Shadow of the Past

Fenix took a deep breath as he stepped past the first twisted roots marking the entrance to the Blackroot Jungle. The air immediately felt different—thicker, heavier, as if the jungle itself was pressing down on him. The dense canopy above allowed only slivers of sunlight to pierce through, casting eerie patterns of shifting shadows on the forest floor.

They had arrived at the Blackroot Jungle. Here, they had to abandon their carriages, as the roots stretched wildly in every direction, tearing apart any semblance of a straight path.

Rein gave the order.

"Dismantle the carriages and take everything necessary. Whatever's left will go into Aldric's bag."

The group moved quickly, following Rein's instructions. Vix dismissed her two summoned creatures that had accompanied them over the last few days. She didn't seem tired—unsurprising, considering she was likely among the 10,000 strongest Awakened in the world. Few Awakened had reached six Soul Cores, and summoning beasts like these barely strained her essence.

The towering trees overhead blotted out most of the light, allowing only faint rays of sunlight to slip through. It was only thanks to these sparse beams that they could tell the time of day.

Fenix briefly considered using his black flames to light their path at night but discarded the idea.

' Drawing attention in this place isn't a good idea.'

Once everything was secured, they set off toward the heart of the jungle. They needed to cross it to reach the dungeon, but the jungle was vast and dangerous.

For the Awakened with six Soul Cores, like Aldric, Rein, and Vix, this place shouldn't be a major challenge. But for Fenix—with only two Soul Cores—it was a different story.

His unique Aspect gave him an edge. It allowed him to handle Tier II beasts with some ease, especially considering his extensive study and preparation. Still, under normal circumstances, someone like him wouldn't be able to face these monsters until they reached at least four cores.

In reality, Fenix was a step above most two-core Awakened, but the danger here was still real.

Deeper into the jungle, they encountered their first enemies: Venomspitters.

These were Tier I serpents, rarely exceeding two meters in length. Their real danger came from their ability to launch toxic venom from a distance.

Fenix stepped forward.

"Let me handle these."

The others nodded, knowing these creatures posed no threat to them. For Fenix, though, it was a chance to gather much-needed Soul Shards.

He moved quickly, striking with precision. His black flames ignited the serpents in mere moments, their bodies withering into ash. The battles were swift, efficient, and earned him his first Soul Shards of the journey.

Later that day, they faced Blackroot Stalkers. These Tier II humanoid creatures were native to the jungle. They weren't particularly strong, but their ghostly movements and stealth made them dangerous.

Fenix watched as one of the creatures dissolved into shadow, reappearing behind him with blinding speed. He reacted instantly, spinning and swinging Ashfang in a wide arc, black flames trailing in the air. The creature hissed as the flames consumed it, the fire clinging to its shadowy form like a predator.

Another stalker lunged from the treetops. Fenix stepped aside and unleashed a burst of flames that engulfed it mid-air, burning it to nothing before it could strike.

The black flames seemed to be a perfect counter to their ethereal bodies. What should have been a difficult battle turned into an effortless hunt.

The two days passed quickly and without incident. Fenix steadily accumulated 100 Soul Shards, absorbing them as he fought. His flames grew stronger with every kill, and he felt his Soul Core stirring with each shard consumed.

By nightfall on the second day, he summoned the Soul System.

[ Soul Core Progress: 154/800. ]

A small smile tugged at his lips.

'It's better than I expected. If I keep this up, I'll be stronger sooner than I thought.'

The real danger began on the third day. They had reached the near core of the sinister jungle, and the atmosphere grew heavier with each step.

Fenix's role shifted. Here, Tier III monsters prowled, and his mission became simple: survive.

Aldric gave him a sharp look.

"From here on, Fenix, don't even try to fight. Just stay low and avoid being noticed."

The beasts that now roamed were perfectly matched for their legendary cohort. These monsters were massive, dangerous—but to a group like theirs, they fell with precision and ruthless efficiency.

Fenix swallowed. 'I'll do my best. I don't feel like dying young.'

Soon, they were ambushed by a pack of six enormous beasts, towering at over five meters tall. Hulking masses of muscle and shadow, their bodies were armored with jagged chitin, and their eyes glowed like molten coals. Shadowclaw Terrors, born of the jungle's deepest nightmares.

Fenix watched, rooted in awe.

The battle was fast, chaotic, and yet perfectly controlled.

'Lena's arrows were precise and perfect. I learned she has a unique aspect called Sniper's Mark. She's deadly with ranged weapons.'

'Rein and Aldric were the core of the damage. Their movements were flawless, synchronized perfectly like a single blade.'

'Doran, the group's shield, drew the monsters' focus. His presence alone was enough to hold them back.'

'Vix used the distraction well. She summoned shadow beasts to strike, and when the enemy faltered, she fell upon them with her twin blades, tearing through limbs and armor.'

'And Orin... with him behind them, any scratch, any fatigue, vanished instantly. Their strength never faltered.'

Fenix could only watch, breathless.

'This is what it means to be Awakened with six Soul Cores...'

But then the realization struck him deeper.

'No. It's not just their strength. It's their trust in each other. Alone, they wouldn't have been able to do this.'

For the first time, Fenix truly understood. 'Survival doesn't mean being strong alone. It means trusting others to cover your weaknesses.'

And that was a lesson he wouldn't forget.

Night descended upon the Blackroot Jungle, thick and oppressive. The campfire crackled softly, its light only barely keeping the darkness at bay. Fenix found himself on watch duty with Lena and Vix.

They sat close to the fire, their weapons within arm's reach. The air was cold, filled with the rustling whispers of the jungle.

Lena stretched her arms and sighed. "This place is worse than any nightmare. And I've been in a few."

Vix chuckled lightly. "Tell him about the Mireback hunt. That was a disaster."

Lena groaned. "Oh, don't remind me. We were tracking this beast—massive, with armor thicker than steel. Spent days in the swamp, waist-deep in mud, trying not to get eaten by everything that moved."

Fenix smirked. "Did you catch it?"

"We did," Lena said with pride. "But not before Vix got stuck in quicksand, and I nearly got crushed when the beast tried to sit on me."

Vix laughed. "I remember yelling, 'If I'm going down, you're coming with me!'"

Fenix shook his head. "Sounds like you two have been through hell together."

Vix smiled, her gaze distant. "You have no idea. There was this one time in the Bladed Peaks. We were ambushed by ice golems. It was a mess. Lena took down half of them with her arrows, but one nearly split me in two."

Lena shrugged. "I saved you, didn't I?"

Vix nodded. "Yeah, you did. And I'll never forget it."

For a moment, silence settled between them, heavy with shared memories and unspoken trust.

Fenix glanced at them both. 'No wonder they trust each other so much.'

Vix broke the silence. "And what about you, Fenix? Any adventures worth telling?"

He chuckled lightly, but there was a shadow behind his smile. "I guess you could say my life's been one long adventure."

Lena gave him a curious look but didn't press further.

The conversation drifted to quieter topics, but the bond between them felt a little stronger. It wasn't much, but it was something. Something Fenix hadn't realized he needed.

But then, his gaze drifted to the treeline, and he froze.

There, on the branch, was something. Something familiar to Fenix. Something he had seen months ago, during his Soul Trial.

'No... it can't be.'

It was like a shadow, nearly two meters tall, cloaked and hooded. In each hand, it held a scythe that shimmered faintly under the moonlight filtering through the branches. The light caught on the cold steel, making them gleam like fangs in the night.

Fenix stood pale, his face frozen in horror.

'No... how is it here?'

His chest rose and fell in sharp gasps, sweat trailing down his face in beads that felt like cold tears.

Though Fenix hadn't seen the deaths of Rhen and Vanya firsthand, he knew this figure had been connected to them. And now, he realized something terrifying thanks to all the studying he did those last months: the strength of those three adventurers had been considerable. Not unlike Aldric's cohort but they were much more strong than Fenix is now.

'Five Soul Cores... They were strong. And it still killed them.'

"No... no... why?" The words slipped from his lips in a broken whisper. He wasn't thinking anymore—just speaking, his voice barely audible over his own ragged breathing.

Lena and Vix turned at the sound of his murmurs. Confused, they glanced between Fenix and the treeline.

"Fenix?" Vix asked cautiously. "What did you see?"

But he didn't respond. His mouth opened, but no words came. His throat felt dry, constricted. Fear held him captive, and for once, he didn't have the strength to fight it.

He had seen something before escaping his Soul Trial. A fleeting vision, just before consuming the Fragment. He had seen, for mere seconds, two silhouettes torn apart, mutilated in a blur of blades and shadows.

Lena approached, her brow furrowed. "Fenix?" She tried to steady him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

But it didn't help. The fear was too deep, too raw.

The only mercy was the breaking dawn. As light began to pierce the shadows, the others stirred in the camp, their movements slow and unaware of the terror that had brushed against them in the night.

But Fenix knew. And he would not forget.