By midday, two more wolves lay silent in the clearing. Kai wiped blood from his cheek, breath steady, heart pounding with something close to satisfaction.
[Quest Complete: Hunt 3 Forest Beasts][Reward Gained: 120 XP][Bonus Achieved: No Damage Taken – +1 Stat Point][Level Up: 3 → 4][Stat Points Gained: 4]
[Current Stats]Strength: 3Agility: 4Endurance: 3Perception: 2Ki Control: 3Stat Points: 4
Kai stared at the interface, considering. He'd nearly taken a claw to the face on the last wolf. His agility had saved him.
He placed +2 into Agility, and +2 into Endurance.
[Updated Stats]Agility: 6Endurance: 5
His movements already felt lighter. His recovery faster.
But as he turned to leave, something caught his eye—a pulse. Not from a beast. Deeper. Ancient. Like Ki itself was humming through the ground.
Kai followed it. Step by step, the air grew thicker, cooler. The forest darkened. Vines coiled around old stone pillars, and moss-covered steps descended into the earth.
[Perception Check Passed – Hidden Area Discovered][You have entered: Forgotten Shrine of the First Flame]Danger Level: UnknownSuggested Action: Caution
A small stone door stood at the base of a sunken pit, half-buried beneath roots. Symbols glowed faintly, reacting to his Ki presence.
He touched the door. It opened silently.
Inside, dust and silence ruled. An altar sat in the center. Upon it—a glowing orb the size of a heart, surrounded by runes.
[You have discovered a Flamecore Relic – Martial Relic Grade: D+]Effect: UnknownWarning: The moment you touch the relic, a trial will begin.Proceed?
Kai hesitated.
Then he stepped forward and placed his hand on the orb.
The shrine erupted in flame.
[Trial Initiated – Survive for 60 Seconds Against the Flame Revenant]Begin.
A skeletal warrior of fire rose from the altar, blade in hand, eyes burning with hate.
Kai dropped into a stance. His pulse raced.
"I guess we're doing this the hard way."