I. A Path of Ice and Questions
The journey south through Eldoria, away from the misty borders, was surprisingly quick thanks to Lyra's magic. She didn't conjure means of transport; she simply made the terrain more cooperative. Muddy fields dried beneath their feet, and rocky paths smoothed into a gentle route.
Ethan walked beside her, feeling the pain in his ribs mitigated. Without being asked, Lyra had applied an icy ointment that, she claimed, was a simple "arctic berry infusion."
"The Ruins of Sylos are not a tourist attraction, Ethan," Lyra explained, maintaining a steady pace. Her voice was didactic, like a professor bored by the low level of her students. "It was a citadel of knowledge, destroyed a thousand years ago during the Corruption War. The remaining artifacts are either contaminated or lethal."
"And you believe the current source of corruption is located there," Ethan said.
"I don't believe. I know. The Stone Fang that attacked you is an indication. The beasts are being attracted or, worse, directed. If we find a nexus in Sylos, we can neutralize it at its root."
Ethan nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He was utilizing his new ability. While Lyra spoke of Eldoria's history, Ethan observed the surrounding forest.
$$Survival Skill: Corruption Resistance (Minor)$$
The skill allowed him to subtly detect areas where the forest's vital energy felt "dirty" or "forced." He saw pale traces of that corruption near fallen trees and stagnant streams.
"There's a path of contamination," Ethan murmured, not addressing Lyra.
"What did you say?" she asked, stopping.
"Look at that stream. The water is crystal clear, but the air feels... heavy. It's not coming from the trees; it's coming from underneath. It's a line, Lyra, not a smudge. Something is being dragged across this land, following a pattern."
Lyra leaned down, examining the stream with a look of surprise. She pulled a small quartz crystal from her robe and submerged it in the water. The crystal remained inactive. She waved it over the heavy air, and the quartz emitted a faint purple pulse.
"Impossible. Only a Level Three runic sensor or a high-caliber mage could detect that resonance. How...?"
"I have no idea," Ethan admitted. "I just feel it. It's like a cold sensation."
Lyra looked at him, not with skepticism, but with scientific fascination.
$$The Host System$$
:
Social Asset Evaluation (Lyra): VCE (Value of Emotional Connection) increasing due to Analytical Utility. Lyra has detected the Host's singularity.
Secondary Growth Mission (SGM-2): Host's physique is below optimal performance. Perform Travel Endurance Training (TET).
Requirement: Endure 72 hours of continuous marching with less than 4 hours of rest.
Reward: Unlock Physical Endurance Level 1.
Ethan sighed. The System never let up.
II. The Edge in the Ravine
The path led them through a narrow mountain pass, an area known as Raven's Ravine. The afternoon sun barely filtered the light, creating long, treacherous shadows. The silence here was not natural; it was tense.
Ethan, exhausted by the relentless march imposed by the System, walked with heavy legs. Lyra, on the other hand, seemed fresh, her energy inexhaustible.
Suddenly, a sound that was not from the forest broke the air: the clash of steel.
A fierce battle cry, followed by the rhythmic sound of weapons colliding, came from the bottom of the ravine. They were sounds of expert combat, fast and lethal.
Lyra and Ethan moved to the ledge.
Below, a woman was trapped between four Hyena-Men, savage mercenaries known for their brutality and use of poisoned weapons. The woman did not retreat.
She was the embodiment of the blade. She wore light armor of leather and metal plates, and wielded a double-edged longsword with terrifying skill. Her short, disheveled dark hair moved with every precise thrust. She did not defend; she attacked to kill.
She moved like water and struck like rock. The first Hyena-Man fell with his throat slit before he could blink. The second, attempting to flank her, was intercepted by a quick spin; the sword tip pierced his armor at a weak point.
But the Hyena-Men were cunning. One of them threw a heavy net that tangled her sword. She cursed, forced to release the weapon for an instant. The other two lunged.
III. Determination in Action
"Damn it," Lyra said, and began chanting quickly, her hands already glowing with the blue of ice.
"Wait!" Ethan said, feeling the sting of his Iron Determination activating. The pain vanished, replaced by a focused mental clarity.
Below, the woman was knocked to the ground. The largest Hyena-Man raised a spiked mace for the final blow. She barely had time to draw a dagger from her boot.
Ethan, acting on instinct guided by his newfound clarity, grabbed a large rock from the edge of the ravine. It wasn't a weapon, but a distraction.
"Hey, piece of trash!" he yelled, throwing the rock with all his might.
The rock hit the chest of the Hyena-Man about to strike the woman. It didn't wound him, but it broke his concentration for a crucial instant.
That instant was all the swordswoman needed.
With a brutal kick, she unbalanced the attacker. In a fluid motion, she used her knee to leverage the fallen mercenary's body and retrieve her double-edged sword. In less than two seconds, the two remaining Hyena-Men lay dead, the ravine floor stained red.
Lyra stopped her chanting, impressed by the precision of Ethan's instinct.
The swordswoman stood up, caught her breath, and cleaned her blade. She scanned the ledge for the source of the distraction. Seeing Lyra and Ethan, she tensed, assuming they were the next attackers.
Lyra spoke first, her voice neutral. "We are not your enemies. We just held off your friend so you could finish your work."
The woman narrowed her eyes. Her features were sharp, and her expression, tough. "I don't ask for help. What do you want?"
"Nothing more than a conversation," Lyra said. "I am Lyra, and he is Ethan. We saw how you handled that. You are lethal."
"My name is Rina. And I'm in a hurry. These guys are not common bandits; they are the arm of an organization seeking something in these mountains."
$$The Host System$$
:
Social Asset Evaluation (SAE): Rina
SAE Score: 90/100 (Martial Skill, Objective Loyalty).
VCE (Value of Emotional Connection): 60/100 (Closed, High Suspicion).
Comment: Elite Warrior detected. High Personal Trust requirement for acquisition. Strategy: Shared Interests and Mutual Protection.
IV. The Blade Alliance
Lyra jumped down from the ravine with inhuman grace, followed by Ethan, who had to use his hands. Lyra stood next to Rina.
"We are looking for the source of the Corruption driving these organizations. Our path is towards the Ruins of Sylos. Given the urgency and precision of these mercenaries, I bet you are on that path too."
Rina hesitated, looking at Lyra with suspicion. Then, she looked at Ethan.
"The outsider hit me with a rock. He's not a warrior. But his... his distraction was useful. Why would a civilian take such a risk?"
"I am not a civilian," Ethan said, looking into her eyes with Iron Determination. "I am a man seeking his path, and on my path, I'm tired of being told I'm insignificant. I fight with what I have."
That simple statement seemed to break something in Rina's defensive attitude. She sheathed her sword.
"You're lucky you did. The Hyena-Men are looking for an ancient map in Sylos, something their boss needs to unearth secrets that, they say, can destroy Eldoria."
"That aligns perfectly with the corruption we are looking for," Lyra said, with a cold smile of satisfaction.
"Then we have the same goal," Rina declared. "A mage, a... man with nerve and a swordswoman. Three is better than one. But let it be clear: I lead in combat, and if you get in my way, I will cut you down."
Ethan smiled. For the first time in Eldoria, he felt he had made the right decision.
$$The Host System$$
:
SGM-2 (TET) Progress: 64/72 hours completed. Congratulations! You are close to unlocking Physical Endurance Level 1.
Next Mission: Rina requires a demonstration of Valor and Leadership during a challenge. Prepare.
With Rina as their new and dangerous guide, the trio set off towards the Ruins of Sylos. The path had become much more dangerous, but also much more promising.