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64% Divine Ascension: Rise of the Wild Card / Chapter 16: Portal trial IV

Chương 16: Portal trial IV

Dan and Elias stepped through the shimmering portal, its energy swallowing them whole.

As the world twisted and turned, they were hurled out on the other side, landing with a heavy thud.

Dan's face kissed the cold, damp ground with an embarrassing splat. "Ugh, why is it always me?" he groaned, struggling to his knees.

He slowly pushed himself up, shaking his head to clear the dizziness. A wave of nausea rolled over him, and he staggered to the side.

He doubled over, retching into the grass as his stomach rebelled. The whole world still spun, and he was doing everything he could to keep it together.

Elias, standing a few feet away and already composed, palmed his face in frustration.

"Why am I stuck with this guy?" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Dan turned, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "What did you say?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Nothing," Elias replied curtly, unsheathing his sword, Dark Shard. Its dark edge glimmered ominously in the dim light, and he assumed a battle-ready stance.

Dan burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Oh, come on! You look like you're auditioning for some cheesy warrior flick.

I bet you can't even swing that thing properly. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out how you've survived this long. Let me guess...you've been leeching off people way stronger than you, haven't you?"

Elias's grip tightened on his sword. "Can you stop talking for five seconds? You're like a parrot that never shuts up. This place is dangerous, and you're making us sitting ducks."

He cast an annoyed glance at Dan, a flicker of irritation showing on his face. Just keep your mouth shut for once."

Dan grinned. "You know, I think I should start a running tally of all the insults people throw at me. I'll make a fortune out of it."

As if on cue, the system chimed in with its usual sarcastic tone:

Ding!

[System Alert: You are now accompanied by a parrot. Warning: Excessive talking may cause death by annoyance.]

It is not really a bad thing for you to die like that though

Dan froze, staring at the system notification. It was a notification that they both can see.

He turned to Elias with wide eyes. "Did the system just roast me? What?

Elias sighed. "Not this again…"

Dan smirked, pulling out his twin daggers and twirling them deftly. "Alright, fine.

Let's get serious. Shall we move before something ugly decides we look like a buffet?"

Elias gave him a dry look. "Your confidence is inspiring, really."

The two took their first steps into the misty terrain.

The world around them was eerie.....tall, gnarled trees loomed over them like silent sentinels, their branches twisting unnaturally.

A faint mist clung to the ground, swirling with every step they took. The forest felt alive, its shadows shifting in ways that made the hair on Dan's neck stand on end.

The system notification chimes cutting through the eerie silence.

Ding!

[Quest Activated: Trial of the Forsaken Forest]

Objective: Survive the onslaught and retrieve the Heart of the Forest.

Reward: Reasonable amount of EXP, Mystery Loot.

Penalty: Death or Reduction of stats

Timer: 25 minutes.

Dan read the notification aloud, his voice laced with skepticism. "Mystery loot? Can't they just tell us what we're fighting for? And 'death or Reduction of stats'? Real comforting."

Elias didn't respond. He had already raised his sword, his eyes scanning the fog for movement.

And then it came..... low growl, guttural and menacing.

From the shadows, a massive beast emerged.

Its body was covered in bark-like armor, its glowing eyes locked onto them with primal hunger. Sharp, jagged claws scraped against the ground as it circled them.

"Okay," Dan said, taking a step back. "This thing doesn't look friendly."

"No kidding," Elias replied, tightening his grip on Dark Shard.

The beast lunged with terrifying speed. Elias reacted first, meeting its charge with a powerful swing of his sword.

The blade struck true, carving a deep gash into the creature's side. It howled in pain but didn't slow down. Instead, it swung one massive claw at Elias, forcing him to leap back.

Dan darted to the side, his daggers gleaming as he struck at the beast's flank.

His blades found purchase between the cracks in its bark-like armor, but the creature barely flinched.

"Uh, Elias?" Dan called out, dodging another swipe. "This thing is tough. Got any bright ideas?"

"Don't die," Elias shot back, slashing at the beast's front legs to slow it down.

"Fantastic advice," Dan muttered, rolling out of the way of a snapping jaw.

The fight dragged on, the beast proving to be more resilient than either of them had anticipated.

Every time they landed a hit, it seemed to grow more feral, its attacks becoming faster and more erratic.

Dan was starting to feel the strain. His movements were slowing, his breathing ragged.

He glanced at his Stats and winced. He felt depleted already.

Stamina: 35%.

Elias, meanwhile, was faring slightly better, though his precision strikes were starting to lose their edge.

"We need to finish this thing fast," Elias said, his voice tight.

Dan grinned despite the situation. "Alright, watch and learn."

He darted toward the beast, feinting left before driving one of his daggers into its eye.

The creature roared in agony, thrashing wildly. Dan was thrown back, landing hard on the ground, but his attack had done its job. The beast was blinded on one side, its movements now more predictable.

Guess it wasn't as easy as I thought ,Dan muttered while still on the ground after the creature thrashed him.

Elias seized the opportunity. With a powerful leap, he brought Dark Shard down onto the creature's neck, severing its head in one clean strike.

The beast collapsed with a heavy thud, its body dissolving into a cloud of dark mist.

Ding!

[Enemy Defeated: +50 EXP.]

[Bonus: Rare Loot Dropped – Healing Balm x1, Skill Card x1.]

Dan sat up, groaning as he rubbed his sore back. "That… was intense."

Elias didn't respond. He walked over to the spot where the beast had fallen, picking up the glowing items that had materialized.

He tossed the healing balm to Dan without a word.

Dan caught it, inspecting the small vial. "Oh, nice. A healing balm. Just what I needed."

He uncorked it and took a swig, feeling its cool, soothing effect wash over him. His bruises faded, and his stamina bar began to refill.

Elias held up the skill card, his expression unreadable. "This is interesting."

Dan peeked over his shoulder. "What does it say?"

[Skill Card: Shadow Leap]

Effect: Instantly teleport behind an enemy and deliver a critical strike.

Cooldown: 30 seconds.

Danwhistled. "That's a sweet skill. I call dibs."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "You're not getting this."

"Oh, come on! I'm the one who blinded the beast!"

"And I'm the one who killed it."

Dan pouted. "You're no fun."

Elias ignored him, pocketing the skill card. "Let's keep moving. The quest isn't over."

Dan sighed, twirling his daggers. "Fine. But if the next monster kills us, I'm blaming you."

Elias didn't reply, but the faintest smirk crossed his face as they continued deeper into the forest.


Chương 17: Portal trial V

They kept walking deeper into the forest when the system notification chimes again.

Ding!

[System Alert: Quest Available]

[Quest: Trial of the Forsaken Forest]

[Objective: Survive the onslaught of the Forsaken Forest and locate the heart of the forest]

[Penalty: Death]

[Timer: 15 minutes remaining]

Dan's playful grin faded, replaced by a cautious frown as he read the floating notification.

"Another quest already? Damn, we really don't get to rest, do we?"

"Focus," Elias replied, his tone clipped and tense.

His gaze swept the surroundings, scanning for any movement in the swirling mist that surrounded the forest.

"The system doesn't give us time to argue. Let's move."

Dan adjusted his stance, pulling out his twin daggers and suddenly looking all serious.

"Guess what? These babies are going to bring us to another victory once again, so don't underestimate them… they clearly pack a punch."

Elias glanced at the daggers with a nonchalant attitude. "Those glorified toothpicks? Trust me, I've been there, and I hope they do more than scratch the surface."

Ding!

[Enemy Detected]

[Threat Level: Low]

[Penalty: death]

[Timer: 14 minutes 10 seconds]

[Proceed with caution.]

Low threat indeed and it will end up almost leading to death.

Dan's grip tightened on his daggers. "You feel that?"

Elias nodded. "We're not alone."

Before Dan could respond, the mist parted, revealing a figure with twisted limbs wrapped in bark-like skin.

Its gnarled face split into a jagged maw as it moved unnaturally fast, claws gleaming menacingly.

Elias reacted instinctively, his Dark Shard slicing through the air in a precise arc.

The blade met the creature's chest with a sickening crunch, cleaving it in two.

The remains crumpled to the forest floor, black ichor pooling beneath them.

[Enemy successfully defeated]

The system sarcastic voice chipped in again; you just have to show off your wack skill to a wack person like you.

Dan let out a low whistle. "Alright, sword boy. Not bad."

Elias didn't respond, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as if trying to suppress a smile. Instead, he quickly turned his attention back to the mist, his stance tense.

Dan's cocky grin faded as he raised his daggers. "Well… this is gonna suck."

The first wave hit like a storm.

Elias was a blur, his sword carving deadly arcs through the air. Every swing was calculated, every strike lethal.

The Dark Shard cleaved through bark with ease, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

[Skill activated: instinctive dodge]

His instinctive dodge activated seamlessly, guiding him away from swipes and lunges that could have left him vulnerable...or worse, dead.

Dan wasn't idle either. Despite his playful nature, his movements were precise and agile.

He darted between the creatures, his daggers flashing like twin fangs.

His attacks lacked Elias's raw power but made up for it in speed and precision.

The creatures howled as he slashed at their joints, crippling them before delivering killing blows.

Despite his skill with the daggers, Dan couldn't ignore the exhaustion creeping into his limbs.

These creatures were relentless, and every time they cut one down, two more would take its place.

The odds were stacked against them.

They were drenched in whatever passed for blood in the creatures, beads of sweat running down their faces.

"How's that for toothpicks?" Dan called out, panting as he downed another beast.

Elias didn't look up. "Keep moving. They're endless." His Dark Shard cut through the beasts with a haunting ease.

Each strike severed them in half, sending splinters flying and leaving dark stains on the forest floor.

His movements were swift and sure, every swing a lethal strike.

The battle raged on, a relentless tide of claws and teeth. The forest seemed alive, its very essence fighting to consume them.

The beasts grew more coordinated, their attacks sharper and more synchronized.

Elias's armor deflected several near-fatal strikes, the enchanted plating absorbing impacts that would have shattered bone.

His movements were efficient but not flawless..he was still learning the basics of offense and defense.

Dan, meanwhile, was beginning to falter. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his movements slowing. "Elias, any bright ideas? Because I'm running low here!"

Before Elias could respond, the system voice chimed.

Ding!

[EXP Gained: 40]

[Level Up: New abilities unlocked]

Elias felt a surge of power as his stats increased.

His stamina replenished slightly, and a new notification flashed in his vision.

[Skill Unlocked: Rip Strike]

"It came at the right time," he muttered, though he didn't have time to celebrate.

A massive beast barreled toward him, its claws raised for a killing blow. Instinctively, he triggered his new skill.

[Skill activated: Rip strike]

His blade moved like lightning, parrying the attack and countering with a devastating strike.

The creature collapsed, its body disintegrating into ash.

"Not bad," Elias muttered to himself. The skill was a game changer, and he needed every edge he could get.

Dan, on the other hand, was in trouble. A beast had managed to knock him off balance, its claws raking across his arm.

He cried out, blood seeping through the torn sleeve.

Just as the creature prepared to strike again, Elias intervened, his blade severing its head in a single, fluid motion.

"Focus," Elias snapped, hauling Dan to his feet. "We can't afford mistakes. Don't be a weakling."

Dan grimaced, clutching his arm. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, hero boy. I probably owe you one now."

….

The fight continued, each wave more brutal than the last. The duo grew increasingly battered, their movements slower, their strikes less precise.

But they refused to give in.

At some point,it looks like they will just drop dead but they kept going on and on until Dan stumbled upon a dropped item…..a small glowing manual.

He bent and picked it up.

The system voice chimed.

Ding!

[Loot Acquired: Battle Technique Manual - Beginner Guide to Sword Mastery]

Dan grinned despite his exhaustion. "Well, look at that. Maybe this forest isn't all bad."

In the heat of the moment, he pulled out the healing balm they had acquired from one of the creatures he'd slain.

The small vial shimmered faintly in the darkness. Uncorking it, he took a quick swig.

The cool liquid surged through his system, easing his exhaustion and repairing minor wounds.

"That's more like it," Dan said with a grin, wiping the last of the mist from his face.

Elias didn't reply. His focus was on the enemies still swarming them.

Activating his instinctive dodge, he narrowly avoided a claw aimed at his neck.

His sword moved like an extension of his will, each swing more refined than the last.

Ding!

[Congratulations]

[Enemy Wave Cleared. Quest Updated.]

[Reward: Healing Balm x2 and a reasonable amount of EXP]

The forest fell eerily silent.

Elias and Dan stood amidst the carnage, their bodies trembling from exhaustion.

Blood…..both theirs and the creatures'.....stained the ground.

Their breaths came in ragged gasps, their legs threatening to give out. But they were alive.

Dan collapsed onto a nearby log, clutching the manual. "Well, that sucked. But hey, at least I got a cool new skill book… and I don't even use a sword."

Elias wiped his blade clean, his expression unreadable. "Don't get too comfortable. We're not done yet. Did you hear the system congratulating us?"

The system chimed, almost as if it had been waiting for them to notice.

Ding!

[Final Phase Initiated: Retrieve the Heart of the Forest]

[Penalty: Death]

[You have limited time.]


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