บท 11: Chapter 11: Sovereign of Shadows
After the fight, the forest was silent, but beneath that silence, tension still buzzed. My paws felt heavy as I stood over the dead Nightshade Bear. A new title weighed upon me like a heavy cloak: Sovereign of Shadows. I reached the top of the food chain, but no feeling of victory rose in me. The words of Ember time and again about greater dangers echoed in my mind.
"Looks like you really own this place now," Ember said, walking around the bear's body, her bright eyes aglow. "But let me say it one more time: This forest is just the beginning."
I turned to her, the Purity Blossom Lamp still softly glowing in my hand. "You keep mentioning this 'bigger game.' I need to know, precisely, what's at stake here. What are you not telling me?
Ember's smile vanished, and her face turned serious. She sat on her hind legs, and her tail swished from left to right. "You noticed it, right? The system. it's not just something to keep you alive. It's tapped into something old-something extremely powerful. This world and its creatures part of a. cycle, if you would say so, that has been running for a lot more than what you may envision.
I frowned. "A cycle? What type of cycle?
"Life, death, rebirth," Ember whispered, "and war. You aren't inside some random forest where you reincarnated. It's all about the testing ground. The system picks on such creatures-you, me, and all the others-and exposes them to trials. Not just about life, but power, influence, and control. Whoever makes it through that test. lets just say that they don't stick too long to this world.
I really wanted to get into her mind, but the more I thought, the more questions came into my head: "Who's behind all this, and where do those 'tests' come from?
Ember shrugged and turned to the trees. "Some say gods, sick of their immortality. Others say leftovers of an ancient race, long dead but still playing games with the fates of lesser creatures. Truth is, none are really sure. But the system? Their toy. And it's watching.
My teeth clenched in annoyance. "And us? What happens to us, if we win?
Her eyes locked with mine, grave, unfaltering. "You win, you transcend, you go further than the mere being of this world. The path to be taken towards all this is tough and will not stop with this forest.
[Quest Complete: Territory Acquired]
You are now the ruler of this territory. Creatures within your domain will acknowledge your rule, but challenges from new predators will arise over time
Title Gained: Sovereign of the Shadows
Ability Unlocked: Shadow Domination – You can manipulate shadows within your territory, using them to enhance your speed, concealment, and strike power
New Quest: The Next Step – Discover the hidden powers behind the system and unlock the path to transcendence
The voice of the system boomed loud in my head, but I hardly registered the details-my mind still wrapped around what Ember had said, that this world, this life, was just one part of some big game. That made the wins here not important.
But one new power was what caught my eye: Shadow Domination. The very thought of it, the air around me changed. The shadows thrown by the trees seemed to stir, as if swirling at my feet-a tangle of arms. I reached out with my mind, and the shadows danced to obey, curling around me like a cloak.
I vanished in the darkness, melting into it.
Ember lifted her eyebrow, showing she was impressed. "Not bad. You're learning how to do it."
I let the shadows fall, and they were the right shapes once more. "It will be useful," I said. Useful-the very word was somewhat unnerving.
Useful doesn't even start to describe it, Ember said, the smile returning to her face. But if you're going to survive what's coming next, you're going to have to learn a lot more.
I scowled. "And what is going to happen next?"
Ember stood, her eyes on his, serious once again. "The system has a plan for you, and you have undergone the first test, but now the real game begins. You are not the only one wanting power in this world, and there are other creatures, too, trying to climb up on the very same ladder that you are. And when you fight, it will not be over territory, but rather for control of this very system.
It sent a shiver down my spine: control of the system? I was only just beginning to understand its power, and now I was supposed to fight for it?
"How do I prepare?" I said confidently. If those others were out there, and they were more powerful, then I needed to be ready. I couldn't waste any more time.
Ember gave me a sharp glance and smiled into her face. "That is the question. You go to a place. Now, past this forest, there's a place called the Forgotten Ruin. That is where all the true power lies, where the influence of the system is greatest. If you want to know more, if you want to know how it is all happening, then you need to go there. "The Forgotten Ruins…" I repeated. The very name was peculiar and made me a little apprehensive. If as dangerous as Ember stated, then the journey ahead would be hard. But I had no other choice. Staying in the forest, in my new area, would only delay what was coming.
Ember stood up, stretching. "I'll come with you, for now. You'll need someone to watch your back."
I turned to her, "Why would you do that? What is it that you get from it?
She laughed quietly, and her eyes shone in the dark. "I have my own reasons for wanting to see what happens in this game. You're not the only one trying to stay alive, rabbit."
I didn't know whether to believe her or not, but so far Ember had been a pretty good friend; and should that which she was telling me be true about the Forgotten Ruins, then I would need all the assistance I could find.
[New Objective: The Forgotten Ruins]
Travel beyond the forest and find the Forgotten Ruins
Uncover the secrets of the system and prepare for the challenges ahead.
One last look at the forest, at the land won with such effort. It sounds weird; all of a sudden, it feels strange that I can leave, while deep in my heart, I knew my travel was not over, there was something bigger to await, bigger than the power attained here.
With the Purity Blossom Lamp, still softly shining, in my hand, I turned back to Ember. "Let's go."
We walked into the dark, going toward we knew not what.
ของขวัญ
-- ได้รับของขวัญแล้ว สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง