Chapter 12: The Wailing Hollow
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a pale silver glow over the forest as Liam adjusted the straps on his newly acquired Ironhide Chestplate. The armor was heavier than his previous gear but provided a sense of security he hadn't felt before. Ahead of him lay the entrance to the Wailing Hollow, the first major hurdle on his journey to the Sanctum of Echoes.
The forest path leading to the hollow was eerily quiet. Even the chirping of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl were absent, replaced by a deep, unsettling silence. Liam gripped his sword tightly as he approached the gnarled archway of trees that marked the boundary of the Wailing Hollow.
[System Notification: You are entering a High-Risk Zone: Wailing Hollow.]
• Recommended Level: 25+
• Warning: Frequent Elite and Rare monsters detected.
Liam's heart thudded in his chest as he stepped through the archway. The air inside the hollow was colder, carrying with it a faint, mournful sound that seemed to emanate from the trees themselves. The branches swayed despite the lack of wind, and the faint glow of ghostly wisps flickered in the distance.
"This place is straight out of a horror movie," Liam muttered, activating Primordial Insight to scan his surroundings.
First Encounter
As Liam moved deeper into the hollow, the ground beneath his feet turned soft and marshy, forcing him to watch his step. Suddenly, the mournful wailing grew louder, and three ghostly figures materialized ahead.
[Wailing Specter]
• Level: 20
• HP: 3,000
• Skills: Life Drain, Phantasmal Shriek
The specters hovered a few feet above the ground, their translucent forms rippling like smoke. Their hollow eyes locked onto Liam, and a chilling screech pierced the air, causing his health bar to drop slightly.
[Status Effect: Phantasmal Shriek – Minor Fear (Duration: 5 seconds)]
Liam's grip on his sword tightened as he fought off the fear debuff, activating Shadowstrike to close the distance between himself and the nearest specter. His blade sliced through the ghostly form, dealing significant damage but not destroying it.
The specters retaliated, their claws raking at him with spectral energy. Liam's new chestplate absorbed much of the damage, but his health still dropped dangerously low. He quickly activated Blade Dance, his strikes carving through the specters in a whirlwind of steel.
[Combat Summary:
• Monsters Defeated: Wailing Specter (x3)
• Experience Gained: 7,500
• Loot Acquired: Ectoplasmic Shard (Uncommon, x2), Silver Coins (x5)]
Breathing heavily, Liam sheathed his sword and checked his inventory. The ectoplasmic shards were crafting materials often used in enchanting, though he didn't have the skills to utilize them yet.
"This place doesn't mess around," he muttered, downing a healing potion to recover his HP.
The Hidden Altar
As Liam pressed on, he noticed that the ghostly wails grew louder and more frequent. His Primordial Insight revealed faint traces of magical energy leading off the main path. Curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to investigate.
The trail led him to a small clearing where a crumbling stone altar stood. The structure was covered in moss and glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the dark.
[System Notification: You have discovered a Hidden Event: Forgotten Altar of Mourning.]
• Objective: Offer an item of value to the altar to receive a blessing or curse.
• Warning: Outcome is unpredictable.
Liam hesitated. Hidden events like this were rare and often rewarding, but the warning about potential curses gave him pause. After a moment of deliberation, he retrieved one of the Ectoplasmic Shards from his inventory and placed it on the altar.
The runes flared brightly, and the wailing sound intensified, reaching a crescendo before abruptly ceasing.
[System Notification: Blessing Received: Spectral Veil.]
• Spectral Veil: Reduces damage from ghost-type enemies by 20%. Duration: 2 hours.
Liam let out a breath of relief. "That could've gone worse."
The blessing would prove invaluable in a place like this, where ghost-type enemies were the primary threat.
The Midnight Stalker
Continuing his journey, Liam's path took him deeper into the hollow, where the trees grew denser and the air heavier. As he moved cautiously, he heard the faint sound of footsteps behind him. He spun around, but nothing was there.
A chill ran down his spine as his Primordial Insight revealed a hidden presence. The ability allowed him to perceive faint outlines of a creature cloaked in invisibility.
[Midnight Stalker]
• Level: 24 (Elite)
• HP: 8,000
• Skills: Shadow Cloak, Ambush, Savage Bite
The creature was circling him, its stealth making it almost impossible to pinpoint. Liam activated Primordial Insight again, focusing on the faint outline as he prepared for the inevitable attack.
The Midnight Stalker struck from the shadows, its claws raking across Liam's back. He stumbled but managed to roll away, activating Shadowstrike to counter. The creature dodged effortlessly, retreating into the shadows once more.
"This is going to be tricky," Liam muttered, keeping his guard up.
Using his Blade Dance skill, Liam created a defensive zone, forcing the creature to reveal itself to attack. The tactic worked, and the Midnight Stalker lunged at him. This time, Liam was ready. He parried its strike and followed up with a devastating combo, his blade glowing with energy as he dealt a critical hit.
[Critical Hit! 3,000 Damage Dealt.]
The fight was grueling, but with careful timing and the Spectral Veil blessing reducing the damage he took, Liam eventually brought the beast down.
[Combat Summary:
• Monster Defeated: Midnight Stalker (Elite)
• Experience Gained: 12,000
• Loot Acquired: Shadowfang Dagger (Rare), Gold Coins (x2)]
Liam examined the dagger, its sleek black blade emitting a faint dark aura.
[Shadowfang Dagger]
• Rank: Rare
• Attack Power: +40
• Special Effect: 10% chance to inflict Bleed on hit.
Though he wasn't a dual-wielding class, Liam kept the dagger in his inventory. Its unique effect might come in handy later.
A Moment of Respite
After the intense battle, Liam found a small cave to rest in. He lit a fire, cooked some rations, and took stock of his progress.
Player Stats:
• Level: 20
• Experience: 35% to Level 21
• Free Attribute Points: 40
• Skills:
• Shadowstrike (EX): Level 12
• Primordial Insight (EX): Level 9
• Blade Dance (A): Level 9
The journey through the Wailing Hollow was proving to be as dangerous as the ranger had warned, but Liam felt more confident with each encounter.
As he stared into the flames, he couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. The Sanctum of Echoes still felt impossibly far, but each step brought him closer to uncovering its secrets—and to shaping his destiny within Eternal Dominion.
For now, though, Liam allowed himself a moment of rest, knowing that the challenges of the hollow were far from over.