《The Shadow Kingdom》 Chapter 1 - The End Chapter 1 "GOD FUCKING DAMNIT, THOSE BASTARDS ARE GOING TO KILL US ALL!" Brian roared over the comms directly into his team''s ear. Phoenix flinched at the sound but remained silent, shooting off another couple rounds in the direction of the enemy. 5 years ago, Mother Nature had apparently decided enough was enough with humanity living on Earth. Massive natural disasters began occurring - first tsunami''s taller than some mountains appeared on the coast killing millions, then monsoons in the deserts, tornados in the mountains, wildfires in the middle of cities and so on. You''d really think she''d been as creative as she could, then BOOM you were proven wrong as an avalanche showed up in the middle of Dubai. There were only a couple million people that were left, and did they rally to maybe apologize to Mother Nature and fix the mess? Nope, they were doing what humanity does best and fighting over what little inhabitable parts of the planet were left. Whether Mother Nature had decided that killing a couple billion people was overkill and took pity on them, or wanted a safe place for the animals to go, there were a couple patches of Earth that remained untouched by her wrath. So, of course, there was no peace between nations, only fighting for what little remains there was to fight for. Before the Earth went to shit, Phoenix had already been in the military for a couple years, having joined up as soon as she turned 18. Her childhood hadn''t been an easy one, moving from foster home to foster home which meant that school had fallen to the wayside. When graduation had come, there were only a few options for her: a glorified janitor or the military. Picking the latter she found a new sense of purpose, and eventually settled down as a combat medic. In school she had never understood the lessons, but medical shit? It just made sense. So, after doing a couple tours she had been at home in Colorado when the world went to shit. The deafening, shrill sound of the emergency broadcast went off, and an hour later she was on a plane heading to her base in Fort Richardson, Alaska. For some reason or another, that had been one of the "safe zones" that had ended up free from Mother Nature''s purge. Phoenix always theorized it was due to the sad, low population and there weren''t enough people there to justify killing. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. After the crazy weather had died out, and the world began to take a breath, the wars began. They were small skirmishes at first between surviving neighboring lands that quickly escalated into full blown wars. Soon each small territory of land had created their own army to defend and attack. The only reason she and her squad had survived so long was because of their previous training and experience, and it helped to have a couple hundred of the same kind of people behind you. Phoenix found herself now in the biggest battle for land they had seen so far. 14 "countries" had come to battle for the largest surviving piece of land located smack in the middle of Texas. So, here she was, fighting a losing war she never wanted to be in for the greedy Generals she served under. Their unit of 200 had dwindled down to just 15 in under 24 hours, and in the next hour Phoenix was sure everyone she knew would be dead. Taking cover behind an old building, she reloaded her rifle, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, only to shoot them open at the next words from her friend''s mouth. "THEY''VE GOT A FUCKING TANK, WHERE DID THEY GET A TANK?!" She took the risk and looked around the wall, watching a massive hunk of old metal rumble into sight through the smoke. Immediately shouts of panic rose up from everyone and the tank fired its first shot. Phoenix watched as half of another building came down, crushing an enemy team that had been residing in it. She heard the shots of gunfire from everyone desperate enough to try and stop the tank. "God damn it, Phoenix we need you over here now! To your left, and 10 paces forward! Johnny took a shot!" Brain yelled again. Having no choice, she looked over her shoulder at the tank, sent a quick prayer and ran, counting her steps as she ran. 10...9... shots rang out, whizzing by her ear. 8...7... the dirt around her began flying up as more rounds joined in trying to take down the moving target. 6...5... just a couple more steps now. 4...3... "SHIT! PHOENIX MOVE!" She heard Brian yell yet again. Of course the last thing I''m going to hear is that bastard yelling at me. She thought. 2... A massive blast went off next to her and she was thrown sideways. The last thought she had was that she never got to 1 before the world went black. Chapter 2 Initializing¡­Race Detected! Human¡­change? Input accepted! ¡°Yes¡±...please standby. ¡°Ughf.¡± Phoenix groaned. What the hell happened? She thought, trying to move. Her whole body felt like sludge. The last thing she remembered was¡­the war, fighting, Brian yelling something, and then, oh shit, right, she got blown up. So why was she conscious now? This has to be the afterlife, or maybe none of it happened, it was all a dream and I¡¯m going to wake up any second now. After a couple seconds went by it was clear that something else was happening. She worked her jaw, finding it less locked than before. ¡°Okay Phoenix, pull yourself together.¡± She tried moving her head and neck to find them slowly responding to her movements as well. After another couple of minutes she could wiggle all her fingers and toes, and finally had the awareness to realize three things: she was curled up in the fetal position, wherever she was, was white and misty, and she was completely and utterly naked. ¡°Common soldier, GET YOURSELF UP.¡± She yelled at herself, voice echoing back at her. She groaned as she slowly got to her hands and knees. Her drill sergeant''s words began replaying in her mind, and she relayed them outloud. ¡°What are you? A baby first learning how to walk? Get on your FEET! What if there were soldiers down and enemies coming up behind you? You¡¯d be fresh meat to them. On. Your. FEET!¡± With those last words she managed to push herself up, swaying as she stood. ¡°Well, that was pretty quick for someone who just got blown to a million tiny pieces.¡± She whipped around, or rather tried to (all she managed to accomplish was end up back on her ass), to the sound of another voice. Sitting calmly in front of her was an old man. What was even more surprising than him seeming to have materialized out of thin air was the small side table that was next to him sporting a fine china teapot and two cups. ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± She asked, trying to get back to her feet again and covering particular parts of her body that would be uncivilized to show. He smiled gently at her, causing the sides of his eyes to crinkle. His white beard went down to his waist, tied neatly at the end. He honestly reminded her a bit of Dumbledore. ¡°You can call me Light for now. You are Phoenix, former combat medic in the Fractured US Army. Come, sit and have a cup of tea with me.¡± He gestured to the empty space next to him and a second chair appeared. Phoenix looked at him pointedly and then back down to her unclothed body. He seemed to remember something responding, ¡°Ah right, sorry about that, hold on please.¡± Waving his hand, she felt fabric settle on her person and found herself in a brown tank top and shorts. Only then did she move closer to the table and finally take a seat, not wanting to disobey whoever this man was. ¡°Sugar?¡± He asked, picking up a spoon that had definitely not been there a minute ago and held it up to her. She shook her head, and he shrugged, the spoon vanishing with the movement. She opened her mouth to begin asking him what the hell was going on, but he raised his hand to stop her. ¡°Now, I know you must have a thousand questions, but I cannot answer them all here or now. We are on a very tight schedule. I will say what I can but after that, your journey will begin. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. You were killed on Earth by a very unfortunate accident, trying to help save someone else¡¯s life. Very noble of you, by the way. A bit stupid but noble nonetheless. The reason it was so hard for you to move a couple minutes ago was due to the way you died. Being blown up does cause quite the mess and putting the pieces back together takes some time. Anyway, you were brought to the in between by me. You see, my world is teetering between the edge of Darkness taking over. Normally he and I coexist in a peaceful balance and harmony, however, the scales have been tipped and it¡¯s just a matter of time before my world becomes what yours was, fraught with wars, illness and incurable disease. Now, I don¡¯t much like the idea of dying, which is where you come in. I believe you can help my world, and maybe even save it, but it has to be your choice. My world is different from yours in the fact that we have cultivation, something similar to what you might know as magic. We are ruled by a System. The higher level you are, the stronger you are. The higher your stats, the better off you are in the world. Are you following me so far?¡± Phoenix slowly nodded. ¡°Uh, I think so. It¡¯s like a video game.¡± The man laughed, which soon turned into a wracking cough. Phoenix grew concerned when it went on for a few minutes but just as she was about to say something he righted himself. ¡°Sorry about that, my time is shorter than I thought. Yes, kind of like your world¡¯s video game. I wish I could stay and tell you more, but I¡¯m not going to have much left in me in a couple minutes. War takes a toll on you and all that as you know. You are going to be teleported here shortly into my world if you so choose to do so. You will not be human, however, it¡¯s my last parting gift to you. You should be arriving somewhere in a forest about two day¡¯s walk West from a big city named Izhork. There you can meet good people who can help you start your journey.¡± The man¡¯s image began to fade out. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to talk to you again until you can tip the scales from Dark to Light, good luck.¡± And with that, the man faded completely leaving Phoenix sitting by herself. She went to finally take a sip of the tea in front of her only to find that it had faded with him. ¡°You bastard! You couldn¡¯t even leave me some tea?!¡± She yelled into the abyss, receiving no answer. Phoenix had always been simple minded in the fact that if that¡¯s how something was, then there was no reason to question it, but magic and levels and stats? It was just nuts! Just then something appeared in her vision. Do you wish to be transported to a New World? Y/N She stared at it a minute before letting out a frustrated yell. I¡¯m beginning to think that I would take the wars on Earth over this insane, stupid, bullshit about a fantasy world. I just got killed in a war, why would I even want to go back to something like that? I deserve to just move on to whatever Heaven or Hell is out there and be at peace. I did my time in a war, my fighting, and my serving. Why should some old man who sounds crazy by the way, choose that I¡¯m just supposed to save his world? How do I always end up in these situations? Just like before her drill sergeant''s words came flooding back to her. ¡°You¡¯re going to leave a man down?! You NEVER abandon someone who needs help! You¡¯re a MEDIC for god sakes! Get back out there AND SAVE SOME LIVES!¡± I really hate when he¡¯s right. She thought, still contemplating her decision. Goddamnit, I¡¯m going to regret this. She thought, as she chose ¡°Yes¡±. Immediately it was like the world around her became a tornado. The mist began swirling around her, taking her to god knows where. She felt like she was going to vomit and explode at the same time as the mist began swirling faster. Suddenly bright red text flashed across her vision. ERROR! Location: Menrood Thicket blocked by external forces. New Location: Shadow Woods. Oh shit, that can¡¯t be good. Chapter 3 Phoenix was dumped unceremoniously onto the ground. She gathered her feet under her for the umpteenth time in the last few hours and looked around. It was dark, almost too dark, and the trees just didn¡¯t look right. There were no leaves on any branches leaving them bare and swaying in a small wind. Looking around even more she found the ground underneath her feet was just as bare, no grass, only cold, hard dirt. Awesome so where the fuck am I? She thought, and saw in the top corner of her vision a small bell blinking rapidly. Not really knowing what else to do, she willed it to open and was rewarded when a bunch of text filled her vision. Initialization complete, New person detected! Phoenix (No Last Name Entered) Race detected! Chimera! New stat¡¯s are available to see! You have entered Monrood Thicket Shadow Woods! ERROR Location incorrect. Unable to resolve the error, please standby. Phoenix looked at the text in shock. This is SO NOT NORMAL. She thought, talking to herself yet again. The old guy had said that she was supposed to end up in a forest a couple days away from a nice town, but this looked far from what she imagined it would be. She also assumed that she was meant to end up in this Monrood Thicket, however something went wrong and she ended up in somewhere called The Shadow Woods¡­something a little more ominous. Not really knowing what to do, she decided to try and play around with the text in front of her. Realizing quickly that it responded to her thoughts as long as it was directed at one of the few notifications she received. The first thing she did was look up what the fuck her race was. Chimera This race lived over 2,000 years ago. Please continue exploration to learn more about this race. Chimera Attributes: Wolf, Eagle, Panther +2 Strength, +3 Agility, +2 Endurace +100% To All Essense Gathered +2 stat points for every level earned Stealth Skill Unlocked Due To Race Attributes +10 Stealth Phoenix took some calming breaths before freaking out once again. ¡°So I¡¯m a human with animal parts? What does that even mean?¡± She looked up at the sky, ¡°Light, if you are listening you really fucked me over here. If we ever meet again I¡¯m punching you in the face and I won¡¯t feel bad about it. I don¡¯t care what you are.¡± She sat down with a sigh and opened up her interface yet again. She pulled up her stats page and took a look. Phoenix Chimera (F) Essence 1 Core: N/A Vitality: 2 Strength: 2 Dexterity: 2 Agility: 1 Endurance: 3 Wisdom: 2 Perception: 1 Willpower: 0.5 Race Attributes in effect, updating Stats¡­ Standby... Phoenix Chimera (F) Essence 1 Core: N/A Vitality: 2 Strength: 4 Dexterity: 2 Agility: 4 Endurance: 5 Wisdom: 2 Perception 1 Willpower: 0.5 Skills Stealth I (Common)
A rush of light surrounded her for a minute, before the energy settled into her chest giving her a warm feeling. She felt her muscles tighten just a bit, and her breathing got just slightly easier. Huh, kinda cool, now where the hell am I? Taking a look around the woods again, she realized there really wasn¡¯t much to see. With the dark lighting, she could only really see a few paces in front of her, not making it ideal to navigate, and of course, this stupid new world didn¡¯t come with any sort of map interface to make it easier on her. ¡°Okay, soldier, now what do you have?¡± It was a mantra she asked herself plenty of times back when she was still on Earth. It helped ground her in situations that might have otherwise overwhelmed her. Phoenix felt around and realized the tank top and shorts the man had magically conjoined on her before had luckily followed her through the teleportation. She had also acquired a great set of¡­sandals? ¡°You¡¯re fucking kidding me, sandals to walk through the woods, I¡¯m beginning to see why Dark wants to take over.¡± She mumbled under her breath. Just then a howl sounded through the woods causing her head to whip up and search for the noise. I get all these new perks and no one could grant me any sort of night vision? What a rip off. She thought, searching for someplace to take cover. The best she could find was a smaller tree that rose about 20ft up that had enough stumpy hand holds to make it halfway up the tree. Still grumbling to herself she began the climb. About halfway up a chime sounded in her ear, startling her so much her grip loosened and she ended up face down in the dirt. Climbing Skill Learned! Congrats on learning a skill the normal way and not through your race traits. Maybe if you hadn¡¯t fallen you¡¯d have a better grade of the skill, but as it stands or doesn¡¯t here¡¯s the basics. Climbing I (Common) Phoenix took a second to process before mentally yelling at Light again. REALLY? You had to be THAT snarky about that fall? I¡¯m brand fucking new here, give me a break. She began checking herself to make sure nothing was broken before another howl sounded closer to her, causing her momentary anger and first aid to fall to the back of her mind as she began her climb once again. Finally at a higher vantage point she looked around and realized it did nothing for her. It was just as dark as it was on the ground floor. Another howl ripped through the forest, and this time she could hear a rustling nearby, which rewarded her with another chime. This one did not make her lose her grip on the tree, thank you very much. It seemed like the darkness got just a little clearer, and she was able to make out a small black shape hiding behind a dead tree. As soon as she looked at it another chime and message crossed her vision. Analyze Skill Learned! This skill allows you to analyze other beings just by looking at them. As this skill levels up more details of the target will be revealed. Analyze I (Common)If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. There was no snarky comment behind that learned skill which made Phoenix just slightly sad. ShadowRabbit (F) Essence 3 Phoenix leaned closer to take a look at the small figure now hopping out of the bushes. It looked pretty much like a normal rabbit back on Earth, minus the inky black fur that it seemed to sport. Watching it a bit longer, she noticed it was digging frantically in the earth as if it knew something was buried there. Suddenly, a massive figure jumped out of nowhere and snatched the poor creature in its jaws. Phoenix started at the sight, and nearly fell out of the tree again, before quickly righting herself. ShadowWolf (F) Essence ?? She caught her breath, and stayed silent praying that it hadn¡¯t seen or heard her. Who knows? Maybe wolves can climb trees in this world. And the fact she couldn¡¯t see what level it was meant stay the FUCK away from it. She watched it settle down and finish its meal, including the bones. What kind of witchy shit magic is this place? The wolf trotted off back into the darkness leaving Phoenix alone once again. ¡°Alright, Soldier, you¡¯re in a new place with no means to defend yourself. You have a tank top, shorts, and some kind of sandal bullshit on your feet. What¡¯s your plan?¡± She whispered to herself as her brain started working on solutions. ¡°First, you have to find something as a weapon. Second, find something better than sandals for your feet. Third find out where the fuck you are, if there¡¯s any people around and if there are people, are they friendly or not. Fourth, you gotta gather more essence, clearly won¡¯t survive at level 1 so I gotta kill something. Maybe that should be third on the list. I¡¯ve learned and have the skills to survive on my own for a while, there¡¯s no need to go out finding people until I¡¯ve gained some strength and can defend myself. You need to rest and close your eyes for a minute so your brain is fresh for the day or night ahead. How the hell do I keep finding myself in these situations?¡± With her plan in place it seemed like the next best thing to do was make sure she didn¡¯t fall out of the tree while she closed her eyes. Using an old army trick she ripped off the bottoms of both legs to her shorts leaving them hanging at the middle of her thighs, and tied them around her ankles. If she did end up falling, it would catch her around the ankles and leave her arms free to pull herself back up if needed. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she was ready to attempt some rest and closed her eyes, praying nothing that could fly would attack and kill her in the middle of her rest. A screech awoke Phoenix, causing her head to jerk up in surprise. Her hands shot out to the side, catching only air before she realized where she was. Quickly, she reached down to steady herself, gripping onto the small branch that held her up for support. Great, I thought maybe this whole new world thing had just been a nightmare, I was so wrong. She thought, before looking around. The light in the forest had not brightened in the slightest, and without being able to tell what time it was, there was no way to know just how long she had been asleep. Looking down, there didn¡¯t seem to be any more movement from rabbits, wolves, or otherwise, and she sat back in relief. Going over her mental checklist, she looked around for anything that would work as a weapon. On the ground floor there were twigs and branches laying under pretty much every tree, but without a knife she would be hard pressed to find anything sturdy and pointy enough to make a spear. There was, however, a nice solid branch that was just about the length of a baseball bat, and looked sturdy enough to hit something with and not break on the first try. Just can¡¯t use that against a damn wolf if it comes back looking for more tasty treats. She thought, considering the best course of action. Well, can¡¯t sit around waiting in a damn tree forever, I¡¯ll die one way or the other, might as well be on the ground floor fighting. She made her decision and undid her ankles, stuffing the two strips of cloth in her waist band. The descent from the tree was harder than before, granted that before referenced her falling out of the tree, so she considered this a win. It seemed the universe agreed with her as it added another level point to her Climbing skill. She quickly grabbed the branch she had spotted from the tree and gave it a couple swings. Weapon Acquired! By sheer creativity you have turned an old, sad stick into a less old, sad stick. Great job! Phoenix rolled her eyes at the sarcastic message. She took the two strips of cloth from her waist belt and tied them around her feet, securing the sandals a bit better. Now at least my steps will be relatively more silent. I gotta find some water and maybe some food too. I don¡¯t know how long I''ll last without either of those two even in a new magical world. And so, she picked a random direction and began walking, dragging the stick behind her as she went to leave a trail to get back if needed. About two miles later, she was rewarded with the sound of running water. Cautiously, she continued to approach, raising the stick over her head in case some animal had also had the same idea. Through the darkness, she could make out a faint river running a few feet in front of her. On the river¡¯s edge she could see a small figure sitting by the waterside. ShadowRabbit Essense 2 She debated for a split second leaving the rabbit alone, however realizing that was the best way to gain levels and get stronger, she dismissed the idea of letting it go easily. It was supposedly stronger than she was, but that didn¡¯t mean much at all. After having survived some of the worst wars known to Humankind, as well as the purge of most of the Earth, one measly rabbit wasn¡¯t going to scare her away that easily. Dropping into a crouch, she continued to move behind it, stepping as lightly as she could to avoid altering it of her presence. A faint ding sounded in her ear, but she ignored it. Only standing a foot behind it now, she raised her club to attack. A swift, forceful blow came, but what she didn¡¯t count on was that the rabbit would still be standing even after that blow. Even more, this was NOT like the rabbits back home. No, this rabbit had fangs, yes fangs, and very, very, sharp claws. Neither of these features had been visible on the other rabbit. Even better? This demon rabbit was now very pissed off and wanting revenge on whoever had interrupted its bath. Spinning around, it jumped onto Phoenix¡¯s chest, the force of it knocking both of them to the ground. Its claws began raking down her chest, causing her to grunt in pain. She could hear her former drill sergeant¡¯s voice in her head. Are you serious right now, soldier? You¡¯re getting mauled by a rabbit, figure out its weakness and FIGHT BACK! With limited options and no experience fighting with a rabbit, she did the only logical thing and made to grab it with her hands. Making contact, she shoved it off her body causing it to land only a few inches away. It was already gearing up for its second attack as Phoenix looked around wildly for her makeshift weapon. It was laying only a few feet to her left and she dove for it, ignoring the rabbit hissing at her. Text tried to flash in front of her, but she dismissed it with a thought, focused only on surviving whatever it would do next. She could see its muscles bunching up as it prepared to attack yet again, and did the only thing possible: Phoenix got in a hitting position and wound up preparing to swing at the rabbit. As it lept at her, she swung the stick as hard as she could. Three things happened at once, a loud crack was heard on impact as the stick snapped in two, Phoenix lost her balance as her momentum carried her into the swing, and the rabbit turned into a furry baseball and landed a few feet away from her in a heap. The stick in her hand now, had a nice pointed edge after breaking so taking no time to rest, she ran over to the still figure and stabbed it multiple times until she received another notification. ShadowRabbit Defeated! Essence Collected. Race Attribute in effect, +100% Phoenix sagged to her knees in relief. She looked around warily to make sure the fight hadn¡¯t attracted any more animals before laying down on her back and attempting to catch her breath. As the adrenaline wore off, she could feel a stinging in her chest and opened up her other notifications. Stealth Skill Leveled Up! You added old rags to your feet and managed to sneak up on a rabbit, you¡¯re impressing only yourself. Stealth I -> II (Common) Health at 75% Bludgeoning Skill Learned! Not only did you manage to hit something with your old stick, you managed to hit it twice! Bludgeoning I (Common) Level Up! Essence 2 +3 Stat Points Satisfied with the gains she made, Phoenix pondered where to put the stat points. It was clear all of her stats were sorely lacking, but decided it was best to level up vitality and strength first. Can¡¯t keep improving if I die too quickly, or can¡¯t hit hard. Throwing 2 in vitality and 1 in strength, she dismissed the notifications. It seemed collecting essence also helped her heal, as all her previous scratches had vanished once the rabbit died. She sat herself upright to take a better look at the ShadowRabbit. Its fur was inky black like the other one she had seen. Inspecting the teeth she realized that on top of the two long fangs it sported, all of its teeth were razor sharp. Its claws were just as bad, coming to needle-like points. Phoenix shuddered at the brief memory of how they had raked into her chest with no effort. The rabbit was more muscle than fat, but honestly it was better than nothing in terms of food. There was no way she was going to start a fire, so the best thing she could do was skin it as best she could with her broken stick and eat the meat raw. I hope this doesn¡¯t come back to bite me in the ass. Only able to stomach three bites of the meat before almost throwing up, she took a few sips of the river water and looked around for any place suitable enough to rest. Gathering a bunch of old sticks and branches that had broken off of the trees, she built a small shelter against a tree about 50 feet away from the river. She looked at the rabbit carcass and realized it would only attract predators. So she picked it up and walked several paces away from her camp and threw it as far as she could before heading back and settling in her makeshift camp.
I am so regretting my decision to eat that raw meat, and apparently the creek also had something against me too. Phoenix thought as she vomited up bile for the 10th time in a row. A few hours, or what felt like hours, after she had eaten the rabbit her body revolted. It started with small stomach pains, and had become a full blown food poisoning fiasco. Which in turn had rewarded her with another notification. You have obtained food poisoning from eating raw meat! -30% Health Duration: 2:00:00 You have obtained poisoning from drinking tainted water! -30% Health Duration 2:00:00 Due to the fact that there wasn¡¯t anything else in her system, she was forced to throw up bile and dry heave. How do I always find myself in these situations? She thought as another round of dry heaving came up. It had only been 30 minutes since the notification had popped up, and thinking about another hour and a half with this debuff made her stomach flip even more. Flopping over on her back she looked up at the dark sky. I wish I could just see the stars. I should have never agreed to come to this world. Death would be better than this shit. She thought. ¡°Common soldier, you didn¡¯t think you¡¯d get out this easily did you?¡± Phoenix turned to the voice and found her former drill sergeant standing over her. She knew she was hallucinating but at this point it didn''t matter, ¡°Sarge¡­I¡¯m trying my best.¡± She replied. ¡°Your BEST? You think this is your BEST? You fought through Mother Nature¡¯s culling and survived wars beyond my wildest dreams. You¡¯re really going to let yourself go due to eating something you shouldn''t have? I didn¡¯t train you to be that weak! You came to this world to make a difference, right? Now FIGHT!¡± He yelled at her. She groaned, flopping over to her side as more tried and failed to come up out of her body. ¡°I came to this world to make a difference. I came to this world to make sure it didn¡¯t get destroyed like mine did. I came because someone asked me for help, and that¡¯s what I do. I¡¯m not going to let some fucking poison from a fucking ShadowRabbit keep me down. I WON¡¯T GIVE IN! I¡¯M A SOLDIER GOD DAMN IT AND A FUCKING GOOD ONE!¡± She yelled to herself as every muscle spasmed. Text flashed across her vision before everything went black. Chapter 4 ¡°Ugghndn¡­¡± Phoenix groaned. Awareness came back slowly, and the first thing she noticed was the awful taste in her mouth, and some sort of gross crust that made it hard to open her eyes. Her tank top and shorts were drenched with what she could only hope was sweat. She groaned as she flopped around and pushed herself into a sitting position. Rubbing her eyes, they finally opened to the dark forest once more. A red flashing light in her sight made her open her messages. Debuff Food Poisoning Removed! Debuff Poisoning Removed! New Passive Skill Acquired! You tried and failed to eat and drink. It was a sorry sight, but you managed to live through a whole two hours of vomiting¡­even if you were unconscious for the majority of it. Poison Resistance I (Uncommon) Ignoring the barb the system gave her again, Phoenix opened the description. Poison Resistance I (Uncommon, Passive) Poison Resistance will increase your resistance by 5% to all types of poison, and expel poisons from your body faster. Level up this skill to increase resistance. This skill remains passive. Looking at her skills, a new tab was created and labeled ¡°Passive¡±, with Poison Resistance slotted underneath. Phoenix shifted in her spot and saw that all the undergrowth had been moved away from underneath her while she had writhed around. Alright enough, I need to get my shit together and survive. Already her stomach was cramping again, this time begging for something to eat, and her mouth was drier than Texas heat. Clearly she couldn¡¯t eat the raw meat of the animals, and there was no means to start a fire. Even if she could, she wasn¡¯t sure what that light would attract. She shuddered thinking back to the ShadowWolf she had seen earlier. There was no way she¡¯d survive an encounter with one of them. Gathering herself again she stood up, grabbed her sharp stick and headed off in another direction. After only a couple minutes she heard a loud crack and whipped around. The forest seemed to tremble under whatever was lumbering toward her. She swiftly ran to a nearby tree and began to climb, only stopping when she could barely see the forest floor. The ground continued to rumble and a massive shadow appeared. ShadowBear (F) Essence ?? Beyond the sound of her racing heart, she didn¡¯t make a sound. All of the sudden howls rang out from all around her, the sound bouncing off the trees and rocks making the sound even more eerie. She peered through the branches and watched as the ShadowBear paused and raised its head, eyes looking straight at her tree. She stayed frozen praying it couldn¡¯t see her. All of the sudden the forest exploded with sound and movement. Three black shadows raced out from nearby bushes and landed on the ShadowBear. Analyze pinged all three. ShadowWolf (F) Essence ? - ?? Phoenix stayed silent watching the fight go down. The bear swung its massive head and began rearing, throwing two of the three wolves off of it. One of its paws swiped at another wolf joining the fray, but it dodged. The bear rolled, crushing the last wolf on its back underneath him. Phoenix heard a yelp, and saw the wolf drag its broken body out of the fray. Another, much louder howl rang out through the air. It felt as if the atmosphere had shifted, and she saw one more wolf emerge from the thicket. This one was different, bigger, and had an aura that screamed danger. The bear felt this too, because it turned to face the new wolf. Alpha ShadowWolf (F) Essence ?? Core ?This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. They both snarled at each other, but as the wolf approached him, it seemed to use some kind of skill, because the bear froze in place, lips still pulled back over its teeth just long enough for the pack to rally and literally dogpile on top of him. Phoenix heard a loud snap and cringed knowing it¡¯s neck had been broken. It only took a couple minutes for the pack to drag its massive body back to the underbrush and away from the carnage. The Alpha stayed and approached the injured wolf, but one glance and it left it to die. With that the Alpha trotted away as well. Taking a deep breath, Phoenix began to descend the tree and touched down on the ground floor. The injured wolf looked toward her, but she knew he would be no threat. She could see the visible injury to its spine. A feeling of pity washed over her for the beast. It had not asked to be left behind, and it knew on its own it would die. Phoenix didn¡¯t know a lot about the new world and the magic that came with it, but she knew she couldn¡¯t save him. The look in his eye told her he knew the same. A brief understanding passed between the pair, and the wolf dropped its head to the ground. Phoenix raised her self made spear and brought it down, piercing it through the eye. ShadowWolf Defeated! Essence Collected. Race Attribute in effect, +100% Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! Level Up! Essence 2 -> 6 +12 Stat Points Stealth Skill Leveled Up! You watched a massive fight go down from the top of the trees and did nothing for it, but you weren¡¯t seen or detected so that¡¯s a good thing. Here¡¯s your reward. Stealth II -> III Piercing Skill Learned! You killed a creature while it was already about to die, be so proud of yourself. Piercing I The snarky comments were getting ridiculous, but she ignored them like always. Staying with her same ratio of 2/1 Vitality/Strength, she distributed her stat points. Another message popped up before she had a chance to close her window. Essence 5 obtained, Class Unlocked, please choose from the following. WARNING: Once chosen you will not be able to go back. Choose Wisely. Phoenix moved herself back to her perch in the tree just in case something bigger decided to come back and decide she was their dinner like the pack had the bear. Once settled she opened up the window again and was greeted by a massive amount of information. Warrior (Common) This class is one of the most common, and picked by those whose blood burns for the fight. One of the cornerstones of the world, warriors are known to be strong and can take a heavy hit. Possible Future Evolutions: Saint Warrior, Knight, Protector Ranger (Common) This class is known for its agility, dexterity, and ability with a bow. Those who pick this class prefer to deal damage from afar. Due to their heavy damage, Rangers often prefer to work alone. Possible Future Evolutions: Tracker, Scout, Tamer Cleric (Common) This class is known for healing and restoration. Those who pick this class yearn for peace, and work behind the lines to heal those who have fallen ill or have been injured. Possible Future Evolutions: Divine Healer, Prophet, Monk These all were pretty common classes if she remembered correctly from video games back on Earth. Before the end of the world a couple of her friends even played Dungeons and Dragons and from what she remembered from their stories they even sported a couple of these classes. She kept going, seeing a couple more options. Beast Tamer (Rare) This class has a synergy with all animals, and has the ability to tame beasts. Those who pick this class gain strength from their tamed beasts and in rare cases skills. Possible Future Evolutions: Shifter, NightStalker, Tracker Shadow Assassin (Epic) This class hunts in the shadows. Those who pick this class are one with the darkness and use it as cover to hunt their targets. Even those of the highest essence have trouble identifying these mysterious beings. UNKNOWN CLASS (UNKNOWN) ERROR Possible Future Evolutions: ERROR Phoenix came to the end and her eyes rested on the Unknown Class. What the fuck is that? She tried opening it again, but the same Error message appeared. Phoenix was never one to follow the normal path, and something inside her screamed at her to select the Unknown Class. Closing her eyes and hoping she wouldn¡¯t regret it, she clicked it. Confirm Class Choice: UNKNOWN CLASS Yes/No Phoenix selected Yes. Chapter 5 UNKNOWN CLASS accepted. ERROR! Class is not known to the System. ERroR Outside Forces Intervened¡­Overwritten. Input accepted Formulating¡­ Beast Demigod (Mythical) Inherited Class from Race: Chimera This class is the first tier to a higher power. Allows ERROR - Howl of the Alpha Skill Learned! (Legendary) This skill temporarily stuns the opponent allowing you to get a strike in if you¡¯re fast enough. Howl of the Alpha I (Legendary) Mimic Skill Learned! (Ancient) This skill allows you to understand and mimic any skill you see only once. You MUST know the name of the skill you are watching before you can mimic. Mimic I (Ancient) Wolf Trait(s) Unlocked! New Passive Skill(s) Acquired! Night Vision I (Common, Passive) Enhanced Hearing I (Common, Passive) Class Stat Points Distributed +8 Dexterity +6 Agility +2 Wisdom +2 Strength Phoenix sat and stared at the screen for some time before exclaiming. ¡°Holy Fucking Shit! I get to eat RAW MEAT NOW? After I was Poisoned for HOURS? Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME? This planet is so¡­ARGH!¡± Taking a deep breath, she analyzed the other parts of the notification. Her canines had indeed lengthed down to sharp points. In the back of her mind she imagined she looked like a vampire if not for the bottom ones also coming to a point. The dark forest had lightened up considerably as well. Mimic would be a cool skill to use if she could ever get out of these fucking cursed woods and into some sort of civilization. Maybe the new howl skill could help her in killing more of the creatures as well. At some point it would be nice to actually know what the fuck her class was along with her race but for now she settled with not knowing. With that, she pulled up her full stat sheet. Phoenix Chimera (F) Essence 6 Class: Beast Demigod Core: N/A Vitality: 12 Strength: 11 Dexterity: 10 Agility: 10 Endurance: 5 Wisdom: 4 Perception: 1 Willpower: 0.5 Skills Stealth III (Common) Climbing I (Common) Analyze I (Common) Bludgeoning I (Common) Mimic I (Ancient) Howl of the Alpha I (Legendary) Passive Skills Poison Resistance I (Uncommon, Passive) Night Vision I (Common, Passive) Enhanced Hearing I (Common, Passive) Okay time to hunt some beasts. Phoenix picked up her stick, looked at the broken brambles from where the wolf pack went and promptly turned in the opposite direction.
An hour or so later her improved hearing picked up the faint sound of trickling and she followed it, moving carefully just in case there were any monsters nearby that she wasn¡¯t able to see in the brush. A clearing opened up to a small pond fed by a very small stream. All sense of self preservation left her when she saw the water. She was so Thirsty. Practically running to the pond she began cupping water into her mouth and letting it slide down her throat, sighing in relief. A rustle sounded behind her and she slowly brought her hand down to grab her stick. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. She could make out faint padding behind her and began to slow her breathing, feeling the distance between her and the approaching being. A faint ping was heard but she ignored it, staying still. A small shadow darted out of the brambles, lunging at her, but she swung around with the stick just in time for the sharp end to pierce the being in the side. It yelped and fell to the ground, spinning and baring its teeth at her. ShadowFox Essense 3 It was clearly injured by the jab and she could tell one more well placed hit would kill it. Come at me, I¡¯m ready. She thought, crouching low and holding the stick out in front of her. The fox seemed to be weighing its options, but in the end its fighting spirit won out and it rushed at her again. She barely had time to dodge out of the way. It¡¯s so fast! She spun around to find it lunging again, but this time she brought the stick down just as it jumped and whacked it in the head. As it fell she righted the stick to the sharp end and ended the fox quickly. ShadowFox Defeated! Essence Collected. Race Attribute in effect, +100% Perception Stat Increased! Congratulations you used your ears! By using your hearing, you were able to tell where your enemy was. +1 Perception Enhanced Hearing Leveled Up! You used your skill right, great job. Enhanced Hearing I -> II (Common, Passive) Spear Wielding Skill Learned! Your pointy stick has killed 2 monsters now, so here¡¯s the skill that kinda goes with that? Whatever, it¡¯s the best you get. Spear Wielding I (Common) She didn¡¯t get any levels from it, but now she had a source of food too. Taking full advantage of her very late but appreciated trait to eat raw meat, she tore into the fox finding her new canines helpful in the tearing of flesh. Part of her wanted to be disgusted with what she was doing, but the survival part of her didn¡¯t care in the slightest. Another sip from the pond and she was satisfied. For the first time in what felt like at least a week she was full and her thirst was quenched.
For the next couple weeks (or at least what she thought were weeks) she continued the same routine. Wake up in a tree, climb down and walk to the pond, drink, find a couple of monsters to kill, eat, and climb back up the tree. She managed to get 3 levels from the beings around her before the essence was just too little to boost her any further. She had figured out that the lower the level from what she was the less essence she received from the kill. Her stat points were still being distributed in Vitality and Strength though she knew she was going to have to strive for balance with the others soon. She also managed to get Climbing to III, Spear Wielding to III, and Stealth to IV. Snarky remarks followed each of those level ups as normal. Then something changed. It was a day like any other. She woke up in her tree that now had a perfect imprint of her ass cheeks on one of its branches, and handholds that she had carved out to get up and down. As she went to head down to the pond she heard it Footsteps. Not paws on the ground, or wingbeats in the sky, actual footsteps from a human. Cautiously she made her way back up the tree and perched, ready to drop down and fight if needed. Eventually the footsteps got closer and she could make out rough voices. ¡°I don¡¯t know what we¡¯re doing so far in the forest Monty, there¡¯s nothing out here but stupid Shadow creatures. The Captain has to be wrong.¡± Another deeper voice answered. ¡°You heard him, he thinks something is out here hunting and it¡¯s our job to put a stop to whoever it is. The Shadow Woods scare off the best in people, you know the stories. Common¡¯, I don¡¯t want to be here any longer than we have to.¡± The voices got closer and Phoenix stayed ready to pounce. A couple more seconds and the two men who matched the voices appeared underneath her. They were rough looking with mean faces. The bigger of the two sported a scar down his right cheek while the other, albeit still big, had a scruff that had clearly been shaved hastily. They both wore armor that had a massive crest on the front: A Black Castle with red claw marks through the front. The bigger one carried an axe at his hip and it was clear he knew how to use it. Phoenix kept watching them, but her heart sank as she realized that last night¡¯s kill - a ShadowBadger had been left a couple feet away from the tree. She had been trying to bait a bigger monster last night. Just as she saw it, it was clear the men had two because they stopped talking and walked over to it. ¡°Well, well, what do we have here?¡± Clearly a carcass of a ShadowBadger you dumb fuck. Phoenix thought in her head, still assessing the situation. She hated when people asked stupid questions. She also knew these types of people and they were always bad news. It didn¡¯t matter what planet she was on. ¡°Looks fresh, and it was most certainly a human who killed this one. There¡¯s no claw or bite marks on it. Go check over on the other side of the pond, quickly, it¡¯ll be evening soon and the bigger animals come out. I want to be home before that happens.¡± The smaller of the men said as he crouched down looking at it. The other guy lumbered off in the direction. From what she could tell he then used a skill because he began walking around the little clearing. ¡°Whoever it is has been living here for a while, my skill is lighting up with tracks. Whoever it is, is human, and female from the size of the feet.¡± Fucking weirdo, back on Earth we call people who talk like that a predator! His eyes kept tracking around the base and eventually rested on the bottom of her tree. She gripped her stick tight, and knew what was coming. She had to act first or the element of surprise would be gone. As he walked over she saw his eyes begin traveling up, and just as he saw her she jumped on him. ¡°What the -¡° The look of shock was short lived as her body weight brought him crashing down. Phoenix tried to get a good stab in with her stick but his armor covered most of his body and head. Jumping off of him before he could do any damage she turned to face him and snarled. He pulled a short sword out of his belt. ¡°So you¡¯ve been the one hunting in these woods. I have to say, I am a little impressed you managed to survive this long in these woods.¡± Arrogant fuck. Phoenix thought as she continued to hold her stick out in front of her. The man continued. ¡°You should know better than to hunt on the land of the Shadow Lord, though. It was only a matter of time before you were caught. I¡¯m sure we can find a spot for you though, under all that grime you¡¯re a pretty little thing aren¡¯t ya?¡± Phoenix¡¯s stomach turned at the thoughts she knew were running through his head. Not giving it another thought she lunged at him bringing her stick down against the hand holding the blade. It went flying in the other direction, but he took the opportunity to grab the pointy end of the stick and pull her toward him. She let go of it and tried to shove the man down, only to find he didn¡¯t budge. Only then did Analyze go off. Human (F) Essense 20 Phoenix had her fair share of fights against things above her level but 11 levels was pushing it. Well, Light, you better have a good plan because this fucker is about to kill me. She thought as the man grabbed her wrist. She heard the brambles crack as the other returned. He assessed the situation and grabbed her face turning it toward him. His breath smelled like rot and his teeth reflected it as he smiled at her. Phoenix spit at him, the glob smacking him right between his eyes. He made a show to wipe it off before speaking. ¡°Well, well, what a pretty little thing, and she¡¯s got fight in her too. I do believe we found a good investment into our future! Tie her up, it¡¯s time to go home.¡± He said, laughing as his partner tied her hands together. Well fuck, how do I always end up in these situations? She thought just as a hard whack knocked her out. Chapter 6 The first thing Phoenix was aware of was her body being thrown around in the back of some sort of cart. The rough wood was doing wonders for exfoliating her skin, so much so that she could feel parts of it ripped open. Pain shot through her body with every jolt and bump, and she winced, trying to suppress any sounds that might reveal her consciousness. Her arms were tied at the wrist, and her legs bound as well, rendering her helpless. Motherfucker. She knew enough about being held captive from the Army and SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) School that she had to continue to act like she was still knocked out. ¡°How much further, Bento?¡± The voice belonged to the smaller man she had previously tried to fight, the one whose face was etched with an unsettling mixture of arrogance and cruelty. ¡°Not much further now. We¡¯re coming out of the tree line for the Shadow Woods. Just in time too; it¡¯s getting dark,¡± Bento replied, his tone casual, as if they were discussing the weather rather than transporting captives. The cart continued to rock, and for the first time since she got to this new world, light filtered through her eyelids. Phoenix almost groaned in appreciation for the natural warmth, a stark contrast to the colder atmosphere of the woods. She slit open her eyes just enough to make out the silhouette of another person bound on the floor of the cart as well. It was another woman, dried blood running down her face, tracing a path through the dirt and grime that caked her skin. Well fuck, I''m headed to some sort of slave trade bullshit aren''t I? There were visible bruises around her eyes, and it was clear someone had strangled her. A fire ignited in Phoenix¡¯s heart seeing the woman in that condition, one that wanted to kill every last motherfucker who thought it was okay to lay their hands on women like that. The cart began to slow, and she heard another voice muffled from the outside, a sound that made her stomach churn. ¡°Bento and Tristan, welcome back! I trust the hunting was good?¡± Phoenix gagged a bit at the word ¡°hunting.¡± Right. Hunting for women to do god knows what to. ¡°Very, we got one who will serve well in the quarters. However, the second¡ªshe¡¯s my investment into¡­¡± Bento¡¯s voice trailed off as he lowered it, speaking conspiratorially. Phoenix strained to catch the rest of the conversation but could only make out fragments. ¡°Open the gates!¡± The sound of a metal gate rising echoed ominously, and the cart lurched forward again. Knowing that the two were riding up front, Phoenix risked opening her eyes fully, trying to glance out the bars and see where she was. As the cart rolled forward, text flashed briefly in her vision: You have entered: Volska Volska is a main port city located in The Shadow Kingdom, off the coast of The Abyssal Viel Sea. Originally established 2,000 years ago, it was known for its grand architecture and flourishing trade. This city once attracted scholars, artisans, and adventurers from distant lands. Now it attracts pirates, fanatics, and worshippers of the Shadow. By the sound of the horses pulling the cart, they were heading down a cobblestone street. Buildings flashed by the bars made of stone and wood, their shadows looming ominously in the fading light. The woman next to her began to groan, her eyes fluttering open. Instinctively, she started to struggle against her bonds, confusion and fear swimming in her eyes. Goddamnit, she needs to be still and quiet. Phoenix risked a grunt, hoping to catch the woman¡¯s attention without revealing her own consciousness. The instant their eyes met, she shook her head, silently imploring her to remain quiet. Fortunately, the woman seemed to understand; she ceased her frantic movements, her gaze darting between Phoenix and the approaching city.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. They stared at each other, both trapped in a web of uncertainty, awaiting their fates with bated breath. After what felt like an eternity, the cart finally came to a halt. The back was thrown open with a loud bang. A man¡¯s face appeared, a scar slicing through his right eye, and his yellowed teeth were bared in a twisted grin. ¡°Oh, these two are perfect,¡± he said, a sickly gleam in his eyes. Sick Motherfucker. Phoenix felt a surge of anger at the sight of him, a determination to fight back welling up within her. Tired of being helpless, she kicked her bound feet, catching the man unexpectedly in the chest. He stumbled backward, unprepared for her action, slipped on gravel behind him landing hard on the ground, momentarily stunned. Bento and Tristan rushed around to assist him up, his face turned into a mask of fury as he rose. ¡°Bitch! You¡¯re going right to the arena! Do you hear me? You¡¯re going to die in there!¡± the man screamed, spit flying in her face as he raged. Phoenix met his gaze, her resolve hardening. You just wait. I¡¯m going to remember you, and I¡¯m going to kill you when I escape, she thought venomously. Bento and Tristan grabbed her, their hands like iron shackles as they overwhelmed her struggles with ease. She was dragged away from the cart, the rough cobblestones scraping against her skin, and turned back just in time to see the other woman being pulled in the opposite direction, her expression one of panic and despair. They entered a bustling courtyard filled with the sounds of bartering and trading, the air thick with the scent of sweat and desperation. A manor loomed behind another gate, its dark silhouette casting an ominous shadow over the scene. People and horses were everywhere, and as she was dragged through the crowd, some jeered, others laughed, while most kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact as if the sight of her was too shameful to bear. She felt their eyes on her¡ªsome filled with pity, others with malice¡ªas she was brought through the gates toward the manor and dragged down to the cellar. The chill of the stone walls sent shivers down her spine as she was thrown into one of the middle cells, the door slamming shut behind her with a deafening clang. You have been imprisoned! Location: Volska Dungeon Thanks for that utterly informative notification. I hadn¡¯t noticed, Phoenix thought bitterly, rolling her eyes at the absurdity of the situation. She turned around and found another woman sitting in the corner of the dimly lit cell, her presence a small comfort in the otherwise bleak surroundings. Besides the woman, there was nothing else in the cell except a bucket in the corner, which she knew the purpose of all too well. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the woman asked, her voice contrasted to the silence. She had dirty blonde hair that was braided behind her head, and the tattered rags she wore were covered in dirt and mud. ¡°Name¡¯s Phoenix,¡± she responded, her voice rough from neglecting it. The words felt foreign on her tongue, but she forced them out. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°My name¡¯s Becca, welcome to hell.¡± The woman¡¯s gaze hardened as she glanced around the cell, as if the very walls were a reminder of her plight. ¡°So, what did you do to end up here?¡± Phoenix took a deep breath, highlighting her time in the forest and briefly mentioning her arrival from another planet that didn¡¯t have any sort of system or even magic, just a sudden drop into the Shadow Woods. Becca listened silently through the entire story, her expression a mix of disbelief and sympathy. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s some bad luck. Getting dropped in a forest is one thing, but getting dropped in the Shadow Woods is a whole other beast.¡± Becca shook her head, her voice tinged with bitterness. ¡°I guess it¡¯s good you got dropped into an F-ranked world like ours instead of an A or B-ranked; you wouldn¡¯t have survived a night. Brand new to the system with no cultivation, you¡¯d be dead before you knew it.¡± ¡°What hell does that mean?¡± Phoenix thought, and asked her, genuine confusion evident in her tone. Becca¡¯s face sported a shocked expression. ¡°You really didn¡¯t come from a system-run planet? I thought they were only myths," Her eyes widened, "I was only playing along before, thought you took a knock to the head or something making you confused.¡± Phoenix couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of irony at the statement. She had grown up thinking everything in this new world was a myth, only to find herself trapped in one. ¡°Think of me like a newborn who knows nothing about this world or how any of this works,¡± she replied, annoyance creeping into her voice at her own ignorance. Really, Light? You couldn¡¯t have given me any sort of beginner''s guide to surviving on this planet? She cursed at him, hoping somewhere, somehow, he was listening to her. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s almost time for the guard change,¡± Becca said, her tone shifting from shock to a more serious note. ¡°After that, I¡¯ll try to explain and answer what questions you have.¡± As they waited in the dim light of the cell, Phoenix felt the weight of her situation settling in. Chapter 7 Phoenix sat across from Becca, her mind racing as she tried to figure out where to start. The dim light of the dungeon flickered, casting elongated shadows on the cold stone walls, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and despair. ¡°So this planet is called Estrad¨¦,¡± Becca began, her voice steady despite the grim circumstances. ¡°It¡¯s one of the millions of inhabited planets in this galaxy alone. No one knows who or what the system is, but legend says it appeared one day, bringing cultivation and monsters with it. Those that thrived got stronger, while those that didn¡¯t were killed. After a harsh culling, each planet was ranked based on their performance. Ranks go from F¡ªthe weakest¡ªup to God-tiers, and some say beyond. Each planet holds a certain amount of essence parallel to those tiers.¡± Phoenix listened intently, absorbing every word. The weight of this new information pressed down on her. ¡°In order to get stronger, you collect essence,¡± Becca continued, her eyes narrowing in thought. ¡°But I¡¯m sure as you¡¯ve figured out, those weaker creatures are helping you less and less as you grow in strength.¡± She broke off to confirm, and seemed relieved when Phoenix nodded in agreement. ¡°As you¡¯ve found, any monster or even sentient being below your rank or essence level is worthless to you. This requires you to travel to higher-ranked planets to cultivate to higher tiers. Are you following so far?¡± Phoenix nodded again, but her head was already spinning. The complexity of this system was overwhelming, and she felt like she was trying to drink from a firehose. She thought back to her time in the woods and remembered something that had stood out to her. ¡°So what is a core?¡± she asked, curiosity piqued despite the dire situation. Becca blinked in surprise at the question but answered, her expression shifting to one of seriousness. ¡°A core is usually developed in F rank once you¡¯ve collected enough essence to condense. The easiest way to explain it is that the essence enters your body and is just floating around in there. When you¡¯ve gotten a good storage, you start compressing that essence into a sort of ball, which makes you¡ªyour skills and abilities¡ªmore powerful.¡± ¡°For example, I¡¯m a mage,¡± she continued. ¡°If I were to develop a core, I would be way more powerful than a mage at my exact same level but who lacks a core. Most begin to condense their core around level 50 because anything below just lacks the pure essence needed, and most can¡¯t see their own essence until it¡¯s pretty much saturated their whole body. Some richer and higher nobles can blast their way past that by taking elixirs, but that ruins their cultivation further down the line.¡± Damn, so that wolf I saw in the woods had to have been at least level 50 to have a core. I''m really glad I stayed away from that one. A loud bang resounded in the dungeon, breaking the tension between them. Both women looked toward the open bars, and Phoenix¡¯s heart raced as Bento strode in, his presence filling the cramped space with a sense of dread. He stopped at their cell, a smug grin plastered across his face as he unlocked it. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been officially registered in our Arena fights, little girl,¡± he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. ¡°Soon we¡¯ll see if the fire you showed me in the woods was real or if you were just putting on a show. I¡¯d advise you to win; otherwise, you will have lost me a lot of money, and your life will be forfeit.¡± Phoenix spat at him again, a defiant gesture, but he dodged, his reflexes sharp. He grabbed for her wrist, and before she could react, he slapped something cold and metallic into her skin.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. She screamed as it seemed to have a mind of its own, burrowing itself into her flesh. Panic surged through her, and she heard Bento''s muffled laugh as the door swung closed again. The metal continued to embed itself into her wrist until only part of it was visible to the naked eye. It flashed blue, and Phoenix could see some sort of runes being activated around the shackle. Prisoner¡¯s Culling (D) This shackle was designed to prevent cultivation, skill gain, or attributes from being obtained while being worn. It can only be removed by the person who placed it, or the death of the prisoner. All gains obtained by the prisoner will be stored for future use and released to the prisoner when removed. Panting as the awful assault finally ceased, she looked up and saw Becca staring at her with pity. Only then did she notice that Becca, too, sported the same metal shackle on her wrist, a cruel reminder her life wasn''t hers to control anymore. ¡°They¡¯re torturous little things, aren¡¯t they?¡± Becca said, shaking her head. ¡°This is the reason none of us have been able to get stronger even though we fight in the arena almost daily. No levels, no stats, nothing. It says we¡¯re ¡®prisoners¡¯ in the description, but our common name is ¡®culled.¡¯ Funny, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°How long have you been here?¡± Something inside Phoenix told her she didn¡¯t want to know the answer, but she needed to hear it. ¡°Two years,¡± Becca replied, her voice laced with exhaustion. ¡°Two years I¡¯ve been forced to kill whoever they pit me against in the arena. You¡¯re going to want to give them mercy, or save whoever it is. Trust me, you can¡¯t. Don¡¯t fight it, Phoenix. When you go out there, the only thing you can do is fight and kill, or you will be killed.¡± With that, Becca seemed to be done talking for the time being, and they lapsed into a heavy silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
A couple of hours later, food was brought to them. Well, something was brought to them. Phoenix didn¡¯t want to know what was in the slop that was provided, its unappealing color and texture making her stomach churn. Becca, however, wolfed down her portion with a ravenous hunger, and when she saw that Phoenix wasn¡¯t eating, she ate her portion too. Not twenty minutes later, the door slammed open again, and six men entered, including Bento and Tristan. They all went to different cells, their voices low and conspiratorial. Bento approached their cell, a sinister smile creeping across his face. ¡°Fights are starting, little girl. You will be fighting last today. Your opponent will be an Essence 11. Archer type. She''s won most of her fights, some of us don''t believe our Culled should die just because they loose...I believe differently.¡± His words hung in the air like a death sentence. He turned to address Becca, his tone casual yet dismissive. ¡°You¡¯re not fighting today. Hunter is out of the city on business.¡± Becca flinched at the name but only nodded in agreement, a look of resignation crossing her face. Phoenix could tell the other men were finishing up their talks with their ¡°fighters¡± and were preparing to leave. Bento took one last look at her, a predatory gleam in his eye, and then followed them out. One by one, the fighters were marched out of their cells, disappearing through the door. Of the five fighters that went before her, three returned, their expressions a mix of grim determination and barely concealed fear. Phoenix could only assume what had happened to the others. Her heart raced faster and faster as she knew her time was drawing near. ¡°She may be stronger than you, but everyone has a weak spot. At F rank, killing shots still means death. Stab them enough times, they die. Pierce their heart, they die. Good luck,¡± Becca said, her voice steady but tinged with concern, just in time for the guards to show up and drag Phoenix from her cell. The doors opened, and they stepped into another dark hallway, but the thunderous roar of an audience could be heard above them. We have to be under the arena right now. The thought of running crossed her mind, but she knew there had to be thousands of people around the arena, not to mention guards, and she had no clue where she was. Best just to fight this one out and survive, she decided, as they got closer to an open area of the arena. Bento greeted them at the entrance, grabbing her shoulder roughly. ¡°I got a lot riding on you,¡± he growled, his grip like a vice. With that, she was shoved through the opening, and the bright light of the arena filled her eyes, momentarily blinding her. As her vision adjusted, she took in the sight of the massive arena, the stands filled with a raucous crowd, their cheers and jeers echoing in her ears. How do I always end up in these situations? She was no longer just a medic; she was a fighter in a brutal game of survival, and the stakes had never been higher. With her heart pounding in her chest, Phoenix squared her shoulders, ready to face whatever awaited her in this twisted arena. Chapter 8 You have entered: Shadow Arena This location is home to underground fights and illegal betting. None of the normal Arena rules are in effect¡ªfight and survive. The roar of the crowd assaulted her ears as Phoenix tried to tune it out, dread following her entrance. Her heart raced as she scanned the arena, her eyes focusing on the opposite side where her opponent stood. Alyssa was also in rags, clearly a Culled as well, but where Phoenix was unarmed, Alyssa possessed a well-crafted bow and a quiver full of arrows. Well, fuck me. I get stuck unarmed against a goddamn archer. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen! The final fight of the night!¡± A loud voice boomed over the arena, reverberating off the stone walls. Phoenix tried to pinpoint the source of the sound, but the echo made it hard to find. ¡°In the right corner, we have The Archer! She¡¯s won over 40 fights, bringing down some of the biggest opponents with those sharp shooting skills! Will she be brought down tonight?¡± The crowd cheered, their anticipation palpable. ¡°And in the left corner, we have a newcomer! Her name is Phoenix, but can she live up to the mythical bird¡¯s fire?¡± The announcer''s voice dripped with theatrical flair, igniting the crowd¡¯s excitement. ¡°I¡¯m your Arena Master for the night, here to bring you step-by-step coverage of the fights!¡± The crowd roared at the comment as the announcer continued. ¡°Can she take down one of our most deadly first-year competitors? Bets are now closed! Fighters, approach the middle!¡± Phoenix stepped forward, her pulse quickening. Your opponent shows you weaknesses from the very beginning; analyze everything. Make sure you understand your opponent before you fight them. Look for weaknesses. The voice of her old Drill Sergeant, Ritten, echoed in her mind, urging her to remain focused. Alyssa (F) Essence Level: 11 Her gaze swept over Alyssa, noting the taut muscles in her back and arms. The way Alyssa held her bow indicated she was no novice; she had honed her skills through countless fights. Phoenix mentally noted the girl''s posture, the tension in her shoulders¡ªAlyssa was ready to unleash her deadly projectiles. The biggest weakness of any ranged attack is if the opponent can get up close, and that¡¯s exactly what she was going to do. Phoenix thought, determination fueling her resolve. ¡°The rules are simple; everything is legal. You may use whatever skills or abilities you have available to you. The fight ends when the other is dead. You will know because the shackle will be released from the other¡¯s wrist. May Shadow favor you! 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ FIGHT!¡± The moment the words left the announcer¡¯s mouth, Alyssa was already moving, sprinting back toward her gate in an attempt to create distance. She¡¯s nothing if she can¡¯t use her bow. I have to get in close. Phoenix ran after her, adrenaline pumping through her veins, trying to close that critical distance. Fuck me, she¡¯s fast as shit. Alyssa grabbed an arrow as she ran, nocking it with practiced ease. Turning on one foot, her eyes flashed with determination as she released it. The arrow whizzed past Phoenix¡¯s head by mere centimeters, embedding itself in the sand with a dull thud. ¡°Shit! That was way too close!¡± Panic surged through Phoenix, but she shoved it aside. Keep moving! She continued to pursue Alyssa, refusing to give her any time to stand still. The more on the back foot your opponent is, the less time they have to plan their attacks. Unfortunately, Phoenix had no long-range skills to use; her entire strategy hinged on getting close to her opponent. Alyssa wasn¡¯t making it easy¡ªshe kept knocking and releasing arrows behind her, each narrowly missing Phoenix by inches. Her build clearly features Agility and Endurance. She¡¯s fast. Running after her wasn¡¯t going to solve the problem, Phoenix realized. What do you have around you, soldier? What can you use to your advantage? She scanned the arena, but there was nothing but sand stretching endlessly before her.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The sand! An idea sparked in her mind. As she ran, she scooped up two handfuls of the gritty substance. The next time Alyssa turned around, Phoenix hurled the sand into the air, hoping to obscure her movements. It seemed to work¡ªAlyssa lost sight of her, releasing an arrow that shot way off target. ¡°Gotcha!¡± Phoenix thought, emboldened by her minor victory. But her luck quickly ran out. Alyssa, regaining her composure, nocked another arrow, her focus razor-sharp. Phoenix felt the adrenaline surge again, but her heart sank as the arrow caught her in the left shoulder, embedding itself deep and sticking fast. Health at 80% The white-hot pain burned through her, an inferno igniting in her shoulder, and her step faltered. ¡°And now you will die like everyone else who challenged me before you!¡± Alyssa shouted across the arena, her face triumphant, the confidence radiating off her like a beacon. Phoenix clenched her teeth against the pain, her resolve hardening. Two reasons kept her silent: one, her teeth were gritted from the pain of the arrow, and two, she didn¡¯t respond to dumbshit, and that was the most self-absorbed, cocky, arrogant bullshit she had ever heard. If she hits me again, I¡¯m done. Fighting through the pain, Phoenix lunged and roared, channeling her frustration into a primal surge of energy. Skill Activated! Howl of the Alpha I (Legendary)! Alyssa¡¯s eyes widened, her entire body locking up mid-draw, caught off guard by the intensity of the skill. I¡¯m NOT going down like this, not again. Phoenix thought, propelling herself forward, desperate to close the gap. 3 paces to catch her. The skill began to falter. 2 paces; Alyssa began to draw her arm back again. 1 pace, and Phoenix jumped on top of her. She landed squarely on Alyssa¡¯s back, grabbing her bow and throwing it to the side. Straddling her, Phoenix unleashed her built-up fury and frustration, her vision going red with rage. She rained down blows on Alyssa¡¯s face, and blood began to fly with each devastating strike. Alyssa had no vitality to speak of, which made sense based on her archer class; she had never had to worry about getting hit¡ªuntil now. Phoenix felt a primal instinct take over, and in a moment of sheer desperation, she bit down on the soft part of Alyssa¡¯s neck, only releasing it when she felt a sickening crunch. Finally, she looked down, horrified at what she saw. Alyssa¡¯s face was black and blue, some of her teeth lay scattered in the sand beside her, and her shackle had fallen off, now a grim reminder of the fight for survival that had just transpired. Phoenix heard a faint chime as the notification appeared, but she ignored it as she stumbled back, sinking to her knees. Her whole body was numb, even the arrow sticking out of her shoulder was of little consequence. ¡°We have a winner!!!¡± The crowd was silent for a second before erupting into chaotic cheers. Those who had bet on the underdog celebrated wildly, their shouts filling the air with a sense of euphoria, while others cursed under their breath as they realized they had lost considerably betting on the established fighter. ¡°With a crude method of winning, Phoenix has taken down her first opponent in the Shadow Arena, winning herself another day! And with that, ladies and gentlemen, the fights of the night are closed¡ªcome back tomorrow for another round of epic battles!¡± Phoenix barely registered the announcer''s words as she was suddenly grabbed by someone, a guard walking her back to the exit. Bento¡¯s sickly grin entered her view, and she felt her stomach turn. ¡°Well, little girl, you have won me a lot of money tonight,¡± he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. ¡°I have to say I didn¡¯t think you had it in you. I believe this partnership will go very well.¡± Phoenix didn¡¯t have the brain space to even snap back at his use of ¡®partnership¡¯ to describe what was going on here. He started to walk away but seemed to think of something else, turning back to her with a calculating look. ¡°Get her the basic healing; can¡¯t have that shoulder stopping her from winning again.¡± He said to the guard holding her. She was shuttled to a tent just outside of the arena, but not even the thought of escape brought her out of her shock. The weight of her actions settled heavily on her shoulders, and she felt the adrenaline begin to fade, leaving behind a hollow ache. ¡°Hey doc, we got one here for you. Basic healing, left shoulder. Took an arrow to it.¡± ¡°Yes, I can see that, as it seems you were nice enough to leave it in,¡± came the response from a man who entered the tent from the other side. He had soft eyes and a kind face, a stark contrast to the brutality that surrounded them. ¡°Well, Phoenix, you had an eventful night,¡± he continued, his tone gentle. ¡°Can¡¯t tell you how lucky you are that the arrow wasn¡¯t a couple of inches to the right, or she would¡¯ve ended you right there. Let¡¯s see¡­¡± He continued to mumble to himself as he approached her, his hands glowing with a soft warmth as he examined her wound. She vaguely felt him pull out the arrow, the sensation sending a jolt of pain through her, but that was quickly followed by a soothing warmth that radiated from his hands into her shoulder. He kept talking to her, his voice a calming presence in the storm of her thoughts, but she couldn¡¯t muster a response, her mind still reeling. After the healer finished, she numbly followed the guard back to the cell. She walked in and sat down in the corner, her body feeling heavy and unresponsive. Becca looked at her with a pitying gaze, the understanding in her eyes only deepening Phoenix¡¯s sense of isolation. ¡°It¡¯ll get easier,¡± Becca said softly, her voice a quiet reassurance in the dim light of the cell. But Phoenix felt nothing but soul shattering pain. I don¡¯t want it to get easier. I¡¯m not a monster. She curled up in the corner, wrapping her arms around her knees, and closed her eyes. Exhaustion took hold, but as she drifted off to sleep, the images of the fight replayed in her mind¡ªAlyssa¡¯s face, the sound of bones breaking, the taste of blood. Tomorrow would come with new challenges, and she would have to fight again. Chapter 9 ¡°Breakfast!¡± The sound startled Phoenix awake and she opened her eyes to see Becca grabbing both their plates. To her surprise one of them had what looked like bread and some sort of egg on it. Becca handed that one to her. ¡°You get it for winning a fight the previous night, keeps you motivated to win.¡± She stated, and sat down to eat her kindly poured slop. Phoenix¡¯s stomach turned at the memory of the previous night, but survival took over and she scarfed her food down. An angry red light flashed at her so she opened her notifications. Alyssa (F) Essence 11 Defeated! Essence Col- Cannot collect essence ¡ª Prisoner¡¯s Culling in effect, successfully stored essence. ERROR Race Attribute in Effect +100%¡­ Prisoner¡¯s Culling cannot store¡­ ERroR¡­ Outside Forces Intervened¡­Overwritten Input Accepted Formulating¡­ Race Attribute overrules Prisoner¡¯s Culling. +100% Pure Essence Brawling Skill Learned! Faced with no choice, you fought and defeated an opponent in hand to hand combat. Good Job. Brawling I (Common) The system seemed to understand her mood, leaving the snarky comments out of the notification this time. What the hell is pure essence? The system responded to her inquiry. Pure Essence The truest form of essence and acquired through months of refining one''s inner and collected essence. Despite not fully understanding, Phoenix could feel the difference in the density of the essence she had just collected versus that of which she got from the monsters in the forest. It seemed, somehow, that the shackle had purified the essence for her before entering her body. I can get stronger. The realization washed over her and a spark of hope was ignited. She continued through her notifications. Howl of the Alpha Skill Leveled Up! By using your inner primal rage, you activated this skill at the perfect moment stopping your opponent from killing you. Howl of the Alpha I -> II (Legendary) Phoenix closed her notifications and found Becca staring at her. Knowing that she knew something was up, she hesitated to say anything. Becca shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to know, not yet. We could still be pit against each other in the arena and we can¡¯t know each other¡¯s secrets, not yet. However, if you have a chance to get stronger, use it. Get out of here, run and don¡¯t look back.¡± Phoenix agreed, and decided to ask a question that could increase her strength greatly. ¡°Do you know what a lot of the combat skills are called and what they look like when activated?¡± Becca looked at her like she was crazy, before seeming to remember that she grew up in a world where none of this existed. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fairly common knowledge. You have your main types of skills like ranged, hand to hand, healing, weapons, and elements. In each of these categories are a multitude of subsections. For example, in weapons you have knives, swords, clubs, spears, and more. Most of those have names like Spear Wielding, or Knife Wielding.¡± Phoenix thought back to her mimic skill and realized how overpowered it was. Finally, maybe something is going right. Light, if you can hear me I still want to punch you in the face, but maybe just slightly less so now. For the next couple of hours Phoenix listened to Becca describe as many skills as she could in detail and list off all the names she could remember. Finally getting annoyed, Becca called off their conversation right as dinner came sliding through the bars. They both wolfed their slop down and winded down for the night.
Two days later Bento came up to the bars along with another man she assumed was Hunter as Becca approached the bars as well. ¡°You¡¯re up against another Essence 11, this time a close combat brawler. They saw how well you did in close quarters and want to see if you can survive against a bigger guy. From what I¡¯ve heard this guy has quite a few close combat skills, be ready. Last fight.¡± Bento left immediately and Hunter followed close behind. Becca hit the bars with her fist and cursed. ¡°Essence fucking 30! That¡¯s 5 levels above me, and a fucking fire mage nonetheless.¡± Phoenix raised her eyebrows, she wasn¡¯t aware Becca was that high level. She saw the look and ran her hands through her hair. ¡°I¡¯m an Essence 25, Ice Mage.¡± Shit. That¡¯s a big problem. ¡°It¡¯s like he wants me to die. He¡¯s probably tired of me, not making as much as he used to on my fights because I¡¯ve been a consistent winner for so long. They can only ever have one fighter at a time to lessen the odds of cheating in the arena.¡± Phoenix sat back down contemplating what she said. ¡°You might have a weakness to fire, but he has one to water if the elements here are the same as back on my planet. You don¡¯t have to win using your specific element, if I recall common sense is, when ice heats up it evaporates and becomes water.¡± Becca only nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s how it works here too, however the issue is that my ice won¡¯t melt against fire, when cast from a mage any element can stand against another, the issue is outlasting the other mage. Every level above me means more endurance and stronger essence to cast spells with. So that results in problems with the power of the elements.¡± Becca was still mumbling to herself as the first Culled was led from the cell. ¡°Well, back home one of my closest friends always said, ¡®There¡¯s a weakness to everyone, sometimes you just gotta get up close to find it.¡¯ If you can¡¯t defeat him element wise or on a power level, maybe you can find some other way.¡± Becca nodded again, but remained silent taking her place in a corner of the cell. Phoenix took a seat as well musing over another issue she was facing. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. If I can become stronger, that¡¯s great, however, if I do, my level will reflect that if anyone can analyze me. Because I¡¯m wearing this stupid shackle, how will I ever going to hide the fact that I¡¯m leveling up? The question seemed like it had no answer. Becca was led out shortly after, being the second fight of the night, and Phoenix gave her a ¡°Good luck¡± before she disappeared from view. She was starting to like her and didn¡¯t want to see her killed. Over half an hour later the doors slammed open and Becca was dragged back into the cell. Phoenix rushed over to her. She was barely conscious, cuts riddled her body, and a long gash ran down her right shoulder. Dried and fresh blood alike mixed and caked the rest of her body. A flashback to the battlefield on Earth of her friends lying helpless while she couldn¡¯t get to them flashed in her mind. Phoenix shook her head trying to clear the image. She¡¯s alive and that¡¯s what matters. Light, if you can hear me I¡¯m really screwed here. Phoenix moved Becca away from the middle of the cell and propped her up against the corner. Without water she couldn¡¯t wash out any of her wounds, so she had to let them be. Phoenix could only think of what shape she would be in if Bento hadn¡¯t had her after her first fight. Two more Culled were led out while she waited, only one came back. I have to find a way out of here, and I¡¯m taking Becca with me, otherwise we¡¯ll both be killed, but first I have to get stronger. Phoenix walked between the guards and saw a familiar outline standing at the Arena entrance. Bento¡¯s smile never got less sickening but she steeled herself against him. ¡°Alright little girl, win this like you did a couple days ago and you can ask me for one thing, within reason, this can even include a weapon for your next fight. Unlike the others I know the value of my Culled and if you can¡¯t win, I don¡¯t make money.¡± Part of Phoenix wanted to spit in his face, but she refrained. The arena was the same, loud crowd and cheering. The arena master riled up the crowd but she tuned him out, focused on the opponent to the other side of the arena. He was big, at least 6 ft all, and lean muscle. He wasn¡¯t outfitted in rags like everyone else she had seen, he had some decent clothes on and it looked like he had bathed recently as well. Is this guy even here to fight for his life or for his enjoyment? The answer came soon enough from the arena master. ¡°In the left corner we have Rand, The Fist! He¡¯s here after he lost a bet to a senior officer! Can he win his honor back in tonight¡¯s fight? We will see!¡± Rand held up his wrist with his Prisoner¡¯s Culling like it was a medal, drawing cheers from the stands. ¡°And in the right we have Phoenix, a newcomer whose debut showed her viciousness and cunning in battle. Taking down her last opponent by getting past her defenses can she win again? Bets are now closed, Fighters please approach the middle!¡± She began to walk forward and assessed her opponent. He was big, yes, but that meant his agility was lacking. He was the complete opposite of Alyssa. ¡°The rules are simple, everything is legal. You may use whatever skills or abilities you have available to you. The fight ends when the other is dead. You will know because the shackle will be released from the other¡¯s wrist. May Shadow favor you! 3¡­2¡­1¡­FIGHT!¡± Rand jumped off his back leg and cleared the 10ft gap between the two in one stride. Phoenix¡¯s eyes widened as she saw his fist come down to meet her. She swiftly jumped to the side narrowly avoiding the meat pulverizer that this man called a hand. Gotta keep him occupied and use a skill. She turned and ran the opposite direction, leading him around the arena like Alyssa did her to her the previous fight. ¡°Come and fight me you coward!¡± He roared pursuing her, however each step he took, she got two ahead of him. Deciding to taunt him, she threw back, ¡°I¡¯ll fight as soon as you give me a reason to!¡± The words had barely left her mouth, and she saw a red haze gather around him. Berserker, increases strength, close combat, duration 10 to 30 seconds depending on level. She thought, assessing him. She did not want to get hit by him, he would kill her almost instantly. Berserker Skill Learned! You worked so hard for this skill, like so hard. You didn¡¯t cheat at all using your obviously not broken skill. Berserker I (Uncommon) She took the opportunity to let him get a little closer, hoping that his momentum would work in her favor. As Rand lunged forward again, Phoenix pivoted, using his own weight against him. She ducked under his arm, her heart racing as she felt the rush of air from his fist whoosh past her ear. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± she taunted, adrenaline coursing through her veins. The crowd roared, their energy feeding her resolve. Rand growled in frustration - he was used to finishing his fits in one hit - face contorted with rage, he turned to face her once more. With a quick glance at the arena''s edge, Phoenix spotted the shimmering outlines of the barriers surrounding them. The walls were high, and there was little chance of escape. If she was going to survive, she needed to end this quickly. She drew upon the skill she had just learned from Rand, feeling the power surge through her. ¡°Time to turn the tide,¡± she whispered to herself, recalling her Drill Sergeants advice about finding weaknesses. Rand was strong, but he was reckless, and that was her advantage. As he charged again, Phoenix channeled her inner power, and roared. Skill Activated! Howl of the Alpha I (Legendary)! Momentarily stunning Rand, he froze midstep. The crowd fell silent, caught off guard by the sudden shift in momentum. Now was her chance. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between them, aiming for the soft spot below his ribs. She struck with precision, her fist connecting hard enough to knock the wind from him. Rand stumbled back, shock written across his face. ¡°Come on, big guy! Show me what you¡¯ve got!¡± She danced back, taunting him further, and he howled, charging again, desperation fueling his rage. As he lunged, Phoenix sidestepped him, this time activating Brawling to deliver a swift knee to his gut. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground. She could see the struggle in his eyes as he tried to regain his footing, but she wasn¡¯t about to give him the chance. Blows rained over his body, each one hitting a soft mark, Brawling helping her identify each one. Solemnly she stood atop his now broken body, tuning out the crowd who had now erupted in cheers, the noise swelling around her. The primal instinct inside her took over, fangs bared and she sunk them deep in his throat. Like Alyssa before him, she felt the life drain from him in the form of a flowing river underneath her fangs. The arena fell silent and Phoenix released his neck as soon as she heard his Prisoner¡¯s Culling unlock from around his wrist and thump faintly to the ground. The reality of her victory washed over her, and the unsettling feeling of taking yet another life so she could live rose up again. At least back home she could justify the ending of a life in the Army. The shackle around her wrist pulsed ominously, and she could feel the weight of the eyes upon her as the arena master approached with a gleeful expression. The crowd began to chant her name, but Phoenix felt no glory, all she wanted was to find a way to save Becca and herself. She turned, ready to face whatever came next, but deep down, she knew she had only just begun to uncover the true depths of her power. ¡°Well, congrats little girl, you¡¯ve proven yourself again.¡± Bento grinned and rubbed his grimy hands together. ¡°I¡¯m a man of my word, what would you ask of me?¡± Phoenix hesitated, knowing she had to do for her own safety, and what she had to do for her friend. ¡°Healing for Becca, my cellmate.¡± She said after a few more seconds of deliberation. Her heart and her loyalty ran strong, and some part of her knew she had to save Becca. Something of surprise crossed Bento¡¯s face, but he nodded. ¡°I can do that, but this means for the next fight you will be without a weapon or any means of defense, which means I will lose a lot if you die.¡± He replied. That¡¯s my opportunity. I have to tread carefully with this. She let out a breath and began her proposal. ¡°Then here¡¯s my other ask, though I know you said only one. After every two fights take off my bracer and allow me to collect the essence so I can get stronger and continue to make you money. I¡¯ve tried to analyze you, I know you¡¯re more powerful than a measly few levels. You can even do it while I¡¯m in my cell so I can¡¯t try anything.¡± Phoenix held her breath while Bento considered the offer. She was trying to appeal to his greed and need to win, she knew her captor well enough even in the couple days she had known him. A skill she had gained in the Army. Always know your opponent, especially if you are a prisoner of war, they will eventually let something slip that you can use against them or to your advantage. ¡°I will think about that, but you will have your first ask. I will speak with Hunter now. Escort her back to her cell.¡± He nodded at the guard by the healing tent and Phoenix was grabbed by the arm. He pulled her along as she tried to see anything outside that could help her, but the streets were still crowded and it was impossible to see past them. Phoenix was shoved back into her cell, and went straight to Becca. Feeling for a pulse, She let out a breath of relief as she found one, and Becca let out shallow breaths. She was still covered in blood, and it was clear she hadn¡¯t woken since Phoenix had left. A couple minutes later a healer appeared tailed by two guards. ¡°Over in the corner, and don¡¯t try anything or your friend won¡¯t be helped. Do you hear me?¡± One of the guards said banging on the bars. She glared at him. ¡°It¡¯s hard not to hear you, I¡¯m not fucking deaf you idiot.¡± Phoenix shot back, while moving to the other corner of the cell. He went to retort but the other stopped him. As the door opened, the one who hadn¡¯t said anything grabbed me and held me in place as the healer entered after. A couple minutes later all of Becca¡¯s cuts had been closed, and Phoenix could tell she was breathing better too. ¡°She should wake up in a few minutes.¡± Was all the healer said before he turned and walked out leaving the guards behind. Phoenix was shoved to the back of the cell, and the door was slammed shut behind her. Phoenix sat by Becca and waited for her to wake. Chapter 10 In the Arena, time morphed into an endless cycle of battles, recovery, and resilience. Days blended seamlessly into weeks, and weeks into months, as Phoenix acclimated to her harsh new existence, forced to fight relentlessly for her life in the treacherous arena while the oppressive shackles stifled her growth. The cold metal binding her wrist served as a constant reminder of her status as a Culled, yet it ignited a fierce determination within her to become stronger. Phoenix did not fight solely for her own survival but also for Becca, who had transformed into her ally and confidante during their harrowing time in the dungeon. After the healer¡¯s visit, Becca gradually regained her strength, and together they strategized, exchanging vital knowledge about the System and its myriad mechanics. With each passing day, their bond deepened, forged in the fires of shared suffering and an unwavering resolve to endure. The arena evolved into a brutal stage where Phoenix sharpened her skills. She faced a diverse array of opponents: seasoned fighters, powerful mages, and even fearsome creatures that lurked in the depths of the Shadow Woods. Each encounter tested her spirit, pushing her limits and compelling her to adapt to the relentless challenges. Despite the shackles that prevented her from collecting essence, she managed to learn new skills and refine her instincts through sheer determination. Under the table level gains were also made with Bento taking off her bracer once a week. Over the course of four months, Phoenix fought in the arena nearly every day, achieving victory after victory. The crowd began to recognize her as a formidable contender, her reputation spreading like wildfire throughout Volska. With each triumph, she felt the weight of her actions pressing upon her, but she channeled that energy into honing her abilities even further. Whispers of her prowess reached the ears of the powerful, drawing both admiration and scrutiny. Becca had become a close friend and an infinite source of wisdom on the new planet she had been dropped on. Days were spent talking about a plethora of topics ranging from the history of the planet to the best way to win and take down new opponents. Since being trapped, Phoenix had noticed a change in Becca, a new light beginning to burn in her eyes. She was no longer the broken girl Phoenix had seen when she was thrown into the cell - Becca¡¯s eyes shined brighter, a new fire lit within. Phoenix¡¯s days became a blur of combat and recovery. One fateful evening, after a particularly grueling battle against a fire mage, Phoenix found herself back in her cell, exhausted yet exhilarated. She sat beside Becca, who had just completed her own fight that day. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll ever break free from this place?¡± Becca asked, her voice barely a whisper, laced with uncertainty. ¡°I have to believe that we will,¡± Phoenix responded, determination threading through her words. ¡° I¡¯m at Essence 19 now, and I can feel the density of the pure essence building, maybe when I can catch up to you, we might stand a chance.¡± She had leveled Howl of the Alpha to IV using it to stun her opponents at critical moments, and her Brawling and Stealth skills advanced to IV and V respectively, enabling her to move with silence and strike with deadly precision. She had found a bottleneck at level V on the Stealth skill, no matter how much she used it, it refused to level. Becca didn¡¯t have any answers to why it wouldn¡¯t level either. The System¡¯s snide comments had slowly faded away, now just leveling her skills as what she considered normal. Part of her missed them, but the new hardened part of her could care less. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. She had, however, refrained from adding anymore skills to her repertoire. She was still learning the finer nuances of having skills muchless using and learning them in the heat of the battle. While she had gotten quiet adept in the last four months, she also didn¡¯t want to have too many to hone while her life was on the line. She pulled up her stat sheet. Phoenix Chimera (F) Essence 11 -> 19 Core: N/A Vitality: 18 -> 23 Strength: 14 - > 19 Dexterity: 10 -> 14 Agility: 10 -> 14 Endurance: 5 -> 11 Wisdom: 4 -> 6 Perception: 1 -> 6 Willpower: 0.5 -> 2.5 Skills Stealth IV (Common) -> Stealth V (Common) Climbing III (Common) Analyze I (Common) Bludgeoning III (Common) Spear Wielding III (Common) Short Knives II (Uncommon) Berserker I (Uncommon) -> Beserker IV (Uncommon) Brawling I (Common) -> Brawling IV (Common) Hand to Hand Combat II (Common) Mimic I (Ancient) Howl of the Alpha IV (Legendary) Passive Skills Poison Resistance I (Uncommon, Passive) Night Vision I (Common, Passive) Enhanced Hearing I (Common, Passive) The toll of the arena weighed heavily on her psyche. Night after night, she lay awake, haunted by the faces of those she had defeated. Each death was a stark reminder of the brutal reality they were entangled in. How many lives would she have to extinguish before she could secure her own safety? As the fourth month drew to a close, Bento pulled Phoenix aside one evening before she could be brought back to her cell, following her latest victory. ¡°You¡¯ve proven yourself time and again, and I believe it¡¯s time we delve deeper into your potential,¡± he said, a glimmer of intrigue dancing in his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s talk of placing you in higher-stakes matches, in an arena even bigger than this. You could be quite the asset.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡± Phoenix replied, her tone steady and unwavering. She had learned to navigate this treacherous game, extracting value from Bento whenever possible. Bento leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. ¡°I am willing to convince Hunter to not only let me bring Becca along, but if you do well in the tournament I will buy her from him. I see her potential, it¡¯s going to waste under him¡­Just continue your winning streak. Prove your worth, and I¡¯ll see what can be arranged. But if you falter¡­ Well, let¡¯s just say the consequences would be severe.¡± ¡°Why would you offer such a thing? You don¡¯t care about anything but yourself.¡± All Phoenix wanted to do was spit in his face, but she had played it that way before, and all it ended was with her being tied to a post and lashed as an example. ¡°She would make me even more money with the way she fights and wins, and let¡¯s also say, if you lose, Becca won¡¯t make it to sunrise the next day either. Both your lives are solely in your hands, and I find desperation to be the best motivator.¡± The weight of his words settled heavily in her stomach. The stakes were rising, and the pressure was mounting. The arena had transformed yet again, and she was ensnared in its vicious cycle. Fuck me, how do I always end up in these situations? After returning to her cell, she turned to Becca, who was regarding her with concern. ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°He¡¯s taking me to a bigger arena in another city, you¡¯re coming with us,¡± Phoenix replied, the gravity of the situation heavy on her shoulders. ¡°If I can win, he¡¯ll buy you from Hunter.¡± Chapter 11 The morning sun struggled to break through the heavy clouds that hung over the Shadow Kingdom, casting a gloomy pall over the landscape as Phoenix and Becca were led from the dungeon to the outskirts of Volska. The iron gates of the arena creaked open, revealing a dreary path flanked by twisted trees and the remnants of a forgotten world. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, a fitting prelude to the dark morning. Two horses were saddled and tied to a post just outside the gates¡ªanother tied just behind them, two heavy saddle bags draped over its sides. The bags bulged, their contents shifting with the movement of the horses, hinting at their value. As they made their way to the horses, a new figure emerged from the shadows¡ªa boy, roughly 17, with a hardened gaze and a confident stride. He wore tattered clothes like those of the girls, and Phoenix noted the Prisoner¡¯s Culling which graced his wrist as well. Kellen (F) Essence: 29 ¡°What do we have here?¡± He sneered, eyeing Phoenix and Becca with disdain. ¡°Two weaklings fresh from the arena? You think you can survive in Noxhaven? You¡¯ll be dead within days.¡± His tone dripped with arrogance, as if he thrived on belittling others. Phoenix raised her eyebrows and shot a glance at Becca. ¡°And what makes you think you¡¯re any better? You¡¯re in chains just like us.¡± Capricious dick, Phoenix thought, her irritation flaring. Kellen¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he merely smirked, the corners of his mouth twisting in mockery. ¡°Weakness breeds weakness. You two are just waiting to be devoured. Noxhaven isn¡¯t kind to the feeble.¡± His words hung in the air like a death sentence, and Phoenix felt a flicker of anger ignite within her. Becca had had enough and crossed her arms defiantly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be calling us weak and feeble when it¡¯s clear your ego is bigger than an S-rank and you¡¯ve got none of the standing to back yourself.¡± Her voice was firm, laced with the strength she had cultivated during her time in the arena. Suddenly, another figure emerged from the shadows¡ªa woman with an air of authority and a fierce presence. Her raven-black hair flowed like silk, and her piercing green eyes seemed to see through the facades of those around her. Lyra (F) Essence: ?? ¡°Enough, Kellen. You will keep your goddamn mouth shut. You are a Culled, and your bravado holds no weight here,¡± she asserted, her voice resonating with authority. Kellen flinched momentarily under her piercing gaze but quickly masked his unease with a veneer of confidence. ¡°You will do well to remember why you are here as a Culled and not as an equal.¡± That comment seemed to dim the spark of defiance Kellen had held before. She turned to Bento and extended a hand, her demeanor shifting as respect flowed between them. And equal? I wonder what that¡¯s all about. A glance at Becca showed she was thinking the same thing. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you, Bento. You are well known for your ambition and cruelty; let¡¯s hope this Culled makes it further than the last,¡± they shook hands, her grip firm. ¡°Though knowing your reputation, I doubt you¡¯d accept another failure.¡± Bento¡¯s eyes hardened, his expression a mask of determination. ¡°No, I will not, and this one knows that. I¡¯m glad you chose to travel with us, Lyra; your reputation also precedes you. I can¡¯t wait to see if what I¡¯ve heard stands true with you.¡± His tone was both a compliment and a challenge, the air between them thick with unspoken rivalry. Bento and Lyra mounted their horses, preparing to set off. The atmosphere shifted again, becoming tense as Kellen walked alongside Phoenix and Becca, his earlier defiance replaced by a simmering resentment. The three of them trudged along the dirt path, the sound of hooves clattering against the ground forming a stark contrast to the oppressive silence that surrounded them. Bento and Lyra rode ahead, their conversation a low murmur, far enough away that Phoenix¡¯s Enhanced Hearing couldn¡¯t pick it up. Bento¡¯s confidence radiated, while Lyra appeared cold and calculating, her gaze fixed ahead, assessing the landscape with a hawk-like precision. Phoenix and Becca exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a mix of determination and wariness. ¡°What do you think of them?¡± Becca asked quietly, nodding toward Lyra and Kellen. ¡°Kellen seems like trouble, but I sense something deeper in Lyra,¡± Phoenix replied, her eyes narrowing as she observed the pair. ¡°She¡¯s powerful; my Analyze got question marks, but she¡¯s calculating, not as overbearing as Bento is. He¡¯s outward with his confidence; Lyra poises herself with hers.¡± Becca nodded in response, agreeing with her friend, both aware that they were navigating a treacherous landscape filled with unknown dangers.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. As they continued down the path, the landscape began to shift. The twisted trees receded, giving way to a rocky terrain littered with debris and remnants of a long-forgotten civilization. Jagged stones jutted from the earth, and the remnants of crumbling walls hinted at a once-thriving settlement now lost to time. A chill swept through the air, as if the very ground beneath their feet mourned the past. An unsettling silence enveloped the group, broken only by the distant caw of crows circling overhead, their cries echoing like harbingers of doom. The atmosphere thickened, heavy with an unspoken tension. Bento played with the hilt of his sword, eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting danger to emerge at any moment. ¡°Everyone be on your toes; we¡¯ve entered the outskirts of The Grove of Sorrows. Stick close,¡± he commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them. His gaze fell on Phoenix. ¡°Can¡¯t have my prize dying before she even gets to Noxhaven.¡± The possessiveness in his tone sent a chill down her spine, but she kept her expression neutral, hiding her discomfort. As he said those words, a low growl reverberated through the air, sending a shiver down their spines. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the oppressive silence shattered like glass. Kellen¡¯s step faltered as he turned wide-eyed toward the source of the sound. ¡°What was that?¡± he whispered, his earlier arrogance slipping away, replaced by fear. The bravado that had once defined him faded as the reality of their situation set in. Fuck, that sounded big. Before anyone could respond, a massive figure emerged from the shadows of the ruins¡ªa grotesque beast with twisted limbs and glowing red eyes, its body covered in matted fur and scars. Its razor-sharp teeth glistened menacingly in the dim light, and a low snarl escaped its throat, reverberating through the air. The creature stood poised to attack, its hulking form blocking the path ahead. ShadowStalker (F) Essence: ?? Bento tightened his grip on the reins and drew his sword, his face a mask of determination. ¡°Stay close,¡± he commanded, though they were already huddled as tight as they could be. His voice remained steady despite the chaos unfolding around them, a testament to his experience. ¡°Culled behind us, Lyra?¡± He looked to his side, and she gave him a brief nod, her expression unreadable. As the monster lunged forward, the group braced themselves for the impending confrontation. The creature¡¯s growl was deafening, a primal sound that echoed through the Grove of Sorrows. Dust and debris flew into the air as it charged, its eyes locked onto the group with a hunger that sent adrenaline coursing through Phoenix¡¯s veins. ¡°You three, form a line together,¡± Bento shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. ¡°Be ready to fight!¡± Phoenix felt her heart racing as she positioned herself beside Becca, their backs pressed together. She could feel the warmth of Becca¡¯s body against hers, a reassuring presence amid the impending danger. Kellen, surprisingly, stood ready too, his own fear momentarily suppressed by the instinct to survive. How the fuck do I always find myself in these situations? Lyra dismounted with a fluid grace, her movements precise and purposeful. ¡°We can¡¯t let it flank us,¡± she said, her voice calm and collected. ¡°Focus your fire on its eyes and throat; those are its weak points.¡± Phoenix nodded to herself, this was no different than the arena; a fight for her life. This was survival against a creature driven by instinct and hunger, something she knew all too well. She scanned the area, looking for any advantage they might have, but not knowing anything about the ShadowStalker, she came up empty. Her weapons she had won for the arena were stored in a lockbox by Bento. The ShadowStalker lunged again, its claws swiping through the air, but Bento was ready. He sidestepped the attack, slashing his sword at the creature¡¯s flank. The blade met flesh, and a howl of pain erupted from the beast as it staggered back. The creature turned its attention to Lyra, eyes blazing with fury. Phoenix seized the moment, darting forward, her instincts kicking in as she prepared to strike. She glanced at Becca, who was readying herself as well. ¡°Now!¡± Phoenix shouted, and they charged together, flanking the beast. Together, they attacked. Phoenix aimed for the creature¡¯s eyes, her fist crashing against its skull with a satisfying thud. Skill Actiavted! Brawling IV (Uncommon) Becca followed suit, a well aimed kick to the back of its leg. The ShadowStalker roared in annoyance, swinging its massive claws wildly, but they stayed agile, dodging and weaving as they landed blow after blow. Kellen finally joined the fray, throwing stones and debris at the creature, his earlier bravado replaced by a newfound resolve. ¡°Get its attention over here, you two!¡± he called, his voice steady despite the chaos. Skill Actiavted! Berserker I (Uncommon) With a coordinated effort, they began to wear the beast down, each strike chipping away. Both Bento and Lyra had stopped to watch, seeing that the three might have it handled. The ShadowStalker fought back, but the combined might of the three young fighters was too much. Phoenix saw an opening as the ShadowStalker stumbled again. Skill Activated! Howl of the Alpha IV (Legendary) ¡°Now!¡± he shouted, and with a fierce battle cry, he lunged forward, a jagged rock raised high. The rock plunged deep into the creature¡¯s eye. It let out a horrible scream before finally shuddering to a stop. ShadowStalker Defeated! Essence Collected. Race Attribute overrules Prisoner¡¯s Culling. +100% Pure Essence The ShadowStalker fell to the ground, its body hitting the earth with a heavy thud, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. Breathing heavily, Phoenix stood amidst the chaos, her heart pounding in her chest as the adrenaline slowly faded. As Phoenix caught her breath, she glanced around at her companions. Becca looked equally stunned but proud, while Kellen¡¯s expression had shifted from one of arrogance to surprise. Even Lyra appeared impressed, a flicker of respect in her eyes as she surveyed the fallen beast. ¡°Not bad for a bunch of Culled,¡± Lyra muttered, begrudgingly acknowledging their victory. Bento sheathed his sword, a satisfied grin on his face. ¡°This is just the beginning. If you can handle a ShadowStalker, you might just survive in Noxhaven after all.¡± His tone was gruff, but the underlying tone of greed still glinted through. Lyra stepped closer, her expression serious. ¡°We need to keep moving. There are more dangers lurking in these woods, and we can¡¯t afford to be caught off guard again.¡± Chapter 12 A couple of hours later, Bento slowed his horse and called the group to a stop.\ ¡°Finally,¡± Kellen huffed, wiping the sweat from his brow. ¡°We¡¯ve been walking for hours. You know, if you wanted us to get there faster, you could¡¯ve gotten us horses too.¡± Lyra shot him a fierce glare, her patience clearly wearing thin. ¡°You have only yourself to blame for this. I don¡¯t see the others complaining,¡± she retorted, crossing her arms. In reality, both Phoenix and Becca were just as exhausted, but they knew from experience that expressing dissatisfaction would not be taken lightly; voicing their feelings would only invite Bento¡¯s wrath. Becca stepped forward to secure the head of her horse while Bento dismounted, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings. The air was thick with the earthy scent of damp soil and the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. ¡°This is a common stop along the path in The Grove of Sorrows,¡± he said, pointing at several intentionally placed stones encircling the camp. ¡°We will be safe here. Those are warding stones; they keep any and all monsters away. However, they do not protect against bandits.¡± The group nodded, taking in the surroundings. Becca felt a strange mix of relief and unease settle over her. This place was eerily quiet, and the trees loomed like silent sentinels, their shadows stretching long in the fading light. Bento directed Becca to get a fire started while Phoenix untacked the horses. Kellen stood nearby, arms crossed, as if overseeing the two without lifting a finger to help. Meanwhile, Lyra had disappeared into the woods surrounding them, only to return half an hour later with two fair-sized creatures that resembled badgers with inky black fur. NightHide Essence 25 Lyra prepared the creatures quickly, her movements efficient and practiced. She expertly skinned and cleaned them, while Becca and Phoenix shared glances, both fascinated and a bit repulsed by the process. An hour later, she had a hearty stew brewing over the fire, the aroma wafting through the air and mingling with the scent of damp earth and smoke. Phoenix and Becca sat away from the fire, eating the small portions afforded to them, while Kellen, still distanced from the warmth, occasionally attempted to interject into Bento¡¯s and Lyra¡¯s conversations, his eagerness met mostly with indifference. ¡°I wonder what his deal is,¡± Becca said, finally breaking the silence between the two friends. Phoenix shrugged, the flickering firelight casting shadows on her face. ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t really care. He¡¯s a jerk and a fool. The only people I¡¯m focused on are you and me.¡± Becca nodded reluctantly, her expression thoughtful. Just then, Bento stood, his silhouette stark against the glow of the fire. ¡°Becca and Phoenix, you¡¯re on first shift. You¡¯ll stand guard until the moon has risen just past that ridge,¡± he commanded, gesturing to the east of the camp, where the first hints of twilight were beginning to fade. ¡°Kellen, you¡¯re on the second shift,¡± he continued, gesturing to a high point above them. ¡°Lyra and I will take the last shift.¡± The other three grabbed their sleeping rolls and bedded down for the night, leaving the two friends in silence. As the camp settled, the soft sound of snores began to drift from their direction, mingling with the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of night creatures.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Tell me another story about your life growing up in that other world,¡± Becca said, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a strong urge to connect with Phoenix, to share their experiences as they faced the unknown together. Phoenix leaned back against a tree, the bark rough against her skin. ¡°Not much more to tell, really. But how about you? You never did tell me how you ended up in the Arena. I know you¡¯ve avoided talking about it, and I understand if you don¡¯t want to now.¡± Becca took a deep breath, her eyes turning distant as memories flooded back. ¡°No, I think it¡¯s time. I grew up in a small village near the edge of the Shadow Kingdom, but we technically belonged to a neighboring kingdom called Aetheria. It was a hard life, but it was all I knew. My parents were farmers, and I helped them tend to the crops and livestock.¡± ¡°What was it like?¡± Phoenix asked, genuinely curious, as she leaned in closer. Becca smiled faintly, her expression wistful. ¡°It was a simple life, but we found joy in the little things. I remember the warmth of the sun on my back as I helped plant seeds, the laughter of my friends as we played by the river. We would catch fish and race each other along the banks, our voices echoing in the air. But there was always a shadow hanging over us. We lived in fear of the monsters that roamed too close, and the stories of the Arena were whispered among us like cautionary tales because of how close we were to the Shadow Kingdom.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Phoenix pressed, sensing the weight of Becca¡¯s words. She leaned closer, her heart racing with anticipation. ¡°One day, we were harvesting in the fields when a group of bandits attacked. They came out of nowhere, dark shapes moving through the trees like smoke. They weren¡¯t supposed to cross the border, but we were such a small town and didn¡¯t have enough high Essence individuals to protect us. My parents tried to protect me, but¡­¡± Becca¡¯s voice faltered, and she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ¡°They didn¡¯t make it. Few in the village survived. Hunter was part of that group who raided us, and he saw my potential, I guess. I, along with a few others, were taken by them and placed in the Arena. From what I know, I¡¯m the last of my village alive.¡± Phoenix felt her heart ache for her friend. ¡°Becca, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Becca shook her head, a determined glint in her eye. ¡°I have to keep moving forward. I learned how to survive on my own, how to fend for myself. The Arena taught me the skills I needed to fight. Before you came along, I had no hope, but you¡¯ve given me a spark. I watched you from day one try to fight back. I know in recent months that fight has dimmed, but I hope it never goes out. You and I both have to make it out someday.¡± Phoenix knew that her own fight had wavered in the last few months, but the words Becca had just spoken seemed to flip a switch inside her. ¡°You¡¯re stronger than you think, Becca. We both are. We¡¯ll figure this out together.¡± As they exchanged quiet reassurances, the moon began to rise, casting an ethereal glow across the Grove of Sorrows. Shadows danced around them, and the air grew thick with anticipation, charged with the energy of the unknown. A sudden rustling in the underbrush broke the calm of their conversation. Phoenix''s heart raced as she turned her gaze toward the source of the noise. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. Becca nodded, her eyes wide with fear. ¡°What was it?¡± Before Phoenix could respond, a figure emerged from the darkness¡ªa tall silhouette with piercing eyes. The creature stepped into the moonlight, revealing itself to be a dark, humanoid figure cloaked in shadows, its features obscured. ¡°Who goes there?¡± Phoenix called out, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. She felt a mix of dread and determination wash over her. The figure paused, tilting its head as if assessing them. ¡°You are trespassing in The Grove of Sorrows,¡± it said, its voice low and haunting. ¡°You should not be here.¡± Phoenix and Becca exchanged worried glances, their previous conversations suddenly feeling trivial in the face of this new threat. ¡°What do we do?¡± Becca whispered, panic creeping into her voice. ¡°Stay calm,¡± Phoenix replied, her mind racing as she tried to figure out their next move. They were outnumbered and outmatched, but they had to stand their ground. The figure chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed through the grove. ¡°I¡¯d love to see you try.¡± The darkness seemed to ripple around it, a palpable aura of menace that pressed in on them. As they braced for confrontation, the tension in the air thickened. Whatever this creature was, it was no ordinary threat; it was a harbinger of danger. Phoenix felt the weight of the moment settle over them, her heart racing as she prepared to face the unknown. Fuck, fuck, fuck, this is a situation I REALLY don¡¯t want to be in. The wind picked up, rustling the leaves and sending a chill down her spine. Phoenix glanced at Becca, who was standing tall beside her, determination etched on her face. They would confront whatever was lurking in the darkness together, united in their fight for survival. ¡°Ready?¡± Phoenix whispered, her voice steadying. Becca nodded, her eyes fierce with resolve. ¡°Always.¡± With that, they stood their ground, ready to face the shadows that threatened to engulf them. Chapter 13 ?? ??? ¡°Shit, my Analyze won¡¯t touch this creature.¡± Phoenix cursed under her breath, frustration bubbling up inside her. She glanced at Becca, hoping her friend could get a reading. But when Becca gave a brief shake of her head, Phoenix¡¯s stomach dropped. They were both equally powerless in the face of this unknown entity. The creature drifted forward slowly, its black cloak billowing out behind it like smoke. Phoenix couldn¡¯t help the shiver that ran down her spine. Is this some kind of Death Eater? The thought flashed through her mind, but the creature¡¯s presence was unlike anything she¡¯d faced before¡ªmore primal, more ancient. It stopped right outside the warding stones, just beyond the threshold that should have kept it at bay. The air around it seemed to shift, thickening with an oppressive weight. It locked eyes with Phoenix, its gaze piercing and unsettling. Phoenix broke from its stare, a cold sweat gathering at the back of her neck. She looked around. No one in the camp had stirred, not even a slight movement from Bento or Lyra. Despite the sheer terror hanging in the air, the rest of their group remained blissfully unaware of the danger. The creature seemed to follow her gaze, as though reading her thoughts. Its lips parted in a cruel smile, or perhaps it was just a grimace. ¡°They will not wake. Not until I¡¯ve had my fun with you,¡± it rasped. Phoenix and Becca exchanged a glance, both of them locking hands in a moment of shared fear. The creature tilted its head, its gaze narrowing. ¡°Tell me, why do you put up with these masters? Why do you let them torture you?¡± The question hung in the air, heavy with venom. Phoenix¡¯s pulse quickened, but she forced her voice to remain steady. ¡°Who are you?¡± she demanded, stepping forward, her body tensed. She instinctively reached for a weapon that wasn¡¯t there¡ªthe bone-handled knife she¡¯d won in the arena, locked away in Bento¡¯s chest. All she had were her fists, and the instincts honed from months of brutal survival. The creature¡¯s eyes glowed faintly, its form barely discernible in the shifting darkness. It tilted its head again, an eerie gesture that made Phoenix¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°Names are for those who still believe they control their fate,¡± it said with a low, guttural voice. ¡°You do not have the luxury of names here. You are trespassers. No different than the others who have fallen to the shadows.¡± Phoenix¡¯s mind raced. Fallen to the shadows? She could feel her heart pounding in her ears as she processed the creature¡¯s words. Who else had come here? And how many hadn¡¯t made it out? She steeled herself. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving without answers,¡± Phoenix snapped, her tone harder now, frustration bubbling to the surface. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell us what this place really is? Why does it matter who we are or what we want?¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The creature paused, as though considering her words. Phoenix felt its gaze like an invisible weight pressing on her chest. It knows something, she realized, but what? ¡°You want answers?¡± The creature¡¯s voice shifted, softer, but the menace beneath its words was unmistakable. ¡°The Grove is the resting place for many. Those who wander here are lost to the world they once knew. Some call it a graveyard. Others call it a sanctuary. But none who come here ever leave the same. Those who survive must confront the shadow within themselves before the Grove will allow them to pass.¡± Phoenix''s brow furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re saying we have to face¡­ what exactly? Ourselves?¡± Her voice wavered slightly despite her best effort to sound firm. The creature¡¯s laugh was low and chilling, reverberating through the stillness of the Grove. ¡°The Grove of Sorrows doesn¡¯t give answers easily. It doesn¡¯t grant you gifts for your ¡®bravery,¡¯ and it doesn¡¯t soften your fate for your ¡®virtue.¡¯ Here, all are equal. Weakness is revealed. Strength is earned.¡± Becca¡¯s eyes sharpened, her stance unwavering. She stepped forward, her voice steady but commanding. ¡°We¡¯re not here to play games with you,¡± she said. ¡°If you won¡¯t tell us what you¡¯re doing here, why you¡¯ve put our companions to sleep, then we will make you.¡± The creature¡¯s lips curled into a grotesque half-snarl. Its form rippled again, dark tendrils emerging like smoke from its body. It raised one long, shadowy finger and pointed toward Becca. ¡°You do not command the shadows, little one. You will learn the truth soon enough¡ªwhen it is too late to matter.¡± It turned its gaze back to Phoenix. ¡°You cannot replace her with this one.¡± It hissed, pointing at Becca while staring straight through Phoenix, the words thick with contempt. It turned again, its focus solely on Becca now. ¡°And you cannot heal yourself from brokenness you broke yourself.¡± Phoenix¡¯s blood ran cold. The creature¡¯s words hit too close to home, stirring up something deep inside her¡ªa past she¡¯d worked hard to bury. She had no time to dwell on it. The creature was lunging forward, its form elongating with a fluid, unnatural speed. It ignored the warding stones as if they were nothing but illusions, its body swarming like smoke through the air. Becca reacted faster than Phoenix expected, slamming her body into Phoenix¡¯s and pushing her backward just in time. Phoenix stumbled, barely catching her balance as the creature¡¯s claws swiped through the space where they had been standing. The force of its strike sent a shockwave through the air, rattling the earth beneath their feet. Becca grimaced, her fists tightening. ¡°We need to move. Now!¡± The creature hissed, its form shifting again, dark tendrils lashing out from it like whips, ripping through the air. ¡°You cannot escape what you are. You¡¯ve already begun to fail, and soon, even the shadows will be more than you can bear.¡± Phoenix¡¯s pulse hammered in her throat. Fail? The creature¡¯s cryptic words didn¡¯t make sense, but she couldn¡¯t let them distract her. It was closing in fast. Phoenix¡¯s hands clenched into fists, adrenaline flooding her system. She couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate. With a surge of movement, Phoenix sprang into action, charging toward the creature. It was fast¡ªtoo fast¡ªbut Phoenix¡¯s instincts kicked in. She dodged its first strike, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp claws, and grabbed a branch from the ground, swinging it at the creature¡¯s face. The creature hissed, momentarily recoiling, but it quickly reformed, its dark aura growing stronger, pushing Phoenix back. Becca moved in from the side, using her momentum to strike at the creature¡¯s exposed flank. She hit with precision, but the blow barely seemed to faze it. Phoenix could see the creature¡¯s glowing eyes narrowing, its form rippling with dark energy. ¡°We can¡¯t keep this up forever,¡± Phoenix gritted out through clenched teeth, her body beginning to tire. The creature was relentless, and without her weapons or the ability to Analyze, she was running on nothing but raw instinct. The creature¡¯s smile twisted. ¡°No, little one. The shadows will always find you.¡± With that, the creature¡¯s form blurred, disappearing into the night like smoke, leaving only an echo of its voice hanging in the air. The shadows will always find you. Phoenix stood frozen for a moment, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Becca was beside her, just as winded, but her eyes were sharp, focused. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± Becca asked, her voice low and tense. Phoenix shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But whatever it was, we haven¡¯t seen the last of it.¡± The wind began to pick up, rustling the leaves around them, and the sense of dread lingered, heavy and unshakable.