The air inside the Forest of Forgotten Lore was not merely cold; it was predatory. Every breath Arlan took felt like inhaling shards of frosted glass. Behind him, the rebel soldiers marched in a tight, terrified formation. They were Level 10 and 12 warriors, but in this place, they felt like toddlers in a lion's den.
[Warning: Reality Distortion – 75%]
[Area Effect: 'Will of the Woods' – Reducing Party Morale by 30%]
"Don't look at the trees," Arlan commanded, his voice cutting through the unnatural fog. "If you see a face in the bark, it's already too late."
Suddenly, the ground groaned. A massive, rotting trunk erupted from the earth, blocking their path. It wasn't a tree; it was a limb. Slowly, the Rotting Ent—a Guardian of the ancient world—rose to its full height of forty feet. Its eyes were two burning pits of violet flame, and its skin was a patchwork of moss, stone, and the skeletal remains of previous intruders.
[Boss Encounter: The Rotting Ent (Level 25)]
[HP: 25,000 / 25,000]
[Type: Ancient Undead / Plant]
"Seraphina, take the rear! Fenris, with me!" Arlan roared.
The Shadow Wolf materialized from the darkness beneath Arlan's feet, its size doubling as it absorbed the forest's ambient mana. Arlan didn't wait for the Ent to strike. He used Abyssal Blink, appearing instantly above the monster's head.
The Ent swung a branch-arm that could have leveled a building. Arlan twisted in mid-air, his Eclipse Blade trailing a veil of grey mist.
SHREEEEEE!
The blade sliced through the enchanted wood as if it were soft wax.
[Skill Triggered: Mana Drain]
[You have absorbed 400 MP from 'The Rotting Ent']
"You are nothing but fuel for my fire," Arlan hissed. He slammed his palm against the Ent's forehead. "Sovereign's Sacrifice: Shadow Flame!"
A pillar of black-and-purple fire erupted from Arlan's hand, spiraling down the Ent's body. The creature let out a sound that wasn't a scream, but the sound of a thousand trees snapping at once. The forest itself seemed to tremble in fear of the boy's power.
[Boss Slain!]
[Exp Gained: 12,000 (Bonus for Solo Kill)]
[Level Up! Level 21 -> Level 24]
[Stat Points Unallocated: 15]
As the massive creature crumbled into ash, a glowing green orb floated in the center of the remains. Arlan reached out and grabbed it.
[Item Acquired: Essence of the Forest (Rank S - Quest Item)]
[Description: A concentrated core of ancient mana. Can be used to evolve a Skill or the System Core.]
Arlan looked at the orb, then at his trembling hands. The power was intoxicating, but the System's warning was still there: Sanity 72%. He was winning the war against his father, but he was losing the war for his soul.
"We move," Arlan said, not looking back at his stunned soldiers. "The Iron Gate is only six hours away. By dawn, the Empire will lose its most 'impenetrable' fortress."
The column of rebels had finally reached the edge of the forest. Behind them lay the smoldering remains of the Ancient Guardian; ahead of them sat the Iron Gate, a fortress carved directly into the mountain pass. It was the only thing standing between Arlan and the heart of the Empire.
Arlan sat cross-legged on a black obsidian rock, the Essence of the Forest floating between his palms. The green orb throbbed with a life force that felt ancient and raw.
[System Notification: Essence of the Forest detected.]
[Would you like to Consume the Essence for a 'System Evolution'?]
[Warning: Evolution will lock the user in a 'Trance State' for 30 minutes.]
"Seraphina, guard me," Arlan ordered. "If anything breathes within fifty yards of this rock, kill it."
He closed his eyes and whispered, "Consume."
The orb shattered. Instead of light, a flood of emerald and violet energy surged into Arlan's chest. Inside his mind, the System's blue interface began to rewrite itself. The cold, mechanical code was being infused with the "Organic Logic" of the forest.
[Evolution in Progress...]
[Core Logic: Shadow -> Abyssal Chaos]
[Skill Tree: Expanding...]
[New Passive Unlocked: 'Gaia's Shadow' – You can now travel through any plant life or shadow within a 100-meter radius.]
While Arlan was in his trance, the rebels looked toward the Iron Gate. It was terrifying. The fortress was protected by Mana Cannons—massive tubes of brass and crystal that could vaporize an army from a mile away.
"We can't win a frontal assault," Sebastian whispered, his hand shaking as he sharpened his sword. "Even with the Prince's power, those cannons will turn us to ash before we reach the gate."
"The Prince knows what he's doing," Seraphina replied, though her own eyes were filled with doubt. She looked back at Arlan, who was now surrounded by a swirling vortex of green and black mana.
Suddenly, Arlan's eyes snapped open. The golden pupils had been replaced by a deep, crystalline green that flickered with black lightning.
[System Evolution Complete!]
[Current Level: 24]
[New Ultimate Ability: 'The Overgrowth' – Summon the souls of the forest to haunt the steel of your enemies.]
Arlan stood up, his presence so heavy that the nearby grass literally wilted and turned to iron. He looked at the Iron Gate and saw not a fortress, but a grave.
"The Empire relies on their 'Invincible Steel'," Arlan said, his voice echoing with a dual-tone—his own and the ancient forest's. "Tonight, I will show them that even steel can rot."
He turned to his commanders. "Prepare the men. We don't attack the gate. We attack the mountain itself."