The Mountians Trials

**Chapter 5: The Mountain's Trials**

The next morning, Alex left the village of Stonebrook at dawn, the ancient tome Eamon had given him safely tucked into his pack. The village was still asleep as he set off toward the mountains that loomed in the distance. His destination was clear—he would seek out the ruins Eamon had mentioned and continue his journey to grow stronger.

The path to the mountains was rugged and steep, winding through dense forests and along rocky cliffs. The air grew cooler as he ascended, and the trees thinned, giving way to bare rock and scrubby vegetation. The mountains were imposing, their peaks shrouded in mist, but Alex felt a sense of purpose with each step he took.

As he climbed, he focused on honing his skills. He practiced the techniques outlined in the ancient tome, swinging his sword with increasing precision and power. Each swing, each step, was a small but meaningful step toward mastery. The system responded to his efforts, rewarding him with gradual increases in skill mastery and strength.

**[Skill Mastery Increased: Swift Strike – 10%]**

**[Skill Mastery Increased: Iron Skin – 5%]**

The system's notifications were a constant reminder of his progress. With each increase in mastery, his movements became more fluid, his strikes more deadly. Iron Skin, too, was becoming more effective, the sensation of reinforced skin growing stronger as he endured the harsh mountain winds and the occasional slip on the rocky terrain.

But it wasn't just his skills that were growing—his understanding of the world around him was deepening as well. The mountains were home to a variety of creatures, some of which he encountered as he ascended.

The first were the mountain wolves—agile predators with thick fur and sharp fangs. They hunted in packs, and Alex quickly learned to be cautious as he traveled. When the wolves attacked, he used Swift Strike to take down the leaders, disrupting their coordination. The battles were intense, but each victory brought more experience.

**[XP Gained: 50]**

**[XP Gained: 75]**

**[Current XP: 225/300]**

The next challenge came in the form of mountain trolls—large, brutish creatures with thick hides and enormous strength. They were slow, but their blows were devastating. Alex relied on Iron Skin to absorb the impact of their attacks, waiting for openings to strike. His sword barely made a dent in their tough skin at first, but as his mastery of Swift Strike grew, he began to target their weak points—their joints and eyes.

**[XP Gained: 100]**

**[Current XP: 325/300]**

**[Level Up!]**

**[Current Level: 3]**

With each battle, Alex felt himself growing stronger, more attuned to the rhythm of combat. The trolls, once daunting foes, became manageable challenges as he adapted to their tactics and exploited their weaknesses.

After several days of climbing and fighting, Alex reached a plateau high in the mountains. The view was breathtaking—a sea of clouds below him, the peaks of the mountains stretching out in all directions. But it wasn't the view that caught his attention; it was the ancient stone structure partially hidden among the rocks.

The ruins.

They were unlike anything Alex had seen before. The walls were carved from dark stone, worn by time but still imposing. Strange symbols and intricate patterns adorned the entrance, hinting at the ancient power that once resided here. The air was thick with an aura of forgotten magic, a testament to the history these stones had witnessed.

But as Alex approached the entrance, he noticed something that set his nerves on edge—a foul stench, a mix of decay and something far worse. He crouched behind a boulder, peering into the darkness of the ruin. His enhanced senses, honed by the system, picked up the faint sounds of movement within—shuffling feet, low grunts, and the occasional hiss of something unnatural.

Goblins.

Alex had heard of them from the villagers in Stonebrook—vicious, cunning creatures that thrived in dark, hidden places. They were known for their cruelty and their tendency to overrun ancient ruins like this one, desecrating the once-holy sites with their filth.

As he listened, Alex realized that the goblins weren't alone. There was a deeper, more menacing growl that echoed through the ruins, one that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

An orc chieftain.

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Orcs were formidable foes on their own, but a chieftain was something else entirely—a leader among them, stronger, smarter, and far more dangerous. If an orc chieftain had taken up residence in these ruins, then the goblins were likely following its orders, forming a small army within the ancient walls.

Alex knew he couldn't turn back now. This was exactly the kind of challenge he needed to push his limits, to test the full extent of his abilities. The ruins held secrets, and if he could defeat the orc chieftain and clear out the goblins, he might uncover the ancient artifacts or knowledge that Eamon had hinted at.

He drew his sword, the blade gleaming in the pale light of the mountain dawn. With Iron Skin active and Swift Strike ready, he moved silently toward the entrance, careful not to alert the creatures within. The air grew colder as he descended into the darkness, the sounds of the goblins growing louder.

The first chamber was filled with the stench of goblins. The creatures were small and twisted, with pale green skin and beady eyes that glinted with malice. They were scattered around the chamber, some gnawing on bones, others arguing over scraps of food. Alex counted at least a dozen of them.

He moved quickly, using Swift Strike to take down the first few goblins before they could react. The system rewarded his swift and lethal strikes with experience, but there was no time to savor the victories. The goblins shrieked in alarm, rushing at him with crude weapons and jagged teeth.

Alex fought with a calm focus, every move calculated. He parried their attacks, using his enhanced speed and agility to stay one step ahead of the swarm. The goblins were fast and vicious, but they lacked coordination, their attacks wild and unfocused. It wasn't long before the chamber was littered with their bodies.

**[XP Gained: 25]**

**[XP Gained: 50]**

**[XP Gained: 100]**

**[Current XP: 225/600]**

The system's notifications flashed in his mind, but Alex didn't let himself become distracted. He knew the real threat was still deeper within the ruins. The orc chieftain wouldn't be so easy to defeat.

He moved cautiously through the next few chambers, dispatching more goblins as he went. The deeper he ventured, the more signs of the chieftain's presence he found—broken weapons, larger footprints, and the remains of what looked like an ancient throne, now desecrated and used as a makeshift war room.

Finally, he reached the central chamber. It was vast, with a high ceiling supported by massive stone pillars. At the far end of the chamber, sitting on a crude throne made of bones and iron, was the orc chieftain.

The creature was massive, even by orc standards. It wore a patchwork of armor, its skin a dark green, almost black in the dim light. Its eyes glowed with a cruel intelligence, and its muscles rippled as it rose to its feet, gripping a massive warhammer in one hand. The goblins in the chamber scurried away at its approach, clearly terrified of their leader.

Alex steeled himself. This was the moment he had been preparing for. The orc chieftain was a powerful foe, but he had faced worse odds and come out victorious. He focused on the system, feeling the power of his skills ready to be unleashed.

The orc chieftain roared, the sound echoing through the chamber as it charged at Alex, the ground shaking with each step. Alex met the charge head-on, his sword clashing against the orc's warhammer with a deafening crash.

The battle was brutal. The orc chieftain's strength was immense, each swing of its warhammer sending shockwaves through the air. Alex dodged and weaved, using Swift Strike to land quick, precise blows on the orc's exposed flesh. But the chieftain was relentless, shrugging off attacks that would have felled lesser foes.

Iron Skin absorbed the brunt of the orc's attacks, but each blow still left Alex reeling. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever—he needed to find a way to turn the tide.

As the battle raged, Alex noticed something—a faint, pulsating light coming from one of the stone pillars. It was a symbol, similar to those he had seen at the entrance to the ruins, but this one was glowing with a soft, blue light. He realized it was connected to the magic that still lingered in these ruins.

The orc chieftain, focused entirely on the battle, hadn't noticed the light. Alex decided to take a risk. He dodged another powerful swing from the warhammer and sprinted toward the pillar, placing his hand on the glowing symbol.

The moment his hand touched the symbol, he felt a surge of energy flow through him. The system reacted instantly, recognizing the ancient power and channeling it into his skills.

**[Skill Acquired: Elemental Infusion (Fire)]**

**[Skill Mastery Increased: Swift Strike – 15%]**

The orc chieftain hesitated, sensing the shift in power. For in Alex's eyes gleamed a spark. A spark of a long forgotten power.