We left Millbrook Village at dawn. The innkeeper had prepared a simple breakfast of porridge and bread, which we ate quickly before setting out.
The road leading to the Shadow Forest was less maintained than the one we'd traveled yesterday. Grass grew between the stone paths, and the further we walked, the fewer travelers we saw. By mid-morning, we were completely alone.
"It's quiet," Eliza said, her hand drifting to the dagger at her hip. "Too quiet."
She was right. The birds had stopped singing, and even the wind seemed to have died down. The only sound was our footsteps on the dirt path.
"We're getting close to the forest," I said, checking the position of the sun. "Stay alert."
"Wasn't planning on doing anything else," she muttered.
Another hour of walking brought us to the edge of the Shadow Forest. The trees here were massive, their trunks thick enough that three people couldn't wrap their arms around them. The canopy above was so dense that barely any sunlight reached the forest floor. Everything seemed darker here, as if the shadows themselves were thicker.
"That's... unsettling," Eliza said, staring into the darkness between the trees.
"The forest is called that for a reason," I replied, pulling out the rough map I'd drawn from memory. According to the novel, the Infinite Seed grew near a place called the Sunken Grove, deep in the forest's heart. It would take us at least six hours to reach it.
"Stay close to me," I said. "Don't wander off, and if I tell you to run, you run. Understood?"
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine."
"That's not reassuring, Young Master." But she nodded. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
We stepped into the forest.
The temperature dropped immediately. The shadows seemed to move on their own, wrapping around us like invisible hands. I activated my [Danger Sense] skill, feeling it hum at the edge of my awareness.
We walked in silence, following game trails and markers I remembered from the novel's descriptions. The forest floor was covered in thick moss that muffled our footsteps. Strange mushrooms glowed with faint blue light in the shadows.
"How do you know where you're going?" Eliza asked after we'd been walking for an hour.
"I studied maps before we left," I lied.
"Hmm." She didn't sound convinced, but she didn't argue.
My [Danger Sense] suddenly flared.
"Stop," I said sharply, holding up a hand.
Eliza froze. "What is it?"
I drew my sword slowly, scanning the trees around us. The shadows had grown darker, more active.
Then I saw it.
A shadow moved between the trees to our left. Low to the ground, four-legged, with eyes that glowed red in the darkness.
"Shadow Wolf," I said quietly. "Don't run. Don't show fear."
"Easy for you to say," Eliza whispered, but she drew her dagger with steady hands.
The wolf stepped into view. It was larger than a normal wolf, with fur that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Its teeth were too long, too sharp, and saliva dripped from its jaws.
[ENEMY IDENTIFIED: Shadow Wolf]
LEVEL: 4
THREAT LEVEL: Moderate
The system's notification appeared in my vision. Level 4. I was only level 2. This wasn't going to be easy.
The wolf growled, a sound like grinding stone. Then it lunged.
I moved on instinct, bringing my sword up to block. The wolf's claws scraped against the blade, sending sparks flying. The impact drove me back a step, my arms screaming in protest.
Strong. Much stronger than I expected.
The wolf landed and immediately lunged again. This time I sidestepped, slashing at its flank as it passed. My blade connected, drawing a line of black blood across its side.
The wolf yelped and spun around, its red eyes locked on me with pure hatred.
"Young Master!" Eliza shouted.
"Stay back!" I yelled. "Don't interfere!"
I couldn't protect her and fight at the same time. She needed to stay out of range.
The wolf circled me, looking for an opening. I kept my sword raised, watching its movements. It was fast, but not impossibly so. I could track it.
It feinted left, then attacked from the right. I barely got my sword up in time, but the wolf's weight crashed into me, sending us both to the ground.
Hot breath washed over my face as its jaws snapped inches from my throat. I held it back with my sword, my arms shaking with effort.
This was bad. If it got past my guard, I was dead.
I focused on my Aura, remembering Zane's training. Aura enhanced physical abilities when properly channeled. I'd never used it in combat before, but I didn't have a choice.
Energy flooded through my arms, and suddenly the wolf wasn't as heavy. I shoved it off and rolled to my feet.
The wolf landed hard but recovered instantly. It charged again, but this time I was ready.
I channeled Aura into my legs and burst forward, meeting its charge head-on. My sword flashed in the dim light, cutting deep into its shoulder.
The wolf howled in pain and tried to retreat, but I didn't give it the chance. I pressed forward, striking again and again. Each blow was stronger than the last as I got used to channeling Aura.
Finally, my blade found its throat. The wolf's howl cut off abruptly, and it collapsed.
[ENEMY DEFEATED: Shadow Wolf]
50 EXP GAINED
LEVEL UP!
You are now Level 3
I stood there panting, my sword still raised, waiting to see if the wolf would get back up. It didn't.
"Young Master!" Eliza ran over, her face pale. "Are you hurt?"
I checked myself. A few scratches, but nothing serious. "I'm fine."
"That was..." She stared at the dead wolf. "I've never seen you fight like that before."
Right. The original Zane had barely practiced. He wouldn't have been able to kill a Shadow Wolf.
"I've been training in secret," I said, which wasn't entirely a lie. I had trained yesterday with that rusted sword.
She looked at me with something like respect. "Well, it paid off. That thing would have killed most Novices."
I wiped my blade clean on the wolf's fur and sheathed it. "We need to keep moving. Where there's one Shadow Wolf, there might be more."
"Agreed." She kept her dagger out now, scanning the trees nervously.
We continued deeper into the forest. My [Danger Sense] remained active, warning me of threats before they got too close. We encountered two more Shadow Wolves over the next few hours, but I managed to defeat them both.
Each fight left me more exhausted, but also more experienced. My [Basic Swordsmanship] skill increased to Level 4, and I gained better control over my Aura.
[LEVEL UP!]
You are now Level 4
By the time the sun began to set, we'd traveled deep into the forest's heart. The trees here were even larger, and the shadows seemed almost alive.
"How much further?" Eliza asked. She looked tired but alert.
"Not far," I said, checking my mental map. "The Sunken Grove should be just ahead."
We pushed through a wall of vines and entered a clearing. My breath caught.
The Sunken Grove was exactly as the novel described. The ground sloped downward into a natural depression, and in the center grew a single tree unlike any other in the forest. Its bark was pure white, almost glowing in the fading light. And hanging from one of its lower branches was a fruit.
The Infinite Seed.
It was about the size of an apple, with skin that shimmered between gold and silver. Just looking at it, I could feel the power radiating from it.
"What is that?" Eliza whispered, staring at the fruit.
"Our objective," I said.
I started down the slope toward the tree, but my [Danger Sense] suddenly screamed a warning.
I grabbed Eliza and pulled us both back just as something massive erupted from the ground where we'd been standing.
A serpent. Easily twenty feet long, with scales that looked like polished obsidian and eyes that burned with intelligence.
[ENEMY IDENTIFIED: Grove Guardian]
LEVEL: 8
THREAT LEVEL: HIGH
WARNING: Enemy significantly above your level
My blood ran cold. Level 8. I was only level 4.
The serpent rose up, towering over us. Its forked tongue tasted the air, and when it looked at me, I knew it understood exactly why we were here.
This was the guardian. Every treasure had one. And I'd have to get past it if I wanted the Infinite Seed.
"Young Master," Eliza said slowly, her voice trembling. "Please tell me you have a plan."
I gripped my sword tighter, my mind racing. I couldn't fight this thing head-on. It was too strong, too fast.
But I had to try. I'd come too far to turn back now.
"Yeah," I said, though I wasn't sure I believed it. "Don't die."