Echoed Lands

Colm drove his spear deep into the latest Fungal Goblin, watching as the creature's body slumped to the ground. He took a deep breath, settling down on a nearby log to catch his breath, glancing at his weapon. This was his fourth spear—he'd had to make several replacements throughout his goblin-slaying spree as each one eventually splintered or cracked under the strain. He'd grown used to the process, but each break served as a reminder of just how intense these battles could be.

As he adjusted his grip, a notification flashed in his vision.

Fungal Goblin (Level 15) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

He swiped the notification away, feeling a slight twinge of pride—but also a flicker of frustration. This was his fifth Fungal Goblin today, each around his level, yet he was barely breaking a sweat. He leaned back, muttering, "I'm not even struggling, Carver."

His mind drifted back to his first day here, to the disorientation and sense of dread. The system had hinted then at "unique class opportunities," a rare advantage, it seemed, that he was finally understanding. He wondered just how much of an edge it had truly given him. Maybe the reason he wasn't struggling against these goblins was because of that extra push from the Spirit Warden class.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he pulled up his status page, eager to see the progress he'd made in the last few days. As the stats appeared, he felt a quiet satisfaction settling over him.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Human

Level: 14

Health: 300 / 300

Mana: 175 / 175

Strength: 20

Dexterity: 23

Intelligence: 35

Constitution: 30

Class: Spirit Warden

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Level 4)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Level 5)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 3)

- Stealth (Level 5)

- Pain Resistance (Level 3)

- Hardened Skin (Level 1)

- Slash Resistance (Level 4)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

Colm was thrilled to see that he had developed new skills. He'd endured plenty at the hands of these goblins, bearing countless cuts from their sharp claws, gritting his teeth, and pushing through the pain each time. Glancing through the notifications once more, he took in his progress with satisfaction.

[ Skill Acquired ]

Pain Resistance (Level 1) - Through repeated exposure, you've built a tolerance to pain, allowing you to endure discomfort and minor injuries with reduced sensitivity.

Pain Resistance (Level 1) is now Pain Resistance (Level 2)

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

[ Skill Acquired ]

Hardened Skin (Level 1) - Your skin has toughened through repeated exposure to damage, providing a slight natural resistance to physical attacks.

[ Skill Acquired ]

Slash Resistance (Level 1) - Through repeated exposure to cutting attacks, your skin has developed a natural resilience, providing slight resistance to slashing damage.

Slash Resistance (Level 1) is now Slash Resistance (Level 2)

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

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

Seeing the stats and new skills laid out before him was deeply satisfying. His health had more than tripled since his arrival, thanks to a steady investment in constitution. The increase wasn't just a number—he could feel the difference. Where a single hit had once knocked him to half-health, he could now shrug off glancing blows from Fungal Goblins without a second thought. Each point in constitution seemed to fortify his body, layering on resilience with every encounter. Besides the new skills, he felt stronger and more durable than ever.

He also felt faster and stronger than ever before. Every point invested in Dexterity and Strength made a marked difference, sharpening his reflexes and boosting his power. He'd spent time running sprints and testing his limits, and the results were exhilarating. Back on Earth, this level of speed and strength would have been impossible—now he felt as if he could outrun and outmaneuver anyone.

Likewise, his intelligence points brought a sharper edge to his abilities. His Phantom Warrior felt more solid and precise, its strikes deadlier, as if each increase in Intelligence enhanced not just its form but its very presence on the battlefield. The stats weren't just numbers anymore; they were becoming part of him, layering strength, agility, and resilience into something far beyond what he had ever been.

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He felt a similar sense of improvement across his abilities. His Phantom Warrior had gained new ranks, dealing more damage with each strike and a further tether distance to himself. Though there hadn't been any groundbreaking changes, the steady enhancements made it a more reliable ally in combat. Analyze had leveled up as well, offering more detailed descriptions of his targets, which helped him pick up on minor weaknesses and patterns in each creature's behavior.

"I was hoping for something big at level 10," he admitted to himself, "maybe some new class ability or unique perk." But nothing had triggered, so he was holding out hope that level 15 would unlock something special. He was closing in on it, after all.

In the meantime, he had grown familiar with this stretch of the Grove. He'd hunted nearly every Fungal Goblin in the area, culling their numbers to the point where he now had trouble finding any stragglers. These creatures were aggressive and territorial, and as he saw it, they were just as likely to ambush him if he didn't get the jump on them first. Clearing them out felt as natural as it was necessary.

Determined to reach the next level, Colm spent a few more days hunting down the remaining Fungal Goblins in the area. He could feel that he was close to leveling up—a faint but growing sensation, as though he were teetering on the edge of a breakthrough. Each encounter honed his skills further, and he pushed himself in different ways with every fight, determined to make this last push count.

After dispatching two more goblins at level 16, he stumbled upon a particularly nasty one lurking deeper in the Grove. When he used Analyze, the result flashed back in his vision.

Fungal Goblin (Level 24)

A cold thrill shot through Colm as he faced the Fungal Goblin—the highest-level enemy he had encountered yet. Adrenaline surged, and he tightened his grip on his spear; every muscle coiled and ready.

"Let's go, Carver," Colm whispered, creeping forward. He lunged with inhuman speed, his spear striking true with a powerful thrust, while Carver's blade tore into the goblin with lethal precision. But the goblin's movements were chaotic and unpredictable, forcing Colm to stay light on his feet, weaving through each frantic swipe. Midway through the skirmish, disaster struck—just as he thrust his spear forward, the goblin countered, snapping the weapon cleanly in two.

The goblin's twisted grin widened, its confidence renewed as it lunged toward him, emboldened by the broken weapon in his hands. But Colm's grin only sharpened. "This isn't over; it's just getting started," he murmured.

Even unarmed, Colm kept Carver on the offensive, his spectral ally delivering relentless strikes while he stayed just out of reach, dodging and slipping past the goblin's wild attacks. His Dexterity kept him a step ahead, letting him evade the creature's blows with only a few scrapes as it swiped again and again.

Finally, Carver's unrelenting strikes began to take their toll. The goblin's movements slowed, its breathing grew labored, and its stance wavered. Seizing the moment, Colm directed Carver in for the kill. The Phantom Warrior closed in, delivering a powerful, final blow as its blade plunged into the goblin's chest. The creature convulsed, letting out one last guttural howl before collapsing to the ground, defeated.

Colm exhaled, his muscles aching, catching his breath. "We did it, Carver," he muttered, a weary grin spreading across his face. With a last glance around, he limped into a nearby cluster of underbrush, putting some distance between himself and the battleground to avoid drawing any attention.

Safely hidden, Colm eagerly pulled up his notifications to see the results of the hard-fought battle.

Fungal Goblin (Level 24) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

New class abilities available.

Colm's heart pounded as he absorbed the significance of the level-up, his eyes catching on to new class abilities available to pick from. A grin spread across his face. "Finally," he whispered.

Looking through the options, Colm felt a surge of excitement. These were tangible results—real boosts to his arsenal. Examining each skill, he muttered, "Looks like these new abilities are all active. Passives must require a different threshold." Taking a steadying breath, he let the choices sink in. "Alright," he thought, "time to decide what to focus on next," as he started scrolling through the notifications with anticipation.

[ New class abilities available.

Select a new Class Active Ability.

Active Ability: Phantom Spearman (Level 1)

Mana: 25

Summon a single spectral spearman to aid you in combat, who wields a long spear and is effective for keeping enemies at a distance. The Spearman delivers powerful thrusts that can push back enemies, making it useful for maintaining control over the battlefield. Only one Phantom Spearman can be summoned at a time; attempting to summon another will replace the current Spearman.

Active Ability: Spectral Bolt (Level 1)

Mana: 10

Conjures a bolt of spectral energy that streaks toward a distant enemy with a haunting, ethereal glow. Upon impact, the bolt deals moderate damage and leaves a chilling effect, sapping the target's agility and reducing their movement speed for a short duration.

Active Ability: Phantom Step (Level 1)

Mana: 30

Allows the user to move a short distance with significantly increased speed, making it ideal for dodging incoming attacks, closing the gap between foes, or retreating to safety. While phased, they leave behind a faint trail of spectral energy, briefly disorienting nearby enemies and creating a lingering afterimage that draws attention away from their actual position. ]

"Carver, they all seem so good," Colm muttered, studying the options. Each ability called to a different combat style, each one unlocking a path forward he hadn't fully considered. He could amass an army of phantoms, each spirit bringing its own strengths. Or he could focus on supporting his Phantom Warrior from a distance, applying pressure while keeping his distance. Then there was the maneuverability he'd gain from Phantom Step—slipping out of reach, dodging blows with ease.

Every option was tempting, yet he knew he'd need to choose what would benefit him most now. He thought through each ability.

With the Phantom Spearman, he'd have a stronger presence on the battlefield, and he wouldn't be at such a loss if his Phantom Warrior fell in combat. The Spearman would allow him to split his enemy's focus, making him harder to overwhelm.

Then there was Spectral Bolt. That would give him a way to keep the pressure on from a distance, striking from afar while his Phantom Warrior closed in. It would be his first actual ranged attack—a perfect way to apply damage from safety.

And finally, Phantom Step would give him a reliable way to dodge and survive when things got tight. He could dart out of harm's way or slip past an enemy's guard to set up his own attacks.

"Gah, why do they all have to be such great options?" Colm sighed, sinking down onto a nearby log. His mind raced with the possibilities, each one painting a different picture of how his future battles could look. For a moment, he thought of his life back on Earth, the feeling of isolation he'd often faced. He'd spent so many hours in games growing up, imagining what it'd be like to summon allies or cast magical bolts. And now here he was, with real power and the chance to shape his path.

He took a deep breath, glancing at Carver, his spectral companion. "Alright, Carver, I've decided." His voice steadied as the choice solidified in his mind. "We're going to build an army."

With resolve, Colm selected the Phantom Spearman, his heart racing with anticipation for the battles to come.

Once he made his choice, Colm summoned his new Phantom Spearman and positioned him beside his Phantom Warrior. The two spirits looked nearly identical, their ghostly forms mirroring each other, with the Spearman's weapon as the only apparent difference. Colm grinned as he took in the sight of his growing spectral army. Pulling up his status screen, he allocated his attribute points, feeling a renewed sense of purpose as he strengthened his arsenal.

He glanced at his original summon—the Phantom Warrior, the one he'd casually named Carver. But now, with a second spirit at his side, he hesitated. Would naming one over the other create some kind of favoritism? Not that they seemed to mind, but still. Colm scratched his head, chuckling to himself. "Guess you're just 'Warrior' and 'Spearman' for now… don't want any jealousy," he joked, though he couldn't shake the thought of one day naming both his spectral allies. "I don't really know, buddy," he laughed softly, giving each a nod.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Human

Level: 15

Health: 320 / 320

Mana: 165 / 190

Strength: 20

Dexterity: 23

Intelligence: 38

Constitution: 32

Class: Spirit Warden

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Level 4)

- Phantom Spearman (Level 1)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Level 5)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 3)

- Stealth (Level 5)

- Pain Resistance (Level 3)

- Hardened Skin (Level 1)

- Slash Resistance (Level 4)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

Satisfied with his updated status, Colm decided it was time to venture deeper into the grove in search of his next challenge.