The earth-shattering roar of the Ancient Treant echoed throughout the forest, making the leaves tremble as if a fierce storm were about to strike. The ground beneath Alex and Elara's feet shook violently, as colossal roots crawled above ground like semi-sentient snakes, lashing wildly into the air with deadly speed. The Ancient Treant – an ancient being formed from a massive tree trunk towering over thirty meters, its cracked bark etched with faint, pale green ancient runes – was charging with terrifying power. Each heavy step caused the ground to crack open, creating deep fissures, and the surrounding trees crumpled as if crushed by an invisible hand. "Curse-bearer... You must die! Darkness is not allowed to exist here!" Its voice was like the wind howling through a deep cavern, full of ancient rage, reverberating in Alex's mind like a curse.
Alex ran desperately alongside Elara, his heart pounding as if it would burst from his chest, his breath ragged and hot in his throat. The wound on his shoulder still ached intensely, blood seeping out with every staggering step, soaking his shirt and dripping onto the damp ground. But the surging adrenaline made him partially forget the pain; instead, primal fear propelled him forward. "Damn it! Why is it so huge? Is this the final boss in the opening scene? But I don't have a save point!" he thought, memories of the RPG games he played on Earth flooding back as a cruel reminder. But this was no game – the pain was real, death was real, and the foul sap odor from the Treant made him nauseous. Elara, with the fluid agility of a forest elf, guided him through the dense bushes, her long silver hair flying in the night wind. "Don't look back! The Treant is the forest's gatekeeper – it guards the ancient seal. Your dark power has awakened it! We must get to the elf village; they have protective barriers there!" she yelled, her voice cutting through the wind and the lashing sound of the roots.
But the Treant would not let them go easily. A colossal root, as thick as a human torso, slammed down from above like a giant whip, aiming straight for Alex's back with dizzying speed. The air was ripped apart, creating a terrifying whoosh. Alex sensed the danger through his skin, his hair standing on end, and activated Shadow Cloak on pure instinct. His body merged with the darkness, transforming into an invisible phantom, faint as black smoke, narrowly avoiding the blow. The root smashed into the ground with incredible force, creating a two-meter-wide crater, dust and rock fragments flying everywhere, spraying Elara, who coughed violently. "Shadow Strike!" Alex instantly materialized; the dark blade formed from his palm shot out like a black lightning bolt, severing a section of the root with a loud "crack." Green sap spurted out like fresh blood, splattering onto the ground, causing the surrounding plants to instantly wither. But the Treant only roared in fury; new roots sprouted from the cut at a visible speed, like an immortal body. [Experience +300. Shadow Stability: 60%.] The System warned in his head, but the darkness was whispering seductively, its voice as sweet as venom: "Devour it... Take its power... Let me grant you immortality..."
Elara turned back, her face pale under the faint moonlight, and shot a shimmering green arrow from her exquisite elf bow. The arrow flew true, embedding itself in the colossal tree trunk, exploding into a ball of blue fire that scorched a section of the bark, creating a smell of burning wood and a cracking sound. But the wound was merely a surface scratch on an elephant's hide – the Treant swayed its trunk, instantly extinguishing the fire by drawing water from the ground. "It's useless! The Treant can regenerate from the forest's magic! We can't defeat it here – we must run to the border river!" She grabbed Alex's hand, her skin cold with fear, and the two rushed forward through thorny bushes that tore at their clothes. The forest seemed to come alive at the Treant's command: branches reached out like wooden claws, trying to grab their feet; sudden thorn bushes erupted from the ground, inflicting more cuts on Alex; even the forest wind grew fiercer, pushing them back. Alex used shadow tentacles to clear the obstacles, the black appendages crawling like venomous snakes, lashing out and crushing branches and bushes with a hideous "thwack." But with every use, he felt his soul being eroded, a slight headache spreading, as if the darkness were gnawing at his will. "I can't keep this up... This body isn't used to magic! My legs are giving out!" He gritted his teeth, cold sweat mixing with blood streaming down.
In the distance, the sound of trickling water echoed – the border river, the boundary between the Shadow Forest and the elf territory, where the current was swift and protected by magic. "Just a little further! Jump across the river; the Treant can't follow!" Elara yelled, hope flashing in her bright blue eyes. But the Treant had caught up, its colossal trunk looming like a moving mountain. It raised a huge branch like a muscular arm, striking down like a colossal sledgehammer, the compressed air creating a terrifying pressure. Alex pushed Elara out of the path, rolling away, but the blow grazed his leg with the force of being hit by a truck. Flesh was torn, bones cracked, and burning pain spread throughout his body. He screamed: "Aaaargh! My leg... my leg!" Blood gushed profusely from the deep wound, staining the ground red, and he collapsed, unable to stand immediately. Elara turned back, her eyes red with horror: "No! Get up, Alex!" She shot arrows continuously at the Treant, the bolts flying like rain, embedding themselves in the trunk, exploding into blue fire, but the Treant merely swayed, continuing to rush toward them with roots lashing wildly.
In a moment of despair, the darkness surged stronger than ever, like a black river overflowing its banks. Alex felt a new power – as if the curse was fully awakening, devouring the pain in exchange for strength. "Shadow Fusion!" he whispered through gritted teeth, recalling the skill from the previous battle with the Goblins. The darkness merged with the residual magic from Elara on him, forming a shimmering dark-green shield that enveloped them both like a protective sphere. The Treant's strike slammed down with terrifying force, colliding with the barrier with a deafening explosion. The shield shattered into dark-green fragments that scattered, pushing the Treant back a few meters with a sound of cracking wood. [Skill Upgraded: Shadow Fusion Lv.2 – Enhanced Defense and Counter-Attack.] Experience flooded in: [Level up: Level 8 → Level 9.] But the backlash was immediate – his head felt like it was splitting, his vision blurred with swirling black spots, and the darkness whispered more fiercely: "Give me blood... Give me soul... Devour the enemy!"
Elara pulled him up with her last ounce of strength, her hands trembling but determined, and the two rushed toward the river. The river water was clear but deep, the current swift like a water monster. "Jump! The elf barrier is on the other side!" she yelled, jumping into the freezing water first. Alex followed, his body falling freely into the water. The current swept them away like dry leaves in a storm. The Treant stopped at the bank, roaring in fury: "You won't escape forever... Shadow Sovereign! The curse will return!" Its roots reached out, trying to grab them, but could not reach, repelled by an invisible barrier.
The two floated downstream, Elara using magic to create an air bubble around them to breathe. The cold water seeped into Alex's wound, intensifying the pain. They surfaced on the other bank, drenched and exhausted, their bodies shaking from cold and fatigue. This area was distinctly different – the trees were greener, the air warm with the faint scent of forest flowers, and elf huts were subtly hidden among the trees like a perfect natural painting. But before they could rest, a group of armed elves rushed out from the bushes, bows drawn, arrows shimmering with magic aimed at them. "Elara! You brought an outsider? He exudes a dark aura!" A tall, muscular male elf, likely the leader, shouted, his voice full of caution.
Elara stood up, her voice firm despite her ragged breath: "Brother Thorne, this is Alex. He saved me from the Goblin pack and the Treant. But... he carries the Shadow power – the sign of the Shadow Sovereign."
Thorne – Elara's brother – frowned deeply, his blue eyes similar to his sister's flashing with suspicion and worry. "The Shadow Sovereign? The curse has returned? The elders must know about this immediately. Imprison him for questioning!" The elves rushed forward swiftly, binding Alex with magic ropes woven from forest spider silk. His Shadow power was temporarily sealed, making him feel as if a part of his body had been cut off. Alex struggled hopelessly: "Wait! I'm not an enemy! I just want to survive! Let me explain!" But it was futile; they pulled him toward the village with superior strength, the ropes tightening and burning his skin.
The elf village – named Sylvana – was a masterpiece of nature and magic: towering tree houses connected by suspended rope bridges, magic light from crystal orbs twinkling everywhere like starlight, and the air filled with life energy. But Alex was locked in a cage made of magically warped tree roots, unable to use his power, left to huddle on the damp ground. Elara looked at him through the bars, her eyes full of apology and complexity: "I'm sorry... But the Shadow Sovereign curse is a calamity. Centuries ago, one with similar power nearly destroyed the forest, killing countless elves. The elders will decide your fate."
Alex sat in the prison, his thoughts racing amidst the darkness of the cage. "I came from Earth, gained this power, but now I'm considered a monster. How can I prove myself? And this curse... it's getting stronger." The System quietly chimed: [New Quest: Escape the Elf Prison. Reward: New Skill – Shadow Summon.] But the darkness whispered in his head: "Release me... Kill them all... They don't deserve it..." He shook his head vigorously, trying to resist the temptation, cold sweat breaking out.
As night fell and the village sank into peaceful sleep under the moonlight, a mysterious figure approached the cage. It was an ancient elf, his skin wrinkled like old tree bark, his eyes milky white as if blind yet gleaming with wisdom – an Elder. "You... are the Chosen One. Prophecy spoke of you centuries ago. But to survive, you must prove you are not a slave to the darkness. Be ready, the trial is coming." He whispered in a raspy voice, then vanished into the shadows as if he had never existed.
Suddenly, an alarm blared throughout the village – magic bells rang out, and the crystal lights flashed red. "Intruders! Humans are attacking!" The shouts echoed. A troop of human mercenaries rushed into the village from all sides, carrying blazing torches and swords gleaming under the moonlight, shouting: "Find the sealed jewel! Kill all the elves! Leave no one alive!" They were numerous, about fifty strong, wearing crude iron armor, rushing in like a tide, severing rope bridges and setting fire to the tree houses. The fire spread quickly, black smoke billowed, the smell of burnt wood mingled with desperate cries.
Alex struggled in his prison, his heart pounding: "Damn it! I have to get out! They're massacring them!" The darkness surged, reacting to the chaos, breaking the root seal with a resounding "crack." He lunged out of the cage, his body aching but his power returned. "Shadow Dominion!" he activated, and black tentacles crawled from the ground, wrapping around the three nearest mercenaries. They screamed miserably, their life force sucked dry, their bodies shriveling into mummies before dissolving into black dust. [Experience +150.] But the mercenaries were not weak – a large one charged, his sword swinging down at Alex's head. Alex dodged; the blade severed a lock of his hair. He countered with a Shadow Strike: the dark blade shot out, slicing off the mercenary's arm with a sound of tearing flesh and gushing blood. The mercenary roared in pain but charged with his remaining arm, forcing Alex to use Shadow Cloak to vanish, sneak behind, and stab him in the back. The stench of blood surged; he collapsed.
Elara ran over from afar, firing arrows continuously, the green bolts piercing two soldiers, exploding and incinerating them. "Alex! Help us! There are too many of them!" she yelled, her face smeared with smoke and dirt. Alex nodded, plunging into the fierce battle. The elves fought fiercely: Thorne swung a gleaming elf sword, decapitating a soldier with a lightning-fast motion, blood splattering; other elves shot arrows from above, creating a deadly rain of bolts. But the humans used fire magic, shooting fireballs that burned the tree houses, causing elves to fall to the ground. Alex combined powers with Elara: "Shadow Fusion!" The darkness merged with her green magic, forming dark-green blades that swept away five soldiers in a single strike, their bodies sliced in half, blood and organs scattered. [Experience +400. Level up: Level 9 → Level 10.]
But the mercenary leader – a massive man in shiny black armor, his face scarred – laughed loudly amidst the chaos: "Shadow Sovereign? Excellent, you'll be my weapon! Dark Summon!" He summoned a similar shadow monster, a three-meter-tall black phantom with sharp claws, that lunged at Alex like a whirlwind. "Devour him!" the leader yelled. Alex faced it: the monster lashed its claws, tearing the air; Alex dodged, but the claw grazed his chest, tearing his shirt and skin, blood flowing freely. "Aargh! It's too strong!" He countered with a Shadow Strike; the blade severed the monster's arm, but it instantly regenerated. The two shadows clashed, creating a dark explosion, the spreading darkness swallowing nearby elves and soldiers. Alex felt the curse awaken: "Shadow Summon!" he yelled, summoning a Goblin phantom from the remains of the former Goblin King, massive and vicious, that charged at the enemy monster. The two phantoms wrestled, claws tearing, the darkness swirling like a storm. Alex's Goblin phantom bit the monster's neck, devouring it with a repulsive "gulp." [Level up: Level 10 → Level 11.]
But the backlash came – Alex's eyes turned bloodshot; the darkness took control. He almost turned to attack Elara with black tentacles. "No... Stop!" he screamed internally, stopping just in time, collapsing, panting heavily. The leader rushed forward, his sword swinging down: "Die!" Alex dodged, used Shadow Cloak to sneak behind, and plunged the dark blade straight into his heart. Blood spurted; he collapsed: "The Dark Lord... will have his revenge..."
The battle ended with the elves victorious, but the village was heavily damaged: houses burned black, bodies lay scattered, the smell of blood and smoke mingled. Thorne looked at Alex with changed eyes: "You saved us... But your curse is too dangerous. You almost lost control." The Elder appeared from the shadows: "He is hope. The prophecy said: the Shadow Sovereign will defeat the ancient darkness – the Dark Lord from the abyss."
Alex panted, his wounds throbbing: "The Dark Lord? What is that?" The Elder smiled mysteriously: "The one who created your curse. And he is returning, with his legion of shadows."