Echoed Lands

Colm couldn't do anything but watch, momentarily stunned by the Grove Stalker's deafening roar. The creature closed the gap between them with terrifying speed. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Robin, similarly dazed by the sound, frozen in place.

Bracing himself as precious seconds ticked by, Colm fought to regain control of his body. By the time he did, it was too late—the Grove Stalker was upon him.

Reacting instinctively, Colm twisted his body as much as he could while activating the Phantom Warrior ability and focused above the Stalker's head. At the same moment, Robin loosed an arrow. Everything seemed to happen at once.

The Grove Stalker unleashed a powerful strike, its claws slicing through Colm's twisted form with brutal precision. The blow connected with his shoulder, cutting deep and sending him flying. A guttural scream escaped him, raw and pained, as blood splattered in his wake.

Colm's airborne form collided with the ground with a heavy thud. He groaned, the impact sending shockwaves of pain through his body. Glancing at his right shoulder, he saw it was a bloody, torn mess. He tried to move it, but it refused to respond.

Through the haze of pain, Colm focused beneath the creature and activated Phantom Spearman, summoning Lance for a decisive strike. Meanwhile, Carver finished materializing above the Stalker, plunging its spectral blade into the beast's back.

A roar of pain erupted from the Grove Stalker Carver's blade sliced through and Lance's spear pierced its stomach, the creature writhing in agony.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Colm forced himself to his feet, somehow keeping his grip on his spear. Using it as a crutch, he pushed upright, his breaths ragged and uneven.

He knew he was in awful shape. Pulling up his status screen, he glanced at his health, dreading what he might see as the pain coursed through him like fire.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Health: 518 / 850

Mana: 488 / 575

Frowning at the sheer damage from a single attack, Colm refocused on the battle at hand. The Grove Stalker, heavily wounded, now moved slower and with more effort. Despite the pain coursing through him, Colm felt a flicker of pride—he'd endured, and activated his abilities with precision. The attack didn't even take me below half health which is a testament to my improvement he thought seeing a silver lining.

Now he watched as his phantoms moved in unison around the beast. Robin fired arrow after arrow, each one aimed with deadly intent, while Carver and Lance weaved through the Stalker's increasingly sluggish swipes. It had become a battle of endurance, and Colm knew his phantoms had the advantage—they didn't tire. As long as they kept playing it safe, victory was only a matter of time.

But as if sensing the inevitable outcome, the Grove Stalker erupted in fury. Without warning, flames ignited across its body, a blazing inferno enveloping it.

Shit, Colm thought, his stomach dropping. This is new.

The beast now wielded fire with terrifying ease, each swipe of its claws trailing arcs of flame that disrupted the rhythm of the phantoms' attacks. The heat was oppressive, the licking flames peppering his phantoms with burning sparks. Robin's arrows fell short, the heat causing them to lose momentum from their target.

Still relatively close to the beast, Colm seized the moment before it could fully reorient itself. Activating Phantom Warrior, he summoned Carver directly beneath the creature as it lunged. The Phantom materialized mid-strike, plunging its blade deep into the beast's underside.

Lance darted in, swiping at the Stalker's face and leaving a gaping wound that spilled fresh blood onto the stone floor.

The Grove Stalker staggered but remained standing, its form a horrifying mix of blood and flame. The Grove Stalker's own ichor scorched and blackened the stone beneath it. Despite its injuries, the creature stood tall, unyielding, its fury undiminished.

Its blazing eyes locked onto Colm, and for a moment, there was a terrifying clarity in its gaze. The beast seemed to understand that Colm was the threat—that the phantoms were merely extensions of his will.

The creature advanced slowly, flames burning fiercely around its body, forming a fiery barrier that kept Colm's phantoms at bay. Each step was purposeful, its entire focus locked onto Colm.

Gritting his teeth, Colm realized he was now the creature's sole target. The heat radiating from the flames was overwhelming, and he knew his phantoms couldn't survive prolonged proximity. With a snap decision, he ordered Lance and Carver to charge the beast, hoping their damage through Spectral Persistence would be enough to weaken it.

Lance and Carver obeyed, rushing toward the blazing Grove Stalker. Almost immediately, Colm felt the familiar tug of his passive skill as the flames consumed them. Despite this, their faded forms continued to strike at the beast. Carver targeted its limbs with relentless precision, while Lance focused on the creature's flank, driving his spectral spear into vulnerable spots.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Seconds passed like hours as the Grove Stalker trudged forward, its fiery aura unwavering, each step slower than the last. Colm repeated the cycle again and again, summoning his phantoms to whittle it down as it relentlessly approached him. The room was thick with heat and tension, but the creature's movements continued.

Finally, a critical shift occurred. Carver's blade sliced deep, severing through the hardened bone of one of the Stalker's legs. The beast stumbled, its balance wavering. As if the blow had triggered something, the inferno engulfing the Grove Stalker flickered, then extinguished entirely.

The Stalker locked eyes with Colm one last time, a guttural snarl escaping its maw before it collapsed in a heap. Its glowing eyes dimmed, and it closed them for the last time.

A notification blinked into Colm's vision, but he barely noticed it, still reeling from the sheer intensity of the fight.

Collapsing to the ground, Colm felt the immediate pull of his Lingering Vitality as it began mending his injuries. Each pulse of warmth stitched his battered body back together, though the pain still throbbed in his shoulder. As he lay there, he processed everything that had just unfolded.

This trial had been the culmination of every challenge he'd faced in the Grove. He had overcome all the beasts combined, proving just how far he had come. His growth was undeniable, tangible in every strike and command. I'm much stronger than before, he thought, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His phantoms, his greatest strength, had followed his every order with precision. Together, they were unstoppable.

Yet, even in victory, the sight of the fiery Grove Stalker lingered in his mind. What the hell was that? The flames, the transformation—it wasn't just a defensive measure. It was as if the creature had enhanced itself, using the fire to push beyond its limits. The thought gnawed at him.

Glancing at his shoulder, Colm winced at the sight of torn flesh and blood still oozing from the wound. But he felt the steady warmth of his passive healing ability, and he watched in amazement as the gash closed. The wound that would have been life-altering back home would now be healed in minutes.

Grateful for the reprieve, Colm let out a long sigh. The battle had taken everything he had, but it was over and wasn't as close as his earlier fights against the beasts. Finally, he turned his attention to the stream of notifications awaiting him, ready to reap the rewards of his hard-fought victory.

Stone Gnawer (Level 70) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Wraithvine Serpent (Level 70) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Grove Stalker (Level 70) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

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

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

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

Pain Resistance (Level 7) is now Pain Resistance (Level 8)

Pain Resistance (Level 8) is now Pain Resistance (Level 9)

Hardened Skin (Level 3) is now Hardened Skin (Level 4)

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

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

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

Spectral Persistence (Level 2) is now Spectral Persistence (Level 3)

Spectral Persistence (Level 3) is now Spectral Persistence (Level 4)

Spectral Persistence (Level 4) is now Spectral Persistence (Level 5)

Spectral Persistence (Level 5) is now Spectral Persistence (Level 6)

Lingering Vitality (Level 8) is now Lingering Vitality (Level 9)

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

[ Achievement Earned ]

Trust of the Grove - You have braved the perils of the Lucent Grove, enduring its many dangers. Repeatedly, you have faced formidable adversaries and risen above the struggles before you. The Grove recognizes your strength and resilience, placing its trust in you.

[ Requirements Fulfilled: Synergized Achievement Unlocked ]

Champion of the Lucent Grove - You have done more than simply conquer the trials of the Lucent Grove—you have earned its trust. The Grove acknowledges your worth and the Blessing of the Grove and Trust of the Grove have converged, deepening and amplifying your connection to the Lucent Grove. The Will of the Grove has shared its dreams and desires with you, though you hold no obligation to fulfill them, but you now possess the tools to assist when you are ready and willing.

Stat Boost: Grants a 20% increase to all stats.

New Ability - Portal to the Lucent Grove: Allows the caster to open a portal to the Lucent Grove from any location, for a limited time. The portal can bring others into the Lucent Grove to bring prosperity to its lands. You can cast this ability once per day, but it requires significant time to prepare.

"Holy shit," Colm mumbled, staring at the flood of notifications. The sheer number of level-ups, stat increases, and the boost from the new achievement left him reeling.

He couldn't help but wonder, Just how powerful is the Grove to grant me all this? Or is it the system itself giving me these bonuses? The questions swirled in his mind, leaving him more confused than ever.

The Portal to the Lucent Grove ability caught his attention. Interesting, he thought. I guess that means I can always come back here.

He sighed, reflecting on everything the Grove had done for him. I get it. The Grove put its trust in me, and I really owe it a lot. It saved me from what would've been a gruesome death at the hands of those undead and gave me a battleground to grow stronger.

His thoughts lingered on the portal. Maybe one day, I'll come back and see what I can do for it. For now, though, it might just save my life again—either to escape or a safe place to return to. Definitely not going to say no to that.

He shook his head in disbelief, recalling the strength of the trial's creatures. Level 70. That's ridiculously high. Not as high as the Will of the Grove, but still insane.

His brow furrowed as he considered the inconsistency of levels. I really need to figure out why levels sometimes feel... arbitrary. That's going to be crucial for my growth.

Colm leaned back, letting his Lingering Vitality continue its work as he reviewed the notifications and processed the information. His body ached, but his mind churned with thoughts of what lay ahead.

"I guess it's time to figure out what's next," he muttered, determination hardening in his chest.