Deadwood Dive

As the teleportation glyph dissolved around them, the world shifted.

They stood at the edge of a decaying forest—Deadwood Depths, aptly named. The trees were twisted black husks, bark flaking like charred skin. A dense grey fog hugged the earth, curling like smoke around their feet. The sun couldn't pierce the thick canopy; only the faint blue glow of runes etched into the trees guided their way.

The air was heavy—humid with the scent of rot and quiet malice.

"Charming," Kaela muttered.

"Stay close," Tyler said, drawing his blade. "We don't know what triggers the first wave."

They didn't have to wait long.

Encounter One: Graven Wolves – Level 10

From the mist, glowing eyes emerged—six wolves, skeletal and stitched together with vines and bone.

"Spread out!" Eryk yelled, casting a protection bubble over Nysa. "I'll heal from the back!"

Tyler dashed forward, blade flashing silver-blue. Each strike sent up sparks as he carved through two wolves in one sweep, his tattoos pulsing with energy.

Kaela's fists flared with mana as she weaved through the trees, delivering burst punches that shattered the bones of the beasts.

The battle ended in moments—but they weren't untouched.

Nysa nursed a bite to her leg. Eryk was breathing heavy.

"Too close," Eryk muttered. "That was just the first?"

They pressed on. The deeper they went, the more warped the forest became—roots jutted from the earth like claws, and grotesque faces appeared in bark, mouths stretched in silent screams.

Encounter Two: Shadelings – Level 12

Dark, writhing humanoid forms emerged—Shadelings, smoke-bodied creatures with glowing red claws. These didn't just hit hard—they were fast and fought in coordinated waves.

One surged for Kaela.

"Kaela—!" Tyler moved like a blur, intercepting it mid-lunge.

He spun low, sweeping the creature's legs before ramming his blade upward through its midsection. A CRITICAL 320 flashed above it as it dissolved in shadow.

Nysa fired arrows rapidly to cover Tyler, and Eryk kept his hands glowing with green pulses as he kept their health up.

By the end of the battle, sweat dripped down everyone's faces.

"How is he still this fast?" Nysa whispered to her brother.

"That's not just skill," Eryk replied. "That's something else."

Encounter Three: Wailing Bramble – Level 15 Elite Mini-Boss

A clearing opened to reveal a thorn-covered creature the size of a horse. Its wails split the air, causing paralysis if not resisted.

It slammed into Tyler, sending him flying into a tree with a sickening thud.

Kaela screamed his name—but before she could move, the beast turned on her.

Tyler's voice rang out.

"Not her!"

He surged back into the fight, blood on his lip and fury in his eyes. His tattoos flared bright, and he launched a four-strike combo that left the creature in shreds—each hit glowing with CRITICAL damage, well over 400 points.

The party collapsed around the remains, panting.

After what felt like hours, they finally reached the final gate.

Two towering stone doors loomed ahead, etched with claw marks and blood. Lanterns on either side lit up as they approached, glowing red.

The group sat down just before the gate, taking the time to rest, rehydrate, and tend to wounds.

Kaela tapped the side of the doorway, revealing a flickering event log.

"Attempt Records: 1,004

Last Entry: Squad Terminated

Highest Attempting Level: 30

Outcome: Failure"

Eryk stared. "Over a thousand… and not one cleared it?"

"And we're going in at 13, 12, 9, and 6?" Nysa asked, half laughing.

Kaela looked over at Tyler. "We shouldn't have a chance."

"Good thing," Tyler said calmly, "we don't fight like anyone else."

Suddenly, their bodies began to glow.

A pulsing gold light enveloped them—the result of shared experience and survival against overwhelming odds.

LEVEL UP!

Kaela – Lv. 6 ➝ Lv. 9

Eryk – Lv. 12 ➝ Lv. 13

Nysa – Lv. 9 ➝ Lv. 11

Tyler – Lv. 5 ➝ Lv. 13

Tyler's body shimmered gold for a second longer than the others. His tattoos flickered blue again.

"Something's waking up in him," Kaela whispered to herself.

They stood, the air around them thick with tension.

Beyond those doors was the Devourer of Echoes—and Tyler wasn't just going to survive it.

He was going to change the rules.