Rite of the Forest

With a sudden crash through the underbrush, Dawn tumbled to the ground. Her eyes, each a different hue, widened in panic as an energy blast singed a tree inches from her face. Scrambling to her feet, she raised her hand cannon. Its charge hummed, filling the air with the smell of ozone before she fired an arc of electricity at her assailant.

The attacker, clad in a black combat suit and wielding a charged rifle, narrowly dodged her shot. However, as he landed, Dawn's fingers snapped in swift motion, and a sudden burst of ice anchored his arms to the ground. Without hesitation, she switched to her spear, thrusting it through his armored suit and into his neck. She continued her desperate sprint, not pausing to check his pockets or collect any gear.

Two more Venin operatives burst from the underbrush, shouting in alarm at the sight of their fallen comrade. They had mistaken Dawn for a new type of mech, given her makeshift armor of scavenged parts. The chase was on.

Dawn's heart pounded in her ears, every thud echoing the urgency of her flight. The underbrush became a blur as she sprinted, relying on her instincts to guide her. But Venin operatives were trained trackers, and she knew she needed an advantage.

Suddenly, she skidded to a stop, taking a calculated risk. Pressing her hand to the ground, she focused her energy. From her fingers, a web of blue luminescence spread, intertwining with the roots below. The forest around her seemed to answer her call, the ground trembling slightly.

The two pursuing Venin agents, sensing the disturbance, slowed their pace, their eyes darting around warily. "What's she doing?" one whispered to the other, trying to find a clear shot through the thick foliage.

Without warning, roots burst from the earth, coiling around the operatives' legs and yanking them off their feet. One managed to fire off a wild shot, which zinged past Dawn, narrowly missing her.

Seizing the moment, she channeled her energy through her spear, the tip glowing white-hot. With precision, she hurled it at the restrained operatives. It sailed through the air, releasing a concussive force that knocked them out cold.

Dawn approached cautiously, her senses on high alert. Making sure they were truly incapacitated, she began to rummage through their gear, searching for any information or tools that might aid her journey.

Among the items, she found a small communicator. Holding it to her ear, she could hear faint whispers, the voices of more Venin operatives coordinating their search. They were close, and they were converging on her location.

With a swift motion, she crushed the communicator under her boot. Dawn had to move, and fast. The forest was both her sanctuary and her battleground. She knew its secrets, and she would use them to her advantage.

As she moved deeper into the woods, she prepared for the next wave of attackers, formulating a strategy. The battle had only just begun, and she wasn't going down without a fight. She had spent days fighting against the mechanoids that were of much greater threat to her then these single operatives could pose. And a great deal of her experience gained had gone to her Major class. Boosting her total level to 20. The first milestone, marking her as someone a cut above the normal people of the world. As for her milestone mission, that would let her continue to level up. Was to come out victories in a battle she was outnumbered in.

The perfect time to fight back against the 8 men tracking her. And with 3 down already, things were looking on her side.

The dense canopy overhead provided a mottled shade, allowing patches of sunlight to stream through. Dawn's breaths came fast but measured, the gentle rustling of leaves and distant calls of birds temporarily calming her racing mind. The fusion of metal and skin on her body – remnants of previous battles with mechanoids – gleamed intermittently in the dappled sunlight.

She could sense the other five Venin operatives converging on her location. In her mind's eye, she mapped out the terrain, planning her tactics. With her Major class and the recent level up, she possessed abilities and skills that made her formidable. She took a moment to reflect on her progress: from a novice, unsure of her own strength, to now standing tall, prepared to take on a squad of elite soldiers. Her experience against the mechanoids had sharpened her instincts, improved her agility, and granted her new techniques to manipulate the energy within and around her.

'Five left. Five skilled enemies, but also five opportunities,' she mused. 'This milestone mission... it's as if the universe itself conspired for this moment. I have to seize it.'

Dawn pressed her back against a tree trunk, focusing her energy. She closed her eyes, letting the energy envelop her, feeling every tremor, every heartbeat of the forest. When she opened her eyes, they were filled with determination, both irises shimmering with intensity.

The first operative emerged from the east, his steps almost silent but not silent enough. Dawn's fingers twitched, electricity dancing over her palm as she threw a magic net towards the firstcomer. The bright blue flash of crackling sparks threw him off guard. The flash of blue reflected in the visor of his helmet, Dawn followed the net. Thrusting her spear into the mans chest as he faltered, paralyzed by the magic electricity. Another clean kill.

Suddenly, from her left, a charged bolt narrowly missed her shoulder, singeing the foliage behind. Without wasting a moment, she ducked and rolled, coming to a crouch behind a boulder. The next few seconds were crucial. She breathed in deeply, sensing the energy around her. Two operatives were closing in from different directions, their footsteps measured, their intentions clear.

Dawn whispered a brief incantation, feeling the ground beneath her react. The earth shifted, and out of the soil emerged a dozen sharp, crystal-like spikes. She hoped it would be enough of a distraction.

The nearest operative, a tall figure with a hawk-like visor, noticed the spikes and hesitated. It was the split second Dawn needed. She lunged, her spear extended, its tip glowing a fierce blue. The operative barely had time to raise his rifle before the spear pierced through, immobilizing him.

But there was no time to celebrate. Another operative had taken advantage of her preoccupation and was almost upon her. He swung a charged blade, aiming for her neck. Dawn parried with the shaft of her spear, sparks flying from the clash. Their eyes met for a brief moment, each assessing the other. His were cold, unyielding, while hers burned with determination.

Dawn kicked out, catching him in the stomach. As he staggered back, she sent a condensed ball of wind his way, which upon contact, exploded with a force that sent him flying into a tree trunk, dazed.

Three down, two more to go.

Before she could plan her next move, a sharp pain erupted in her side. A knife, thrown with deadly accuracy, had embedded itself. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she pulled it out, a brief flow of blood staining her makeshift armor. She spotted the fourth operative in the distance, reloading another set of throwing knives.

"This one's skilled," she thought, quickly calculating her options.

Summoning her energy, Dawn formed a protective ice shield around herself just as another barrage of knives clattered against it. Using the momentary barrier as cover, she reached into her own collection of tools and threw a smoke bomb towards the operative. A thick, obscuring cloud rapidly enveloped the area.

Blinded and disoriented, the operative's movements became frantic. Dawn could sense his heightened heartbeat, his confusion. She emerged from the smoke, moving like a shadow, her spear ready. In one swift move, she took him down, ensuring he would not pose a further threat.

Just one more to contend with.

She sensed him before she saw him. This last operative was different, more reserved, waiting for the right moment to strike. Her senses heightened, Dawn felt a sudden rush of air behind her, instinctively dodging just as a blade narrowly missed her.

The operative was older, his face marked by scars of past battles, his eyes sharp and calculating. Without a word, they engaged, their weapons clashing with fierce intensity. Each blow, each parry was a test of skill, strength, and will.

But Dawn had the edge, not just in her skills but her determination to survive and grow stronger. Using a combination of her elemental magic and combat training, she managed to disarm the seasoned operative, pinning him to the ground with her spear inches from his throat.

Their eyes met again, and for a moment, there was a mutual respect.

Then, without another word, Dawn finished him. Quickly and painlessly as she could.

Breathing heavily, she took a moment to assess her injuries and surroundings, going back to the operatives that she hadn't been able to confirm, making sure to double tap. She could have let them live, but letting Venin know of her abilities, and that she had killed some of the men sent to collect her. Wasn't something she wanted to risk.

The forest, which had just witnessed an intense battle, slowly returned to its natural rhythm.

Dawn had succeeded. She had faced insurmountable odds and come out victorious. But this was just one battle, and she knew her journey was far from over. With renewed determination, she continued her path, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Right as she was prepared to leave, the notification from the system appeared before her. She had completed two mission at once. The 'Cat and Mouse' mission that had tasked her with either avoiding or defeating the operatives. And the Milestone mission, that had her needing to win a battle against more opponents then she had allies.

Luckily it counted, and the operatives weren't too low a level compared to her. Otherwise it wouldn't have counted to the mission.

And with her able to increase her overall level to 40 now the level cap she had reached, triggering the mission was passed. She dumped the rest of experience she had into her main class.

.

.

Walking out of the forest, Dawn saw before her an endless expanse of sand. Not unlike when she first left the Venin facility with Twilight.

However, instead of mountains, she saw was looked like tall thin spires in the distance to the south west. Nexhaven. Or at least the landmarking that sat on the surface above the underground city. She was getting closer. Only a day, two at most from getting to the city. Where she would be able to grow more peacefully. And start making some connections with the kinds of people that would actually do her some good to know.

One foot before the other, Dawn continued. The destination of her journey in sight, with the danger of the forest behind her. She had grown a massive amount in the half month she spent there. Much faster and greater then the 3 months she had spent within Venin. But she was also forced to, for if she didn't, she would never had made it out alive. Every piece of equipment a tale of victory.

A pain in her side as she placed a bandage of fibermesh over the knife wound from the fight. Dawn smiled despite the pain. Soon. Soon, she would be able to rest.