Echoed Lands

Colm made his choice as he inched out of the crevice while the beast remained preoccupied with its fresh wounds. Moving carefully, deliberately, he aimed to make it hesitate—force it to second-guess its next move. He had already seen it put distance between them, its posture shifting as if preparing to retreat. With how effortlessly it had torn through his phantoms, he couldn't afford to waste this opportunity. His mana was running low—he had no time to stall, no room for hesitation.

I may never get another chance at this, he grunted, muscles coiled with determination.

The creature's rage-filled gaze locked onto him, unyielding. But Colm didn't flinch. He pressed forward, summoning his Phantom Spearman and positioning it for a decisive strike—its spear aimed straight for the monster's skull.

As his mana drained, Colm stumbled slightly, and the beast noticed, going instantly alert. It saw the descending spearman and shifted its weight just in time, taking the blow to its shoulder instead of its head. Recovering quickly, Colm activated his Phantom Warrior ability to appear beneath the beast, aiming for its other massive paw as it staggered from the spearman's strike. The warrior phased in and delivered a quick, devastating blow to the paw, slicing deeply before rolling clear to avoid retaliation.

Now, the spearman and the warrior stood ready, poised for their last stand. Reeling from its injuries, the beast barely held on, but its determination refused to falter. It advanced toward the phantoms, and instinctively, they split up, flanking the creature on both sides. The beast lunged and swiped at one phantom, only for it to dodge and counter, while the phantom from behind struck true, drawing another pained roar from the creature. Enraged and losing all sense of strategy, it whirled to target the attacker from behind, mindless and furious.

Using the distraction, Colm slipped quietly out of the crevice. If my phantoms fall, I'll have to finish it myself, he thought, creeping closer with every step. Pushing his Stealth to the limit, he inched toward the beast's severed paw. Those claws are sharp, but I'll need to be beside it to use them. Hopefully, it won't come to that—but I need to be ready.

He climbed into a nearby tree, positioning himself above, and signaled his phantoms to lure the beast closer to the tree with their attacks. The phantoms responded, pulling the creature into position as Colm readied himself above for the last strike.

Colm observed the battle below, his thoughts sharp with tension. One misstep and my phantoms will be destroyed. Even though the beast is slowing, there's still incredible power behind each swipe, he thought. His phantoms moved carefully, dodging each brutal swing, knowing that a single hit could end them.

Just as the Phantom Warrior struck the beast's flank once more, it unleashed a loud guttural roar that made Colm feel disoriented. Not again, he thought, gripping the branch with sheer determination as his phantoms faltered, momentarily stunned by the roar. His eyes narrowed as the beast turned toward the spearman, ready to strike. It'll overextend with this swipe—it'll be vulnerable.

As if on cue, the beast swung sluggishly at the staggered spearman. Colm seized the moment, leaping from the tree with the beast's severed paw clenched tightly in his hand, each claw poised like a dagger. He landed squarely on the creature's skull, driving the claws deep into its head with every ounce of strength.

Your Phantom Spearman has been destroyed.

With a final, shuddering gasp, the beast collapsed, its massive form going still and lifeless. "We did it…" Colm whispered through ragged breaths. Seeing a flood of new notifications cloud his vision.

[ Skill Acquired ]

Sprint Mastery (Level 1) - Through sheer will and unrelenting speed, you've pushed yourself to run faster and longer than you thought possible. Your endurance and agility have reached new heights. Sprinting now consumes less stamina, allowing you to maintain speed with greater ease.

Sprint Mastery (Level 1) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 2)

Sprint Mastery (Level 2) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 3)

Sprint Mastery (Level 3) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 4)

Sprint Mastery (Level 4) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 5)

Sprint Mastery (Level 5) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 6)

Sprint Mastery (Level 6) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 7)

Sprint Mastery (Level 7) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 8)

Sprint Mastery (Level 8) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 9)

Sprint Mastery (Level 9) is now Sprint Mastery (Level 10)

Phantom Spearman (Level 6) is now Phantom Spearman (Level 7)

Phantom Spearman (Level 7) is now Phantom Spearman (Level 8)

Phantom Warrior (Level 7) is now Phantom Warrior (Level 8)

Phantom Warrior (Level 8) is now Phantom Warrior (Level 9)

Stealth (Level 5) is now Stealth (Level 6)

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Grove Stalker (Level 50) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

[ Achievement Earned ]

Blessing of the Wilds - You have endured the relentless onslaught of the Grove Stalker, surviving its fury and ferocity. Whether by sheer luck or skill, you have proven your resilience and earned the respect of the wilds.

Stat Boost: Grants a 5% increase to dexterity.

[ Loot Acquired: Claw of Grove Stalker ]

A remnant of the fearsome Grove Stalker, this claw pulses with primal energy, imbued with the creature's fierce survival instincts. Its sharpened edge and latent power make it ideal for weapon crafting, carrying with it the wild strength of the stalker's spirit.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Colm collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily as he processed the flood of notifications from the drawn-out battle. Glancing over at his spirits, he muttered, "Sprint Mastery, huh? Yeah, I don't think I've ever run that hard or that fast before—it was literally run or die." He could barely imagine himself attempting a similar escape back on Earth; he would've been caught every time. I'm faster than any Olympic athlete now, he thought. I can sustain speeds they couldn't even imagine. This system really is something else.

As he caught his breath, he considered the details of Sprint Mastery. It ranked up all the way to Level 10, he realized with a faint smile. It's my highest skill now. His thoughts turned to his growing list of abilities. I'm gaining skills quickly. I wonder if there's a limit to the number of skills I can get, like my class abilities.

Feeling a sense of pride in his progress, Colm felt satisfied. Colm's eyes drifted to his new achievement: the Blessing of the Wilds. It was another satisfying percentage boost that would continue to strengthen him. He wondered what rewards the next challenge might bring.

His attention then shifted to the loot. With a thought, he accepted it, and the item materialized in his hand. He inspected the claw—a pristine version of the ones the beast had wielded. It was about twelve inches long, with a pronounced curve and impressive durability. Testing its sharpness, he dragged it along a nearby tree and watched as it sliced cleanly through the wood. This thing is razor-sharp, he thought. No wonder my phantoms fell so quickly—the beast was an absolute powerhouse. I'm lucky it didn't have any spells; otherwise, I might not have made it out of that crevice.

Based on the description of the claw, it could be crafted into a weapon. I wonder if there are crafting-focused classes that could make even better use of this, Colm mused. For now, I'll settle for using it as a spearhead.

With that in mind, he instructed the Phantom Warrior to whittle down a nearby log, shaping it into a makeshift spear capable of holding the claw securely. He also directed it to retrieve some sturdy vine from the surrounding trees to bind the claw to the shaft. Meanwhile, Colm waited for his mana to regenerate to re-summon the Spearman.

"At least I'll have a better weapon for now," Colm muttered, watching the Phantom Warrior work steadily. Once his mana had regenerated a bit, he summoned the Phantom Spearman back to his side, its spectral form flickering into place.

Next, he allocated his recently earned stat points, focusing on dexterity and intelligence. He reasoned that his main combat style relied on his phantoms, but his speed from dexterity had been critical to his survival against the Grove Stalker. It's worth keeping my skills sharp, just in case, he thought, while replaying the encounter through his mind while looking over his status.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Human

Level: 29

Health: 540 / 540

Mana: 320 / 320

Strength: 30

Dexterity: 45 (47)

Intelligence: 64

Constitution: 52 (54)

Class: Spirit Warden

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Level 9)

- Phantom Spearman (Level 8)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Level 6)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 3)

- Stealth (Level 6)

- Pain Resistance (Level 4)

- Hardened Skin (Level 3)

- Slash Resistance (Level 4)

- Spear Mastery (Level 3)

- Sprint Mastery (Level 10)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

- Blessing of the Stone

- Blessing of the Wilds

Lost in thought, Colm pondered why he hadn't been able to Analyze the Grove Stalker. Maybe it had an ability that blocked detection, he guessed, or perhaps it was simply too high-level to assess. At twice his level, the gap in power might have been too vast.

This raises the real question, he thought: How am I even able to keep up here? I've been fighting way above my level, which begs the question that levels must not mean everything.

He didn't notice when the Phantom Warrior returned with the freshly carved spear base and a vine. Snapping out of his thoughts, he began securing the claw to the spear's tip. After hours of meticulous work to find the right balance, he gave it a few test swings and thrusts, adjusting to the new balance. "Heavier now, but definitely deadlier," he muttered to his phantoms, half expecting a response. He slashed at a nearby tree to test the blade further, carving chunks from the trunk with satisfying ease.

After practicing the new weapon, Colm felt the gnaw of thirst and hunger. He set off to find water, munching on a handful of the ever-abundant Celestial Blooms he'd gathered nearby. Within minutes, he located a fresh stream. "The best thing about this Grove," he said aloud, "is never having to worry about food or water. There's always something nearby."

He drank deeply from the stream and splashed water over his face, letting the coolness calm his nerves. With a clearer mind and renewed energy, his thoughts turned to his next move. I think I've explored just about everything the Grove offers, he mused, then remembered the crevice he'd hidden in. That passage went deeper. Maybe there's something more hidden within the crevice.