Chapter 20: Into the Emberwild

The morning dawned crisp and cold as the group left Ironholt behind, the rising sun casting long shadows across the rocky landscape. Their destination lay far to the east: the Emberwild, a dangerous and volatile region known for its elemental storms and untamed wilderness. Kael led the group, his spear in hand and his thoughts heavy with the weight of their mission.

The town faded into the distance as they trekked across the open plains, the gentle rolling hills soon giving way to jagged cliffs and dense thickets. Despite the calm of their surroundings, an unspoken tension hung in the air.

"Anyone else feel like we're walking into a deathtrap?" Corin said, breaking the silence. His voice was light, but there was a sharp edge to his words.

Marra glanced over her shoulder, her expression as steady as ever. "That's because we are. But it's not like we have a choice."

"Not helping, Marra," Leena muttered, her fingers tightening on the hilt of her sword.

Kael sighed, scanning the horizon as he walked. "Gerric said the Emberwild is dangerous for a reason. Elemental beasts, volatile energy… we need to be prepared for anything."

"Easy for you to say," Corin replied. "You've got your fancy skills and your personal world to hide in."

Kael stopped, turning to face the group. "We're all walking into this together. My skills aren't a free pass. If anything, they make me a bigger target. That's why we need to rely on each other."

Corin raised an eyebrow, but he didn't argue. Instead, he shrugged and gestured for Kael to continue. "Fair enough. Lead the way, fearless leader."

---

The terrain grew harsher as the day wore on. The rocky cliffs became steeper, and the vegetation grew sparse and twisted, as though the land itself had been warped by the Emberwild's energy. The air felt heavier, charged with a faint hum that made Kael's skin prickle.

"This place feels… wrong," Leena said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like the Hollow Vale, but different."

"It's the leylines," Thane explained, his staff glowing faintly as he examined the surrounding area. "The Emberwild is saturated with energy. It's unstable, unpredictable. That's why the beasts here are so dangerous."

Marra halted abruptly, holding up a hand to signal the group. Her sharp eyes scanned the path ahead, and Kael followed her gaze to a cluster of jagged rocks. At first, he saw nothing unusual—but then the shadows shifted.

"Something's there," Marra said, nocking an arrow.

Kael stepped forward, his spear at the ready. "Stay back. I'll check it out."

Before anyone could protest, Kael activated Evasive Step, his movements becoming faster and more fluid as he approached the rocks.

Evasive Step Activated

-5 MP

The shadows shifted again, and a low growl rumbled through the air. A moment later, a massive, wolf-like creature emerged, its fur crackling with arcs of electricity.

Emberwolf (Level 8)

HP: 200/200

The creature bared its fangs, sparks dancing along its body as it snarled at Kael. He tightened his grip on his spear, his heart pounding as he assessed the situation.

"Emberwolf!" Thane shouted. "Be careful—it's charged with elemental energy!"

Kael didn't need the warning. The beast lunged, its movements swift and unpredictable. Kael sidestepped the attack, the enhanced reflexes from Evasive Step keeping him just out of reach. He countered with a quick thrust of his spear, but the Emberwolf twisted mid-air, dodging the attack.

"Fast," Kael muttered, repositioning himself. He glanced back at the group. "Spread out! Don't give it a single target!"

Marra loosed an arrow, the projectile striking the Emberwolf's flank. The beast let out a furious snarl, its body crackling with energy as it turned toward her. Kael took the opportunity to strike, driving his spear into the creature's side.

Skill Replication Activated

Skill Replicated: Lightning Reflexes (Basic)

-10 MP

Kael felt a surge of energy as the skill took hold, sharpening his senses even further. The Emberwolf lashed out with a paw, claws sparking with electricity, but Kael ducked under the strike and delivered another blow to its flank.

The Emberwolf staggered, letting out a guttural snarl as its body flickered with unstable energy. Kael stepped back, his breath ragged as he assessed the beast.

Victory!

You have defeated Emberwolf (Level 8)

+50 XP

Kael froze, frowning as the notification flickered and disappeared. His instincts screamed that something was wrong.

"Wait!" he shouted. "It's not—"

The Emberwolf surged to its feet, its eyes blazing with renewed fury. Its body crackled with even more electricity than before, and its snarls deepened into a deafening roar.

Emberwolf enters Rage Mode.

HP: 100/200

The beast charged at Kael with terrifying speed, its claws aiming straight for his chest. Kael activated Evasive Step again, barely dodging the attack as the ground beneath him cracked from the force of the Emberwolf's strike.

Evasive Step Activated

-5 MP

"Damn it!" Kael growled. "It's enraged! Stay back!"

The group sprang into action. Marra fired a volley of arrows, each one striking true but doing little to slow the beast. Corin darted in from the side, his daggers flashing as he aimed for the creature's hind legs.

Leena charged head-on, her sword clashing against the Emberwolf's crackling claws. Though her strikes were clumsy, her determination was unshakable. The Emberwolf turned its full attention to her, its jaws snapping dangerously close to her face.

Kael, with no MP left, repositioned to draw the beast's attention. He shouted, waved, and jabbed his spear at its side, forcing it to face him.

"Thane, now!" Kael yelled.

Thane raised his staff, the runes glowing brightly as he unleashed a burst of magic. The spell struck the Emberwolf's chest, sending it sprawling to the ground. Kael seized the opportunity, driving his spear into its heart.

The Emberwolf let out one final, furious snarl before collapsing. Its body flickered with unstable energy before dissolving into a faint mist of crackling light. As it faded, something glimmered where its body had fallen.

Victory!

You have defeated Emberwolf (Level 8)

+50 XP

Item Acquired: Small Mana Crystal

Kael picked up the crystal, its surface glowing faintly with a soft blue light. He frowned, turning it over in his hands. "A Mana Crystal. I've used these before to restore MP, but I've never seen one drop from a creature."

Thane stepped closer, his eyes lighting up as he examined the gem. "That's because it's rare. Most Mana Crystals are mined from leyline-rich locations, where the concentration of mana is extreme. Only in places like the Emberwild, where creatures are saturated with that energy, do you see them drop from beasts."

Marra raised an eyebrow. "Mined? So, it's usually from rocks?"

Thane nodded. "Exactly. Scholars and enchanters gather them from concentrated leyline zones—dangerous, but predictable. Elemental creatures, though… they're living reservoirs of mana. Their deaths force the energy to condense into crystals like this."

"Great," Marra muttered. "Now we're fighting walking treasure troves. That'll keep us safe."

Kael pocketed the crystal, the faint hum of stored energy a reassuring weight. "Let's keep moving. We'll figure out how useful these are when we're not being hunted."