NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 17: chapter 17 forgotten trail
Raven stepped into the alley, and the world shifted.
The flickering torchlight twisted unnaturally, casting jagged shadows that seemed to move on their own. The air turned thick with rot, heavy with the scent of decay. A low rasp echoed through the space—hollow, unnatural.
Then, they appeared.
Shadowspawn.
Twisted creatures of black mist and glowing violet eyes.
And each one bore a faint, ghostly aura—a marker of level and intent.
A chime rang in his mind, followed by a glowing system prompt.
---
[Hidden Quest Updated: The Forgotten Trial – Survival Hour]
– Survive for one hour against Level 1 Shadowspawn.
– Skill Proficiency: Gain +1 proficiency for every successful skill use.
– Objective: Survive and grow stronger.
---
Raven's grip tightened around his dagger.
An hour of relentless combat.
An hour of endless enemies.
It wasn't just a trial—it was an opportunity.
The first Shadowspawn lunged.
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The Dance of Blades and Shadows
Instead of clashing head-on, Raven vanished.
One step into the shadows. A controlled breath. Silence.
The creature hesitated. Its glowing eyes darted around, confused.
Then—he struck.
A dagger to the base of the skull. Clean. Efficient.
The Shadowspawn collapsed, dissolving into black mist.
A chime rang.
---
[Stealth Proficiency: +1] → (1/100)
[Backstab Proficiency: +1] → (1/100)
---
Raven smirked. This was going to be fun.
The next wave approached.
He slipped behind the nearest enemy, his steps silent. Another kill—another backstab. The rhythm came naturally. He vanished—struck—vanished again.
Each time, the system rewarded him.
---
[Stealth Proficiency: +5] → (6/100)
[Backstab Proficiency: +5] → (6/100)
---
At the 20-minute mark, his movements became sharper. Faster.
The creatures started hesitating, scanning the darkness before moving.
They could sense him now.
But it didn't matter.
---
The Turning Point
At 30 minutes, the creatures adapted.
They spread out. Moved in coordinated patterns. Hunted him.
Then, it appeared.
A towering Shadowspawn. Larger than the rest. Intelligent.
---
[Elite Shadowspawn – The Watcher]
Level: 1 (Enhanced)
Abilities: Shadow Detection, Adaptation
Status: Hunting
---
The Watcher didn't move like the others. It scanned the battlefield with slow, deliberate movements.
It was looking for him.
Raven took a slow breath, sinking deeper into the shadows. His heartbeat slowed. His body relaxed.
The Watcher's gaze passed over him.
Then, for the first time, it turned its back.
A fatal mistake.
Raven struck.
---
[Stealth Proficiency: +3] → (10/100)
[Backstab Proficiency: +3] → (10/100)
---
The Watcher staggered, its form twisting in agony. It let out a guttural, rattling hiss, its body already failing.
His dagger had punctured something vital.
It collapsed. Dead.
---
[Survival Hour: Progress Update]
– Elapsed Time: 35 minutes
– Total Shadowspawn Eliminated: 19
– Current Skill Growth:
[Stealth Proficiency: 10/100]
[Backstab Proficiency: 10/100]
---
The Final Challenge
The system didn't stop.
It adapted.
The remaining 25 minutes pushed Raven to his limit. The Shadowspawn moved in groups, forcing him to be more creative.
He learned to blend into the environment more efficiently. To time his attacks to perfection.
With every successful stealth kill, his mastery grew.
Until finally—
---
[Skill Level Up!]
[Stealth Proficiency: Level 2]
[Backstab Proficiency: Level 2]
The final Shadowspawn fell.
A soft chime echoed. The hour had passed.
The alley was silent.
No more shadowy figures lurked in the darkness. No more glowing eyes watched from the abyss. The hour of survival had ended.
Raven stood still, his breath steady despite the relentless battle. His dagger dripped with black ichor, the remnants of his fallen enemies already dissolving into mist. The world felt sharper now. His body moved with newfound precision, each motion flowing with instinctual ease.
Then, the familiar chime rang in his mind.
A glowing system prompt materialized before him, bathing the alley in a soft golden light.
---
[Trial Complete: The Forgotten Trial – Survival Hour]
Objective: Survive for One Hour Against Level 1 Shadowspawn – COMPLETE
Total Shadowspawn Eliminated: 43
Final Skill Growth:
[Stealth Proficiency: Level 2]
[Backstab Proficiency: Level 2]
New Reward Unlocked!
[Item Acquired: Forgotten Skill Book – Poison Dart]
---
Raven's eyes flickered with curiosity. A skill book?
As if answering his unspoken question, a faint ripple disturbed the air before him. Shadows swirled, condensing into a small, leather-bound book that floated gently in midair. Its cover was cracked and aged, marked with faint glowing runes that pulsed with a quiet energy.
The moment Raven reached out, a new prompt appeared.
---
[Forgotten Skill Book – Poison Dart]
Type: Skill Book
Effect: Unlocks the skill [Poison Dart – Level 1] upon use.
Note: Can only be learned once.
---
Raven didn't hesitate.
The moment his fingers touched the rough surface of the book, a rush of energy surged through his body. The cover flipped open on its own, pages turning rapidly as glowing symbols lifted from the parchment and sank into his skin.
A sharp, burning sensation coiled through his palm, as if liquid fire had seeped into his veins. It wasn't painful—just potent.
The book crumbled into ash.
Another chime rang.
---
[Skill Acquired: Poison Dart – Level 1]
Type: Ranged / Debuff
Effect: Coats a small projectile in lethal venom, dealing gradual poison damage over time. Damage scales with Dexterity and Stealth proficiency.
Cooldown: 10 seconds
---
Raven lifted his hand.
A faint greenish-black mist curled around his fingertips, its toxic energy pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. He focused, and the mist sharpened into a condensed dart-like form, hovering just above his palm.
Interesting.
The trial had tested him. The system had rewarded him.
Now, he had something new—a hidden weapon in the form of silent, lethal venom.
He clenched his fist, dispersing the energy.
This was only the beginning.