F.A.D.E. Into You

The air grew heavier the farther they walked into the hollow. Hawk couldn't shake the feeling that the forest itself was alive, watching their every move. Low kept close behind him, her bow still drawn, though even her sharp gaze flicked nervously from shadow to shadow.

"What do you think 'permanent debuff' means?" Low asked, breaking the silence.

"Something bad," Hawk muttered, scanning the undergrowth. "Probably something that'll make us wish we were dead if we mess this up."

"Comforting," Low said dryly.

A faint rustling drew their attention, and they froze. Hawk held up a hand, signaling Low to stay still. The noise grew louder, moving closer—a shuffling, scraping sound that set his teeth on edge.

From the mist emerged a creature unlike anything Hawk had ever seen. Its body was an amalgamation of twisted roots and decaying flesh, its eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light. It moved with a jerky, almost marionette-like motion, dragging itself toward them on clawed limbs.

Low inhaled sharply. "What the hell is that?"

"Not friendly," Hawk replied.

The creature let out a guttural screech and lunged at them. Hawk moved on instinct, activating Shadow Step to teleport behind it. His dagger sliced through the air, but when it struck the creature's bark-like hide, it barely left a scratch.

Low loosed an arrow, aiming for its glowing eyes. The arrow hit its mark, and the creature reeled back, shrieking in pain.

"The eyes!" Hawk shouted. "Go for the eyes!"

They worked in tandem, Hawk distracting the creature with quick, precise strikes while Low fired arrow after arrow at its weak points. Finally, with a piercing screech, the creature collapsed into a heap of roots and rot, its glowing eyes fading into darkness.

A notification appeared before their eyes:

Enemy Defeated. Minor Experience Gained.

"Well, that was unpleasant," Low muttered, lowering her bow.

"Yeah," Hawk agreed, nudging the creature's remains with his boot. "And I get the feeling it's not the last one we'll see."

They continued deeper into the hollow, the mist growing thicker with each step. The bioluminescent fungi lining the trees pulsed faintly, casting an eerie, shifting light.

"This place feels… wrong," Low said quietly.

Hawk nodded. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something deeply unnatural about the hollow. It was as if the air itself was saturated with malice.

As they walked, Hawk found his thoughts drifting to the woman beside him. Low was a mystery, a puzzle he couldn't quite piece together. She was sharp, resourceful, and clearly experienced in surviving dangerous situations. But there was a hardness to her, a guardedness that hinted at a past full of pain.

"Why do you think the system linked us?" he asked suddenly.

Low glanced at him, surprised. "What?"

"The system," Hawk said. "Why did it link our fates? Why us?"

Low was quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "I don't know. But if I had to guess, I'd say it's not random. The system… it feels like it has a purpose. Like everything it does is part of some bigger plan."

Hawk frowned. He didn't like the idea of being a pawn in someone—or something—else's game.

"Whatever the reason," Low continued, "we're stuck with it. So we'd better figure out how to make the most of it."

They reached the center of the hollow just as the mist began to thin, revealing a massive tree unlike any they'd seen before. Its trunk was twisted and blackened, its branches reaching skyward like skeletal fingers. At its base was a pool of shimmering liquid, its surface rippling with an unnatural light.

"The Heart of the Hollow," Low said, her voice tinged with awe and trepidation.

Before Hawk could respond, the ground beneath their feet trembled. The air grew colder, and the metallic scent that had been faint earlier was now overwhelming.

A low, guttural growl echoed through the hollow, and Hawk's heart sank as another notification appeared:

Guardian Awakened. Defeat the Hollow Guardian to Access the Heart.

"Oh, great," Hawk muttered. "Of course there's a guardian."

The ground cracked open, and from the earth rose a massive creature. It was similar to the one they'd faced earlier, but far larger and more menacing. Its body was a tangled mass of roots and bone, its glowing eyes burning with a malevolent light.

"Stay sharp," Hawk said, drawing his dagger.

Low nodded, her bow at the ready.

The guardian roared, and the battle began.

The fight was brutal. The guardian was fast despite its size, and its attacks were devastating. It lashed out with its massive claws, tearing through the ground and sending shockwaves that knocked Hawk and Low off their feet.

Hawk relied on Shadow Step to stay ahead of the creature's attacks, teleporting out of its reach and striking at its weak points. Low moved with practiced precision, loosing arrow after arrow, each one aimed for the creature's glowing eyes.

But the guardian was relentless. It shrugged off their attacks as if they were mere annoyances, its glowing eyes burning brighter with each passing moment.

"We're not doing enough damage!" Low shouted, dodging a swipe from the creature's claws.

"I noticed!" Hawk snapped, narrowly avoiding a shockwave.

They needed a new strategy, and fast. Hawk's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. His gaze fell on the pool of liquid at the base of the tree, and an idea struck him.

"The pool!" he shouted to Low. "Maybe it's connected to the guardian!"

Low nodded, understanding immediately. She loosed an arrow at the pool, and the reaction was instantaneous. The guardian let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as the pool's surface rippled violently.

"It's working!" Low shouted.

They focused their attacks on the pool, each strike weakening the guardian further. Finally, with a final, earsplitting roar, the guardian collapsed, its body disintegrating into a cloud of mist.

A notification appeared:

Task Complete. Reward Unlocked: Ability Enhancement.

Hawk felt a surge of energy course through him as his Shadow Step ability evolved, its range and precision increasing. Low's expression told him she was experiencing a similar enhancement.

As the notification faded, the pool of liquid began to glow brighter, its surface shimmering like molten silver. Hawk and Low approached cautiously, unsure of what to expect.

The moment they stepped closer, a new notification appeared:

Heart of the Hollow Acquired. The Path Forward Has Been Revealed.

A glowing map appeared before their eyes, marking their next destination.

"Well," Hawk said, his voice tinged with exhaustion, "that's one hell of a start."

Low nodded, her gaze fixed on the map. "Let's hope the next leg of this journey isn't as painful."

Hawk snorted. "You really think we'll get that lucky?"

Low gave him a faint smile. "No. But a girl can dream."

With the map guiding them, they left the hollow behind, their bond strengthened by the trials they had faced. But even as they moved forward, Hawk couldn't shake the feeling that the true challenges were only just beginning.