Colm jolted awake, his eyes darting around the room as he adjusted to the dim light. The familiar presence of his phantoms standing guard brought a sense of comfort, their silent vigilance reassuring him. He did not know how long he'd been out.

The trial had pushed him to his absolute limits, forcing him to stay awake and alert for days. Finally, he'd managed a moment of rest, albeit unwillingly, though he could still feel the weight of exhaustion lingering in his body.

Fragments of his last conscious moments flooded back. He remembered the serpent, the desperate fight, and how close he'd come to death. His phantoms had delivered the final blows, and as darkness claimed him, he felt the faint stir of Lingering Vitality taking hold. That ability, he realized, had likely been the only thing keeping him alive.

Knowing he had a slew of notifications waiting, Colm pulled up his status screen and began sorting through them. He knew he had to keep this brief—his body was crying out for food, water, and more rest. Despite feeling noticeably better after his "nap," a lingering sluggishness reminded him that his recovery was far from complete.

First, he reviewed the notifications he vaguely recalled seeing before slipping into unconsciousness.

Wraithvine Serpent (Level 40) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Phantom Spearman (Level 8) is now Phantom Spearman (Level 9)

Phantom Warrior (Level 9) is now Phantom Warrior (Level 10)

Poison Resistance (Level 2) is now Poison Resistance (Level 3)

Poison Resistance (Level 3) is now Poison Resistance (Level 4)

Poison Resistance (Level 4) is now Poison Resistance (Level 5)

Pain Resistance (Level 4) is now Pain Resistance (Level 5)

Pain Resistance (Level 5) is now Pain Resistance (Level 6)

Pain Resistance (Level 6) is now Pain Resistance (Level 7)

Stealth (Level 6) is now Stealth (Level 7)

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

New class abilities available.

That's a lot to take in, Colm thought, scanning the flood of notifications. Skill level-ups and stat increases filled the list, showing how much Colm had progressed. A mix of emotions welled up within him—satisfaction at his growth, tempered by anticipation of what lay ahead.

From his experience with the previous trial, he knew something else awaited him. His eyes fell on the stone pillar nearby, its surface etched with an updated yet familiar inscription. Thou has been tested and found worthy. Place thy hand upon the stone to receive your reward.

Without hesitation, Colm placed his hand on the stone. A familiar notification appeared before him, signaling the next chapter of his journey.

[ Achievement Earned ]

Blessing of the Forest - You have endured the dangers of the Trial of the Forest, surviving its deception and cunning. Whether by sheer luck or skill, you have proven your resilience and earned the respect of the forest.

Stat Boost: Grants a 5% increase to strength.

[ Requirements Fulfilled: Synergized Achievement Unlocked ]

Blessing of the Grove - You have conquered the trials of the Lucent Grove, demonstrating unmatched strength and resilience. The Grove acknowledges your determination, granting you its respect and silent blessing. The power of the Blessing of the Stone, Wilds and Forest converges, amplifying your connection to the grove and enhancing your abilities.

Stat Boost: Grants a 15% increase to all stats.

He expected the first part of the notification, but the convergence of his achievements into a more powerful, synergized version caught him off guard. The enhanced stat increase significantly boosted its effectiveness, and Colm couldn't help but feel a surge of elation.

Yet, as the excitement coursed through him, a lingering frustration over the trial itself crept into his thoughts, tempering his emotions.

The Wraithvine Serpent had been a lower level than both the Stone Gnawer and the Grove Stalker, yet the fight had been just as deadly—if not more so. Its deceptive tactics, regenerative abilities, and potent venom had pushed him to his limits, proving far more dangerous than its level suggested.

After reviewing the flood of notifications, another one caught his attention, lingering in his vision.

You are no longer poisoned.

Poison Resistance (Level 5) is now Poison Resistance (Level 6)

Lingering Vitality (Level 6) is now Lingering Vitality (Level 7)

Lingering Vitality (Level 7) is now Lingering Vitality (Level 8)

Colm smirked, the irony not lost on him. Who knew being poisoned could be so useful? He thought sarcastically. Reflecting on the trial, he acknowledged just how Lingering Vitality had saved his life—it had proven to be invaluable despite only healing out of combat.

Stolen story; please report.

Next, Colm turned his focus to the most exciting part of the results: his level-ups and the subsequent new class abilities. He theorized it might be every fifteen levels that granted him these new options, based on the timing of this unlock.

Wasting no time, he allocated his points, prioritizing constitution to increase his health. With that done, he eagerly delved into reviewing the new abilities the system had revealed.

New class abilities available.

Select a new Class Passive Ability.

Passive Ability: Phantom's Lifeline (Level 1)

Your soul is strengthened by the spirit realm, deepening your connection with your phantoms. Each time a phantom lands a successful critical hit, you regenerate 2% of your maximum health.

Passive Ability: Spiritual Shield (Level 1)

The spirit realm recognizes your worth and grants its protection. You gain a spectral shield equal to 10% of your maximum health, replenished slightly each time a phantom deals damage.

Passive Ability: Spectral Persistence (Level 1)

A phantom's duty never ends. When destroyed, a phantom lingers briefly as an invulnerable spectral remnant, dealing 20% of its original damage over 3 seconds before fading completely.

Colm read through the choices, each one sounding incredible in its own way. The decision wasn't easy, and he felt the weight of choosing the right ability pressing down on him. Taking a deep breath, he went through each option again.

Phantom's Lifeline seemed like an incredible ability. The potential to heal during combat would be invaluable, especially in extended fights. Would it overlap with Lingering Vitality? he wondered. And the phrase "critical hit" gave him pause. How often do critical hits even happen?

Spiritual Shield looked like a solid, reliable buff. A spectral shield absorbing 10% of his health was a game-changer on its own, but the added benefit of replenishing it through his phantoms' attacks made it even better. That's a constant layer of protection while my phantoms are fighting, he thought, nodding in approval.

Spectral Persistence sparked a brief chuckle as he reflected on the Grove Stalker fight. This would've been useful back then, he mused. It ensured his phantoms could deal damage even after being destroyed, providing not only a guaranteed offensive presence but also a few seconds of invulnerable distraction. It's like they'd keep fighting from beyond the grave, he thought with a smirk.

Struggling to make a choice, Colm narrowed his options down to Spiritual Shield and Spectral Persistence. The main reason he eliminated Phantom's Lifeline was simple: Lingering Vitality already covers healing. Overlapping abilities wouldn't make sense right now.

Now, it was down to the final two.

Spiritual Shield is great—it would definitely help me survive longer, he thought. But Spectral Persistence guarantees consistent damage, even if my phantoms are destroyed.

His brow furrowed as he weighed the benefits of each. I've been hitting above my level pretty consistently in this world. But how useful is 10% extra health if something can kill me in one hit anyway?

The thought solidified his decision. With a firm nod, Colm selected Spectral Persistence, ready to put the ability to use.

Feeling the rush of acquiring his new ability, Colm was eager to put it to the test. He commanded Carver to attack and destroy Lance, and the results were immediate. Upon Lance's destruction, a faint, shimmering echo of the spearman lingered in the air.

"Attack Carver," Colm ordered the remnant spearman. It obeyed, striking at Carver with a powerful thrust of its spear. While the attack dealt far less damage than Lance's original strikes, they were enough to leave a mark. Moments later, the remnant faded from view, and a familiar notification flashed before him.

Your Phantom Spearman has been destroyed.

Determined to understand the limits of his new ability, Colm repeated the test. He re-summoned Lance and once again commanded Carver to attack and this time he added a twist—he ordered Lance to destroy Carver while the phantom was in its remnant form while ordering Carver to attack the remnant endlessly.

As Carver's blows landed, they phased harmlessly through Lance's spectral remnant, unable to cause any damage. Meanwhile, Lance retaliated with unrelenting strikes, chipping away at Carver's form. In a surprising turn, the diminished strength of the remnant was still enough to destroy Carver before the three-second expiration timer ran out.

Grinning in satisfaction, Colm admired the synergy of his newfound ability. This is incredible, he thought, already envisioning the strategic possibilities it opened up. As the phantoms finally faded, another notification appeared.

Your Phantom Spearman has been destroyed.

Your Phantom Warrior has been destroyed.

Pleased with the results, Colm quickly re-summoned both phantoms and pulled up his status screen, eager to see his progress laid out before him.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Human

Level: 32

Health: 740 / 740

Mana: 302 / 375

Strength: 30 (34)

Dexterity: 45 (51)

Intelligence: 66 (75)

Constitution: 65 (74)

Class: Spirit Warden

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Level 10) [Carver]

- Phantom Spearman (Level 9) [Lance]

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Level 8)

- Spectral Persistence (Level 1)

- Empty

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 3)

- Stealth (Level 7)

- Pain Resistance (Level 7)

- Hardened Skin (Level 3)

- Slash Resistance (Level 4)

- Spear Mastery (Level 3)

- Sprint Mastery (Level 10)

- Poison Resistance (Level 6)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

- Blessing of the Grove

As Colm reviewed the updates on his status, he couldn't help but chuckle at how the system had officially adopted the names he'd given his phantoms, listing them alongside his skills. Creepy how intrusive this thing is, he thought, but I guess it already knows everything about me anyway.

A shudder ran through him as he thought back on his mental state during the trial. I really need to find people, he realized. Isolation like this isn't good for my sanity.

A few things caught his eye now that had had time to fully digest his status—the system displayed the total value of all his stats, with the bonuses from his achievements, neatly alongside the base numbers. However, health and mana didn't follow the same format; only the updated values, reflecting his enhanced stats, were visible.

As he continued scanning, his gaze landed on his achievements. The three he had earned from the Grove had merged into a single entry: Blessing of the Grove. It made sense, considering the earlier notification had mentioned a synergized achievement, with the others converging to form this one.

Then another detail stood out. "Of course," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "It rounds down." He grumbled at the missing fraction of a stat. I should technically have .75 more constitution, but it just tossed it away.

Annoying as it was, he filed the observation away, reminding himself to focus on the bigger picture.

With a satisfied sigh, Colm closed his status screen and cracked his neck, easing some of the lingering tension. Now rested and recharged, he felt ready to leave the cavern, and finally have a meal and drink his fill.

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