"A B-level skill! Max, that's amazing!" Lily practically vibrated with excitement, completely oblivious to the glowing "Fragment of Ancient Knowledge" that was currently making my inventory screen look like a disco ball.
"And 'Shaman's Healing Aura'? Does that mean you can heal us? Like, poof, no more boo-boos?"
I chuckled, trying to keep my expression neutral as I discreetly tapped the fragment in my inventory. "Something like that, Lily. It's a nice little bonus, for sure."
My mind, however, was racing. A B-level healing skill was fantastic, especially for a Mage.
It meant I wouldn't have to rely solely on potions. But the fragment… that was the real prize. In my previous life, a "Fragment of Ancient Knowledge" was a legendary rarity, usually found only in high-level dungeons or as drops from world bosses.
To get one from a tutorial-level Goblin Shaman? My SSS-Level Extraction talent was truly a cheat code.
I quickly activated the fragment.
A blinding flash of light erupted from my inventory, followed by a sensation like a thousand tiny sparks igniting in my brain. It wasn't painful, more like a sudden download of information directly into my virtual consciousness.
[Fragment of Ancient Knowledge consumed!]
[New Skill Acquired: Lightning Bolt (A-Level)]
My jaw dropped. A-Level?! Not just a new skill, but an A-level skill! And Lightning Bolt, no less! This wasn't just "strong," this was "turn-enemies-into-crispy-critters-and-make-them-regret-their-life-choices" strong.
Fireball was like a gentle nudge; Lightning Bolt was a full-on electric guitar solo to the face.
"Max? Are you okay? You look like you just swallowed a whole goblin," Lily asked, peering at me with concern.
"Better than okay, Lily," I managed, a wide, slightly manic grin spreading across my face. "I just… had a breakthrough. A shocking breakthrough, you might say." I winked.
She tilted her head. "Shocking? Did you, like, learn how to make lightning? That would be so cool!"
My grin widened. "Funny you should mention that, Lily. Follow me. I think it's time for a little… demonstration."
I led her to a slightly more open area, away from any unsuspecting fluffy rabbits or grumpy mushrooms. I spotted a particularly sturdy-looking, moss-covered rock. It was just begging to be zapped.
"Alright, Lily, stand back," I instructed, holding out my hand. I could feel the raw power coursing through me, a tingling sensation that made the hairs on my arms stand up.
This wasn't the gentle warmth of Fireball; this was cold, crackling energy, eager to be unleashed.
I focused, recalling the newly acquired knowledge from the fragment. The incantation for Lightning Bolt was more complex, a series of rapid-fire mental commands.
"By the power of… well, still me, and a whole lot of static electricity… LIGHTNING BOLT!"
CRACKLE!
ZAP!
BOOM!
A blinding bolt of pure, unadulterated lightning erupted from my fingertips, streaking across the air with an ear-splitting crack. It slammed into the mossy rock with devastating force. The rock didn't just get singed; it exploded into a shower of pebbles and dust, leaving a smoking crater in its place. The air smelled faintly of ozone and burnt moss.
Lily stared, her mouth agape, her pink pigtails practically vibrating with shock. Her eyes were wide as saucers. "WHOA! MAX! YOU JUST… YOU JUST BLEW UP A ROCK! THAT WAS SO COOL! CAN YOU DO IT AGAIN?!"
I laughed, a genuine, booming laugh that surprised even myself. "I think I can, Lily! That, my friend, was my new A-level 'Lightning Bolt' skill!"
"A-level?!" she shrieked. "You got an A-level skill from a Shaman?! You're like, a wizard! A super wizard! I want to blow up rocks too!"
"Patience, young grasshopper," I said, striking a sage-like pose. "First, you master the Mana Bolt. Then, the Fireball. And then, maybe, just maybe, you get to blow up rocks with lightning."
The power of Lightning Bolt was exhilarating. It wasn't just strong; it was fast. It was precise. It was everything I needed to deal with the swarms of monsters that would soon plague the world.
My confidence, already high, soared to new heights. With Extraction and now Lightning Bolt, I was truly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
"Alright, Lily," I said, turning to her, my expression becoming a little more serious. "We've pretty much cleaned out this forest.
You're getting good at fighting these guys, but there's a whole world out there. A much bigger, much scarier world. I think it's time we moved on."
Lily's eyes widened. "Moved on? To where?"
"To the next zone," I explained. "The Whispering Woods. It's a bit tougher, but the monsters there drop better loot, and the experience is much higher. Plus, there are some specific monsters there that I need to… extract things from." I gave her a knowing look.
"The Whispering Woods? Sounds spooky!" she said, but there was an undeniable glint of excitement in her eyes. "Are there, like, giant spiders? Or maybe talking trees?"
"Probably both, knowing this game," I joked. "But don't worry. I'll be right there with you. And besides, you've got your new staff and your awesome Mana Bolt now. You're practically a seasoned adventurer!"
She puffed out her chest. "You bet I am! Let's go, Max! To the Whispering Woods!"
The journey to the Whispering Woods wasn't long, but the atmosphere changed noticeably as we approached the boundary.
The cheerful chirping of the tutorial forest gave way to a more subdued, rustling sound. The trees grew taller, their branches intertwining overhead, casting long, eerie shadows. The air felt cooler, and a faint, almost imperceptible mist hung in the air.
"Okay, this is definitely spookier," Lily whispered, clutching her staff a little tighter. "Are you sure there aren't any talking trees that want to eat us?"
"Positive," I said, though I kept my senses sharp. I knew the Whispering Woods. It was home to Goblins, yes, but also to Dire Wolves, giant spiders, and even the occasional Forest Spirit, which could be a real pain.
We hadn't walked far when we heard it – a low growl, followed by the snapping of twigs. A large, grey wolf with glowing red eyes emerged from the undergrowth. It was a Dire Wolf, much bigger and more aggressive than anything we'd faced so far.
"Dire Wolf!" I announced. "Okay, Lily, this is where your dodging skills come in handy. Mana Bolt its face, then get out of the way! I'll hit it with a Fireball!"
The Dire Wolf snarled, its fangs bared, and lunged. It was fast, much faster than the rabbits or goblins.
"Whoa!" Lily yelped, barely sidestepping its charge. She quickly retaliated with a Mana Bolt, hitting the wolf squarely on the snout. It yelped, momentarily stunned.
I followed up with a Fireball, singeing its fur. The wolf shook its head, then turned its glowing red eyes on me. It was clearly annoyed.
"It's mad now!" Lily cried, dodging another lunge. She was moving well, much more fluidly than before. Her 'Quick Hop' skill, which I'd given her, was definitely paying off.
The Dire Wolf focused on me, seeing me as the bigger threat. It lunged again, jaws snapping. This was my chance to test the Lightning Bolt in a real combat scenario.
"Alright, wolfie, time for a little shock therapy!" I muttered, channeling the electric energy.
CRACKLE! ZAP!
A bolt of lightning shot from my hand, striking the Dire Wolf mid-leap. It howled, a guttural shriek of pain, and slammed into the ground, twitching violently. Smoke curled from its fur. It was still alive, but barely.
"Max! That was amazing!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe again. "You totally fried it!"
"Now, Lily!" I urged. "Finish it off! Show it what you got!"
She nodded, her face set in a determined expression. She gathered mana, her staff glowing with a faint blue light. "For all the fluffy bunnies you terrorized… Mana Bolt!"
Her Mana Bolt, now much stronger and more accurate, struck the twitching wolf. With a final, pained whimper, the Dire Wolf dissolved into motes of light.
[Dire Wolf defeated! Experience gained!]
[Extraction Talent Activated!]
The extraction list popped up, and I quickly scanned it. "Dire Wolf Pelt (Uncommon Item)," "Greater Strength Fragment (Uncommon Attribute)," "Wolf's Howl (C-Level Skill)." All good, solid drops for this area.
But then, just as I was about to close the window, another line appeared, shimmering with a faint, almost invisible aura. It wasn't as bright as the legendary fragment, but it was definitely something special.
[Extracted: Faint Scent of Corruption (Unique Quest Item)]
My brow furrowed. A "Faint Scent of Corruption"? That wasn't in any of my ten years of knowledge about the Whispering Woods. This was new. This was… unexpected.
And it definitely didn't sound like it came from a regular Dire Wolf.
"What's wrong, Max?" Lily asked, noticing my sudden silence. "Did you get something weird?"
I looked at the shimmering item, then back at the spot where the Dire Wolf had been. There was nothing unusual there. But the item description… "Corruption."
That word sent a shiver down my spine. It was a term usually associated with the encroaching darkness, the very thing I was trying to prevent.
"Lily," I said slowly, my voice a little more serious than before. "I think we just stumbled upon something… bigger than a wolf. Something that might just lead us straight to the heart of the problem."