Alice, Victoria, and Rose were a relentless trio, doggedly pursuing the creature that had snatched Ed. Miles separated them from Wolf's Run, and the waning daylight created an even more pressing sense of urgency.

Rose uttered a string of curses as they pushed through another cluster of thorny brambles. Gathering her focus, she released a burst of elemental energy, which flattened the bushes in an explosive display.

Stepping through the shredded foliage, they paused to catch their breaths. Ahead, they could hear the ominous crashing sounds of the Myrkr moving through the undergrowth. The forest around them was thick with tangled underbrush and towering ancient trees . The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay, and a sense of foreboding pressed down on them. Around them, the sounds were distorted, and everything cast eerie shadows that made it hard to gauge distance or direction.

Alice broke the tense silence by saying, "We need to find a way to close the gap before it gets dark. Otherwise, we'll be easy targets."

Rose grimaced, "Agreed. But how do we move faster through this mess?"

Victoria, who had been using her abilities to mend some of the worst cuts and scrapes on each of them, chimed in. "Rose, that elemental attack you used was effective. Could you do that again? Or perhaps channel something else?"

Rose considered it aloud, "I just acquired a fire spell that I can channel, but I'm not sure how long I can sustain it without running out of mana. The last thing I want is to come face-to-face with the Myrkr and be powerless."

New Skill: Inferno (Uncommon)

Description: Inferno channels fiery energy to unleash a devastating area-of-effect attack. The user summons a swirling vortex of flames that engulfs enemies within range, dealing continuous fire damage over a short duration. This skill is designed to control the battlefield by disrupting enemy formations and leaving foes weakened by residual burns.

Effects:

Area Damage:

Deals fire damage to all enemies within a 15-foot cone.

Burn Effect:

Applies a burn debuff, causing additional damage over 5 seconds.

They stood there for a moment, each lost in thought. Suddenly, Alice's eyes fell upon a towering tree, its thick branches appearing climbable. Following a quick hand signal to tell the others to stop, she scrambled up the tree, agile as a—predatory—squirrel.

A minute later, she descended, sounding cautiously optimistic. "It might not be a problem. The trees thin out about 200 yards ahead. Go ahead and burn a path in that direction. Use your mana potion if necessary; now's not the time to be conservative."

Each knew that the clock was ticking. With resolute nods, they prepared for the next leg of their relentless pursuit, hoping to reclaim their friend from the clutches of the elusive Myrkr.

Rose turned in the direction Alice had indicated and prepared her spell. Reading over the skill again, she started channeling her mana into the spell.

Skill: Inferno (Uncommon)

Description: Unleash a controlled stream of searing fire at a target area. This channeled ability consumes a minimum of 1 mana per second and can be intensified up to 15 mana per second for maximum damage output. The stream's width and intensity are directly proportional to the mana consumption rate.

With the skill's description fresh in her mind, Rose began channeling her mana into Inferno. She focused intently, her hands tingeing with a flickering red glow as she mustered her magical energies. Then, with a deep breath, she released it.

A fire burst forth from her outstretched palms, scorching everything in its path and creating a blazing trail through the forest. Trees, underbrush, and brambles were instantly reduced to cinders, providing them with a more straightforward path ahead.

Rose's eyes darted to her mana pool, watching it deplete steadily but not critically—her potion ready for when she'd need it. Her friends followed closely behind, alert and anxious. They were making progress, and if luck was on their side, they might catch up to the Myrkr before nightfall.

Rose extinguished her stream of fire, her grin fading into a grim determination as she surveyed the meadow before them. The meadow opened up to offer a panoramic view of what appeared to be ancient ruins—crumbling stone walls, archways overgrown with ivy, and the remnants of watchtowers that pierced the sky like skeletal fingers. The distance made it difficult to discern whether it had once been a large castle or a small city.

Alice's eyes narrowed, scanning the ruins intently. "There," she pointed, "I just saw something move near the gate closest to us. It has to be holed up there."

Just as Alice stepped forward, a small, dark shape erupted from the tall grass, lunging directly at her face. Reacting instinctually, she lashed out with a panicked swipe of her hand. The force she mustered was likely overkill, as the creature was obliterated upon contact, leaving a small cloud of mist in its wake.

Catching her breath, Alice looked around at her companions. "Well, that was unsettling. But we're close. We've got to be. Let's proceed but with caution. We have no idea what other surprises this place might have for us."

With each careful step, the trio advanced through the moonlit meadow toward the crumbling ruins. Despite the scene's beauty, repeated ambushes from small, dark forms kept them on high alert. Alice, her senses keen and reflexes sharp, dealt with each attack swiftly and subduedly, preventing any noise from echoing into the night.

Rose looked at Alice with admiration. "You have an uncanny knack for taking those things down."

Alice chuckled softly. " They're better than us. We've got more pressing matters, like finding Ed."

Victoria gazed at the ruins, her thoughts a blend of concern and awe. "If it weren't for the circumstances, this place would be beautiful, albeit haunting."

"You're not wrong," Rose agreed, "but I'll appreciate the scenery much more once we've got Ed back safely."

As they approached the ruins, the details of the dilapidated structures became clearer. Ivy-clad walls shattered windows, and what might have once been a grand entrance—now nothing more than a dark maw—lay ahead of them.

Nearing the door, they found well-defined tracks leading into the dark interior.

Alice squinted at the tracks. "These are our best leads yet. Ready to head in?"

Victoria took a deep breath, her hands hovering, ready with healing spells. "As ready as we'll ever be."

Rose clenched her fists, feeling the residual warmth from her last fire spell. "Let's do it. But keep your guard up: the Myrkr's tracks lead here, but that doesn't mean it's alone."

Taking another tentative step forward, they crossed the threshold. Darkness enveloped them, but their resolve was unyielding; they had come too far to turn back.

Inside the dark ruins, the air was thick with an ancient, musky scent redolent of long-forgotten history and the weight of countless ages. It clung to the back of their throats, every breath seeming to stir the dust of centuries past as if the spirits of those who had once walked these halls were awakening. Their footsteps echoed off the crumbling stone walls, magnified in the oppressive silence; it was a stark reminder of how far they had ventured into this place of mystery and decay. The deeper they delved, the more the shadows seemed to press in around them, as if the ruins were alive and watching their every move.

Rose activated a low-level light spell she had picked up from the Market. It was a utility spell that did no damage and was cheap. As the light spread, the gentle glow illuminated their immediate surroundings. The candlelight-like flickers danced across forgotten murals and inscriptions; any meaning they had was obscured by the passage of time.

"Look at this," Rose whispered, touching the surface of a partially intact painting. "It seems like this place was important. What do you think this place was? It wasn't here before the integration but looks thousands of years old."

"Yeah, a relic of a bygone era. It must have been pulled here during integration; however, the hell that would've worked. Or maybe it was created like this to give this world a new history? Hell, your guess is as good as mine." Alice sounded irritable, her words sharper than intended. "Let's not lose focus. Ed is in real danger, and we are not there yet."

Suddenly, they heard a faint noise—a muffled cry, distant but distinct, echoing through the stony halls. The sound gripped their hearts like a vise.

"That was Ed!" Rose declared.

"Then we've no time to waste," Alice responded, quickening her pace and starting to outpace the other two.

As they rounded a corner, they came face-to-face with a massive, decrepit door that loomed before them like a sentinel from another age. The door sat slightly ajar, its wood warped and splintered with age, and its surface marred by deep cracks that spoke of centuries of neglect. The iron bands that once reinforced it were rusted and corroded, barely holding the ancient timbers together. Despite its condition, it was still—relatively—easy to open. Beyond the door, their faint light barely penetrated the darkness, revealing only the barest hint of what lay within. The tracks they had been following led straight into the ominous space.

Alice, ever cautious, moved closer, her breath shallow as she peeked through the narrow opening. Her eyes darted around the shadowy interior, every nerve on edge. The room beyond was a cavernous space, its walls lined with more crumbling stone and the air thick with the scent of damp decay. "It looks empty," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "but I can't see well enough to make anything out. We're going to have to go straight in."

Victoria readied her one targeted healing spell—the one she got when she attained her class—anticipating it would be needed. "We won't know until we go in." She was eager to get their friend back; every minute they waited caused more intrusive thoughts to crowd her mind, whispering to her that they would be too late to help him. Thoughts of not being able to see him again were bothering her more and more.

Gathering her courage, Rose pushed the door open with a loud creak that sent shivers down their spines. Alice, who had the most constitution, rushed in to confront the Myrkr, knowing her role was to provoke aggressive actions. They stepped into a grand hall. Columns had toppled over, and patches of the ceiling had given way to the elements.

Then they saw him.

Ed was bound and gagged, tied to a pillar in the center of the room. His eyes, filled with relief—and disbelief—met theirs. He was still alive, but the extensive bloodstains on his clothes suggested he had taken damage.

Alice was the first to break into a run. Just as she did, a low growl reverberated through the hall. From the shadows emerged the Myrkr, its eyes glowing a menacing red.

The Myrkr tilted its head as if contemplating the absurdity of the situation. "What did you hope to accomplish by coming so far from help? You humans are always so optimistic." Though more humanoid than a monster, the beast's voice carried a raspy, inhuman lilt.

Before the Myrkr could react, Rose brought her hands together, locking her sights on the beast, and triggered Inferno. With a grunt of pain, she channeled her mana as thickly as she could, the flames turning a deep blue as they surged towards the creature.

But the Myrkr wasn't idle. It twisted its form with an unnatural speed, dodging just enough to minimize the impact. With a growl, it lunged toward Rose, one of its clawed hands swinging in a wide arc. She barely ducked, the wicked claws passing inches above her head, leaving deep gouges in the stone wall behind her.

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Alice moved like a blur, weaving around broken columns on the floor. Her fists radiated a faint, pulsating aura as she reached the Myrkr's opposite side, just in time to land three rapid strikes to its ribs. The creature hissed in pain, stumbling sideways, but quickly countered, snapping a kick at Alice's legs. She jumped back in time, the air whistling where the claws narrowly missed.

The beast's eyes glowed with fury as it twisted again, lunging towards Victoria, recognizing her as the healer. Alice intercepted, her agility allowing her to block its advance with a spinning kick to its shoulder. Victoria's heart pounded as she brought her fingers together, light glowing between them as she sent a small healing spell to Alice, mending the minor wounds she had sustained. But she could see the Myrkr's next move—the creature sprang back, then lunged again, moving with a speed that made her gasp.

Just as it closed the distance to Victoria, Rose switched her spell. She raised her other arm, channeling ice instead of fire, sending an Ice Missile hurtling toward the Myrkr. The bolt impacted its side, halting its advance just inches from Victoria. The sudden shock made the creature hiss in agony, its head snapping toward Rose with raw malice in its eyes.

For a brief moment, the Myrkr was enveloped in a tempest of fire, ice, and superheated steam, its screeches echoing off the walls. It swung wildly, knocking Alice back with the force of a sledgehammer, sending her skidding across the stone floor. Victoria rushed to Alice, her hands glowing as she healed the injuries sustained by the impact.

The Myrkr let out a guttural snarl, then leaped toward Rose, claws outstretched. Rose threw herself backward, barely avoiding its deadly grasp. As she regained her footing, she triggered Fireball, sending the flaming orb directly into the Myrkr's path. The blast scorched its skin, the flames searing deep. The creature howled, its movements now filled with desperation.

Despite her previous blow, Alice returned to the fray. She dove under Myrkr's next attack, sliding across the floor and coming up behind it. She delivered two precise punches to the base of its spine, each hit followed by a surge of magical energy. The Myrkr shrieked, turning, its claw catching her across the shoulder. Blood sprayed, and Alice staggered back, clutching her wound, her teeth gritted in pain.

"Stay down!" Victoria yelled, her hands still glowing as she reached Alice. But Alice shook her head, determination in her eyes. She stood again, her gaze fixed on the Myrkr.

Rose released Inferno briefly when the Myrkr moved too fast for her to track—not wanting to hit Alice with splash damage—then followed with a more controlled Ice Bolt. She sent the icy projectile soaring toward the Myrkr, piercing its shoulder and forcing it back. The beast screamed, its glowing red eyes filled with hatred.

Putting everything into the action, Rose put up both arms and channeled alternating blasts of fire and ice as fast as she could. She could feel the strain on her body, every muscle screaming, but she pushed through, forcing her mana into her spells, amplifying the damage.

Suddenly, the Myrkr roared, lunging with surprising speed despite its injuries. It swung its arm out, its claws aimed at Rose. Rose barely managed to duck, feeling the wind rush past her as the claws narrowly missed her. She could feel her heart racing; each beat was a reminder of just how close she was to death.

Alice jumped forward, her body twisting mid-air as she landed a kick to the Myrkr's side, pushing it back into the range of Rose's flames. With a quick maneuver, she followed up with another punch, sending her glowing fist crashing into its ribs with a satisfying crack.

The Myrkr staggered, but its ferocity hadn't lessened. It twisted its body in one last, desperate move, its claws slashing across Alice's chest, tearing through her armor. Alice cried out, stumbling backward, but she didn't fall. She stood her ground, even as pain shot through her.

Rose's magic flared once again. She forced her focus to split, her right hand sending a continuous stream of blue fire at the beast while her left hand gathered the energy for another Ice Bolt. The Myrkr tried to shield itself, but it was too late. The bolt of ice, sharp as a spear, shot forward, striking true—impaling the Myrkr through its abdomen.

The Myrkr's red eyes went wide, its body twitching as it struggled. It tried to move forward, its gaze shifting between the three women as though it couldn't understand how it had lost. Alice took one step closer, her fists still ready, but she knew the fight was over.

Letting out a final hate-filled scream, the Myrkr collapsed; their mission to free their friend was complete. Victoria immediately hurried to free Ed, who fell to the ground at her feet as she discovered he was too heavy to catch.

Ed was alive but delirious: Victoria could have sworn he muttered, "Not how I intended this to happen," as he lay half-sprawled over her.

Victoria cast healing upon Ed repeatedly until he jerked awake. There was an awkward pause before he realized what was happening and rolled off her. Red-faced, he heard the coughs of Rose and Alice behind him, turning to see them giving him the side eye at his compromising position.. Deciding that ignorance was the better part of valor, he grunted out a thank you and took Alice's hand as she offered to help him stand. Exhausted but triumphant, the four friends stood in a circle amidst the silent ruins, their heavy breathing the only sound.

Ed looked at the corpse in amazement and winked at the other three. "Well, I guess that shows him. Don't mess with the ladies from Wolf's Run." That creature had subdued him in seconds and carried him off, and it was intimidating to realize the strength of his companions.

"In my defense, I was ambushed and never got to use my class abilities." Ed sighed. "Some Nature's Warden I am. I'm impressed, thank you."

Alice and Rose nodded in agreement, their grins as bright as ever. "We're just glad you're ok. And we got a couple of levels, too! This was one productive hunt,"

Victoria chimed in, bubbling with excitement at her success. "Guess what? I got four!"

"As much as I'd love the titles Sinclair keeps getting for solo killing big bosses," Rose remarked with a chuckle, "I think Vǫrðr's Valor suits me just fine: it's giving me plus five to my stats."

With experience points earned,d and victory celebrated, they turned their attention to their fallen foe. As one, they all shouted out, "Loot time!". Searching the room, they uncovered a small pile of gold and two magical items. A small alcove, almost like an altar, sat a small box containing a ring, some coins, and a few other baubles; Ed's eyes locked on it.

"That's a good upgrade for me," Ed declared, examining the ring closely. "More health and stamina, along with nature damage buffs."

Victoria held a delicate necklace with a shimmering blue stone at its center. "This is perfect for me. It offers a mana regen buff and gives me some extra intelligence."

Ed smirked. "Smarter? Why, so you can make fun of me more better?"

Alice looked at her companions, her eyes lingering on each magical item before she looked up and met their gazes. "Today was a good day," she said. "We fought, won, leveled up, and got some solid loot."

Rose glanced around at her friends, her eyes finally resting on Ed. "More importantly, we got you back, and we showed that . . . creature . . . it messed with the wrong team."

The idea of trekking back through the woods, through the veil of darkness that covered the landscape, was not appealing. Compared to the allure of the ancient ruins before them, the temptation was too strong to resist. The old world may have considered ruins like these mere historical sites, but in this new system-governed reality, they practically screamed "hidden treasure."

Drawing torches from their supplies, each handed one over to Rose, who flicked her wrist at each. In succession, she launched a—slightly—weaker version of her Inferno spell, lighting the torches in a blaze of magic-infused fire. Ed took the lead, his night vision granting him a slight advantage in the dim light.

Navigating the passages, they moved deeper into the ruins, each step echoing off the ancient stone walls. "If there's going to be anything worth finding, it's going to be at the heart of this place," Alice theorized, her eyes constantly roving for signs of traps or hidden compartments.

At one point, Victoria paused and brushed her fingers lightly over a crumbling bas-relief of some forgotten deity. "These ruins are more than just a pile of stones. They're a slice of history, and who knows what secrets they might hold?"

Eventually, they arrived at what seemed to be the central chamber, a space that immediately commanded their attention with an aura of faded grandeur. Intricate murals and mysterious symbols covered the walls. The remnants of formerly awe-inspiring sculptures and icons lay strewn about, the shattered fragments of a bygone era, each piece a silent testament to the glory once filling this hall. "This has to be it," Rose said, her voice tinged with awe. "If there's a treasure to be found or secrets to unlock, this is where it will happen."

Rose surveyed the room with keen eyes, captivated by its solemn atmosphere. "This place might have been a sanctuary of sorts. Look at the statue in the center; it's the most intact. It must represent the most revered deity."

Ed scratched his head, peering closer at the central figure. "Could be. If this is from Earth's history, I'd say this looks kinda Norse—like Odin and his pantheon."

Alice walked around a broken plinth, her eyes trailing over the stone fragments. "Whatever this place was, it's in serious need of a facelift."

While the others spoke, no one immediately noticed that Victoria, feeling an unexplainable, almost magnetic pull towards one of the plinths, had begun to move. As the pull became a beckoning, she moved, step by step, towards the only statue still bearing part of a le and even a foot. Unlike the others, this one still bore the foot and part of the leg of a statue. The pull became a beckoning, drawing her closer and closer until she stood just an arm's length away.

Alice saw Victoria in a trance, staring at one plinth in particular. As her unusual behavior was finally noticed, the room fell silent. "Victoria, are you okay?" Alice inquired, concerned.

Ignoring the question, Victoria slowly reached out, her hand trembling as it approached the stone. Slowly, inch by inch, her fingers approached the statue until she finally made contact. The moment her fingertips grazed the monument, a surge of energy ripped through her, causing her vision to blur momentarily. As her vision gradually cleared, she felt gloriously invigorated, her senses heightened.

"What just happened?" Ed asked, bewildered.

"I—I don't know," Victoria finally, haltingly, spoke, slowly retracting her hand. "But I feel like I was meant to touch it. Like—like it called out to me."

A sudden tremor coursed through the ground as if reacting to her actions. The group's eyes widened as they saw bits of stone and debris slowly being pulled toward the statue she had touched. A whirlwind of magic and sand coalesced, and before their eyes, the statue reformed.

Victoria's heart pounded as she read the weathered plaque now affixed to the base. It named the figure Eir, the god of healing—her god, the divine force behind her powers and calling.

"This is... incredible," Rose exclaimed, her eyes widening.

As Victoria touched the statue, a translucent window appeared before her eyes.

New Quest: Repair the Temple (Unique)

Description: A sacred site lies in ruin; its power has diminished, and its halls have been forgotten. This temple once served as a vital link between the mortal realm and the divine, resonating with the energies of gods and chosen ones. Restoring its glory is reestablishing the spiritual bond that strengthens both worlds.

Goal: Repair the temple's facilities, revitalizing its structure and sanctity.

Bring other chosen ones to the location to amplify the spiritual resonance and reconnect the divine threads to the mortal plane.

Rewards:

Experience points

Strengthened connection with deities

Unspecified rewards tied to the temple's restoration and spiritual alignment.

"Do you guys see this?" Victoria asked, her eyes fixed on the shimmering quest window hovering before her.

"See what?" Rose replied, her brows furrowed in confusion. "We don't see anything."

"Try touching the statue," Victoria suggested, gesturing toward the weathered stone figure in the center of the room.

One by one, Alice, Rose, and Ed reached out and placed their hands on the cold, smooth surface of the statue. As they did, identical quest windows flickered into view before each of them, their faint glow illuminating their intrigued faces.

"So, we're temple renovators now?" Ed quipped, his eyes scanning the quest details with amusement and skepticism.

"Seems like it," Alice replied, her tone light but thoughtful. "I'm not against earning power-ups just by bringing people here."

Rose crossed her arms, her expression serious. "I think we need to put more thought into this. Finding a way to connect with a deity that aligns with us could be a game-changer. Look at Sinclair—several of his perks come from Odin."

Ed nodded, a wistful look crossing his face. "I'll give you that. Too bad we don't have the internet anymore. We could've Googled the best gods to work with. But this 'unspecified rewards' thing? It's like walking into a fancy store with no price tags. If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it."

"First things first," Victoria interjected, her voice steady. "We must figure out what it takes to repair a place like this. The quest isn't exactly detailed. Once we've sorted that out, we can focus on bringing other 'chosen ones' here. Sinclair's knowledge-gathering skill could help fill in the gaps."

"Sounds like a plan," Alice agreed, rolling her shoulders as if preparing for action. "Given this quest's complexity, we'll need high-quality materials, maybe even some specialized skills or craftsmen."

The group nodded in agreement, their focus shifting between the statue and the task ahead. Victoria lingered a moment longer, her hand brushing the statue's surface as if seeking some more profound connection. Finally, she stepped back, a faint smile on her lips. "As incredible as this is, we've got a long road ahead. But at least we know we're on a path with divine backing. Well, more divine backing."

"Agreed," Alice said as she extinguished her torch and slipped it back into her inventory. "This place is fascinating, but we're all running on fumes. Let's get some rest."

Rose glanced around the room, her eyes narrowing in thought. "How about that chamber we passed earlier? The one with the partial ceiling? It was mostly closed off and should offer some protection."

"Good call," Victoria replied, her expression softening with relief. "It'll give us some cover, maybe even a sense of privacy."

Ed, visibly drained, managed a weak grin. "Privacy and some security? Sold. Let's go."

They retraced their steps through the labyrinthine ruins, their footsteps echoing faintly in the ancient corridors. Each step seemed heavier than the last, their exhaustion a shared burden. Soon, they reached the room Rose had mentioned and carefully stepped inside. The partial ceiling above left faint beams of moonlight filtering through, casting soft patterns across the stone floor.

"Looks clear," Ed said after a cursory inspection, his voice low but specific.

Alice exhaled deeply, leaning against a wall for support. "Alright, let's set up a watch rotation. This place seems abandoned, but who knows what could crawl out of the cracks."

After agreeing on the watch schedule, they unfurled their bedrolls and blankets, creating makeshift sleeping spots on the cold, uneven stone floor. Rose volunteered for the first watch, her keen eyes scanning the dimly lit room as the others settled in. One by one, they drifted off, their weariness overtaking them.

Ed was the last to close his eyes. He lay staring at the fractured ceiling, moonlight glinting off the stone. A sense of uncanny destiny hung heavy in the air, filling his thoughts. A temple, a quest, and the company of brave friends—what more could one ask for in times like these? He let out a contented sigh, curiosity, and excitement swirling in his mind as sleep finally claimed him.

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