising his dagger. He had no fire-based attacks, but Arcane Slash would have to do.
Kael charged first, her blades flashing as she struck the nearest Shade. The creature shrieked, green ichor spilling from its wounds. Ethan followed her lead, activating Arcane Slash as he lunged at another Shade. The glowing blade cut deep, and the System chimed:
"-15 HP. Remaining HP: 15."
The Shade retaliated, its claws slashing through the air. Ethan barely dodged, the tips grazing his arm. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth and struck again. The Shade dissolved into black mist, leaving behind a small, glowing crystal.
"+10 EXP. Monster Material Acquired."
Kael dispatched the last Shade with brutal efficiency, wiping her blades clean on the grass. "Not bad, kid," she said, glancing at him. "But you'll need to pick up the pace if you want to survive here."
Ethan ignored her, retrieving the crystal and slipping it into his bag. The Shadow Wolf cub trotted over, sniffing the air where the creatures had fallen before returning to his side.
They continued deeper into the forest, encountering more Forest Shades along the way. Each fight left Ethan more exhausted, but he felt himself improving with every encounter. The Shadow Wolf cub proved invaluable, using Shadow Blink to disorient enemies and Minor Bite to deliver precise, damaging attacks.
By the time they reached the heart of the forest, Ethan's System interface displayed his progress:
"Level 3. Experience: 90/300. Stat Points Available: 3."
Kael stopped beside a massive tree with gnarled roots that twisted across the ground like skeletal fingers. "This is it," she said, gesturing toward a clearing ahead. "The Forest Warden's lair. Ready?"
Ethan glanced at the Shadow Wolf cub, its glowing eyes fixed on the clearing. He nodded, tightening his grip on his dagger. "Let's do this."
As they stepped into the clearing, the whispers ceased. The air grew still, heavy with anticipation. At the center of the clearing stood the Forest Warden, a towering creature made of twisted vines and bark. Its glowing green eyes locked onto them, and it let out a deep, guttural roar that shook the ground.
"Analysis: Forest Warden. HP: 200. Weakness: Fire. Threat Level: Moderate."
Kael smirked, her blades gleaming. "I'll draw its attention. You and your wolf hit it from the sides."
Ethan nodded, adrenaline surging through him. The Shadow Wolf cub vanished into the shadows, its form flickering as it prepared to strike. Kael charged forward, her swords clashing against the Warden's bark-like skin. The creature roared, swinging a massive arm at her, but she dodged with practiced ease.
Ethan circled around, activating Arcane Slash. The glowing blade bit into the Warden's side, black ichor spilling from the wound. The System chimed:
"-20 HP. Remaining HP: 180."
The Shadow Wolf reappeared behind the Warden, sinking its teeth into the creature's leg. The Warden howled, thrashing violently. Ethan seized the opportunity to strike again, his dagger slicing through the vines that made up its body.
"-20 HP. Remaining HP: 160."
The fight was chaotic and brutal, the Warden's attacks relentless. Ethan's HP dropped dangerously low, forcing him to use his Health Potion to stay in the fight. Kael moved like a blur, her swords cutting deep gashes into the creature.
Finally, with one last coordinated attack, Ethan and the Shadow Wolf struck simultaneously. His Arcane Slash severed the Warden's arm, while the cub's jaws clamped onto its neck. The creature let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into black mist.
The System's voice rang out:
"Boss Defeated. Reward: +100 EXP. +3 Stat Points. Unique Item Acquired: Warden's Core."
Ethan dropped to one knee, his chest heaving as he stared at the glowing core left behind. The Shadow Wolf trotted over, nuzzling his side. Kael approached, a satisfied grin on her face.
"Not bad, kid," she said. "Not bad at all."