The air in the forest was thick with the scent of blood and the remnants of battle. Raj exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling in measured breaths. The corpses of the Shadowfang Pack littered the clearing, their once-powerful forms now motionless. His axe dripped with the evidence of his victory, yet his gaze remained sharp, scanning the surroundings for any lingering threats.


    Footsteps approached. Raj turned his head slightly, sensing Dorean''s presence before the man even spoke. The warrior stood at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.


    "Not bad," Dorean finally said, his voice tinged with something akin to admiration. "I expected you to come crawling back with your tail between your legs."


    Raj smirked, wiping the blood off his axe with a torn cloth. "Guess I exceeded expectations."


    Dorean let out a short chuckle, stepping closer to inspect the fallen beasts. His fingers brushed over the black fur of the alpha, nodding in approval. "Taking down an entire pack on your own… That''s not something just anyone can do. You might not be a fool after all."


    Raj didn''t reply. His attention was elsewhere—on the familiar pull within him.


    The Duskbound Artifact, nestled deep within his being, stirred once again. It was faint, nearly imperceptible, but Raj felt it. One of the Shadowfang souls was drawn into the artifact, its essence siphoned in a silent whisper. The sensation sent a small shiver through his body, and for a moment, his vision sharpened. His muscles felt lighter, his senses keener. A minor power boost—not a full level-up, but something nonetheless.


    He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to remain still.


    Dorean didn''t notice. His eyes remained fixed on the fallen wolves, oblivious to the unseen force at work.


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    Good. Raj had no intention of revealing this secret.


    Dorean straightened, tossing Raj a glance. "I take it you''re not done here?"


    Raj flexed his fingers around the axe handle, feeling the subtle surge of energy course through him. "No. There''s still more work to do."


    Dorean raised a brow but didn''t push further. Instead, he motioned for Raj to follow. "Come on. Let''s move before more of these things show up."


    They trekked through the forest, the thick canopy above casting flickering shadows along their path. The silence between them wasn''t uncomfortable—both men were content to walk in quiet understanding. But Raj''s mind remained sharp, assessing the changes within himself.


    The Duskbound Artifact was evolving. Slowly, subtly, but it was happening.


    And he was the only one who knew it.


    ***


    The outskirts of the forest were eerily quiet when they arrived at the nearest trade route. The road stretched ahead, flanked by tall trees that swayed gently in the evening breeze. The sun was beginning to dip beyond the horizon, casting a golden glow over the path.


    Dorean halted, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings before muttering, "Something''s off."


    Raj felt it too. A lingering tension in the air, an unnatural stillness that prickled at the edges of his senses.


    Then, they saw it.


    A group of bodies lay scattered across the road—traders, mercenaries, even a few stray adventurers. Some were still clutching their weapons, their expressions frozen in horror. Others had been torn apart, their lifeblood staining the dirt.


    Raj crouched, his fingers brushing against the nearest corpse. The wounds were fresh.


    "We''re not alone," he muttered.


    Dorean nodded, his grip tightening on his blade. "Stay sharp."


    A deep, guttural chuckle echoed from the treeline.


    Raj''s eyes snapped upward, his stance shifting as a massive figure stepped into view.


    The man was built like a fortress, his broad shoulders clad in tattered leather armor. A jagged scar ran down his left cheek, his eyes gleaming with predatory amusement. The crude iron club resting against his shoulder was stained dark, and the smirk on his lips sent a chill through the air.


    "Well, well," the man rumbled, his voice thick with amusement. "Looks like I''ve found myself some entertainment."


    Raj''s instincts screamed at him. This wasn''t an ordinary thug. The sheer presence radiating from the man was different—stronger, heavier.


    Then, he saw it.


    A faint glow pulsed at the thug''s body—A Gem Aura.


    Level 10.


    Raj''s fingers curled around his axe, his heartbeat steadying as he exhaled slowly.


    This fight… was going to be different.


    Author''s Note:


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