In the forested outskirts of Emberflame Province, thick, oppressive mist hung densely among towering trees. Sunlight scarcely pierced through the tightly intertwined canopy, casting the entire region in perpetual gloom.
The humid air, thick with the pungent aroma of rotting vegetation and damp earth, seemed to cling to one's skin, intensifying the suffocating atmosphere.
Ryan cautiously navigated through this eerie environment, his senses heightened, carefully observing every subtle movement around him.
As an awakened possessing the passive skill "Abyssal Link," Ryan was accustomed to dealing with dangerous surroundings. Yet, the strange stillness of the forest today sent unsettling chills down his spine, urging him to remain vigilant.
Over the past seven hours, Ryan had systematically cleared several scattered camps belonging to the troublesome kobold raiders.
The official quest requirement had been fulfilled long ago. Nevertheless, Ryan pressed on, determined to gain as much experience as possible.
He glanced briefly at his experience bar, satisfied to find it well beyond halfway. With just two or three more kobold encampments, reaching Level 7 today was entirely feasible.
"Even though I've technically completed the mission," Ryan quietly murmured to himself, "I still have roughly three hours left until sundown—I must at least reach Level 7 today."
However, Ryan also understood clearly that returning to the city before nightfall was crucial. He knew from his training that nightfall would drastically increase the danger level of the forest, awakening higher-level mutated monsters that roamed exclusively after dark. With his current strength, encountering these nocturnal beasts was tantamount to suicide.
Yet, as he continued his hunt, Ryan couldn't help but feel something was distinctly off.
Throughout the day's encounters, he'd noticed unusual behaviors among the kobold raiders. Ordinarily, kobolds were simple-minded creatures with predictable attack patterns, relying solely on brute numbers. However, these kobolds were employing tactics—coordinating attacks, luring him into crude ambushes—behaviors that went completely against everything he'd learned about the species.
His suspicions grew stronger as he ventured deeper into the forest, eventually discovering a much larger, unsettling kobold encampment concealed behind dense foliage.
The sight that greeted him made his breath catch involuntarily.
The camp was disturbingly chaotic. The ground was strewn with corpses and skeletal remains, evidence of recent massacres involving local merchants and travelers. Dried blood covered the earth, and the grim stench of death hung heavily in the air, adding another sinister layer to the oppressive atmosphere.
Ryan's eyes narrowed cautiously as he scanned the horrific scene. At the heart of the encampment stood an ancient, sinister-looking altar, intricately covered by dark vines. Around it lay even more disfigured bodies, seemingly carelessly tossed aside.
Then, Ryan saw something that froze him where he stood—a young girl lay unconscious atop the altar, her limbs tightly bound by rough, bloodstained ropes. Her pale face clearly showed she was utterly helpless.
Standing before her, performing an ominous ritual, was a grotesque kobold shaman, visibly taller and darker in hue than typical kobolds. It radiated a powerful, malevolent aura unlike any kobold Ryan had ever encountered.
Almost immediately, a translucent screen flashed into existence before his eyes, revealing critical information:
[Monster: Mutated Kobold Shaman][Level: Lv.6][Strength: 20][Agility: 20][Intelligence: 200][Spirit: 200][Endurance: 500][Category: Mutated Monster][Skill: Dark Incantation][Dark Incantation: Releases intense dark energy, causing area-wide damage.][Special Trait: Team Coordination][Team Coordination: Capable of commanding nearby kobolds into organized tactics.][Mobility: Low][Threat Level: Moderate]
Ryan immediately felt a sense of dread settle in his chest.
Kobolds were known to possess minimal intelligence. Yet here stood a creature whose mental attributes far exceeded Ryan's own—a disturbing anomaly.
Worse still, the kobold shaman seemed entirely focused on completing its mysterious ritual, one clearly designed to sacrifice the girl on the altar. Ryan's pulse quickened when he saw the kobold shaman chanting in a low, guttural voice, waving a twisted staff in rhythmic patterns.
Suddenly, the altar began glowing ominously, emanating an eerie crimson hue.
As Ryan watched, a terrifying phantom emerged from the corrupted energies—a massive, horned demon with eyes filled with insatiable greed. Its gaze locked hungrily onto the unconscious girl, clearly preparing to consume her life essence.
A surge of urgency rushed through Ryan.
The mission brief explicitly warned that encountering mutated kobolds necessitated immediate retreat, as the threat could be fatal. But seeing the helpless girl about to fall victim to this grotesque ritual, Ryan's mind raced.
"If I walk away now," he thought grimly, "she'll surely die."
The realization made his decision clear—retreat was not an option. He knew the dangers, fully understanding the risk he was about to take.
But turning a blind eye was simply something Ryan could never do.
He tightened his fists, determination blazing fiercely in his eyes. No matter the cost, he was resolved to stop the ritual and save the girl.