A pack of Spectral Stalkers emerged from the mist, their translucent forms flickering like phantoms. Their glowing eyes locked onto the pair, and they moved with an eerie silence.
"Ghost wolves?" Zephyroth asked, gripping his dagger.
"Not ghosts," Kyra corrected. "They're ethereal. Physical attacks won't do much—unless you can hit their cores."
Their cores—small, glowing orbs deep within their chests—pulsed faintly. The wolves circled, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Got a plan, rookie?" Kyra asked.
Zephyroth nodded. "Distract them. I'll go for the cores."
Kyra smirked. "I like your confidence. Let's hope you don't die."
As Kyra loosed a volley of arrows, Zephyroth activated Reactive Reflexes and darted toward the nearest wolf. Its movements were fast, but his heightened senses allowed him to anticipate its attack. He slid under its claws and drove his dagger toward its core, but the blade passed through harmlessly.
"Damn it!" he cursed.
---
[New Ability Unlocked: Ethereal Strike. Allows attacks to bypass intangible defenses.]
---
Zephyroth's dagger glowed faintly as the system activated the new ability. He slashed again, and this time, the blade struck true. The wolf howled as its core shattered, its body dissolving into mist.
"Nice trick!" Kyra called, taking down another wolf with a well-placed shot.
The battle was intense, each movement requiring precision and timing. By the end, the ground was littered with faint traces of mist, and Zephyroth and Kyra stood victorious but exhausted.
---
[Quest Completed: Survive the Forest's Core. Reward: Skill Advancement—Ethereal Strike Level 2.]
---
"You're full of surprises, rookie," Kyra said, offering him a hand. "Maybe you'll survive after all."
Zephyroth took her hand, a faint smile on his lips. "Maybe."