Colm slowly opened his eyes, the darkness of the chamber settling around him. The body of the Stone Gnawer lay just before him, its massive form sprawled on the floor. His Phantom Warrior stood beside him, standing watch as if ready for anything else that might lurk nearby. Colm's victory tasted hollow. Despite the strength of his class, he couldn't shake the feeling of how helpless he'd been during the fight. He'd survived only thanks to his spectral allies, but the sight of a creature the size of a car charging at him with deadly intent had made him question his confidence.

He couldn't keep relying only on his phantoms; he needed more durability. A shield ability or ability that would let him regenerate health in the heat of battle—anything that would give him a better chance of surviving next time. His mind replayed the scene of his health bar dropping, his vision dimming, and a shiver ran through him. He'd been treating this like a game ever since, realizing his class's strength, but this fight had brought the reality of it crashing down on him. I won't allow myself to be surprised like that again. He vowed. Next time, I'll be ready.

He looked through his notifications from the fight with the Stone Gnawer once more.

Seeing the array of skill increases and levels gained brought a wave of satisfaction, and the Ring of the Stone Gnawer was a welcome reward. He slipped it onto his finger, feeling a subtle shift, a sense of new endurance settling into his bones.

He remembered the scattered way he'd dumped his points in the heat of the battle and, with a grin of determination, carefully allocated his new set of level-ups as he pulled up his status screen to see the results of his efforts, a fresh resolve settled within him.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Human

Level: 25

Health: 520 / 520

Mana: 290 / 290

Strength: 30

Dexterity: 33

Intelligence: 58

Constitution: 52

Class: Spirit Warden

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Level 7)

- Phantom Spearman (Level 6)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Level 6)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 3)

- Stealth (Level 5)

- Pain Resistance (Level 4)

- Hardened Skin (Level 3)

- Slash Resistance (Level 4)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

Colm closed his status screen and, feeling more stable upon seeing his health, re-summoned his Phantom Spearman. "This Lingering Vitality is pretty great… I think," he muttered, still unsure. Without a frame of reference, it was hard to gauge how effective the regeneration truly was, though he noticed his health topped off quickly outside of combat. "Guess I'll have to ask someone if I ever find anyone around here," he said to himself.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

With his senses fully gathered again, he remembered the message on the stone pillar about a reward. Approaching it, he saw the inscription had changed. Thou has been tested and found worthy. Place thy hand upon the stone to receive your reward.

Colm hesitated, feeling the weight of the ordeal he'd just endured. But after a moment, he shrugged. What else could this throw at me? He thought. Placing his hand on the stone, he felt a faint tingle radiate through his body, and a notification appeared before him.

[ Achievement Earned

Blessing of the Stone - You have passed the Trial of Stone and stood strong and steadfast. Your body has been refined and strengthened as if forged from stone.

Stat Boost: Grants a 5% increase to constitution. ]

Colm grinned. "It's not much now, but it'll only get better. A percentage buff? That's huge. Right now, it's like having half a level's worth of points dumped straight into constitution- hard to complain about that," he muttered with satisfaction.

With his new abilities unlocked and his phantoms by his side, Colm left the scene of the intense battle, making his way back to the first room of the temple. He paused, surprised—the room, which had been shrouded in deep shadow when he first entered, was now entirely illuminated, each wall casting a soft glow that outlined the room's rough stone edges. "How did I miss this on my way in?" he muttered, stepping cautiously toward the doorway. The instant he stepped back, the glow vanished, plunging the room into darkness once more. He chuckled to himself, shrugging. "Magic, I guess."

Curiosity renewed, Colm turned back and stepped fully into the now-lit room, inspecting it. Apart from the softly glowing walls, it appeared as bare and unremarkable as before. Yet as he turned, his gaze settled on one wall that now bore an intricately detailed mural that hadn't been there when he'd entered. He stepped closer, drawn to the mysterious artwork and its delicate carvings.

The mural appeared as a map that depicted two structures, each crowned with a unique symbol. After a moment, Colm realized they were likely representations of temples. The structure on the left had a stone symbol above it—fitting the temple he had just explored, given the trial and stone-related achievement he had just unlocked. The other structure was marked with a tree symbol, its branches spreading out as if to represent something wild, uncontained, and vibrant. Between these two symbols, there was a large, clawed paw print. The sight of it sent a chill down Colm's spine, triggering a memory of the claw marks he'd seen at the abandoned campsite he'd come across earlier. He couldn't help but wonder if this mysterious paw print represented a creature that guarded the paths between the temples.

So, there is another temple here, he thought, each with its own unique challenges—and perhaps more rewards to claim.

The paw print marking was ominous, hinting that there was something powerful and territorial lurking between the temples. A roaming boss, maybe, or some guardian set to keep challengers from moving freely between the trials. Colm felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement; the temple's trial had proven to be intense, but the rewards were worth it. He felt his endurance and resilience growing, the ring he'd earned from the Stone Gnawer snugly wrapped around his finger, reinforcing his stamina with every step.

Standing in front of the mural, Colm carefully considered his next move. He decided it would be wise to locate the temple marked with the tree symbol and see what kind of test awaited him there. The paw print worried him, though. He'd seen the damage a powerful creature could inflict on the unfortunate travelers who had been at the camp, and he didn't want to fall into the same fate. The thought of a large, clawed beast guarding the path was enough to make him shiver, but he steeled himself. If he wanted to survive in this strange world, he'd need to keep growing stronger.

He took another long look at the mural, trying to piece together a strategy. The stone and tree symbols were positioned on a straight path with the paw print between them. Colm didn't want to risk a direct route, especially if there was a territorial creature lurking in the middle. Instead, he devised a plan to make a wide, curving approach, looping around to avoid any potential dangers along the way. He'd circle to the right, making a sweeping "C" path that would keep him on the lookout for signs of the other temple while avoiding a possible confrontation with the beast.

Better cautious than dead, he thought, nodding to himself. With his plan set, he left the mural and headed out of the temple, ready to regroup and prepare. He would take a couple of days to rest, recover, and gather supplies before attempting to reach the other temple. Fortunately, he'd found water nearby and had located patches of Celestial Blooms, which had become his "favorite" source of nourishment.

As he made his way to a nearby clearing, Colm mulled over the thought of facing the beast he imagined lurking between the temples. He would need to be ready for anything; the encounter with the Stone Gnawer had shown him that even with his phantoms, he was far from invincible. He recalled the moments of panic, the near losses, and the realization that he needed to be better prepared for each battle. No more winging it, he resolved. I need to be ready with a solid plan next time.

Settling down by a stream that ran through the clearing, Colm drank deeply and washed away the grime from his last fight. His phantom companions stood watch nearby, their spectral forms blending in with the mist that rose from the cool water. He sat for a while, processing his time through the stone temple's grueling trial. At the same time, he instructed his Phantom Warrior to carve out a new wooden spear for him.

As he prepared to sleep, Colm glanced at the Ring of the Stone Gnawer, feeling a quiet satisfaction at the reward he'd earned. The ring's subtle warmth was a reminder of his growing resilience, a comfort against the unknown challenges he would face. His mind drifted back to the mural and the paw print symbol—it loomed large in his thoughts, a symbol of both the danger and the rewards that this world held.

The next morning, Colm awoke feeling a renewed sense of confidence, ready to set off on his planned route around the temple grounds. But as he mentally replayed his encounter with the Stone Gnawer, a familiar frustration crept in—the memory of how helpless he had felt during the fight. Even though he was physically recovered, he realized he needed more preparation. Deciding to delay his departure by a few days, he resolved to make use of the extra time by sharpening his skills with his phantoms.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.