Lord Of The Lost

Logging back into 'Elder's Realm', William took a deep breath. The game world flooded his senses as he re-entered his avatar's body. The environment was always so immersive, the sensation of being back in the game was like slipping into a well-worn glove.

[ID: Wallace Beethovenish]

[Level: 9]

[Constitution: 16.5]

[Spirit: 12.7]

[Energy: 12.9]

His stats were solid. His physical recovery had been quick, thanks to the potent 'Healing Ointment' that Forum Master had given him. He still felt some lingering pain, but it was manageable now. His injuries were healed up to about 80%. That was good enough for now.

The dense, unyielding fog of the Misty Forest stretched ahead of him. William set off, moving with the speed and precision of someone who had long since learned how to navigate the treacherous terrain. His higher physical values helped him maintain a sharp sense of direction, and the fog, thick as it was, didn't hinder him.

He dashed through the mist, feeling like a shadow, swift and elusive.

'Ding!'

Before he could register what was happening, William collided headfirst into an invisible barrier. His wings flared out in surprise, and he slid down slowly, his face meeting the transparent surface with a soft thud. He rubbed his cheek, wincing a little but grinning nonetheless.

"No harm done," he muttered to himself, though there was no malice in his voice.

[System Hint: You have met the Toad Prophet.]

William blinked, his heart skipping a beat. There, in the middle of the fog, was the same three-legged toad he'd encountered before. Its eyes gleamed with a strange, knowing light, as though it had been waiting for him.

"Well, well," William said softly, a small smile curling at the edges of his lips. "Looks like you're still hanging around, huh?"

The Toad Prophet croaked in response, its voice deep and ancient. '"You seek a path, but only the fog can reveal the way."'

William stood still for a moment, listening. 'The fog?' He had no idea what the toad meant, but one thing was certain, his journey was far from over. The real mystery was just beginning.

William stood before the three-legged toad, his wings twitching slightly as he considered the creature. This wasn't just any ordinary toad. No, this one had been a part of the Misty Forest for as long as anyone could remember, and it could speak human language, something that wasn't typical for the denizens of this mystical forest. If it could talk, it was likely far more than it appeared.

He wasn't about to let it stop him, though.

The Toad Prophet blinked slowly, studying William with its ancient, knowing eyes. "Where are you going?" it croaked, its voice deep and raspy, as if the very words had been dredged from the depths of the swamp.

William crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "I'm looking for a witch."

The toad's eyes narrowed slightly, and it shook its head with an almost dismissive air. "You are not looking for a witch," it replied cryptically.

William raised an eyebrow, speechless for a moment. 'Not a witch? What else could he be looking for in this foggy wilderness?'

The last time he had encountered this toad, nothing it predicted had come true. 'What could it know about his quest now?' He thought, a little irritated.

With a frustrated sigh, William asked, "Then who am I supposed to be looking for?"

The toad looked up into the swirling mist, as if seeing something beyond the fog. "Everything I see, know, and seek is... in the fog," it said, as though that explained everything.

William stared at the toad, then shook his head. Prophet-like beings were always cryptic and full of riddles. They never just 'told' you what you needed to know. But William didn't have time for that. He had a goal, and he was getting closer.

He threw one last glance at the toad. "Goodbye," he said curtly, then flapped his wings and turned toward the heart of the Misty Forest.

As he pushed deeper into the thick fog, William's wings cut through the air, carrying him swiftly toward his destination. Soon, a narrow path appeared between the trees, winding through the dense mist. It was a subtle shift in the landscape, almost as if the forest itself had opened up to guide him forward.

At the end of the path, William spotted her. The witch.

She stood there, watching him approach with an unreadable expression, as though she had been waiting for him all along. Her eyes narrowed when she saw him, and she sighed.

"Why are you here again?" Her voice had a sharp edge to it, like someone who'd seen too many people come and go without ever understanding their true intentions.

William folded his arms, a bit sheepish. "You told me I had to become a demon wolf, but you never told me 'how' to become one."

The witch rolled her eyes, clearly irritated. "How should I know? The demon wolf disappeared ages ago, leaving nothing but myths and a few old stories. Everything about it is a mystery."

William's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "So you don't know either."

"Of course, I don't," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But you can't expect me to have all the answers. I'm not some omniscient sage, just a witch trying to clean up the messes of reckless adventurers like you."

William snorted, but he had to admit, it was safer to have her around. She might not know exactly how to make him a demon wolf, but at least she was a steady hand in this unpredictable place. If anything went wrong, she could intervene.

With an exaggerated sigh, the witch made room for William to step forward. She began arranging magical sigils on the ground with swift, practiced movements, the air around her crackling with latent power. She was a master of rituals, and William could already tell that the magic circle she was preparing was far more intricate and powerful than anything he could have drawn himself.

As she worked, William watched with curiosity. There was something off about the atmosphere now, something subtle, but unmistakable. The witch seemed to hesitate for a moment, her fingers hovering over the ground as though sensing something unfamiliar.

Her expression darkened. Her eyes flicked to him, sharp and calculating. Then, without warning, she extended her hand toward him.

William blinked, completely confused. What was she doing now?

With a stern look, the witch spoke flatly, "Ice Mist Flower."

William froze. The words hit him like a jolt of recognition. He had nearly forgotten about it; the Ice Mist Flower, the precious magical flower he had received from the Toad Prophet when he first entered the Misty Forest. He'd been so caught up in everything else that he hadn't even thought about selling it or using it. But now...

The witch's eyes narrowed as she took the flower and pressed it into his forehead. The petals of the flower shimmered with an ethereal glow, releasing a chilling mist that enveloped William's head. The cold sensation swept through his thoughts, freezing his mind for a brief moment. His soul felt like it was suspended in time, caught between reality and some deeper, forgotten place.

The witch muttered under her breath, still watching him closely. "So... this is how it happens."

William could feel the two extraordinary traits; the demon and the werewolf, begin to stir within him. The ritual was working, drawing both paths into alignment. Two separate powers, once isolated, were now merging inside him. It was an intense, almost violent process as the characteristics of each path struggled to coexist, pushing against one another before finally settling into place.

His body trembled as the two extraordinary traits exploded into full awakening. The demon's power surged, wild and untamed, while the werewolf's primal force howled beneath his skin. The energy swirled within him, clashing and blending into something new, something dangerous.

The witch's expression was grim as she observed him. Her hands moved quickly, flipping through the pages of her ancient magic book, using a dragon-blood ink pen to make rapid notations. Her brow furrowed as she muttered to herself.

"After so many years... the characteristics of werewolves have changed. They've evolved, become different from their ancient form. They need the Ice Mist Flower to stabilize their minds, or they risk losing control completely."

William could feel his sanity teetering on the edge as the two forces inside him sought dominance. The icy mist from the flower wrapped around his mind, calming the chaos, but it was a delicate balance. A single misstep, and he could lose himself to the raw power within.

With a grunt, William forced himself to stay grounded, focusing on the cold, steady feeling the flower provided. It wasn't comfortable, but it was necessary. His transformation had begun, but the road ahead was still uncertain.

The witch looked at him, her gaze both critical and knowing. "This is your path now," she said, her voice softening for the first time. "A fusion of two wild, uncontrollable forces. You'll have to be careful. One wrong move, and you could become something... else entirely."

William nodded, knowing this was only the beginning. The path ahead was full of dangers, but now, he had the power to face them. He had no choice but to walk it; one step at a time.