As Colm pulled his spear from the lifeless body of a Thornfang Wolf, he dismissed the notification with barely a glance. His attention turned to his phantoms, each dominating their side of the battlefield. To his left, Carver sliced through droves of wolves with effortless precision, while Lance moved deftly among the trees, clearing out the hidden Barklurkers that threatened from above.

Charging into the fray, Colm ran toward Carver. The Phantom Warrior didn't need the help, but Colm craved the thrill of combat and the chance to refine his own skills.

By the time Colm reached Carver, only a few scattered wolves remained. Standing shoulder to shoulder with his phantom, Colm braced himself for the oncoming beasts. With his heightened dexterity, he effortlessly dodged their clumsy attacks, their movements far too slow to pose a real threat. A sharp grin tugged at his lips as a wolf charged him. Colm sidestepped with ease, spear in hand, and drove the blade into its side in one smooth motion.

Behind him, Carver was a whirlwind of precision. The phantom parried an oncoming wolf, dodged another, and struck down a third in a fluid sequence, dictating the flow of the fight with practiced grace. Colm couldn't help but feel a surge of determination watching his phantom's mastery in action.

Two more wolves rushed at Colm, their snarls echoing through the trees. Colm blocked one with the shaft of his spear, twisting his body to avoid the other's snapping jaws. With a swift downward swipe, he dispatched the first beast. The second wolf lunged again, but Colm, quick on his feet, pivoted sharply and drove his spear into the creature's back, ending it with a decisive thrust.

The battle raged on as the unrelenting flow of wolves continued, their numbers seemingly endless. The commotion had drawn even more beasts, turning the fight into a ceaseless onslaught. Before long, Lance rejoined the fray, having eradicated all the Barklurkers in the surrounding area. With all three of them—Colm, Carver, and Lance—working together, the wolves stood no chance. Their coordinated strikes were fluid and precise, cutting through the horde without resistance.

As time wore on, however, Colm felt the strain. Unlike his untiring phantoms, his energy waned. Realizing he could no longer keep pace, he stepped back, allowing Carver and Lance to take over completely. They fought on relentlessly, and soon the flood of wolves dwindled to a trickle before stopping altogether. The assault had ended.

Colm let out a sharp exhale, surveying the battlefield strewn with the lifeless bodies of Thornfang Wolves. The sight made him pause, his earlier adrenaline fading into a heavy, contemplative silence. This wasn't the first time he'd fought for his life, nor the first time he'd killed to survive in this unforgiving world. But something about this moment felt different—jarring.

What am I doing? He wondered, his chest tightening. I've killed hundreds of creatures. I know it's fight or die, but this... this is changing me. The realization gnawed at him, a bitter contrast to the satisfaction he'd felt moments before.

Barklurker (Level 41) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Thornfang Wolf (Level 39) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Barklurker (Level 38) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

…

Thornfang Wolf (Level 42) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Spear Master (Level 3) has increased to Spear Mastery (Level 4)

Spear Master (Level 4) has increased to Spear Mastery (Level 5)

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Brushing the thought aside, Colm turned his attention to the notifications, grimly focusing on the spoils of the battle. The relentless onslaught had earned him several levels. He allocated his newly gained stat points evenly, prioritizing strength and dexterity to shore up his weaker areas. Though a heavy weight lingered in his chest, he steeled himself. With his phantoms by his side, he pressed onward, ready to face whatever challenges the Grove had in store.

Finally finding a reprieve, Colm made his way back to the stream, parched after the grueling battle. Along the way, he gathered more Celestial Blooms, cradling a handful as he approached the water.

Once at the stream, he glanced at the surface, wary of repeating the earlier ambush. He instructed Lance to survey the area and dive in to eliminate any lurking Veilthorn Stranglers. As soon as the phantom reached the water's edge, something pulled it under.

Colm raised an eyebrow, his mind wandering. I wonder if those things can even hurt him? Their whole attack seems to rely on drowning their prey, and I doubt Lance needs air. As if on cue, a notification appeared, confirming his phantom's swift victory.

Veilthorn Strangler (Level 35) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

Colm frowned at the message. He'd gained a good number of levels from the earlier onslaught, but now it seemed like many of the creatures attacking him were beneath his level. He sighed, realizing he might've missed out on valuable experience. However, more notifications flooded his vision, interrupting his thoughts.

Veilthorn Strangler (Level 39) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

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Veilthorn Strangler (Level 31) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

Veilthorn Strangler (Level 37) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

Veilthorn Strangler (Level 38) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

With a shrug, Colm dismissed the notifications and settled beneath a nearby tree, biting into the minty Celestial Blooms. Carver stood on watch while Lance continued clearing the stream of any threats. The blooms tasted fresher than usual, perhaps because he was so famished after the battle.

He leaned back, chewing thoughtfully. The blooms had been a lifesaver during his time here—after going days without food during the trial; he appreciated them more than ever. These small, glowing plants had kept him alive, their minty flavor a constant companion. Still, the monotony was wearing on him. He craved variety, but gratitude tempered his longing. At least I have something, he thought, swallowing another bite.

After a few minutes, the flood of notifications from Lance finally ceased, and Colm saw the phantom emerge near the water's edge before stepping out of the stream. Feeling a newfound confidence that the area was relatively safe, he approached the water with his phantoms standing guard. Kneeling at the edge, he drank deeply. The water felt crisp and cool as it slid down his throat, a refreshing relief after the day's battles. However, a stray thought crossed his mind: Is this still clean water, considering the creatures living—and dying—in it? He frowned briefly, but after a moment's hesitation, he shrugged the thought away and cast Analyze on the stream again.

Stream Water

The information was the same as before, with no additional information from his increase in levels in his Analyze skill. Trusting his enhanced stats to stave off any potential issues and relying on Lingering Vitality to combat anything harmful, he reassured himself. Still, he thought, I've been lucky so far with my guesses—too lucky. I've taken a lot of risks, and it's only a matter of time before that catches up to me. I really need to figure out a better survival strategy. He mentally filed the thought away for the future, should he ever find civilization.

Finally feeling satiated, Colm decided it was time to find a spot to camp out. With the area cleared of beasts from the earlier battles, he felt confident that he could rest without interruption. Especially with his phantoms guarding him. Leaving the stream behind—he wasn't eager to test its lurking creatures—he scouted for a suitable spot. Soon, he found a sturdy tree that appeared to offer decent protection.

He gave his phantoms their orders: Lance was to scout the surrounding area for any hidden threats, continually circling the camp, while Carver was to stay by his side at all times, never leaving his sight. With his plan in place, Colm leaned against the tree and let himself exhale the weight of the day.

Almost immediately after settling down, a notification flashed across his vision.

Barklurker (Level 38) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

Colm chuckled inwardly, silently applauding Lance for staying vigilant. He sent a mental command to his phantom to keep up the good work before letting his thoughts drift.

As more notifications appeared, Colm sighed, wondering if they would keep him from getting the rest he so desperately needed. Ignoring the flickering messages, he closed his eyes and willed himself to relax. Slowly, the tension faded, and his mind drifted into the edges of sleep.

Colm jolted awake to the sound of a thunderous roar, his heart pounding as a notification flickered into his vision.

Your Phantom Spearman has been destroyed.

Colm quickly activated his Phantom Spearman ability, re-summoning Lance just as Carver shifted into a defensive stance. The sound of loud, pounding footsteps grew closer, making Colm's heart skip a beat as he readied himself for what was coming. Through the dim light, an illuminated form emerged from the trees, and Colm cast Analyze.

Glowmaw Grizzly (Level ??)

Steadying himself, Colm tested the creature's abilities before fully committing. He thought about how it had dispatched Lance earlier and was determined to be more cautious this time. He commanded Carver and Lance to flank the creature, engaging it from both sides.

The phantoms moved with precision, closing in swiftly. The Glowmaw Grizzly swiped at Carver with a massive paw, its agility surprising for its size. Carver blocked the strike cleanly, but the sheer force of the blow sent him flying back into a tree. Lance seized the opening, delivering a powerful thrust of his spectral spear into the creature's side before retreating quickly. The bear roared in fury, shifting its focus to Lance, but Carver was already back in the fight, slashing at the creature's flank and eliciting another enraged roar.

Realizing that both phantoms working together were too much to handle directly, the grizzly adjusted its tactics. It let out a defiant roar, swiping wildly to keep both phantoms at bay. However, the multitasking slowed it down, allowing the phantoms to land small, precise strikes. Gradually, the bear was driven back against a tree, thrashing its massive weight around to off-balance its attackers.

Suddenly, the creature's glow dimmed. Colm's instincts flared, and he mentally braced for a change. Carver and Lance backed off cautiously, waiting to see what would happen. Without warning, a blinding light erupted from the grizzly, searing through the darkness. Colm shielded his eyes, but in the chaos, he felt the distinct trigger of his Spectral Persistence ability.

Grimacing, Colm realized the creature had used the blinding light to destroy both phantoms. However, he quickly grinned, recognizing this as the perfect opportunity to test his new ability. He commanded the lingering remnants of his phantoms to attack mercilessly while they lasted.

The spectral echoes of Lance and Carver charged the grizzly, their ethereal forms impervious to its retaliatory swipes. The bear roared in frustration, its furious strikes passing harmlessly through the remnants as they landed hit after hit. Despite the grizzly's strength, the accumulated wounds proved too much. With a final pained roar, the Glowmaw Grizzly collapsed to the ground, defeated, as the spectral echoes faded.

Your Phantom Warrior has been destroyed.

Your Phantom Spearman has been destroyed.

Glowmaw Grizzly (Level 50) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Spectral Persistence (Level 1) has increased to Spectral Persistence (Level 2)

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Colm grinned in satisfaction. His new passive ability had proven its worth, allowing him to finish the grizzly even after it revealed an unexpected ace. He quickly allocated his newly earned stat points, focusing on intelligence and constitution to further bolster his abilities and resilience.

With his phantoms gone, Colm quickly activated Phantom Warrior and Phantom Spearman, summoning Carver and Lance back to his side. "Good job, team," he muttered with a smirk. Glancing at the Glowmaw Grizzly's level, he noted it matched that of the Grove Stalker, yet this fight felt far easier. This supported his theory: not all levels are equal. Sure, he was much stronger now compared to when he faced the Grove Stalker, but this creature didn't seem as fast or as powerful.

It had its moments, like the light bomb, but even that wasn't insurmountable. "Honestly," Colm muttered, "I could've just let my phantoms wear it down if things got bad." The realization was comforting—it showed just how far he'd come in his abilities and preparation.

Stretching, Colm felt ready to take on the day. After a quick meal of Celestial Blooms and a refreshing drink from the stream, he considered his next steps. Time was elusive in the Grove, with its perpetual twilight and absence of sunlight, but he figured he'd rested enough.

"We'll get to at least level 45," he said to his phantoms, confident he would unlock a new class ability at that milestone. Afterward, he'd focus on claiming mastery over the Grove. With any luck, that would be the last challenge. Then, maybe—just maybe—he could leave this place with the rewards he'd earned and finally seek other people. The thought of meeting others filled him with both apprehension and hope.

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