The Head Of The Shadow Forest (2)

The forest around them was getting darker and darker. Tall trees with intertwined crowns barely let in any light. It was quiet here... too quiet.

Every step was accompanied by the crunching of branches underfoot, but there were no other sounds. No birds singing, no small animals rustling.

Atlas looked around, dagger at the ready.

"Something's not right here..."

The air shark made a soft warning sound, its fins quivering with tension.

[System: An abnormal zone has been detected. The concentration of magical energy increases.]

Somewhere ahead, in the midst of the fog, massive silhouettes began to loom.

"Again?! Apparently, we still need to deal with these anomalies."

Atlas held out his hand, giving a mental command to his mountain beast.

– Look at what's ahead.

The aerial shark fluttered slightly in the air, its fins began to glow with a faint bluish glow.

[Skill activated: "Territory Survey" (level: 1)]

A slight tremor ran through Atlas's body as the system card flashed in front of his eyes. The sensitivity of this skill wasn't the highest, but it could pick up key objects from a short distance away.

In front of the Atlas was a group of creatures—five motionless figures surrounded by a magical haze.

The source of the abnormal energy came from a strange stone monolith covered with runes.

There were traces of cursed magic in the air, confirming the connection of this place with the cursed artifacts of the past.

Sin issued a soft warning signal, indicating that the situation could be dangerous.

Atlas squinted at the five motionless silhouettes. He gave the air shark the command to hover at a safe distance, while he carefully moved forward, trying not to make unnecessary noise.

[Skill activated: "Threat Response" (level: 1)]

The body tensed instinctively, but none of the figures moved.

Now that he was closer, the details became clearer. They were statues, but they were covered with a strange black crust that looked like petrified resin.

From their poses, one could guess that they had once been alive - their expressions were frozen in grimaces of horror, and their hands seemed to be trying to protect themselves from an invisible blow.

°They were all standing in front of the monolith, with their arms outstretched in its direction.

°The black substance covered the ground in places, as if it had splashed around after the impact.

°The air shark let out a low vibrating sound—its instincts told it that this place was dangerous.

Atlas carefully crouched down next to one of the frozen bodies and stretched out his arm, activating the corresponding skill.

[Skill activated: "Flair for Waste" (level: 1)]

My eyes immediately caught on several fragments of petrified substance lying on the ground. Carefully, with his fingertips, he took one piece and felt a faint pulsation coming from it, as if a shadow of life remained inside.

[Item obtained: "Petrified Shadow Essence"]

A pop-up window with a description appeared in front of my eyes:

"A fragment of unknown origin that has absorbed the energy of darkness. It's probably related to creatures turned into stone. It's worth exploring or using with caution."

Atlas looked thoughtfully at the monolith. Perhaps the substance appeared due to his influence. But what exactly did he encounter?

Sin, who was circling nearby, suddenly tensed, her fins trembled.

Atlas felt a slight chill down his spine.

[Danger is coming.]

Atlas slipped unnoticed behind a nearby boulder, trying not to make any noise. The air shark, sensing his intent, quietly dived after him, hiding between the roots of a massive tree.

The forest around them fell silent. Even the wind seemed to have stopped whispering in the trees.

[Threat Response Skill (level: 1) Activated.]

He closed his eyes, listening to the sounds around him. A slight rustle... the crackling of branches... heavy breathing.A figure slowly moved out from the shadow of the monolith.

At first glance, he looked human, but there was something unnatural about his movements. A long dark cloak trailed on the ground, and a hood hid his face. However, even through it, a dim, faintly glowing spot could be seen where the eyes should be.

"Something's wrong… This light... it's like the effect of the Eye of Silence."

The creature stopped near one of the frozen bodies and bent down. His long fingers slid over the stone skin, as if checking its integrity.

Then it raised its head, turning in the direction where Atlas was hiding.

[Detection: 73%.]

"Damn it. Does it feel me?"

The figure straightened up. Now he could see her in full height, an unnaturally tall silhouette shrouded in darkness.

Suddenly, it slowly extended its arm towards Atlas.

[Danger: Critical level.]

The air around them trembled.

Atlas took a deep breath and activated the ability.

[Energy Resonance Skill (level: 1) Activated.]

The world around him was painted in blurred energy shades. All living beings and magical objects left streams of aura behind them, and now he could see them much more clearly.

The figure opposite shone with a gloomy, painful glow. Her aura was twisted, as if stitched together from fragments of someone else's energies. A particularly dense dark substance had condensed in the center of his chest, like a seal or a curse.

"It's not just a creature… It's something created. Or... controlled by someone."

At the same time, he caught a strange wave of energy coming from his own inventory.

[The Eye of Silence resonates faintly with the object.]

Atlas frowned. So there's a connection between the artifact and this creature? But which one?

Meanwhile, the figure did not move. She still held her hand up in his direction.

[The skill "Exploring lost artifacts" (level: 6) Activated.]

A new stream of information flashed into my mind:

[Name]: Unknown

[Type]: Cursed Guardian

[State]: Partially Awake

[Link]: Interacts with artifacts of Silence

The cursed guardian? He had heard the name in the Library when he was studying the "Cursed Artifacts of the Past." These are creatures that used to protect ancient ruins, but after losing their masters, they began to wander aimlessly, obeying residual orders.

If this one is really related to the Eye of Silence, then perhaps…

Atlas slowly reached for his inventory and summoned an artifact.

[The Eye of Silence]

As soon as the artifact was in his hand, the air around him thickened, as if space had shrunk into itself. The guard shuddered. His figure jerked as if waking up from a long sleep.

–The Ey... e...? – A muffled, distorted voice rang out.

Atlas gripped the artifact tighter, straining. There was a reaction, and that was something.

[The Eye of Silence resonates with the object.]

In the next moment, a pale, silvery wave of energy burst out of the artifact. She touched the guard, and he flinched, but did not retreat.

– Where... – the voice sounded clearer now, but there was still some incompleteness in it: – Where… The gate?

Atlas frowned: – The gate? But before he could say anything, the system reacted

:

[You have activated the hidden interaction with the Cursed Guardian.]

[New quest: "Guardian of the Silent Temple. Part 1"]

[Description:] You've found the Cursed Guardian bound to the Eye of Silence. He mentions a certain Gate. Solve the mystery surrounding this creature and an ancient artifact.

[Tasks:]

Ask the guardian about the Gate.

Find references to the Silent Temple.

Figure out what role the Eye of Silence plays.

Atlas gritted his teeth. It was definitely getting harder.Atlas took a deep breath and took a step closer to the guardian. He slowly raised his head. Up close, his silhouette seemed even more blurred, as if he was just a shadow of his former self.

– Which Gate do you have in mind?– Atlas asked cautiously.

The guard was silent for a few moments, as if considering the question. Then his voice came again, a little more confidently.

–The Gate of Silence… Locked up… Broken ones… Where's the key?

[The key? A new quest element!]

To be continued, please like and save…