The fourth day of Ethan's relentless journey through the wilds began under a dim gray sky, smeared with rolling clouds that cloaked the rising sun. The forest gave way to lowlands, where mist clung tightly to the terrain like a spectral veil. Before him lay the Marsh of Whispering Shadows, a bleak and treacherous bog said to devour the unworthy.
Ethan's boots sank ankle-deep into the soggy ground as he stepped forward. The air here was heavier, thick with the scent of decay, mold, and something darker. The chirping of birds was absent, replaced by low croaks and the distant squelch of something large moving through the wetlands. His blade hung loosely on his back, and his shirt clung to his skin from the humidity and sweat.
His EXP bar hovered at 122/300.
"If I'm going to reach the kingdom today... I'll need to push harder."
He tightened the makeshift straps on his arms and narrowed his eyes. His WRATH sat at 30. Ethan knew that the marsh would be his greatest trial so far. He moved carefully, the still waters around him disturbed only by his footsteps.
Then came the whispering.
It was faint at first—a gentle call like wind brushing against his ear. But it grew louder, a chorus of distant voices hissing his name.
"Ethan... Ethan... come... come... join us..."
His steps faltered. He turned quickly. Nothing.
The system flared.
[WARNING: ILLUSIONARY ZONE DETECTED] [STATUS EFFECT: MINOR MENTAL DISRUPTION - RESISTANCE RECOMMENDED]
He bit the inside of his cheek, hard. Blood trickled into his mouth, the pain grounding his senses. He focused on the blade at his back, gripping the hilt tightly.
"You're not getting me that easy."
Then the waters erupted.
A Class II Tartarus Beast surged from beneath, masked by the mud and shadows—a six-legged amphibian creature with a head split into four fleshy petals, rows of fangs dripping black ichor. Its skin was translucent, showing veins pulsing with corrupted Qi.
[WRATH SURGE DETECTED]
[ENEMY IDENTIFIED: TARTARUS BEAST - CLASS II]
[NAME: ABYSSAL FLESH-BLOOM LURKER]
The beast lunged.
Ethan ducked just in time, rolling across the muck. Its claws raked across the water where he stood a moment before. He spun to his feet and activated his first move.
"ABYSAL LUNGE!!!"
He vanished in a blur, streaking toward the Lurker. His blade connected with its midsection, slicing through three of its legs in one fluid arc. Black ichor sprayed. The beast let out a guttural howl.
[WRATH EXPENDED: -8]
[WRATH REMAINING: 22/30]
[COOLDOWN INITIATED: 8s]
[DAMAGE DEALT: 22%]
[ENEMY STATUS: LAMED, ENRAGED]
[+6WRATH EARNED]
[WRATH: 28/30]
The beast retaliated, thrashing wildly. Its split-petal head opened fully, revealing a glowing red orb at the center. A pulse of corrupted Qi burst out.
[WARNING: CORRUPTED QI BLAST - IMPACT IMMINENT!!!]
Ethan leapt sideways, barely avoiding the impact as the beam struck the ground, sending water and mud splashing high.
He landed hard, slipping slightly. "Not letting you kill me here. I won't fall until I reach the gates."
The beast charged again. Ethan raised his hands and activated the skill he'd been aching to test.
"ABYSSAL CLAWS!"
His fingers morphed, nails elongating into jagged, black talons pulsing with abyssal energy. The claws hummed violently, and a twisted aura cloaked his arms.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: ABYSSAL CLAWS]
[WRATH COST: 20 WRATH]
[WRATH REMAINING: 8/30]
[DURATION: 90 SECONDS]
[COOLDOWN INITIATED: 180 SECONDS] [STATUS: OVERDRAWN - TEMPORARY BACKLASH: -10% STAMINA RECOVERY]
Ethan darted forward with bestial agility. He slashed the beast across its open chest cavity, ripping flesh from scale. One claw dug deep into the orb in its maw, bursting it in a fountain of black mist and red ooze.
The creature shrieked, stumbling backward.
[DAMAGE DEALT: 10%]
[EFFECT: PROLONGED BLEEDING]
[+5WRATH EARNED]
[WRATH: 13/30]
Ethan didn't relent. He moved like a blur, slashing, tearing, stabbing. Rage pumped through him. Each motion a scream. Each strike a vow. Each claw an oath of vengeance.
[+7WRATH EARNED]
[WRATH: 20/30
[DAMAGE INFLICTED: CRITICAL - 74%]
[ENEMY STATUS: DESTABILIZING, BLEEDING]
With one final upward strike, he ripped open its throat. The beast staggered, gurgled, and collapsed into the marsh, black ichor mixing with stagnant water.
[ABYSSAL FLESH-BLOOM LURKER DEFEATED!] [+50 EXP GAINED]
[+7WRATH EARNED
[CURRENT EXP: 172/300]
[WRATH: 27/30]
[ATTRIBUTE CHOICE AVAILABLE] [WRATH LIMIT INCREASED TO 35]
[WRATH: 27/35]
A surge of power rushed through Ethan. His fatigue dulled, pain lessened, and his claws shimmered with newfound strength before vanishing as the timer ran out.
He fell to his knees, breathing heavily. The marsh was silent again.
He sat there for a moment, soaked in blood, mud, and exhaustion. But he smiled faintly.
"I'm almost there, kiddo. Just a bit more."
He rose, pressing forward deeper into the whispering shadows of the marsh, his blade in hand, the forest ahead.
He continued his journey into the wild, with one destination in mind. Reaching the nearest Kingdom as soon as possible. No map, no directives, no sense of orientation but only instinct and the system as his compass. He lurked deeper and deeper in the woods. The marsh was cold, stinky and a little viscous like frog mucus.
"This place stinks like hell... When will I even leave this marshy forest. I am getting tired of this as fuck"
This was Ethan's fourth day of journey, yet no sign of Human live, no human settlement on the way. Prooves that his village was really one abandoned land. He kept pushing forward into the marshland. The surrounding was calm, too calm for him.
"I don't think I hate silence... But after what I've been seeing here, I think it's a bit too quiet right now now and I don't like it"
He held his sword tighter, ready to unsheath is at any moment and welcome any beast with a clean cut from his loyal colleague, which is no other than his sword.
No bird chirping, no hissing, now howl, no scratches... Complete silence. Only the sound from his motion on the stinky waters.
"Anyways... If a storm is preparing ahead, I will face it head-on and deal with it in seconds"
Saying so, primal energy pulsed in his vein and the markings stretching from his right forearm to his chest shimmered faintly as if acknowledging what he said.
Ethan pushed forward in the marsh, still holding his sword, senses on alert. Walking carefully and watching all over the surrounding. After a long time of silence, he suddenly heard howls in a distance, and crooked chirps from crows. Ethan was scared, instead he was relieved after hearing the howls. Relieved that some more EXPs are awaiting him further.
Was something preparing ahead? We would not know till he reaches the place.