Capítulo 29: The Lake
The next morning, Silas descended from the tall pine, his muscles still slightly stiff but his shoulder fully healed. The events of the previous day were fresh in his mind, but he forced himself to focus on his goal. Adjusting the rag over his amulet, he began making his way along the shoreline, scanning the rocky edges and surrounding terrain for any sign of the cave the system had mentioned.
As he moved, something caught his eye—a cluster of shiny, silvery plants nestled between two jagged rocks. The leaves glimmered faintly in the sunlight, and Silas crouched down for a closer look. The plants didn't look ordinary; their smooth, almost metallic surface gave them an otherworldly quality.
"Interesting," he muttered, reaching out to pluck a few of the leaves.
The system chimed in immediately, its tone dripping with opportunism. Ah, Host, you've found something valuable! For just 10,000 merits, I can tell you all about it.
Silas paused, frowning. "So they are valuable," he muttered under his breath. The fact that the system wanted to charge him was as good an indicator as any.
"Not this time," he said aloud, shaking his head. He slipped the shiny plants into his ring without paying for the information. Whatever they are, I'll figure it out later, he thought, standing and brushing off his hands.
He continued along the rocky shoreline, his eyes darting between the jagged cliffs and the still water. The lake wasn't particularly large, but the uneven terrain made it difficult to traverse quickly. About a third of the way around the lake, Silas finally spotted what he had been looking for: a dark opening at the base of a rocky outcrop. It wasn't large—barely big enough for him to crouch through—but it was unmistakably a cave.
Silas approached cautiously, his bo staff in hand, and ducked into the entrance. The air inside was damp and cool, the faint smell of earth and decay clinging to the walls. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he scanned the interior.
It was underwhelming.
The cave wasn't deep, more of a hollow than a proper cavern, and its contents were unremarkable. Patches of fungus and clusters of small, pale mushrooms dotted the ground and walls. Silas stepped closer, poking at one of the mushrooms with the end of his staff.
The system chimed in, almost bored. If Host desires information on the cave's contents, a mere 5 merits will suffice.
Silas snorted. "So, nothing valuable, then." He straightened, brushing off his hands again. The lack of interest from the system confirmed it—this cave wasn't worth his time. Without another glance, Silas backed out of the cave and resumed his search along the shoreline.
As Silas continued his trek along the lake's shoreline, he came across something unexpected—a small rowboat sitting idly on the shore. It was worn but functional, the oars resting neatly inside. He paused briefly, giving it a once-over. "Interesting," he muttered, but without a reason to use it just yet, he kept walking.
The shoreline seemed endless as Silas trudged onward. His eyes caught on a patch of unusual-looking lilies floating in a calm section of the lake, their petals a deep violet with faint, glowing streaks of white. Curious, he asked the system, What are these, and how much to know?
The system chimed in, cheerful as ever. 500 merits, Host. A bargain!
Silas frowned. "So, they're something, huh?"
He debated briefly before shaking his head. "Not paying." Instead, he bent down, plucking a few of the lilies and carefully placing them into his ring of holding. Whatever they were, he'd figure it out later.
The shoreline curved ahead, and soon Silas stumbled upon another small cave. The opening was narrow, barely wide enough to squeeze through, but he checked it out anyway. Ducking inside, he quickly realized it wasn't worth the effort. The cave was barren—no herbs, no energy-rich plants, nothing of interest.
"Nada, nothing, zilch," he muttered, stepping back out and brushing dirt from his hands.
He sighed, standing on the shore as he surveyed the lake again. His gaze drifted across the water until it landed on something he hadn't noticed before: a rocky island sitting smack in the middle of the lake. It wasn't large, but its jagged terrain stood out sharply against the calm waters surrounding it.
"Fuck me," Silas muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. He narrowed his eyes, studying the island. If the Azure Stabilia wasn't on the shoreline, then maybe… just maybe…
Still, the thought of getting there made him groan inwardly. He wasn't about to swim—the lake already had at least one giant, toothy menace lurking in it, and he wasn't eager to tempt fate again. Besides, he wasn't some immortal cultivator who could zip across the water with ease.
With a heavy sigh, Silas turned back the way he'd come, retracing his steps to the rowboat he had passed earlier. "I can't believe this," he muttered under his breath. "This better be worth it."
Silas reached the rowboat, running his fingers over its weathered wooden frame. It wasn't in pristine condition, but it looked sturdy enough to get him across. After inspecting the oars and giving the hull a quick check, he pushed it into the water. The boat creaked in protest, but it floated. That was all he needed.
He hopped in, grabbing one of the oars. He paused, frowning. There was only one oar. Silas scanned the shoreline, hoping he had missed the second one, but no such luck. "Great," he muttered, shaking his head. "Because of course, it wouldn't be that easy."
Sighing, he stepped back onto the shore and looked around for something usable. It didn't take long to find a sturdy branch, nearly the length of the missing oar, lying half-buried beneath some rocks. Silas picked it up, testing its weight. It wasn't perfect, but it would do. He stripped off the smaller twigs and leaves, leaving him with a relatively smooth makeshift paddle.
Returning to the boat, Silas shoved it further into the lake before hopping back in. With the oar in one hand and the branch in the other, he began rowing toward the rocky island in the middle of the lake. The motion was uneven and awkward, the branch less efficient than the proper oar, but it propelled the boat forward.
The water was calm, the only sounds the soft splash of the oar and the occasional creak of the boat's wood. Silas's gaze darted across the lake, ever-alert for movement. His shoulder throbbed faintly at the memory of the pawed fish that had attacked him the day before. He gripped the makeshift paddle tighter, ready to lash out if anything came too close.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered as he neared the island. "But if the herb's here, it'll be worth it."
As Silas rowed across the lake, his body radiated a dark, palpable force. He released every ounce of killing intent he could muster, letting it roll off him in waves. The stillness of the water seemed to ripple under its weight, as though the lake itself acknowledged his resolve. Nothing better mess with me, he thought grimly. Because I'll kill whatever tries.
The rhythmic splash of the oar and the makeshift branch paddle was the only sound breaking the silence. Silas's focus was sharp, his senses tuned to every ripple of the water around him. Halfway across the lake, the surface stirred, a subtle disturbance that sent faint ripples toward his boat.
He froze, his grip tightening on the oar. The disturbance grew larger, and then the water erupted in a violent spray. The clawed fish launched itself into the air, its massive body twisting as it arced toward him. Its single good eye gleamed with rage, the other a grotesque, gouged-out socket from their previous encounter. Its jagged teeth glinted in the sunlight, and its front claws extended toward Silas like daggers.
But Silas was ready. In one fluid motion, he released the oar and summoned his bo staff from his ring of holding. The polished wood appeared in his hands as he swung it with all his strength. The staff cracked against the side of the fish's head, the enhanced blow sending a shockwave through its body.
The fish let out a guttural roar, its claws swiping wildly as it was knocked sideways. It crashed back into the lake with a tremendous splash, sending waves rocking against the boat.
Silas's muscles tensed as he waited for the next move, his eyes scanning the water's surface. His heart pounded in his chest, but his grip on the staff was steady. Then, the boat lurched.
Crack.
The sharp sound of splintering wood filled the air. Silas looked down, his jaw tightening. The fish was attacking the underside of the boat, its claws and teeth tearing through the wooden planks.
"Shit!" Silas growled, grabbing the oar and paddling with frantic strokes. The boat rocked violently as he tried to propel it forward, the water pouring in faster with each attack. The beast rammed the underside again, and another crack echoed as the back half of the boat began to submerge.
"Fuck you!" Silas shouted, leaping out of the sinking boat. He hit the water with a splash, the cold shock briefly stealing his breath. His feet barely touched the muddy bottom—it was shallow, but not by much.
The fish surged toward him, its wake visible as it cut through the water. Silas braced himself, summoning his bo staff back into his ring and preparing for the attack. The beast launched itself again, its claws slashing at his chest as it collided with him. Pain tore through him as its claws raked deep, sending blood streaming down his torso.
But Silas didn't back down. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he wrapped his arms around the beast's thrashing body, using its momentum to lift it out of the water. It was surprisingly light for its size, its massive frame more bulk than weight. With a roar of his own, Silas heaved the creature into the air and threw it with all his strength.
The fish sailed through the air, its body twisting and flailing, before crashing back into the shallows with a thunderous splash. It floundered, dazed but still dangerous.
Silas summoned his staff again, his bloodied hands gripping it tightly. As the fish began to recover, he lunged forward, channeling all his remaining energy into the staff. He swung it down in a crushing arc, the enhanced strike connecting with the fish's head with a sickening thud.
The force of the blow reverberated up Silas's arms, the impact leaving the creature momentarily stunned. It roared in pain, flopping weakly as its body spasmed. Silas didn't give it a chance to recover. Tossing the staff back into his ring, he pounced on the fish, his fists hammering down on its head.
Each punch was fueled by raw determination, his body screaming in protest as he struck again and again. The fish's claws swiped at him weakly, grazing his arms and sides, but Silas didn't relent. Blood—his own and the beast's—splattered with each impact, staining the water red.
After what felt like an eternity, the fish's movements slowed. Its claws fell limp, and its body stilled beneath him. Silas sat there for a moment, his chest heaving as he stared down at the pulpy mess that had been its head.
"Finally," he muttered hoarsely, his voice raw from exertion storing the fish beast into his ring.
Silas dragged himself onto the rocky shore of the island, his bare chest heaving with each labored breath. His torso and arms were smeared with blood, both his own and the clawed fish's. He collapsed onto the jagged rocks, staring up at the sky for a moment as he tried to steady his racing heart.
"Fucking lake," he muttered, wiping his face with a trembling hand. His wounds stung sharply, but he ignored them as he sat up, surveying the rocky, uneven terrain of the island.
The broken remains of the rowboat sat where he had left them, bobbing uselessly in the shallows. Silas sat heavily on a flat rock near the water's edge, his muscles burning from the ordeal. His bloodied arms rested on his knees as he stared across the lake toward the mainland.
The cool breeze brushed against his bare skin, but he barely noticed. His body no longer felt the cold the way it used to, a side effect of his cultivation. Still, he couldn't ignore the deep claw marks marring his chest and arms, the raw wounds stark against his skin. He tore another strip from his ragged pants, tying it tightly around his arm to stem the bleeding, he removed his boots which were waterlogged and useless at this point. He was now shirtless and shoeless he sighed.
The jagged surface was rough underfoot as he moved inland, his body battered and aching but still driven by purpose. The air here felt heavier, cooler, and carried an oddly sweet, earthy scent. He pushed forward, weaving through the rocky outcrops, until he spotted a narrow opening in the side of a large boulder formation.
"A cave," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Standing, Silas took a moment to scan the cave. There was nothing else of interest, just the faint scent lingering in the air and the sound of his own breathing echoing against the walls. Satisfied, he turned and made his way back out into the sunlight.
Silas crouched at the entrance of the small cave, the faintly sweet scent of the herb growing stronger as he slipped inside. The air was damp and cool, and light filtered through narrow cracks in the rocky ceiling, casting faint patterns on the uneven ground. His bare chest glistened with sweat and blood, the claw marks on his arms throbbing as he moved.
As he turned a corner deeper inside, the glow became unmistakable. Nestled in the crevices of the rocky back wall was a cluster of plants that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Silas's eyes widened as he counted—there were at least ten Azure Stabilia, their broad, glowing leaves emitting a faint blue light.
"Well, there you are," he muttered, stepping closer.
The plants were beautiful, almost otherworldly. Their leaves were broad and slightly translucent, the glowing veins coursing through them like rivers of light. The sweet, calming scent they emitted seemed to ease the tension in Silas's shoulders as he crouched in front of them. But he hesitated before touching anything.
He had learned the hard way that harvesting awakened plants wasn't always as simple as cutting and storing them. Silas narrowed his eyes, calling on the system. What's the best way to harvest these?
The system chimed in with its usual tone of cheerful sarcasm. An excellent question, Host! Proper harvesting techniques for Azure Stabilia will cost you 10,000 merits. A small price to ensure you don't ruin such valuable specimens, don't you think?
Silas groaned, but he already knew he wasn't leaving without these herbs intact. Reluctantly, he authorized the deduction, watching as his merits dropped from 181,000 to 171,000. Apparently, the fish beast was worth 20,000 merits, he was still gained a positive net gain.
Splendid choice, Host! the system said, practically oozing with satisfaction. Here's the breakdown:
Harvest the leaves, not the roots: The leaves hold the majority of the spiritual energy. Removing the roots disrupts regrowth potential and reduces energy output.
Cut from the base of the leaf stem: A clean cut ensures maximum energy retention.*Store immediately in your ring of holding or similar spatial storage to preserve their potency. Exposure to open air for too long diminishes their value.
Silas sighed, shaking his head as he retrieved his knife from his ring. "Could've just guessed that," he muttered, though he knew he wouldn't have gotten it perfect.
Carefully, he set to work. Starting with the largest plant, he slid the blade cleanly along the base of a leaf's stem, separating it with a precise cut. The herb's glow pulsed faintly in his hand before he quickly stored it in his ring of holding, following the system's instructions.
One by one, he repeated the process with the other plants. His movements were deliberate, his focus sharp despite the ache in his body. Each glowing leaf was carefully harvested and stored, the faint blue light fading into his ring until all ten plants were harvested.
By the time he finished, Silas sat back on his heels, wiping sweat from his brow. "That's it," he said, his voice heavy with relief. The air in the cave felt noticeably emptier without the glowing plants, and the sweet aroma had already begun to dissipate.
As Silas made his way back to the shoreline of the island and looked across the lake, he realized he would have to swim back... hopefully there wouldn't be any surprises on the way back to the mainland.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder