Chapter 11: The Shadowveil Highlands – A Dungeon of the Forgotten

The winds howled through the Shadowveil Highlands, carrying the scent of damp earth and decaying wood. The terrain was nothing like the structured roads of Velantir here, towering cliffs loomed over twisted forests, and eerie mist crawled through the valleys. This was a high-level danger zone, one that no sane player would enter at Liam's current level.

And yet, here he was.

He adjusted his Rogue's Cloak, pulling it tighter as he moved through the undergrowth. His steps were light, his presence barely disturbing the silence around him. There was no city guard, no bounty hunters, no players blindly grinding experience points. The Shadowveil Highlands were a death trap for anyone unprepared.

But Liam wasn't unprepared.

The Reason He Was Here

Liam had come for a Skill Core, a rare item that allowed a player to unlock powerful hidden abilities beyond the standard class system. Most players wouldn't know about them for months, yet in his past life, he had stumbled across one buried deep within this forgotten dungeon.

If he could get it now, he'd gain an ability no other rogue would have for a long time.

But there was a problem.

The dungeon was guarded by Spectral Wardens, Level 20 elite monsters that could phase in and out of existence. Liam, at Level 7, was nowhere near strong enough to take them head-on. If he wanted to get inside, he'd have to use stealth, strategy, and precise execution.

No mistakes.

After an hour of moving through the Highlands, Liam finally saw it, a ruined temple built into the mountainside, its entrance shrouded in thick fog. The stone carvings on its pillars were worn and cracked, depicting figures with hollow eyes and elongated limbs.

The Tomb of Forgotten Shadows.

And standing at its entrance were the Spectral Wardens, three towering figures wrapped in tattered cloaks, their forms flickering between solid and incorporeal. Their weapons, jagged greatswords infused with cursed energy, pulsed with an ominous glow.

Liam crouched behind a fallen log, studying their movements. They weren't just random AI mobs, they patrolled in synchronized patterns, their gazes sweeping across the entrance in intervals. If he mistimed his approach, he wouldn't even see their blades before he died.

He activated Shadowstep, blinking into the shadows and moving closer. His breathing was slow, his heartbeat steady. Timing was everything.

The first Warden turned away, stepping toward the far end of the entrance.

Now.

Liam darted forward, his movements silent as he weaved through the ancient stone pillars. He made it halfway before something in the air changed. A heavy pressure settled over the ruins.

One of the Wardens stopped mid-step.

Then, its hollow eyes snapped toward him.

The Chase Begins

A piercing wail shattered the silence as the Spectral Warden raised its sword. The others turned instantly, their movements inhumanly fast.

[You have been detected!]

[Spectral Wardens are immune to physical attacks unless weakened by Shadowflame!]

Liam cursed under his breath. He had forgotten about that mechanic, these things couldn't even be damaged unless he had an enchanted fire source. Fighting was out of the question.

Time to run.

He Shadowstepped backward, landing near the treeline just as a sword slammed into the ground where he had been standing. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, splitting the stone beneath it.

Liam didn't hesitate. He turned and sprinted into the misty forest, his agility allowing him to navigate the uneven terrain effortlessly. But the Wardens weren't slow. They floated across the ground, their speed unnatural, their glowing eyes locked onto him.

For the first time in this life, Liam felt genuine danger.

If they caught him, he wouldn't just lose the fight, he would die instantly.

The forest twisted around him as he ran, leaping over roots and ducking under low-hanging branches. He knew the terrain, but the Wardens weren't slowing down. Worse, their swords extended like spectral chains, slicing through trees in their attempt to cut him off.

Liam had to think fast. He couldn't outrun them forever.

Then he saw it, a crevice between two massive rock formations. It was just narrow enough for a person to slip through, but the Wardens, with their massive forms, wouldn't be able to follow.

He pushed himself harder, dodging a spectral blade that barely missed his back. With a final burst of speed, he dove into the gap, rolling as he landed on the other side.

The Wardens screeched in frustration, their forms flickering erratically as they stopped just short of the crevice. They hovered there for several seconds before slowly turning away, disappearing back into the fog.

Liam exhaled sharply, his hands gripping the cold earth beneath him.

That had been too close.

Regrouping – A New Plan

Liam sat up, checking his inventory. He had known this dungeon would be difficult, but he hadn't accounted for the Shadowflame requirement. That meant he needed to find a way to imbue his attacks with fire before reattempting the dungeon.

Luckily, he knew where to find one.

The Cursed Ember, a relic hidden within a volcanic cave not far from here. In his past life, a mid-tier guild had discovered it weeks after launch, using it to forge weapons capable of dealing fire-based damage. If Liam got to it first, he could kill the Wardens and clear the dungeon solo.

And unlike last time, no guilds would be there to claim it.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and stood, already planning his next move.

If the Tomb of Forgotten Shadows wouldn't fall today, he'd make sure it did tomorrow.

But first, he had to claim the Cursed Ember.

And if anyone got in his way?

He'd burn them to the ground.