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Chapter 1 – Part 7M
(Rare Shard Retrieval & Minor Dungeon Danger)
The dungeon walls shimmered faintly as Jofyn pressed deeper into the winding stone corridors. His pack shifted with the weight of previously collected crystals, but the hum of his Forge Core encouraged him forward, steady and assured.
"Alright," he whispered, brushing dust from a low-hanging stalactite. "There's something… different here. I can feel it."
The robe floated ahead, bobbing slightly like an overexcited bird. "Different? Don't tell me you're finally sensing the rare stuff! About time someone appreciated my guidance."
Jofyn smirked. "Not your ego this time. It's… the pulse. Stronger. Sharper."
The corridor opened into a small chamber, faintly illuminated by a soft, blue luminescence. At its center hovered a shard unlike any he had ever seen: jagged edges like frozen lightning, pulsating with a quiet, almost sentient energy.
"Finally," the robe murmured, voice full of awe. "That one's… exquisite. Handle it carefully. One slip, and it could slice through more than just stone."
Jofyn approached cautiously, hands outstretched. He began tracing subtle sigils in the air, connecting the shard's pulse with the Forge Core. Threads of energy danced along his fingers, weaving a protective lattice around it. The shard vibrated in response, as if recognizing a hand skilled enough to handle it.
Then—a sharp hiss echoed through the chamber. From the shadows, a small elemental creature, part flame and part shadow, slithered toward him. Its glowing eyes locked onto the shard, claws scraping faint sparks against the stone.
"Ah, fantastic," the robe muttered, voice dry. "You've got company. Lucky me."
Jofyn's hands moved quickly, weaving convergence threads around both the shard and the creature. A pulse of controlled energy surged from the Forge Core, stabilizing the shard while forcing the elemental back. The creature hissed again, a warning rather than an attack, as Jofyn focused on precision rather than force.
"Focus on flow, not fight," he muttered, recalling hours spent synchronizing shards with threads. "Control the energy, guide it…"
The robe hummed with amusement. "Guiding fire and shadows with patience. That's… surprisingly effective. Who knew farmer boy could handle finesse this well?"
With a subtle pulse of Forge Core energy, the elemental creature retreated, slipping back into the shadows, leaving the rare shard undisturbed. Jofyn reached out, hands steady, and secured the shard in a reinforced pouch of woven threads and crystal-lined compartments. It hummed faintly, a quiet heartbeat of energy, as if approving of its new companion.
"Got it," Jofyn whispered, brushing sweat from his brow. "First real dangerous extraction… and it's ours."
The robe hovered above, voice lighter, teasing. "Not bad, Vale. Not bad at all. Next time, we might even name the little beast friend before it attacks us again."
Jofyn laughed softly, eyes reflecting the shard's faint glow. Beyond the immediate danger, he felt a subtle strengthening in the Forge Core. The first tangible increase from a direct confrontation—proof that experience, ingenuity, and persistence could translate to real growth.
As they left the chamber, the corridor now quiet, Jofyn felt a small, almost imperceptible pulse—an echo of life, of awareness, watching him from deeper in the dungeon. He ignored it for now, knowing instinctively it was connected to something greater waiting beyond these early trials.
"Tomorrow," he muttered, "we'll go even further. And next time, I won't just stabilize… I'll create."
The robe floated close, a soft laugh in its voice. "Finally, some ambition. About time, Vale. About time."
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