New class abilities available.

Select a new Class Active Ability.

Active Ability: Spectral Bolt (Level 1)

Mana: 10

Conjures a bolt of spectral energy that streaks toward a distant enemy with a haunting, ethereal glow. Upon impact, the bolt deals moderate damage and leaves a chilling effect, sapping the target's agility and reducing their movement speed for a short duration.

Active Ability: Phantom Step (Level 1)

Mana: 30

Allows the user to move a short distance with significantly increased speed, making it ideal for dodging incoming attacks, closing the gap between foes, or retreating to safety. While phased, they leave behind a faint trail of spectral energy, briefly disorienting nearby enemies and creating a lingering afterimage that draws attention away from their actual position.

Active Ability: Phantom Archer (Level 1)

Mana: 25

Summons a spectral archer equipped with a longbow, capable of firing precise, ethereal arrows. The arrows deal moderate damage and can pierce through multiple enemies in a line. Only one Phantom Archer can be summoned at a time; attempting to summon another will replace the current Archer.

Active Ability: Phantom Pack (Level 1)

Mana: 60

Summons three smaller, wolf-like phantoms that act as a group. The pack specializes in overwhelming enemies with coordinated attacks, causing extra damage if all three target the same foe. The phantoms are fragile but highly mobile. Only one pack can be summoned at a time; attempting to summon another pack will replace the current pack.

Active Ability: Wraithburst (Level 1)

Mana: 15

Charges a phantom's next attack to release an explosion of spectral energy upon impact. The attack deals bonus area-of-effect damage and applies a spectral burn, slowly draining health from all enemies hit.

Colm studied the abilities laid out before him, taking a moment to process his options. Two were familiar—Spectral Bolt and Phantom Step—still available from his last selection. This confirmed a reassuring pattern: older abilities stayed in the pool, meaning he could revisit them if he changed his mind later.

The fresh additions were tempting. Two offered more phantoms, which aligned perfectly with his focus on summoning. But the last option, Wraithburst, stood out—an ability to buff a phantom's next attack, enhancing its power and unleashing an area-of-effect blast. The potential for AOE damage immediately appealed to him, especially after the endless waves of Thornfang Wolves he'd faced. "That would've made quick work of those packs," he muttered, envisioning the chaos it could bring.

Spectral Bolt offered him a reliable long-range magical attack—something he lacked and could easily see himself using in countless scenarios, but the Phantom Archer did the same and added another phantom to his arsenal and benefited from his passive. Meanwhile, Phantom Step gave him mobility and a much-needed escape tool. All of them were practical, and choosing between them was a headache.

He sat down, his spear resting across his lap, and rubbed his temples. "What do I want?" he murmured aloud. Do I want to shoot magic from my fingertips? Summon more phantoms? Get the hell out of danger when I need to?

His mind drifted to moments from the trials. Phantom Step could've made dodging the Stone Gnawer's spikes effortless. Phantom Archer might've helped kite the Grove Stalker from a safe distance. Wraithburst could've been perfect for forcing the Wraithvine Serpent out of hiding. Every ability had its strengths, and every fight seemed to highlight what he didn't have.

"Shit," he grumbled, letting out a sharp exhale. "Too many choices. Can I just pick all of them?" The humor in his voice did little to mask his frustration.

What mattered most now, he reasoned, was preparing for the immediate future. The Grove had shifted after the trial, and the ominous warning from the Will of the Grove still loomed. If he faced a climactic fight next, he needed an edge—not something that would be useful later, but something that could make the difference right now. That thought sharpened his focus.

"Alright," Colm said, "Time to narrow it down."

Colm studied Spectral Bolt one final time. Between it and Phantom Archer, the latter edged ahead. It gave him the long-range option he needed while adding another phantom to his arsenal. "I guess no magic bolts for me—for now," he muttered sadly.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Then there was Phantom Step. Its utility was undeniable—it could save him from a killing blow or help him reposition in the heat of battle. "This would keep me alive," he reasoned. "But I'd have to be quick and reactive to make the most of it. If I don't pick it now, it's definitely on my list for next time."

He turned to Phantom Pack. The thought of overwhelming an opponent with numbers was tempting—after all, it was already his primary strategy. With his two current phantoms, he already outnumbered most foes three to one and the wolves it offered seemed brittle based on the description. Would they really add much? he wondered. "I'm already dominating melee range," he reasoned. "And the pack might just be overkill."

Finally, Wraithburst loomed as the most tactical option. A devastating ability to empower a phantom's attack and create an explosive AOE effect—it screamed raw power. But Colm hesitated. "If I pick this, my time with the spear might be over," he mused aloud. He could already imagine himself focusing entirely on positioning and timing, the ability to maximize its effect. "And it looks like it's better for group fights, anyway. Most of the time, I'm facing one high-level opponent."

After weighing the pros and cons of each ability, Colm narrowed it down to two. He turned to Carver and Lance, the spectral figures waiting silently at his side. "Okay, team," he said with a smirk. "It's between Phantom Step and Phantom Archer. I need the mobility to survive if something gets too close, but another phantom with ranged damage would be a great asset. What do you two think?"

The phantoms, of course, said nothing, but their presence steadied him as he prepared to make his choice.

Colm rose to his feet, resolve hardening, as he decided. "We're going with the Archer," he declared to his phantoms, his voice firm. A surge of power coursed through him, and he felt a subtle shift—like a puzzle piece clicking into place within his being. Pulling up his status sheet, he eagerly reviewed the changes, anticipation bubbling beneath his calm demeanor.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Human

Level: 45

Health: 850 / 850

Mana: 575 / 575

Strength: 50 (57)

Dexterity: 50 (57)

Intelligence: 100 (115)

Constitution: 71 (85)

Class: Spirit Warden

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Level 10) [Carver]

- Phantom Spearman (Level 9) [Lance]

- Phantom Archer (Level 1)

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Level 8)

- Spectral Persistence (Level 2)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 4)

- Stealth (Level 7)

- Pain Resistance (Level 7)

- Hardened Skin (Level 3)

- Slash Resistance (Level 4)

- Spear Mastery (Level 5)

- Sprint Mastery (Level 10)

- Poison Resistance (Level 6)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

- Blessing of the Grove

As Colm reviewed his status sheet, a sense of satisfaction settled over him. His decision felt right—he now had an elite team at his command, ready to shore up his weaknesses and adapt to any challenge. His stats had grown impressively, with his intelligence surpassing 100 points thanks to his achievements.

His gaze shifted back to the Phantom Archer ability, noting its lack of a proper name compared to Lance and Carver. Turning to his two phantoms, he smirked. "Guess we need to name the fresh meat, don't we? Any suggestions?" he asked, half-expecting silence but enjoying the thought of completing his trio with another fitting moniker.

Thinking things through, Colm spoke aloud to his phantoms. "You know, we could call it Mark—for marksman!" He chuckled at his own joke before rattling off more ideas. "Bowen, Nock, Stringer, Quill, Volley, Fletch…" His eyes lit up. "Ooh, I know! We'll name it Robin!" he exclaimed. Satisfied with his choice, he glanced at his status screen and grinned as the system officially recognized the name. I must be going a little crazy, but hey, I've got three new friends here, he thought.

With the naming settled, Colm turned his focus to his new ability. Feeling the familiar drain of his mana, he watched as his new phantom ally took form. In moments, Robin stood before him, bow in hand. The archer's appearance mirrored Lance and Carver—a featureless humanoid spirit with glowing eyes that seemed to scan its surroundings with sharp precision.

Eager to test his new phantom, Colm commanded, "Robin, fire at that tree." Without hesitation, the archer pulled back its bowstring, a spectral arrow materializing in the bow's grip. With a swift release, the arrow streaked through the air, a solid THUNK echoing as it embedded itself halfway into the tree trunk. Colm blinked in awe. The sheer speed and power of the attack left him elated.

"Alright, let's see what you can really do," Colm said, pointing toward the trees. "Scout for Barklurkers." Robin moved without delay, drawing another arrow in one fluid motion. The spectral bow hummed softly as the arrow materialized, loosing with a sharp SNAP. Colm turned just in time to see the arrow disappear into the dense branches, and almost immediately, a notification flashed before his eyes.

Barklurker (Level 39) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

Colm burst out laughing. "I didn't even see that! You must have incredible eyesight, huh, Robin? Makes sense since you're an archer. Well, that settles it. You're officially on lookout duty. Let's test how far apart we can be from one another first. After that, keep your distance, provide long-range support, and protect me if anything gets too close."

After some quick testing, Colm determined Robin's range from him to be about 100 feet—about half the range of Carver and Lance's. This supported his earlier theory that distance apart was tied to ability level and the intelligence stat. Thinking back, when he first gained the Phantom Warrior ability, its range was only about 50 feet.

With the distance sorted, Robin silently moved to a better vantage point, fading slightly into the shadows of the trees while remaining within the range the ability permitted. Colm's grin widened as he turned his gaze back to the forest. "This is going to be good," he said, excitement crackling in his voice. Laughing to himself, his voice echoed through the grove. "We're just getting started!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.