Chapter 3: The Depths of Veilwood
The morning air was thick with mist as Lior and Sylwen followed the traveler’s trail deeper into the Veilwood. The forest had always carried an air of mystery, its trees ancient and whispering with unseen voices. But today, something was wrong.
The shadows stretched too long. The air carried a faint, metallic scent. And the deeper they ventured, the more the silence pressed against them.
Lior tightened his grip on his daggers, his mind still reeling from the previous night. The Devour Essence ability had awakened something inside him—something powerful, yet uncertain. He could still feel the lingering pulse of the grimhound’s energy within him, coiled like a waiting serpent.
“You’re quiet,” Sylwen noted as she walked beside him, her bow drawn.
Lior exhaled slowly. “Just thinking.”
She glanced at him, her emerald eyes sharp. “About what you did last night?”
He hesitated. “Yes. And about what it means.”
Sylwen nodded but said nothing more. She had always been direct, but she also knew when to let silence speak.
The trail ended abruptly at a ridge, overlooking a rocky gorge hidden within the depths of the forest. At the center, carved into the stone, loomed the entrance of a cave—its mouth wide and dark, exhaling a cold wind that sent a shiver down Lior’s spine.
“This wasn’t on any elven maps,” Sylwen murmured.
Lior crouched, inspecting the stonework around the entrance. Though worn by time, faint markings were still visible—runes etched into the rock, their shapes jagged and unfamiliar. He traced one with his finger, and at his touch, it pulsed faintly with crimson light.
A notification flared in his vision.
Dungeon Discovered: Hollow of the Forsaken
Recommended Level: 15+
Lior’s stomach twisted. He was only Level 6. Sylwen wasn’t much higher. This place was far beyond their ability.
“We shouldn’t go in,” he said, standing quickly. “This isn’t some forgotten ruin. It’s a dungeon.”
Sylwen frowned. “You think it’s connected to the traveler?”
“Maybe,” Lior admitted. “Or maybe something worse.”
But even as he spoke, the cavern pulled at him. There was a weight in the air, something beyond just danger. A presence.
And then the growl came.
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From the darkness of the cave, two shapes emerged—twisted, emaciated creatures with elongated limbs and hollow eyes that glowed red. Their claws scraped against the stone, their movements jerky and unnatural.
[Forsaken Thralls - Level 8]
“They’ve seen us!” Sylwen hissed, nocking an arrow in an instant.
Lior’s body moved before his mind could catch up. He lunged forward, daggers flashing.
[Twin Fang Strike] Activated.
His blades carved into the first thrall’s throat, black ichor spraying as the creature let out a strangled shriek. It swiped wildly at him, but he twisted away, feeling the familiar rush of combat take over.
Sylwen loosed an arrow, striking the second thrall in the eye. It staggered, snarling, but before it could recover, Lior closed the distance and drove his dagger into its chest.
The thralls collapsed, their bodies twitching before falling still.
Lior knelt beside one, his heart pounding. He hesitated—then pressed his hand over the creature’s chest.
Essence Absorbed.
Progress to Evolution: 4%
A surge of energy shot through him—stronger than before. His senses sharpened. His breath came easier. He felt... faster.
Sylwen watched him carefully. “You really are absorbing their essence.”
Lior stood, exhaling. “I don’t know how or why. But it’s working.”
She studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Then we use it.”
Lior blinked. “You’re not afraid?”
Sylwen’s lips curled into a smirk. “I’d be more afraid if you didn’t keep up with me in there.” She gestured toward the cave. “Because we’re going in.”
Into the Depths
The dungeon swallowed them in darkness. The air was damp, thick with the scent of decay and something older—something foul.
They moved carefully, their steps echoing along the stone walls. The deeper they went, the clearer the corruption became. Piles of bones littered the ground, and strange, pulsating growths clung to the walls like tumors.
Then came the next wave.
Forsaken Thralls emerged from the gloom—four this time, their gaunt forms twisted and writhing.
Sylwen was faster. She loosed an arrow before the creatures could react, striking one through the skull. Lior followed, weaving between them as his daggers found flesh.
One clawed at his arm, but he rolled away, countering with a swift stab to its gut. As the last thrall fell, he reached out once more.
Essence Absorbed.
Progress to Evolution: 9%
The energy filled him again, this time stronger. He clenched his fists, feeling power coil in his muscles.
They pressed on, battling their way through winding tunnels and shadowed corridors. Each victory brought new strength, but also deeper unease.
The creatures weren’t just wandering. They were guarding something.
At last, they reached a massive chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow. At the far end stood an enormous, rusted door, adorned with chains that pulsed with dark energy. Symbols lined its surface, the same infernal runes Lior had seen at the entrance.
And before the door, kneeling as if in silent worship, was a figure draped in blackened robes.
As they stepped forward, the figure stirred. Slowly, it rose—its face hidden beneath a hood, but its voice a rasping whisper that sent chills down Lior’s spine.
“You are not meant to be here.”
A notification flared before Lior’s eyes.
Dungeon Boss Encounter: The Forsaken Acolyte - Level 18
Lior’s pulse pounded in his ears. This was it. The final battle before the truth behind this place was revealed.
Sylwen’s hand tightened on her bow. “Lior... we might not be strong enough for this.”
Lior took a slow breath, feeling the stolen strength within him. He didn’t know if they could win.
But he knew they had to try.
He drew his daggers, his golden eyes glowing in the darkness.
“Then let’s make it count.”
The acolyte raised its hands.
The chains on the door rattled.
And the battle began.
