Echoed Lands

Colm set out from his resting spot with a clear goal: to find more Glowmaw Grizzlies. The wolves and Barklurkers weren't worth the effort anymore, with only a few providing experience above his level. He checked his status and felt a surge of pride, realizing how much he had progressed since arriving in the Grove.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Human

Level: 41

Dismissing the display, he began wandering through the Grove, navigating the unstable landscape left behind by the recent earthquake-like event. With no clear landmarks to guide him, Colm realized he was essentially back to exploring blindly. He'd already seen most of the Grove before finishing the last trial. The only notable spot he hadn't revisited was the entrance.

For now, he continued exploring this section of the Grove. Perhaps there were more creatures to challenge here—or even another part of the Grove waiting to reveal itself. If not, he'd head back to the entrance and hope something had changed.

Hours passed as Colm wandered through the dense forest, occasionally scaling trees to gain a better vantage point. Finally, in the distance, he spotted a faint glow cutting through the shadows—a telltale sign of a Glowmaw Grizzly. His excitement surged as he activated Stealth, creeping toward the light.

Reaching the edge of a clearing, Colm spotted the creature. It was alone, drinking from a stream, its bioluminescent veins casting an eerie glow on the water's surface. He quickly devised a plan.

"Carver, engage it head-on," Colm whispered. "Lance, flank it and strike from behind. Once it's distracted, I'll move in for a finishing blow."

Carver looped around the clearing, his spectral form moving silently until he stood opposite the grizzly. As if sensing the challenge, the bear let out a ferocious roar and charged, its massive form hurtling toward Carver. The phantom deftly dodged its heavy swipes, keeping the creature's attention fixed on him.

Meanwhile, Lance slipped behind the grizzly unnoticed, his movements fluid and precise. In one swift motion, he drove his spectral spear deep into the beast's side. The grizzly let out a guttural roar, staggering from the blow, and Carver seized the opening. His spectral blade struck the creature's head with devastating force, felling the beast in an instant.

Colm blinked as the notification appeared in his vision.

Glowmaw Grizzly (Level 52) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

He sighed, somewhat disappointed he hadn't gotten the chance to fight. "My phantoms are my weapon," he muttered, reminding himself of the path he'd chosen. At least the strategy worked, and he gained a level and allocated the points towards intelligence. Still, he couldn't shake the nagging desire to hone his skills directly. Next time, he thought, gripping his spear.

As Colm continued his search for more Glowmaw Grizzlies, his thoughts drifted to his future as a fighter. He'd used the spear out of necessity, as he didn't want to be completely defenseless while his phantoms were out of range. But did he truly want to be in the thick of battle, fighting toe-to-toe? He considered the alternatives. With a world full of magic at his fingertips and phantoms under his command, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on long-range spells, keeping his distance while his phantoms did the heavy lifting? Yet, the thought of running out of mana and being surrounded by enemies made him shudder.

I guess it'll depend on what abilities I unlock next, he thought. The next set of class choices will help direct my path. For now, I'll focus on surviving and sharpening my instincts.

Lost in thought, Colm realized he'd been wandering aimlessly for a few minutes. Spotting a tall tree nearby, he had Lance clear out any Barklurkers lurking among its branches before climbing to the top. From the treetop, he scanned the forest and spotted a faint glow shimmering in the distance. Smirking, he climbed back down and set off toward it.

The journey took some time, as he frequently had to stop and fend off packs of Thornfang Wolves, but eventually, the glow of a grizzly came into view through the trees. This time, the scene was different. The Glowmaw Grizzly wasn't alone—over three dozen Thornfang Wolves surrounded it.

Colm paused, watching in fascination as the creatures clashed. Interesting. They're fighting each other. This is the first time I've seen this. I wonder why.

The wolves charged at the massive grizzly, only to be met with devastating swipes of its glowing, moss-covered paws. A single blow sent wolves flying, but while it focused on the ones in front, others lunged from behind, sinking their teeth into its thick hide. The grizzly roared in fury, twisting to deal with the new attackers, and within moments, the fight turned into a brutal slaughter. The wolves' numbers rapidly thinned as the grizzly tore through them, but the massive beast was clearly growing weary.

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As the remaining dozen wolves realized their defeat was imminent, they cut their losses and fled into the forest. Colm watched them retreat, a thoughtful frown on his face. These creatures are smarter than I gave them credit for.

With the grizzly wounded and tired, Colm decided it was time to act. He sent his phantoms into the fray. Carver was the first to engage, striding boldly toward the beast and rolling to evade its powerful but sluggish swipes. A few moments later, Lance crept up from behind, delivering a precise, fatal strike with his spectral spear. The grizzly staggered, leaving an opening for Carver to unleash a flurry of attacks.

It wasn't long before the creature fell, the familiar notification clouding Colm's vision.

Glowmaw Grizzly (Level 56) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Colm sighed, frowning at the lack of a level up. This was the highest-level enemy I've fought so far, he thought, so why didn't I level up? Reflecting on the battle, he theorized, Maybe it's because the wolves weakened the grizzly and I didn't do the bulk of the damage? I feel like I'm close to leveling up, though. One more like this might do it.

Colm glanced down at the lifeless grizzly. His strategy of using one phantom to distract while the other delivered a killing blow was proving effective. He resolved to refine a more complex style further in the future after he had time to fully process what he was going to do in this new world. With a renewed sense of purpose, he prepared to hunt for his next target.

Over the next few days, Colm settled into a steady and efficient routine. Dedicating most of his time to hunting Glowmaw Grizzlies, although he spent the most time simply tracking them down. Packs of Thornfang Wolves frequently swarmed him, and he remained vigilant for Barklurkers hiding in the trees. Though he no longer gained experience from either creature, their persistent attacks were more of an annoyance than a challenge. Fortunately, his phantoms handled the threats with ease, never requiring his intervention.

At the end of each day, Colm would find a spot to rest, usually near a stream—but not too close, to avoid the Veilthorn Stranglers lurking beneath the water's surface. He'd order his phantoms to clear the area before drinking his fill, then settle down with a hearty helping of his trusty Celestial Blooms. As always, his phantoms stood guard, one patrolling the perimeter while the other remained by his side.

Each morning, Colm woke to a flood of notifications: slain Thornfang Wolves, Barklurkers, and, occasionally, even a Glowmaw Grizzly. Those ones in particular were a testament to how far his phantoms had come. What once required coordination and effort was now something they could handle entirely on their own. He couldn't help but marvel at how drastically the dynamic had shifted since his first encounter with the grizzlies, when their mere presence had jolted him awake in fear.

Still, the ease with which he slept through the chaos gave him pause. Am I being reckless? Or do I trust my phantoms so completely that my instincts no longer sound the alarm? He shook the thought off, focusing instead on the progress he was making.

As the hunts continued, tracking the elusive Glowmaw Grizzlies grew increasingly challenging. Their numbers had always felt sparse, and after so many battles, they now seemed almost impossible to find. Colm developed a methodical routine: climbing a tall tree to scan for faint glows in the distance, the telltale sign of a grizzly. On lucky days, he'd spot one quickly, but when the forest offered no clues, he'd mark another tall tree further ahead and repeat the process. Over time, he honed his instincts, learning to read subtle signs in the Grove to guide him in the right direction.

Gradually, his path arced back toward the Grove's entrance. He had long since reached what he thought of as the boundary of the Grove—a stretch of impossibly dense trees. These were no ordinary trees; their surfaces were impervious to his spear or even his phantoms' strikes, as though enchanted by some unseen force. It felt like a magical barrier, a silent but unmistakable message that he could not pass beyond the Grove's bounds.

Colm spent a good day experimenting with the Grove's mysterious border. It was captivating in its own way—a clear boundary to an otherwise sprawling, self-contained world. He tried climbing over the dense trees, only to feel a physical barrier, like an invisible hand pushing him back. It felt eerily similar to the invisible walls in some games he'd played, and the comparison fueled a stubborn determination to find a way through. He spent hours testing every angle, looking for gaps or glitches, hoping to uncover what lay beyond. But no matter what he tried, the system seemed resolute: You can't go over there. Eventually, he accepted defeat, resigning himself to the confines of the Grove. With a wry smile, he turned his attention back to his hunt and his grind toward the level he aimed to reach.

One particular evening, after slaying an especially vicious Glowmaw Grizzly, Colm felt the weight of his efforts. The battle had been tough—the Glowmaw Grizzly destroyed his phantoms, but their spectral persistence lingered long enough for them to finish the creature before they fully faded. As Colm stared down at the fallen beast, he couldn't help but wonder why he was pushing himself so hard. He could've gone straight to the Grove's entrance by now, but the memory of the trials weighed heavily on him. Each had nearly killed him. If the Will of the Grove awaited him as a last test—and he was certain it did—he needed to be ready.

His gaze drifted to his status screen, his level tantalizingly close to 45. If his theory was correct, reaching that threshold would grant him a new ability, something that might make the difference between survival and death. Colm exhaled deeply, his resolve hardening. Just a little further. I have to be prepared.

After defeating what he estimated to be his twelfth grizzly, a familiar surge of warmth coursed through him, accompanied by the notifications he'd been waiting for.

Glowmaw Grizzly (Level 58) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

New class abilities available.

Sighing with relief, Colm confirmed his hunch. Every fifteen levels brought a new class ability. Before long, he'd have all his abilities set for his class. Yet, the thought stirred curiosity. What happens when they're all filled out? he wondered. Will I still get new ability offerings, or will they stop entirely? Could I replace abilities down the road? He shook his head, brushing the questions aside. "Something to figure out later," he muttered.

With a small smile, he opened his notifications, allocated his stat points, and eagerly began reviewing the new ability options presented to him.