Chapter 28:Moonfall Forest - Part 2

The clearing trembled as if the forest itself was breathing. Axton's pulse quickened as shadows thickened at the edges of the trees, pooling into an unnatural darkness that seemed to watch them back. The eerie silence that had followed the forest's hum made the tension unbearable.

Seraphina stood rigid, her hand hovering near the hilt of her weapon. "Something's coming," she whispered, her voice sharp but steady.

Elias gripped his staff tighter, his usual nervous humor gone. "I knew this was too easy," he muttered, his eyes darting around.

Suddenly, a low growl rumbled through the air, resonating like the deep toll of a bell. The sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, vibrating through the ground beneath their feet.

Axton froze as the system's familiar voice echoed in his mind, calm yet urgent.

System Alert: High-Level Threat Detected.

• Name: [Identified: Dark Fiend]

• Type: Ethereal Predator

• Danger Level: 8/10 (Recommended Combat Level: Master Rank – Level 3 or Higher)

• Traits: Immune to most physical attacks. Can manipulate shadows to disorient prey.

• Weakness: Light-based elemental attacks.

• Warning: This creature does not belong in this region. Proceed with extreme caution.

• Quest Update:

• Survive the Dark Fiend encounter.

• Bonus Objective: Injure or weaken the Dark Fiend to claim additional rewards.

• Rewards Increased: Rare Essence, Additional Survival Points, and ???

Axton's blood ran cold. Danger Level 8? They were nowhere near ready for something like this. Even Seraphina, powerful as she was, might struggle against a creature of this caliber.

"What is it?" Elias asked, noticing Axton's tense expression.

Axton shook his head quickly, forcing his voice to remain steady. "We need to be ready for anything. Stay close and don't lose focus." He couldn't reveal what the system had told him—it would raise too many questions.

From the shadows of the trees, two crimson eyes flickered into existence, glowing like dying embers. The temperature in the clearing seemed to drop as the creature stepped forward. Its form was massive, its body an amalgamation of shadow and smoke, with sharp, jagged edges that seemed to tear at the air around it.

Seraphina's grip tightened on her weapon. "This… isn't normal." Her voice was low, almost a growl.

The Dark Fiend let out a guttural snarl, the sound echoing unnaturally as its shadowy form twisted and expanded. Axton's system chimed in again.

System Warning: Hostiles Engaged.

• Recommended Action: Avoid direct combat. Use distractions to escape or incapacitate.

"Don't let it touch you!" Axton yelled, his instincts screaming at him to move.

The Dark Fiend lunged, faster than anything its size should have been. Seraphina reacted first, throwing up a wall of flame that roared to life between them and the creature. The fire illuminated the clearing, and for a moment, Axton could see the Dark Fiend's full form—a writhing mass of shadows that recoiled from the light but didn't seem fully deterred.

Elias raised his staff, summoning a gust of wind to push the creature back, but the Dark Fiend merely absorbed the force, its form rippling like water disturbed by a pebble.

"It's resistant!" Elias shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

Seraphina gritted her teeth, her flames intensifying. "We need to keep it at bay. Axton, Elias, look for an opening!"

Axton's mind raced. The system had mentioned light-based attacks as a weakness, but none of them had light-based abilities—not yet. His heart pounded as he searched for a solution.

"Elias, can you amplify her fire?" Axton asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Elias hesitated, then nodded. "I'll try!" He raised his staff again, focusing on the flames Seraphina had summoned. The fire flared brighter, the light pushing the shadows back, but the Dark Fiend let out an enraged roar, its body splitting into tendrils of darkness that lashed out like whips.

One of the tendrils struck the ground near Axton, throwing up dirt and rocks. He stumbled back, narrowly avoiding a second strike, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Stay together!" Seraphina shouted, her flames forming a barrier around them.

But the Dark Fiend wasn't retreating. If anything, it seemed to grow more aggressive, its movements more erratic as it tested the limits of the fire.

Axton felt the system activate again, its voice sharper this time.

System Alert: Critical Survival Tip Unlocked.

• Use reflected light to amplify your team's elemental attacks.

• Nearby objects can be used to create temporary bursts of concentrated light.

• Suggestion: Utilize reflective surfaces or natural materials in the environment.

Reflective surfaces? Axton's eyes darted around the clearing, searching desperately. His gaze landed on the pool of water at the center of the clearing—the surface was still and shining under the faint moonlight.

"The water!" Axton yelled. "Use the light from the water!"

Seraphina didn't question him. She thrust her hands forward, her flames shooting toward the pool. The fire struck the water, and for a moment, the clearing was bathed in a brilliant, blinding light as the flames reflected off the surface.

The Dark Fiend let out a deafening screech, its form writhing in agony as the light pierced through its shadowy body. For the first time, it faltered, retreating slightly as its edges began to fray.

"Keep going!" Axton urged, his voice hoarse.

Elias joined in, sending gusts of wind to fan the flames, making them burn hotter and brighter. The combined effort forced the Dark Fiend further back, its once-massive form now shrinking under the relentless assault of light and heat.

But it wasn't over. The Dark Fiend gathered itself, its body coiling into a dense, compact form. Axton could feel the pressure in the air shift—it was preparing to attack again.

"We need to get out of here!" Seraphina shouted, her voice laced with urgency.

Axton's system chimed in one last time.

Quest Updated:

• Bonus Objective Completed: Dark Fiend injured.

• Additional Rewards Unlocked.

• Escape the Moonfall Forest immediately to avoid further conflict.

Axton nodded, his throat dry. "Run!"

Without hesitation, the trio bolted, the sound of the Dark Fiend's enraged roars following them as they sprinted back through the forest. The twisting paths and disorienting shadows seemed to shift in their favor now, as if the forest itself was helping them escape.

By the time they stumbled out of the trees and into the teleportation point, they were gasping for breath, their bodies trembling from exhaustion. The Dark Fiend's roars had faded, but Axton could still feel its presence lingering in the back of his mind.

As they activated the teleportation platform, Axton glanced back at the forest one last time, his thoughts racing. The system had saved them again, but the encounter had left him shaken. The Dark Fiend wasn't supposed to be there.

Something was very, very wrong.

As the teleportation magic flared brighter, the Moonfall Forest disappeared from view, leaving the trio standing in the academy's return chamber.

The silence between them was heavy until Seraphina calmly pulled something from her satchel. She held up the bundle of silver-green leaves, their soft glow unmistakable.

Both Axton and Elias froze, staring at the herbs in disbelief.

"You… actually managed to grab them?" Elias asked, his voice tinged with shock.

Seraphina arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk on her lips. "You didn't think I came all this way for nothing, did you?"

"That's insane," Axton muttered, shaking his head. "You grabbed the herbs while we were fighting that thing? You could've—" He trailed off, realizing there wasn't much point in finishing the sentence. Seraphina had done it, and somehow, they were all alive to see it.

Elias let out a breath, leaning heavily against the wall. "I'm sleeping for a week. If anyone so much as whispers the word 'mission' to me, I'm out."

Axton raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "And how would you get points? Without points, you can't eat or buy what you want. Remember, we're not in the village anymore."

Elias opened one eye, glaring at Axton. "Don't ruin my moment of peace with logic. Let me complain in peace."

Seraphina let out a quiet chuckle, though her sharp gaze lingered on the faint scorch marks along her sleeves. "Complaining won't get you anywhere. We survived, we have the herb, and we'll get our points. Focus on that."

Axton nodded, exhaling deeply. For now, they'd completed the mission, survived the danger, and had something to show for it.