Ed jerked awake, blinking rapidly as his surroundings came into focus. He was still at the end of the last tutorial scene, the defeated wyvern smoldering nearby, and the silence of the maze pressing down on him. For a moment, his hand tightened instinctively around his cudgel, half-expecting another creature to emerge. But when nothing stirred, he let out a deep sigh of relief. He must have fallen asleep between one eye blink and the next—an exhausted collapse he couldn't even remember after hours of fighting and riddles.

A notification blinked across his vision, signaling the end of the quest.

Quest Completed: Path of the Verdant Veil

Goal: Successfully navigate to the heart of the maze with minimal wrong turns.

Rewards:

Gold x 16

Experience

x 17,200

Lucky Charm x 1

Relief flooded him as he read it, the realization sinking in that he'd finally conquered the maze. He'd faced riddles, goblins, a snow bear, and even a fire wyvern, but it was over now. His hands ached, his body was bruised, and his wounds throbbed, but he had made it through.

What was a charm? He selected it from his inventory and he got a brief if somewhat snarky—again—response.

New Item: Lucky Charm (Unique)

Description: "Congratulations, Midgardian! You've survived goblins, a snow bear, a flaming lizard, and, somehow, your own questionable decisions. As a reward, enjoy this Lucky Charm—it's not like you'll need it, right? Just a little trinket to help nudge Fate in your favor next time you're faced with, say, another life-or-death decision. Hold it close and maybe, just maybe, it'll keep you from choosing 'Darkness' again. You twat."

Additional Benefits:

+2 Luck

Note: To attach a charm simply press it again a garment and select 'Attach' from the menu.

Pressing the charm—a four leaf clover—against his clothes, he attached the item.

The screen prompted him again with a final message.

Teleportation to the Next Realm Available. Accept? Yes/Yes

Is a yes/no prompt giving me snark now, too? Wait. Am I that annoying when I'm being snarky, too?

System Message:

Your base stats have changed!

+3 Intelligence

You have got to be kidding me. The System recognized me acknowledging that as worthy of stat increases. That hurts System. It really hurts. Ed could only shake his head at the abuse by the system he had to deal with today. Hopefully it wasn't just him but for some reason he had a feeling he had been targeted a bit.

Ed glanced around the clearing one last time, then nodded, selecting Yes. As soon as he confirmed, a faint hum filled the air, and a golden light surrounded him, lifting him gently off his feet. The maze, creatures and plinth faded from view as the teleportation took hold, carrying him toward whatever lay in the next realm.

When Ed emerged from the portal, he found himself in a vast forest. Towering trees, taller than anything he had ever seen, loomed high above, their canopies stretching endlessly into the sky. Awestruck by their sheer size and beauty, he approached one, reaching out to touch its rough bark.

The moment his fingers made contact, a jolt of energy ran through him, like touching a live wire. The tree thrummed with power, pulsing with a vitality that seemed to radiate through his entire being. He stood, transfixed by the sensation, lost in the sheer magnitude of the forest's energy.

His reverie was broken by the sound of a wet, phlegmy cough. Snapping to attention, Ed scanned the area, trying to locate the source. Circling the massive trunk, he eventually spotted a figure slumped against the base of the tree. It was a man—or at least, he looked like one. He was dressed in garments woven from leaves and moss, with a crown of deer antlers atop his head, giving him a wild, otherworldly appearance.

The man lifted a trembling hand, beckoning Ed closer. Ed knelt, sensing no immediate danger but seeing the grave injuries that marred the man's body.

"Please... stranger," the man rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Save my forest. There are... loggers... " He coughed, blood flecking his lips. "They are... taking the trees… killing the animals." He gasped, struggling for breath. "I tried... I tried... "

With a final shudder, the man's breath left him, his dead eyes staring blankly into the canopy above. Ed knelt in stunned silence, the weight of the man's plea hanging heavy in the air. Real or not, this man had just died in front of him, and his last words echoed in Ed's mind: Save my forest.

New Quest: Heart of the Wildwood

Description: Deep within an ancient forest, a sacred bond ties the creatures of the Wildwood to its thriving heart. Yet that harmony is under threat. A band of ruthless loggers has begun to fell the towering trees, their axs silencing the forest's song merely so they can harvest rare woods for profit. The creatures of the Wildwood, led by their guardian spirit, stand ready to defend their home, but they cannot hold back the invaders alone.

Now the choice is yours: Will you side with the loggers, aiding in their efforts to clear the forest for personal gain? Or will you join the guardian spirit, helping to repel the invaders and restore balance to the Wildwood? The path you choose will shape the fate of the forest—and your own connection to nature's power.

Goal: Choose to either assist the loggers in their deforestation efforts or ally with the guardian spirit to protect the Wildwood and its creatures.

Rewards:

Gold

Experience

Well, that's not a choice. Obviously I'm going to protect the trees, they're absolutely astonishingly amazingly awesome! Ed took one last look at the fallen man, the gravity of his plea weighing heavily on him. Save my forest. The words echoed in his mind as he stood and took a steadying breath. Glancing around, he spotted a faint trail of broken branches and trampled undergrowth leading deeper into the forest. Determined, he began following the path, his senses sharp as he moved through the towering trees.

Before long, the smell of smoke reached him—sharp and acrid, cutting through the earthy scent of the woods. He crept closer, the flicker of firelight breaking through the dense foliage. Peering from behind a thick tree, he spotted them: four big, burly men sitting around a stone fire pit, laughing and joking as a small animal roasted over the flames. Their tools and weapons—axs, hammers, and crude blades—lay scattered within easy reach.

Ed's anger surged as he overheard their conversation.

"That old bastard's been causing us trouble for weeks," one of the men said, tearing into a chunk of meat. "Sneakin' around, messin' with our traps. If I see him again, I'll finish the job."

The others laughed, nodding in agreement, oblivious to the fury building in Ed. His hands clenched into fists, but he forced himself to take a steady breath. Charging in blind would get him killed. Instead, he stepped from behind the tree, adopting a wide, disarming smile.

"Hey there!" he called out, raising his hands to show he was unarmed. "Couldn't help but overhear you. Funny thing—I found your 'weird old man.'" He paused, his voice light but tinged with dry humor. "You won't have to worry about him anymore."

The men turned to look at him, their laughter faltering as they sized him up. Ed's tone remained casual, even playful, but his eyes burned with anger he struggled to contain. Slowly, he took a step closer, hands still raised in a gesture of mock harmlessness, his voice steady as he added, "Mind if I join you? I've got a few things to get off my chest."

The men chuckled uneasily, their earlier bravado faltering as Ed closed the distance. They didn't see the tension in his jaw or the way his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike. This wasn't a meeting of equals—it was a game of misdirection, and Ed planned to end it on his terms.

One of the men leaned forward, eyeing Ed suspiciously as he approached. "Who the hell are you?" he asked, his voice gruff and laden with distrust.

Ed kept his hands up, his expression easygoing. "Oh, just a traveler passing through," he replied with a lopsided grin. "Thought I'd say hello. Beautiful weather we're having, isn't it? Can't remember the last time I saw trees this tall." He took another step closer, glancing at their fire as if entirely captivated by the roasting meat. "Speaking of which, that smells amazing. Been wandering for hours—could really use a bite."

The men exchanged glances, their laughter gone, replaced by wary silence. Ed kept talking, his tone light and conversational, masking the storm of anger raging beneath the surface. He edged closer, his movements casual but deliberate, noting the placement of their weapons and the layout of the camp.

"You said you were looking for that old man, right?" Ed added, tilting his head. "Weird guy. Looked like he'd tangled with something nasty." His steps slowed, his grin sharpening slightly. "You won't have to worry about him anymore, though. Looks like you've got bigger problems."

The realization hit them all at once. Their unease turned to alarm as one of them started to stand, but by then, Ed was too close. He slammed his hand downward, casting Grasping Thorns at the feet of two men. Thick vines erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling around their legs, thorns digging deep into flesh. Their cries of surprise and pain were drowned out by Ed's roar as he charged the nearest man.

Before the logger could react, Ed barreled into him, driving him backward and shoving him into the fire. Flames crackled as the man screamed, thrashing wildly in the blaze. Ed didn't pause, his momentum carrying him toward the third man, who was scrambling for his ax.

Ed reached him first, grappling with him in a violent struggle. The logger was strong, but Ed's fury and adrenaline gave him the edge. With a sharp twist, he slammed the man into the ground, delivering a crushing blow with his cudgel to finish him off. The man fell limp, and Ed spun around just as the first logger rolled out of the fire, his clothing charred and smoke curling off his burned skin.

The man stumbled to his feet, his face twisted in pain and panic, blisters forming on his arms and neck. Ed didn't give him a chance to recover. Striding forward, he raised his cudgel high and brought it down with brutal precision, smashing the man squarely between the eyes. The impact knocked him out cold, his body crumpling backward into the flames, silencing his cries.

Breathing heavily, Ed turned toward the remaining two men, still ensnared by the thorny vines. Their struggles were frantic, the thorns tearing into their legs and arms as they tried in vain to free themselves. Without hesitation, Ed moved in, his cudgel swinging with ruthless efficiency. Each strike was precise, fueled by the rage he'd been holding back. The men's struggles grew weaker with every blow until they, too, lay still.

Ed stepped back, his chest heaving as the camp fell silent—save for the crackling of the fire. The forest around him seemed to hold its breath, the towering trees standing witness to his fury. He glanced at the bodies strewn across the clearing, his grip on the cudgel tightening as he took in the aftermath. There was no regret—only a grim satisfaction. This is what you get for destroying the Wildwood.

Sinclair had been right about the unsettling realism of role-playing in these events. As Ed stood over the fallen loggers, the weight of what he had done gnawed at the edges of his mind. At least it's not real. I think. He wasn't sure he'd be able to kill people in cold blood like that in real life. That thought offered a small measure of comfort as he began looting the bodies.

He found a few pieces of gold scattered among their belongings and pocketed them, his mind already wandering distractedly to how useful they might be later. He also took their axs and logging tools, reasoning that they could prove useful—or, at the very least, serve as trade goods. He wasn't entirely sure how the system worked with items brought back from these events, but he figured it was worth a shot. With nothing else of value or interest in sight, Ed dusted himself off and began walking again, following the faint pull of energy that seemed to hum in the air around him.

The sensation of being guided was strange but undeniable. After feeling the raw power thrumming through the trees earlier, it didn't seem far-fetched that the forest itself was directing him. He meandered through the massive woods, trusting the pull of energy to guide his steps. It wasn't long before he stumbled upon another logging camp. Then another.

At each camp, Ed repeated his good-guy act, keeping the loggers off guard with his cheerful demeanor and false sense of harmlessness before striking with calculated fury. Most camps were small, staffed with three or four men, and he took them down with practiced efficiency. But it was the last camp that truly tested him. This one was larger, with six men seated around the fire, their tools scattered across the clearing.

The fight was brutal from the start. The loggers didn't fall for his act as easily, and when the violence broke out, they fought back fiercely. During the chaos, one of them landed a vicious blow with an ax, the blade biting deep into Ed's thigh. Pain flared hot and sharp as it struck the bone, stopping just shy of severing his leg entirely. He cried out, stumbling back, his vision swimming as blood poured from the wound. For a brief moment, he thought he might not make it out of this fight alive.

That moment of desperation unlocked something within him. A soft, glowing light enveloped his hands as he instinctively cast his first self-healing spell. It was nothing impressive—common grade and fairly basic—but it was enough. The bleeding slowed, and the pain dulled to a manageable ache, giving him the strength to press on. With renewed determination, he finished the fight, dispatching the remaining loggers and collapsing against a tree to catch his breath.

The act of healing wasn't flashy or exciting, but as Ed stared at the wound, now a faint scar instead of a gaping injury, he was deeply grateful for it. The spell might be boring, but it was a lifeline—one he knew he'd need to rely on as the journey continued.

New Skill: Self Heal (Common)

Description: Through the direct application of internal mana, healing can be accelerated.

Effects:

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Heals self only

Can be channeled for constant effect

Taking what he could from the loggers—gold, tools, and anything that seemed remotely useful—Ed acknowledged the two level-up messages that appeared in the corner of his vision. His wounds still ached, but the healing spell had kept him going, and the pull of the forest's energy was growing stronger with every step. Determined, he pressed on.

Eventually, the trees thinned, and Ed found himself at the forest's edge—or rather, what remained of it. He stared in dismay at the sight before him. Towering trees, once majestic and vibrant, were now reduced to rows and rows of neatly stacked logs. The loggers had established a processing site right in the heart of the destruction, where the massive trunks were cut into manageable pieces. Ed marveled grimly at the efficiency of it all, wondering how they managed to process trees this large without heavy machinery. Then again, with magic in play, almost anything seemed possible.

Scanning the area, Ed counted only a handful of people moving about. Most of them appeared to be coming in and out of a large tent set up on one side of the site, which had to belong to the leader of this operation. Ed grimaced. This fight is going to suck, he thought, certain that whoever was in charge wouldn't go down easily.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the ruined clearing, Ed decided to wait for full night. He needed every advantage he could get. Finding a concealed spot among the remaining trees, he settled in and began to meditate, hoping to trigger some kind of ability that could help him see better in the dark.

Sinclair's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him of what he'd said before: Willpower and need are the key. Focus, and the ability will come. Sinclair had always been the one to push them to try meditation and mana manipulation, insisting it had made a massive difference for him. Ed figured now was as good a time as any to give it a serious try.

He closed his eyes and focused inward, feeling the ebb and flow of mana within him. It was like a river, coursing through his body, pooling and swirling in places as it moved. He began to guide it, carefully pushing it toward his head, specifically to his eyes. It made sense—if he wanted a vision ability, that was where the mana needed to go. He spent nearly an hour at it, pushing more and more mana into the area until his head throbbed with a dull ache. Frustration crept in as nothing happened. Eventually, he let out an irritated sigh, rubbing his temples to ease the headache.

"Fine," he muttered to himself, settling back with a determined glint in his eye. If forcing it won't work, I'll just keep thinking about what I want and watch my mana until it happens. Sinclair had said persistence was key, and Ed wasn't one to give up easily. He resolved to stay focused, letting his mana flow naturally as he envisioned the ability he needed, waiting for night to fall.

The moon hung high overhead, bathing the clearing in a pale, silvery light when Ed felt the power within him shift unexpectedly. It pooled heavily in his feet, an unusual sensation that made him pause. Curious, he decided to let it flow, following the instinctual pull. He pushed harder, focusing the energy downward until, after several sweaty, tension-filled minutes, it suddenly spooled out into the ground, spreading in a radius of about fifty feet around him.

The feedback was immediate and astonishing. He couldn't see with his eyes, but through the feedback of the power, he could feel everything in that radius. It painted a vivid, almost tangible picture in his mind: the shapes of trees, rocks, tents, and even the faint movements of the people within his range. It was like a pulse, reverberating through the earth and returning to him as a clear, detailed map of the surroundings.

New Skill: Seiðr's Echo (Rare)

Description: Through the ancient magic of the earth, you have unlocked the ability to send out pulses of energy that connect you to the world around you. Much like the Seiðr of old, who communed with the spirits and the land, you can now sense your surroundings in vivid detail through this echoing wave of power. The ground becomes your ally, revealing movement, shapes, and hidden dangers within its reach.

Effects:

Provides a detailed awareness of your surroundings in a 50-foot radius, even through obstacles.

Can highlight the presence of moving creatures or threats within its range, making ambushes or sneaking significantly easier.

A grin spread across his face as he realized what he'd just unlocked. A rare skill—this is going to be fun. Confidence surged through him as he crouched low and began sneaking toward the camp's edge, the new ability letting him track every movement with uncanny precision. The workers he had seen earlier had mostly gone to sleep, their figures motionless in the tents. Only three people remained on watch, their torches bobbing in the dark as they patrolled the area.

Ed couldn't help but shake his head at their carelessness. The torches ruined their night vision and practically screamed their location to anyone paying attention. Using the cover of trees and shadows, Ed moved silently, each step deliberate. He closed the distance to the nearest guard, his movements fluid and confident.

The first guard never saw him coming. With a heavy, precise swing, Ed brought his cudgel down on the back of the man's head, dropping him instantly. Ed caught the body before it hit the ground, dragging it into the shadows and quickly rifling through his belongings. A small pouch of coins and a dagger—not much, but useful. He covered the body with nearby debris to hide it before slipping back into the night.

The second guard was just as easy, his torchlight casting long, flickering shadows as he walked along the edge of the camp. Ed approached from behind, keeping his steps light and silent. Another swift crack to the head, and the guard crumpled. Ed worked quickly, looting what he could and dragging the body to the cover of some bushes.

The third guard was moving toward the fire pit, oblivious to his fallen comrades. Ed grinned to himself, tightening his grip on the cudgel as he closed the gap. With one final, precise strike, he dispatched the last of the sentries, the guard falling like a stone. Ed wasted no time, pulling the body into the dark and stripping it of anything valuable.

With the sentries taken care of, Ed crouched low, scanning the camp using his new skill. The tents and their sleeping occupants were laid out clearly in his mind. The path to the large central tent—undoubtedly housing the leader—was open. This was it. The fight that would decide the fate of the Wildwood awaited him.

Ed crouched low, the night pressing in around him as he considered his options. Through his skill, Seiðr's Echo, he could sense the layout of the camp with startling clarity. Four figures lay motionless in the smaller tent—grunts, undoubtedly—but the fifth presence in the large tent radiated a still, almost predatory menace. The leader.

He grimaced. If he took out the four sleeping loggers first, the noise or aftermath could alert the leader, ruining his element of surprise. On the other hand, if he went straight for the leader and the fight didn't go as planned, he'd be facing an unknown threat while the others rallied to their boss's aid. Neither choice was ideal, but one thing was clear: this was going to end tonight, and he wouldn't let the forest down.

Ed steeled himself, gripping his cudgel tightly as he made his decision. The four sleepers were his target. The less backup the leader had, the better his odds of finishing this without dying.

He moved like a shadow, his skill giving him a supernatural sense of where everything was. The first logger never stirred as Ed loomed over him, the cudgel coming down hard and fast. The faint crunch of bone was muffled by the soft forest floor. Ed winced at the sound but moved quickly, dragging the body out of sight.

One by one, he repeated the process, each strike decisive. He wasn't naturally stealthy, and his heart pounded with every misstep—each crunch of a leaf or scrape of cloth against canvas felt deafening. But luck was on his side. Within minutes, the four loggers were gone, their bodies hidden in the shadows, leaving only silence behind.

Pausing to catch his breath, Ed focused on his skill, sending another pulse out to check the camp. The figure in the large tent hadn't moved. A small wave of relief washed over him. Maybe I actually pulled it off, he thought, his grip on the cudgel tightening as he turned toward the leader's tent. This was it—the final fight. One way or another, the forest's fate would be decided here.

Ed froze for a moment, staring at the bodies he'd just stashed, then glanced at the Lucky Charm pinned to his belt. Wait… was this because of the charm? The realization hit him like a thunderbolt. Two extra points of Luck—something so minor—had saved him from a dozen mistakes that should've left him bleeding and bruised. He shook his head, muttering to himself, I need to get some more Luck. Sinclair's swimming in the stuff, that bastard.

He crept toward the large tent, each step deliberate as he neared the entrance. His pulse quickened as he knelt by the flap, gripping his cudgel tightly. Coiling his body like a spring, he prepared to lunge inside—but at the last second, he threw himself backward in a frantic roll as a sword tip came whistling through the tent opening, narrowly missing his face. Guess my luck isn't perfect.

The backward roll brought him awkwardly to his feet, a maneuver that felt more comedic than heroic, but he managed it. Squaring up, Ed's eyes locked on the tent's entrance just as the blade emerged, followed by the woman wielding it. She stepped into the moonlight, and Ed's breath hitched.

She was stunning—but in a way that felt wrong. Her beauty was sharp and cruel, her cold, predatory eyes scanning him with disdain. Everything about her screamed danger, and her demeanor had an edge of sadistic delight, like someone who used to torture animals for fun.

The woman's voice was as cutting as her appearance. "Who sent you?" she demanded, her blade pointed at his chest.

Ed hesitated. Then, before he could stop himself, he blurted, "Your mom?"

The words hung in the air, and Ed immediately regretted them. Gods, my mouth is going to get me killed one day. Still, it wasn't like this woman wasn't already trying to skewer him.

Her expression twisted in confusion, her blade lowering slightly. "That's not possible. She sanctioned this adventure. Tell me the truth quickly, and you might yet live. Who sent you? Was it the Fortin Clan?"

Ed blinked, raising an eyebrow. "Umm... I don't know who that is. Honestly, it was just some wild-looking old man in the forest. Your men killed him, and I didn't care for that too much, so… here we are."

The woman's lip curled in contempt. "You would die for someone you just met?"

Ed straightened, gripping his cudgel firmly. "I'm still alive, lady. And for the right reasons? You bet your ass I would."

Her face darkened, disbelief morphing into fury. Ed could see the moment her patience snapped, her muscles tensing as she prepared to attack. Not wanting to give her the chance, he cast Grasping Thorns at her feet. The vines erupted from the ground, twisting around her legs before she could move, the thorns biting into her skin.

"Guess talking's over," Ed muttered, raising his cudgel and stepping into the fight.

The fight exploded into chaos the moment she broke free from the vines, her sword flashing in the moonlight as she lunged at Ed. Her movements were precise and almost impossibly fast, the blade cutting through the air with deadly intent. Ed barely managed to raise his shield in time, the clang of steel against metal jarring his arm painfully. Each strike sent shockwaves through his battered muscles, and he scrambled backward, struggling to keep up.

She pressed her advantage, her attacks relentless. Every swing of her sword pushed him closer to the edge of desperation. The first cut bit into his upper arm, shallow but enough to sting and distract him. The next scraped his side, tearing through fabric and skin. Ed grunted, frantically backpedaling as he swung his cudgel in wide arcs, hoping to disrupt her rhythm. She dodged or deflected each strike effortlessly, her cruel smile never wavering.

"Not so brave now, are you?" she taunted, her sword flicking toward his leg. Ed barely twisted in time, the blade grazing him as he stumbled back, his heel striking something solid. His eyes darted down—a crate. Without thinking, he kicked it with all his strength, sending it hurtling toward her.

She raised her sword, slicing the crate in half with a contemptuous smirk. "Really? That's the best you've got?" she mocked, stepping forward with the confidence of someone who knew she was winning.

Ed used the distraction to dash away, ducking behind the corner of the tent. His heart hammered in his chest as he pressed against the fabric, breathing heavily. He focused on Seiðr's Echo, sending out a pulse through the ground. He felt her approaching, her steps steady and unhurried, like a predator stalking its wounded prey.

As she turned the corner, fearless and ready to strike, Ed cast Grasping Thorns again. The vines erupted beneath her mid-stride, coiling around her legs and throwing her off balance. She stumbled, her sword flailing as she tried to regain her footing, fury flashing in her eyes.

"Not so easy, huh?" Ed muttered, lunging forward to strike her exposed side. She twisted at the last second, his cudgel landing a glancing blow instead of the knockout hit he'd hoped for. She lashed out with her sword, grazing his shoulder, and he fell back, blood dripping from his fresh wound.

For the next several minutes, the fight turned into a brutal, desperate dance. Ed used every trick he could think of—feints, distractions, and his skill to keep track of her movements. He cast Grasping Thorns whenever he could, forcing her off balance or trapping her momentarily, but she was faster and more skilled, breaking free each time.

Wounds piled up on both sides. Her strikes were sharp and punishing, cutting into his arms, legs, and torso, but Ed refused to fall. His healing spell kept him going, mending the worst of his injuries just enough to keep him on his feet. She, however, seemed to lack any similar ability, her movements growing fractionally but increasingly slower as her injuries accumulated.

The final clash came in an adrenaline-fuelled blur of exhausting activity. Ed ducked beneath a horizontal slash, stepping into her guard and ramming his shield into her chest. The impact sent her stumbling, and he followed up with a wild, overhead swing of his cudgel. She raised her sword to block, but the force of the blow knocked the blade from her hands, sending it clattering to the ground.

She fell to one knee, gasping for breath, blood dripping from a dozen cuts. Ed, barely still upright, raised his cudgel for the finishing blow. Their eyes met, hers still burning with fury; his own filled with grim determination.

With a roar, he brought the cudgel down, striking her squarely in the head. The force caused her body to crumple to the ground. Ed staggered back, dropping to one knee as the world spun around him. He clutched his side, his breaths ragged, and looked at her still form. "It's over," he spoke out loud, the forest eerily silent around him. "I actually did it."

He collapsed onto his back, staring up at the moon, his body aching from the fight. For a brief moment, he let himself feel the triumph before exhaustion claimed him.

Ed lay on the ground for what felt like an eternity, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The pain in his body was somewhat dulled by sheer exhaustion, and for several moments, the world around him blurred into a haze. He thought he might be hallucinating when he glanced up and saw movement—a figure stepping out from the shadows of the forest.

It took his weary brain a moment to process what he was seeing: the largest deer he had ever seen, its coat shimmering faintly in the moonlight, antlers stretching high like branches of a pale tree. Perched atop the deer's back was the wild man from earlier, the one who had begged Ed to save the forest before succumbing to his wounds. His form was translucent now, his edges faintly glowing, like a spirit tethered to the living world by the threads of the Wildwood itself.

The enormous deer lowered its head, its antlers brushing aside branches as it stepped closer to Ed. Its muzzle nudged against Ed's head, warm breath washing over his face. The contact was strangely soothing, relieving the raw ache in his limbs and tidying the frayed edges of his mind. The wild man on the deer's back gave him a faint nod, his expression serene. As Ed watched, he faded from sight, leaving only the deer.

For several minutes, Ed simply lay there, staring up at the creature as it stood sentinel over him. Finally, as his strength returned enough to sit up, the deer turned and vanished back into the forest, leaving behind a faint whisper of wind that rustled the leaves. Ed rubbed his temples, trying to process what he had just seen. Whether it had been real or the product of his exhausted mind didn't seem to matter—the forest felt alive, and somehow at peace.

He let out a long sigh and a notification blinked across his vision.

Quest Completed: Heart of the Wildwood

Goal: Choose to either assist the loggers in their deforestation efforts or ally with the guardian spirit to protect the Wildwood and its creatures.

Rewards:

Gold x 87

Experience x 93,000

For the first time since entering this realm, he let himself relax, leaning back against the massive tree at his side. "It's over," he muttered to himself, relief washing over him like a warm breeze.

He relaxed only for a new screen to appear.

New Path: Path of the Wildshaper

Description: The Path of the Wildshaper is one of harmony, adaptability, and primal connection with the natural world. By choosing to stand with the creatures of the Wildwood and their guardian, you have proven your respect for nature's balance and its unyielding spirit. The forest now recognizes you as one of its own, marking you as a protector of its sacred bond.

Tenets:

Guardian of the Wild:

Defend the forest and its creatures against those who seek to exploit them.

Natural Arsenal:

Hone your skill with tools born of the wild—wooden cudgels, shields, and other implements—to fight in defense of the balance.

Harmony in Power:

Learn to understand and wield the forces of nature, blending strength, adaptability, and cunning to overcome challenges.

The Forest's Laughter:

Embrace the light-hearted spirit of the Wildwood, for humor is as much a weapon as any blade.

Note: The forest's bond has been extended to you, its champion. While the ability to embody its fiercest forms will come with time and growth, this path marks the beginning of your transformation into one of the Wildwood's own. Its power flows within you, waiting to be unlocked.

Do you wish to accept this Path? Abort / Yes / Fail

Chuckling to himself, Ed pushed himself to his feet, his body protesting every movement. He stared at the notification floating in his vision, the glowing options throwing out one last bit of snark. With a tired sigh, he reached out and hit Yes.

The familiar chime of completion echoed in his ears, and for a moment, he allowed himself to hope it was finally over. "I just want a shower and a nap," he muttered, running a hand through his sweat-matted hair. The thought of a soft bed and warm water was almost enough to make him weep.

But as the forest shimmered slightly around him, the telltale signs of magic beginning to stir, he frowned. "Wait, where am I going?" The realization hit him like a punch to the gut—he had no idea what was coming next. His exhaustion turned to a nervous energy as he glanced around, half expecting the forest to spring another challenge on him.

The golden light began to rise around his feet, and he let out a resigned groan. "No rest for the wicked, huh?" he muttered. Bracing himself for whatever lay ahead, he watched as the world dissolved into shimmering light, taking him to his next unknown destination.

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