Morning arrives, but the sun remains hidden behind thick clouds. The air is chilly, carrying the dampness of yesterday's rain, and the ground is a muddy mess. Ethan stands guard, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings as he checks his updated status.
__________________________________
Status:
Name:.Ethan Cross
Level:10
Status: Decrepit Undead
Attributes:
- Strength:14
- Agility: 31
- Intelligence: 12
- Dexterity: 4
- Perception: 8
- Endurance: 10
Health: 500/500
Mana: 200/200
Inventory:
- Weapon: Kensei Katana
- Clothing: Officer's Uniform (0 Armor)
- Coins: 2,600 (Debt: -15,400)
- Points: 40
___________________________________
Ethan's eyes linger on the number of points he's earned before noticing a new panel:
Heroes
Curious, he presses it, and a message pops up:
PING
"Heroes section - It allows one to equip and alter the composition and strength of his team."
Ethan raises an eyebrow.
".....Ah, so I can do this,"
he mutters, glancing at the Bone Guard standing nearby. Then his gaze shifts to Ferox, who's sitting by the muddy lake, his massive frame looking as grumpy as ever.
"Hmmm"
Ethan hums, pressing the system interface forward and sending an invite toward Ferox.
PING
Ferox startles at the sudden appearance of the screen. Without hesitation, he tries to smash it with his shovel, only to slip on the muddy ground and fall face-first into the lake.
".....BOY!"
Ferox roars, his voice echoing through the forest as he pulls himself out of the water, dripping and furious.
Ethan can't help but laugh.
"Sorry, sorry, my bad, old man!"
Ferox grunts, shaking off the mud as he glares at the screen still floating in front of him.
"....What is this?"
he asks, his tone a mix of confusion and suspicions
"...It's an invite" Ethan explains, trying to keep a straight face.
"An invite?" Ferox growls, his eyes narrowing.
"Yep"
Ethan says with a grin.
"Join my team. It should help us get out of this forest."
Ferox is reluctant but decides to trust Ethan. "What should I do?" he asks, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
"Press Yes"
Ethan replies, gesturing to the glowing button on the screen.
Ferox grumbles but complies, pressing the button with a heavy finger. Instantly, he feels a strange connection form between himself, Ethan, and the Bone Guard. A faint glow surrounds each of them, and their health and mana bars become visible to one another.
"....Damn"
Ethan mutters, his eyes widening as he takes in Ferox's stats. The Minotaur's health is a whopping 7,000, while his mana sits at a modest 100
Ferox looks at Ethan, then at the Bone Guard, his expression skeptical.
"I don't understand how this is supposed to help," he says, crossing his massive arms.
"It's mostly a way to keep track of all of us,"
Ethan explains.
"Plus, that's not all. Press your icon."
He points to the small image of Ferox on the screen. Ferox hesitates but taps it, revealing a simplified version of his status:
_____________________________________________
Ferox's Status:
Name: Ferox
Level: 20
Status: Minotaur
Attributes:
- Strength: 80
- Agility: 18
- Intelligence: 8
- Dexterity: 12
- Perception: 10
- Endurance: 40
Health: 7,000/7,000
Mana: 100/100
Abilities:
- Earthshatter (Active): Slams the ground with immense force, creating a shockwave that damages and stuns enemies.
- Unbreakable (Passive):** Reduces incoming damage by 20% when health falls below 30%.
_____________________________________________
Ferox stares at the screen, his brow furrowing as he processes the information.
"Hmph. Not bad"
he admits, though his tone suggests he's still not entirely convinced.
Ethan grins.
"See? Now we can keep an eye on each other and make sure no one gets left behind."
The Bone Guard's jaw clicks softly, its purple eyes glowing faintly as it observes the new connection.
Ethan suddenly remembers Selene, still resting in her coffin. He quickly presses against his screen, sending the team invite her way.
BANG
The lid of the coffin flies open as Selene sits up, her violet eyes narrowing at Ethan.
"You mean to disturb me like this?"
her voice sharp but tinged with curiosity and a bit of annoyance
Ethan quickly joins his hands in a gesture of apology.
"My apologies"
he says, trying to sound sincere.
Selene sighs but presses the glowing button on the screen. Instantly, the connection between the team solidifies, and they all feel a surge of pure mana flowing from her.
"....A man of many surprises, you are, Ethan," Selene remarks, her tone softening as she steps out of the coffin.
The team's interface updates, revealing Selene's stats. Her health pool is modest at 2,000 but her mana pool is staggering 4,000, an amount that seems almost limitless.
"....How in the world do you have that much?" Ethan asks, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Selene simply smiles, her expression enigmatic. She presses her icon, revealing her simplified status:
____________________________________________
Selene's Status:
Name: Selene
Level: 14
Status: Vampire
Attributes:
- Strength: 9
- Agility: 10
- Intelligence: 60
- Dexterity: 8
- Perception: 15
- Endurance: 15
Health: 2,000/2,000
Mana: 4,000/4,000
Abilities:
- Blood Pact (Active): Drains health from enemies to restore her own.
- Mana Surge (Passive): Regenerates mana at an accelerated rate.
- Shadow Veil (Active): Cloaks herself in shadows, becoming invisible for a short duration.
Psychic Aura (Active): channels an immense psychic energy, creating a powerful aura that radiates from her body. The aura enhances the mental and physical capabilities of her allies while being able to interact with objects
________________________________________
"Not bad"
Ferox nods though his tone suggests he's more impressed than he'd like to admit.
Ethan shakes his head, still processing the sheer size of Selene's mana pool.
"You're going to be a game-changer in battles,"
Selene smirks, her violet eyes gleaming.
"I've had centuries to refine my abilities. It's only natural."
With Selene now part of the team, the group feels more balanced than ever. Each member brings something unique to the table, and for the first time in a while Ethan feels a sense of joy and nostalgia.Ethan them looks toward the dense forest ahead, his expression thoughtful. He sits down and begins drawing in the dirt with a stick, sketching a rough map of their path.
"We should stay here a bit longer"
he says, his voice calm but serious.
"After this, there are no more fountains or safe places to rest."
Ferox and Selene exchange glances, both noting the gravity of Ethan's words. The journey ahead will be relentless, with no reprieve from the dangers of the Hollow Forest.
"....I guess we'll just have to hope for the best" Selene says softly, her violet eyes flickering with a mix of determination and unease.
Ferox grunts, leaning on his shovel.
"Hope won't keep us alive. But staying sharp will."
Ethan nods, his gaze lingering on the crude map in the dirt.
"We'll need to be ready for anything. Rest while you can- once we move, there's no turning back."
The group falls silent, the weight of their situation settling over them. The forest looms ahead, its twisted trees and eerie mist a constant reminder of the challenges they'll face. But for now, they take a moment to breathe, to prepare, and to steel themselves for what lies ahead.