*Nox took a deep breath, the cool, the air filling his lungs as they made there way into the dense forest. His fingers brushed the hilt of the sword at his hip, the weapon feeling foreign yet kind of strangely comforting in his grasp.
*Retsu walked ahead she cast a quick glance over her shoulder at Nox.* Don't worry, it'll feel natural soon enough. Just remember what the shopkeeper said - trust your instincts. *She paused, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.* And watch for illusions. They love to trick climbers here.
*Nox nodded, though his eyes kept darting to the shadows between the trees. Something about the forest felt...wrong.*
*Retsu paused mid-step, her hand instinctively moving to the hilt of her dagger as a sudden rustling in the underbrush caught her attention. She quickly turned to Nox, her expression serious.* Oh, and there's something else you should know.* The Tower doesn't just have regular trials—it has secret ones too. Ones that aren't marked on any map, that only reveal themselves to those who prove themselves worthy.
*She glanced toward the dense foliage, her voice low.* Oh And the forest? It's crawling with lesser demons. Imps, shadow wolves, even a few undead. They're not the strongest enemies you'll face, but they're fast, they're sneaky, and they don't hesitate to attack in packs.
*Nox's jaw tightened as he absorbed the new information, his grip on his sword tightening. He looked around the forest with new wariness, his eyes scanning the shadows with a mixture of fear and determination.* Secret trials? Great, just what I needed—another layer of surprises. Though his voice carried an edge of unease.* So basically, we could stumble into something deadly just by walking the wrong path?
*Retsu gave him a measured look, her expression softening slightly.* It's that bad. The secret trials can offer some crazy powerful rewards—like nique gear, special skills, sometimes even knowledge that could save your life later. But they're also dangerous. You have to be ready for anything.
*She turned back to the path, motioning for Nox to follow.* Come on. We need to keep moving.
*Nox followed Retsu through the thick undergrowth of the forest, his boots crunching softly on the ground. Every rustle of leaves, every distant screech of a bird, sent a jolt of tension through him.* So, what exactly counts as "proving yourself worthy" for these secret trials? *he asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he scanned the trees for movement.* Do I have to solve some riddle? Fight a boss? Do something? Or does it just...happen?
*Retsu didn't answer immediately, Then, after a beat, she spoke in a quiet, tone.* It's never the same twice. Sometimes it's a test of courage, sometimes of wit, sometimes of heart. *She hesitated, then added,* And sometimes it's just...luck.
*Nox let out a slow breath, the weight of Retsu's words sinking in. He glanced down at his new armor, now feeling less like protection and more like a burden, he continues forward down
*He stumbled slightly over a root, catching himself just in time. The forest seemed to press in around them, the trees towering high overhead, blocking out much of the daylight.
*Retsu stopped abruptly, raising a hand to signal Nox to be silent. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the darkness ahead.* Shhh. *She whispered, drawing her dagger. Her posture was tense, and alert.*
*Nox froze instantly, his breath catching in his throat as Retsu's silent command echoed in his mind. His body tensed, muscles coiled like a spring, as he stared into the gloom ahead. The forest had gone quiet to quiet, the usual chirping of insects and rustling of leaves replaced by an oppressive stillness.*
*Then, a flicker of movement—a shadow slipping between the trees, too fast for the eye to fully catch. Nox's heart pounded in his chest, his pulse roaring in his ears. He could feel the weight of his sword at his side, but for the first time, he wasn't sure if it would matter.*
*Retsu's hand shot up in a sharp, silent gesture, and she slowly backed toward the thicker part of the undergrowth.*
*Nox followed Retsu through the eerie forest, his eyes adjusting to the strange, unnatural light came beaming through the crimson leaves above. The trees loomed over them. tall and twisted, their bark a deep, almost demonic purple that seemed to absorb all light.
*Retsu began moving, her steps silent despite the thick undergrowth. She glanced back at Nox, her face pale in the ghostly glow.* Stay close. *She whispered, her voice with focus.
*Nox nodded, swallowing hard as he tried to ignore the way the shadows seemed to shift when he wasn't looking.*
*The silence broke as three shadowy figures emerged from the darkness—imps, their jagged teeth bared, glowing red eyes fixed hungrily on the prey. Their clawed hands twitched back and forth with malice, one of them lets out a loud disgusting, mocking laugh that echoed through the blood-red leaves.*
*Retsu reacted instantly, lunging forward with her dagger without a seconds notice. Her dagger flashed as she slashed it into the nearest imps chest, slicing through its writhing form with a sickening *squelch*. But the demonic creature didn't die—it dissolved into a puff of black smoke, reforming moments later behind her with a snarl.*
*Nox stumbled backward, heart hammering, as the second imp leapt at him.*
*Nox gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through his veins as he swung his sword in a wild arc. The blade met flesh with a metallic *clang*, but instead of cutting through, it deflected off the imp's slick hide. The creature shrieked in irritation, its tiny claws slashing at Nox's arm.*
*Retsu was already moving, her dagger flashing as she slashed at the second imp, driving it back. "Keep moving!" she shouted, her voice sharp with urgency. "Don't let them surround us!"*
*The third imp, now circling from the side, let out a high-pitched giggle before launching itself at Nox with terrifying speed for its size. He barely managed to twist away, the creature's claws grazing his shoulder and leaving a thin line of blood.*"
*Retsu moved with blistering speed, her dagger flashing in a blur of silver as she closed the distance on the third imp. With a swift, precise motion, she drove the blade into its side—but instead of piercing flesh, the dagger sank into a swirling mass of darkness. The imp howled, writhing violently before vanishing in a plume of smoke.*
*She didn't waste a second. Twisting on her heel, she lashed out with a brutal kick, sending the second imp stumbling back. Her eyes were sharp, calculating, as she assessed the battlefield. "They're weak to light and steel," she called to Nox, her voice steady despite the chaos. "But they regenerate if you don't hit the core!"*
*With a sudden burst of speed, she launched herself at the first imp, her dagger plunging into its chest.*"
*her dagger flared with a sudden, blinding white light as she channeled her power. With a sharp inhale, she drove the blade forward with surgical precision—her skill known as Absolute Pierce. The tip of her dagger pierced the imp's core,
*The creature screamed in pain, a sound that could make your ears bleed, as the light consumed it from the inside out. Its form collapsed into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint trace of ash.
Nox received a level up notification, a bright flash of golden light erupted from his wrist-a message from his navigator. A deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind:* **Level Up!** *Your current level is now 2 Your strength has increased
Retsu yanked her dagger free, breathing heavily, her expression focused and fierce.*
*"That's how you end them got it, the core,"* she said, wiping blood from her cheek with the back of her hand. *"Now stay sharp—there's more coming."*
*Nox watched in surprise as the imp disintegrated, the remnants of its form dissipating into the air like embers in a windstorm. His grip on his sword faltered for a moment, the weight of the situation crashing down on him.* That was... incredible. *He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.* I didn't even see the core.
*Retsu didn't respond immediately, her eyes scanning the tree line for movement. She wiped her dagger clean on her sleeve, her expression unreadable.* Focus, Nox. *She said, voice low but firm.* We're not done yet. *She turned to him, her tone shifting to something almost encouraging.* You're learning. That's all that matters right now, remember its your only your first day.
*A sudden rustle in the undergrowth made both of them freeze. The air grew heavier, charged with an unseen force.*
*A low, demonic growl rippled through the forest, vibrating throughout Nox's body. The blood red leaves shaked as something shifted in the shadows. Retsu's hand immediately flew to her dagger, her stance tightening.*
*From the darkness emerged a pair of ominous glowing purple eyes—then another, and another. More demons. Not imps this time. Shadow wolves, their sleek, black bodies rippling with unnatural energy, their fangs dripping with something that smelled like decay and sulfur.*
*Retsu's voice below a whisper.* We've got company. *She stepped forward, positioning herself between Nox and the approaching beasts.* Get ready. This isn't going to be easy.*
*Nox got into a defensive stance, his feet planted firmly, sword raised in front of him in a steady, controlled position. His breath came in shallow bursts, his muscles filled with tension. Retsu mirrored his stance beside him, her eyes locked onto the advancing wolves.*
*The lead wolf lunged first, its shadow body twisting mid-air as it tried to slam into Nox. He braced himself, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade connected with the beast's shoulder, cleaving through its shadowy fur—but the wound didn't bleed. Instead, it sizzled and smoked, sending the creature recoiling with a snarl.*
*Retsu bursted forward like lightning , darting to the side and slashing upward with her dagger.*
*Her blade found the shadow wolf's flank, slicing cleanly through its ribcage. A burst of dark mist erupted from its wound, and the creature howled, collapsing. Before it could reform, Retsu spun, using the momentum to sweep the legs out from beneath the second wolf, sending it sprawling.*
*Nox seized the opening, charging forward with a battle roar. He brought his sword down in a powerful vertical strike, aiming for the exposed neck of the fallen shadow wolf. The blade struck, splitting the creature in two. The Beast dissolved into a cloud of mist.
*The remaining wolves circled, their glowing eyes narrowing down on him.*
*Nox staggered back, panting, as the last two wolves lunged in unison—one from the left, one from the right. He barely managed to twist away from the first, the beast's claws scraping across his shoulder. The second slammed into his ribs, knocking the wind from his lungs and sending him stumbling to the ground
*Retsu was already moving. She sprang into the air, flipping over the attacking wolf with a fluid motion. As she landed, she drove her dagger downward, striking the creature's spine with a decisive pierce*. The wolf convulsed, then collapsed into a cloud of smoldering mist.*
*Nox forced himself upright, gripping his sword tighter. His eyes burned with determination.*
*As Nox pushed himself back to his feet, a bright flash of golden light erupted from his wrist-a message from his navigator. A deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind:* **Level Up!** *Your current level is now 3 Your strength has increased, and a new skill has been unlocked.*
*His vision blurred for a split second, the world seeming to slow as his body adjusted to the sudden surge of power. Then, the navigator chimed again:* **Skill Unlocked – Iron Resolve.** *Your stamina and focus have been enhanced. Duration: 10 seconds.*
*Before nox could process the message, the final wolf lunged. Nox reacted on instinct, his body moving faster than before. He sidestepped the attack with unnatural movement, his sword sweeping in a perfect arc.*
*Nox's sword cut through the air with precision, the edge catching the wolf's side in a deadly slice. The impact sent the creature reeling, but this time, it didn't vanish. Instead, it howled in pain, its form flickering in and out between solid and shadow.*
*Retsu saw the change and acted quickly. She dashed forward, her dagger flashing as she drove it into the wolf's exposed flank. This time, the wound pulsed with light, and the beast let out a final, ear-splitting scream before dissolving completely into a cloud of mist.*
*Nox stood there, chest rising and falling rapidly, his mind still processing the sudden boost in power he received. The navigator buzzed once more, its voice calm but urgent:* **Remaining duration: 0 seconds.**
*Retsu grabbed his arm, pulling him back as the forest around them fell silent once more.*
.......
*Retsu let go of his arm, her gaze searching his face. "You handled yourself well," she said, her tone edged with something almost like respect. "But don't get comfortable. This tower doesn't forgive mistakes you know."*
*She turned, scanning the trees once more, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her dagger. Nox followed her lead, his grip on his sword loosening slightly but never leaving it.*"
*As they continued to make their way through the forest, it began to thin, the demonic purple trees giving way to a clearing bathed in an eerie, silver-blue light. At the center stood a symbol on the floor with ancient runes that pulsed faintly. Beyond it, a narrow path led deeper into the forest. Nox and Retsu exchanged a glance, both knowing they'd reached the first trial.*
*As they approached, a figure stepped from the shadows. He was very tall, with long, silver-blonde hair that cascaded past his shoulders, and piercing green eye his other that shimmered like sunlight through leaves and closed eye with a huge scar going across . His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his pointed ears peeked from beneath his flowing, moss-green cloak that covered up to his mouth. He wore a leather cuirass adorned with intricate carvings and symbols, and a bow rested across his back, its string taut with potential.*