Time seemed to flow differently in the Forest of Black Ash. Days and nights blurred into an eternal twilight, where the twisted branches formed a nearly impenetrable canopy. Every step Eren took led him deeper into a living labyrinth where death awaited at every turn. But he was no longer the weakling they had left behind.
The Infernal Evolution System kept presenting him with quests, each victory making him stronger, faster, and deadlier. Monsters that would have torn him apart in moments now trembled before him. Yet an unsettling feeling persisted—a whisper, a presence that seemed to watch him from the shadows.
A New Challenge
Eren stopped to rest by a black river that snaked through the heart of the forest. The water, though clear, exuded an eerie chill, as if it drained the warmth from everything it touched. As he drank, a notification appeared before him.
[New Quest: Investigate the Cursed Altar. Reward: +15 Intelligence and Unique Skill.][Location: 200 meters east. Time Limit: 3 hours.]
Eren frowned. The idea of a cursed altar was far from comforting, but the reward was too valuable to ignore. He rose, checking the state of his makeshift gear. His newfound strength allowed him to wield an ancient glaive he had found in a clearing, but he knew it might not be enough if the altar held a true threat.
The Cursed Altar
After an hour of cautious walking, Eren reached a clearing. At its center stood a black altar, similar to the one near which he had been betrayed. But this one seemed alive. Black roots coiled around it, and a pulsating red light emanated from its core, like the heartbeat of a monstrous being.
[Warning: Danger Zone. Guardian Monster Detected.]
The ground trembled, and a massive creature emerged from the shadows. It was a chimera, a grotesque mix of wolf, serpent, and raven, with skeletal wings that stretched several meters wide.
[Monster: Guardian of the Cursed Altar (Level 15)][Objective: Destroy the monster to purify the altar.]
Eren tightened his grip on the glaive, his heart pounding. The creature lunged, claws gleaming in the faint light. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike.
The Fight
The battle was brutal. The creature was fast, its movements erratic, but Eren now fought with more than brute strength. Every motion was calculated, every strike aimed at an exposed weakness.
He drove his glaive into one of the beast's skeletal wings, pinning it to the ground. The monster howled, red energy erupting from the wound. But before he could press the advantage, its serpent-like tail coiled around his leg and hurled him into a tree.
Blood dripped from his lips, but Eren grinned. This pain was familiar, almost comforting. He rose, summoning a fraction of his newfound power. The shadows around him began to writhe, forming jagged spikes that shot toward the beast.
With a final, agonized roar, the creature dissolved into black mist. A notification appeared.
[Quest Complete. Rewards Earned: +15 Intelligence, Unique Skill Unlocked: Absolute Shadow Control.]
A Revelation
As he approached the altar, its pulsating red light began to dim. Placing a hand on its cold surface, Eren was struck by a vision.
He saw the forest as it once was—a thriving, sunlit paradise. But a dark entity, known as the Plague of Shadows, had corrupted these lands, turning the forest into a nightmarish maze.
"If you seek power, come to me," a guttural voice whispered. "But know that this path will cost you everything."
Eren staggered back, his breath shallow. He wasn't sure if this evolution was making him stronger… or more monstrous.