Echoed Lands

After a moment to catch his breath, the room flickered, and everything reverted to its original state. The vines and glowing petals once again adorned the walls, their golden light casting a faint, comforting warmth.

Not wasting a moment, Colm quickly cast Analyze on the petals and the vines.

Sunlit Petals

Lifebound Vines

Confirming that they were genuine Sunlit Petals and the regular vines he had seen throughout the Grove this time only reinforced Colm's earlier theory: the trial had altered them at the start. "This trial is confusing," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

In the previous trial, the moment he finished the first stage, a boss appeared and attacked without delay. But here, the room had simply reverted to its original state—vines and petals restored—and now nothing was here.

There has to be something here, he thought, gripping his spear tightly as he remained on guard. His phantoms flanked him on either side, their presence a silent reassurance.

The dim cavern offered little in the way of answers. Using the faint glow of the new Sunlit Petals, Colm scanned his surroundings. His eyes darted over the walls, the central pillar, and every shadowed corner in between, searching for any sign of a lurking beast. Yet, everything remained unnervingly still.

Determined not to repeat the same mistake as before, Colm instructed Carver to attack the walls, slashing through the vines and petals with relentless precision. Meanwhile, Lance remained by his side, spear at the ready, prepared to defend him if anything unexpected happened.

After a few moments, vines and petals fell to the ground in heaps and as the glowing petals fell to the ground, the room grew dimmer. Colm let out a sigh, equal parts relief and frustration, as it seemed nothing had emerged.

Just as his shoulders slumped, his guard lowering slightly, a loud crash shattered the silence. As he saw Lance move swiftly, spear raised in a defensive stance, and a sharp notification flashed before Colm's eyes.

Your Phantom Spearman has been destroyed.

Colm whipped around, his eyes straining in the dim light as Carver lunged into action. Through the darkness, he glimpsed movement—a flash of scales—and then Carver struck. The impact landed, and a loud hiss echoed through the chamber, the sound reverberating off the stone walls.

Wasting no time, Colm quickly activated his Phantom Spearman ability, re-summoning Lance. With his pulse racing, he cast Analyze, hoping to pierce through the darkness and reveal the threat lurking within.

Wraithvine Serpent (Level ??)

As Colm finished reading the creature's description, a sudden wetness on his shoulder drew his attention. His breath caught as he realized what it was.

Blood.

Cursing his sluggish response, a result of exhaustion and the grueling nature of the trial, the truth hit him like a jolt. Lance had saved his life, intercepting the beast mere moments before it could land its strike, resulting in the beast's blood dripping on him.

Pulling his attention back to the battle, Colm watched Lance take solid form as the ability completed. Without hesitation, Colm charged forward, spear in hand, with Lance at his side, rushing to support Carver.

A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth despite the tension. No more deception, he thought. Just a fight now.

The clash between Carver and the Wraithvine Serpent was nothing short of mesmerizing. The creature moved with astonishing speed, its tactics defensive yet precise—it would lunge at Carver with venomous intent, only to recoil just in time to evade the phantom's spectral blade.

Carver matched the serpent's agility, striking with calculated precision before swiftly retreating to avoid the beast's vicious counterattacks. Every movement was deliberate, his caution clear as he danced around the serpent's deadly fangs, unwilling to risk even the slightest graze.

The Wraithvine Serpent coiled tightly upon itself, its dense form compact and ready to strike. As they closed in, the sheer mass of the creature struck Colm—it wasn't particularly long, but its thick, muscular body radiated power. In an instant, it lashed out, its movements lightning-fast, aiming to wound while keeping its core protected. Its ability to recoil and reposition with almost no warning made it a daunting opponent, its coiled stance offering both offense and defense in equal measure.

Within moments, Colm and Lance joined the fray to support Carver. Lance arrived first, striking with a powerful thrust of his spear just as the creature dodged a slash from Carver. A sharp hiss escaped the Wraithvine Serpent as it registered the new threat. Before it could react further, Colm closed in, circling to deliver a precise strike with his newly crafted spear, eliciting another furious hiss.

Realizing it was now outmaneuvered, the serpent shifted tactics. With a sudden burst of speed, it lunged and slithered away, attempting to reposition itself to avoid being surrounded. But Carver and Lance were quick to adapt, pressing the attack relentlessly, with Colm following close behind.

Sensing the encroaching phantoms, the serpent bolted toward the nearest wall. Upon arriving, it turned and coiled tightly and launched itself forward with blinding speed, fangs bared in a deadly strike aimed at Carver. The phantom sidestepped just in time to avoid the full impact, but the serpent's tail whipped around in a follow-through, catching Carver off guard and slamming him to the ground.

Before the phantom could recover, the Wraithvine Serpent, with lightning-fast reflexes, capitalized on its opening. It lunged forward, sinking its fangs deep into Carver's neck, the phantom's form trembling from the damage and faded away.

Your Phantom Warrior has been destroyed.

Before the creature could recover, Lance lunged forward, driving his spear cleanly through the serpent's body, severing it in two.

Colm watched as the beast's remains fell lifeless to the ground, releasing a quick sigh of relief. "That was much easier compared to the last two fights," he muttered, catching his breath. Out of habit, he activated his Phantom Warrior ability, summoning Carver back to his side once more.

As Carver solidified upon the completion of the summoning, Colm turned his attention to the remains of the beast. He approached cautiously, intending to examine the corpse, but paused mid-step as a chilling realization struck him—there was no notification from the system confirming the creature's defeat.

His breath caught, and before he could react further, the serpent sprang to life, fully regenerated. With terrifying speed, it lunged at Colm, fangs bared in a desperate, lethal attempt to take him out.

Colm twisted his body desperately, while Carver and Lance sprung into action, but it all happened too fast. The serpent's jaws clamped down on his arm with vicious fury, its fangs sinking deep.

A searing pain shot through him, tearing a scream from his throat as a notification flooded his vision as he fell to the ground.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

You have been poisoned.

In mere moments, Carver and Lance were upon the Wraithvine Serpent again, their relentless attacks forcing it to release Colm's arm and retreat.

Colm lay on his back, his vision swimming and his thoughts sluggish. Days of this ridiculous trial, he thought, the words looping through his mind. Constant vigilance, no sleep, fighting hunger and dehydration—it's made me slow. Careless.

A pang of regret pierced through the haze. I should've realized it wasn't dead.

Taking a shaky breath, he gathered his thoughts, pushing the pain and exhaustion aside just enough to pull up his status screen. He needed to see how much damage had been done.

Health: 203 / 520

Mana: 270 / 290

Wincing at the sight of his low health, Colm realized just how close he had come to death—and it wasn't over yet. His health continued to tick down, the poison relentlessly sapping his strength.

I need to end this, he thought, gritting his teeth. Only then can my Lingering Vitality counter the poison.

At least there was a faint silver lining. He could feel the subtle nudge of his Poison Resistance skill activating, its presence slowing the toxin's spread just enough to buy him precious moments.

Slowly rising to his feet, Colm cast a glance at Carver and Lance. They seemed to hold their own against the serpent, and were even pushing it back, with the creature taking multiple hits. Taking the moment to steady himself, Colm turned his attention to the battlefield, piecing together what had happened.

His eyes landed on the severed portion of the serpent's body, still lying lifeless on the ground. Frowning, he looked back at the creature, noting its form seemed intact. Squinting, he studied it more closely. Wait, it's slightly smaller.

The realization clicked. It has a regeneration ability—but it's not perfect. It's losing mass every time it heals.

Colm's eyes followed the chaotic battle unfolding before him. The serpent lashed out, dodging and recoiling, its movements fluid and calculated. Meanwhile, Carver and Lance executed a coordinated assault, each covering the other's weaknesses with precision.

Carver would slash with his spectral blade, an attack that left him momentarily exposed. But Lance was always there, following up with a thrust to shield the opening, forcing the creature to take a hit. Blow after blow landed, yet the serpent continued its relentless dance, striking and retreating.

As Colm focused, his brows furrowed. The hits are landing, but they're not sticking. Each wound on the creature sealed quickly, its regeneration keeping it in the fight despite the phantoms' relentless attacks.

Colm weighed his options carefully. He could let Carver and Lance continue their assault—they clearly held the upper hand, but their progress was agonizingly slow. The serpent's regenerative abilities meant that only minor hits were landing effectively, and at this rate, it might take too long to wear the creature down.

His gaze flicked to his status screen, watching his health tick down another three points. I might be dead to the poison before they finish it. He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up. Stupid mistakes. I should've let them handle this from the start. Now I don't have a choice—I have to step in.

Cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck, Colm smirked despite the dire situation. "This is a battle of endurance," he whispered, his spear held tight. With one last glance at his dwindling health, Colm steeled himself, a determined grin spreading across his face.

He charged forward into the fray.

Colm angled himself to approach the fight from behind, aiming to slice the serpent cleanly in two. Using the shadows to his advantage, he focused on using Stealth and crept around the room's perimeter, blending into the darkness. Each step was slow and deliberate, his movements silent as he edged closer. The beast is too focused on Carver and Lance, he thought, hoping it still believed its earlier attack had finished him.

After painstaking moments, Colm reached the edge of the battle. The fight remained a blur of constant motion—Carver's blade swiping at the serpent with deadly intent, Lance following up with precise spear thrusts. The serpent, coiling and twisting between attacks, evaded with fluid grace, taking only glancing blows as it tried to retaliate. But the phantoms' coordination kept it at bay, their rhythm relentless.

Colm positioned himself perfectly, his grip tightening on his spear as he waited for the right moment. Carver rolled to dodge a vicious bite from the creature, leaving himself momentarily exposed. The serpent lunged, but Lance intercepted it with a swift thrust of his spear, forcing the serpent to recoil and bolt away—right into Colm's reach.

The opening was perfect. Without hesitation, Colm surged forward and slashed with his spear, with the newly attached Claw of the Grove Stalker cutting cleanly through the serpent's thick body. A guttural hiss echoed through the chamber as the beast writhed in pain.

Wasting no time, Colm barked commands to his phantoms, urging them to press the assault. Blade and spear rained down on the serpent, and Colm joined in, swinging his weapon with ferocity, each strike driving the creature closer to its end.

Within moments, the serpent recovered from the onslaught, its coiled form now significantly smaller than before bolted towards the opposite end of the room.

"Don't give it time to recover!" Colm commanded, his voice firm as he urged his phantoms forward. He wasn't about to let this advantage slip away, determined to press the attack and keep the creature on the defensive.

Carver and Lance pursued the serpent relentlessly, but it stayed just far enough ahead to gain some breathing room. Reaching the wall, the creature slithered up and disappeared into the thick tangle of vines, its form vanishing into the shadows.

"Shit," Colm muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the spot where it had slipped away. Quickly, he shifted into a defensive position, keeping his distance from the walls. "Carver, stay with me. Lance, start cutting down the vines."

Minutes dragged on as Lance methodically slashed through the vines, the severed foliage falling to the floor in heaps. Yet the serpent remained elusive. Colm's heart pounded as desperation crept in. His health continued to tick downward, and it was clear the creature had changed its tactics. It's stalling, Colm realized bitterly. It's waiting for the poison to finish me.

Lance finally cleared an entire wall, but there was no sign of the beast. Frustration mounting, Colm gestured for him to move to the next wall while instructing Carver to attack another. His concern for safety waned as the relentless ticking of his health bar reminded him of how little time he had left.

With only one wall of vines remaining, Colm knew the serpent had to be hiding there. The room's perimeter was now littered with chopped vines, offering nowhere else for it to conceal itself.

"End this," Colm growled, his voice tight with urgency. His phantoms sprang into action, their attacks swift and unrelenting. Blade and spear tore through the last wall, cutting the vines down with ease.

Then, with a loud, piercing hiss, the serpent burst from its hiding place, striking out furiously. A notification flashed across Colm's vision as the creature landed a vicious blow on Carver.

Your Phantom Warrior has been destroyed.

Grimacing, Colm quickly activated his Phantom Warrior ability to re-summon Carver. No sooner had the serpent struck than Lance retaliated with a fierce blow, the strike landing with precision, as if to avenge his fallen comrade.

In mere moments, Carver rejoined the fray, his blade flashing as he supported Lance, who bobbed, weaved, and deflected the serpent's vicious attacks. Together, the phantoms pressed the creature relentlessly, driving it back into a corner. The serpent, cornered and unable to maneuver, absorbed hit after hit as the phantoms effortlessly deflected its attacks.

Colm dropped to one knee, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His vision blurred as he glanced at his status screen. His health bar hovered dangerously low, the poison still ticking down with every passing second.

Health: 32 / 520

Mana: 270 / 290

This has to end now, he thought, his resolve hardening. "Finish it!" he barked, his voice hoarse. "Slice it in two—don't let up!"

The phantoms responded instantly. Lance lunged with a brutal thrust, his spear piercing deep. The serpent hissed violently, coiling and turning its focus toward the spearman. That single moment of distraction was all Carver needed.

With a devastating slash, Carver's blade cleaved through the creature's body, slicing it cleanly in two once again.

As the serpent's lifeless form crumpled to the ground, a flood of notifications filled Colm's vision. Relief washed over him, but his body finally gave in to the exhaustion. Collapsing to the ground, Colm let out a shaky breath as darkness edged toward his vision.

Wraithvine Serpent (Level 40) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

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

Phantom Warrior (Level 9) is now Phantom Warrior (Level 10)

Poison Resistance (Level 2) is now Poison Resistance (Level 3)

Poison Resistance (Level 3) is now Poison Resistance (Level 4)

Poison Resistance (Level 4) is now Poison Resistance (Level 5)

Pain Resistance (Level 4) is now Pain Resistance (Level 5)

Pain Resistance (Level 5) is now Pain Resistance (Level 6)

Pain Resistance (Level 6) is now Pain Resistance (Level 7)

Stealth (Level 6) is now Stealth (Level 7)

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

New class abilities available.