frightfiction Chapter 86 The Forest of Time
Chapter 86 The Forest of Time
Upon returning to the real world, I found myself standing on the edge of the Forest of Time, with a surreal landscape unfolding before me.
The lingering echoes of that mysterious illusion still resonate in my mind, but I know now is not the time for reflection. This place is a hidden level in the dungeon, but it also contains a unique environment.
In this world, dungeons are usually associated with monsters and destruction. Therefore, they are often considered dangerous areas that must be left behind immediately.
It is a place full of danger and disaster.
However, this is not entirely correct.
Dungeons are essentially subspaces with their own unique environments. Therefore, they can also be described as "small worlds with different rules".
Not everything in this world is dangerous. Some things are also beneficial, and it is each person's responsibility to discern what is beneficial and what is not.
Even though the space is limited, there is still a lot to explore.
Most importantly, this place is the ideal training ground.
After all, time flies very fast here.
Thirty days here is equivalent to one day outside, which means I have a full thirty days to train myself here before leaving.
In the game, if you still haven't conquered the dungeon after thirty days, or if you fail to emerge from the dungeon within a day after defeating the boss outside, you will be forcibly teleported out of the dungeon because the mana core that sustains it has disappeared.
'But I need that reward.'
Since I need that reward, I can't just train. I also need to conquer this hidden level, and that's no easy task.
The boss monster here is a mid-level tier 3 monster.
“This task wasn’t too challenging for Ethan. But it was very difficult for me.”
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Name: Morse Scott
Class: Weapon Master (Stage 1)
Talent cap: 6
— Passive:
Vengeance
— Attributes:
Power: 1.9
Agility: 2.3
Physical condition: 1.7
Perception: 2.5
Magic Power: 2.7
Mana Capacity: 1.9
— Features:
Insight and perception (unique)
Month (???) (Growth Type) (Stage 0)
Shadow (Legendary) (Growth Type) (Stage 1)
— Stunts
Reaching the pinnacle (???) (13%)
-Skill
Swift
Keen Eyes
— Psionic Mark
???
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
My stats are currently close to 2, but that's not enough. For a mid-tier Tier 3 monster, I need at least 3 stats to fight it head-on, but I only have one stat close to that value right now.
'Magic strength.'
I am still unable to maximize the use of my magic power. Therefore, necessary preparation and training are essential.
That's exactly why I came here.
I cautiously stepped into the forest of time, remaining alert and sensing the ever-changing climate and landscape.
call!
The bizarre changes in climate and terrain are bewildering, creating a sense of constant exploration within this confined space.
However, my movements were soon restricted by an invisible magical barrier.
It was an impenetrable wall, preventing me from crossing its boundaries, just like the barrier in the first phase of the dungeon.
As expected, the barrier still exists.
This is also a magical barrier, but this time it is not powered by the magical core of the dungeon, but by a source outside this place.
Therefore, it cannot be broken from the inside, and I do not intend to do so.
'I'm doomed the moment I step inside.'
Because that place is full of "monsters" in the literal sense. Not just in appearance, but also in strength.
In any case, since I am "restricted" in this place but also "protected," I will continue on my way.
As I continued my exploration, I eventually reached a relatively high point.
This is it.
This level isn't very big, and with my good memory, I can easily remember this location because it's a great spot to scout out the chaotic landscape of the dungeon.
Keen Eyes
Activating my skill [Keen Eyes], I began to observe my surroundings. There, I saw the "Guardian of Time," a mysterious being dwelling in this realm.
It moved through the woods, its ghostly figure appearing and disappearing, manipulating time itself. I kept a safe distance, observing its movements with my keen eyes, afraid of attracting its attention.
After all, this monster is the boss of this stage, and there's no point in fighting it now.
The distance was quite far, so my skills consumed a lot of mana, but it was worth it. I confirmed the boss's location; as usual, it was in the center of the space.
Besides the Time Guardians, my gaze also fell upon the Time Changers and the Eternal Ghosts, who are either "residents" or "monsters" existing in this surreal realm.
'Advanced Tier 2 monster, Time Manipulator.'
The Time Changer is a monster evolved from time magic.
They are adept at manipulating time, able to accelerate or slow down their movements at will. Their forms appear distorted and fragmented, making them very difficult to lock onto.
These are their variables, and they change as an attack occurs, thus increasing the impact and momentum.
Eternal ghosts, on the other hand, are ghost-like beings, appearing and disappearing elusively, making them partially intangible.
They can pass through physical objects and are known for their chilling, echoing screams.
'Advanced Tier 2, Ghost-type monster. Eternal Ghost.'
They are currently unknown to the world, but there will be an event in the future where they will appear and entangle humans, at which time they will unveil themselves.
If you know their weaknesses and have the necessary equipment, they are not actually that strong.
'Mana Bell. '
That's the bell from my spatial bracelet. When it rings, it temporarily disrupts the magic of the surrounding environment. This allows the Eternal Specter to manifest a physical form, since the Eternal Specter uses spatial magic to transfer its physical form into different dimensions.
This is why they can attack when they want to, but cannot be attacked when they want to dodge.
However, without bells, dealing with them would be quite tricky.
From my position, I continued to observe the surrounding space, locate the monsters, and analyze their movement patterns.
This should be enough.
After confirming all the information and gathering enough data, I closed my eyes and began to draw a map in my mind. Since the area wasn't very large, I quickly completed the map.
'Very good. Now let's begin my plan.'
Having a clear understanding of the layout of the Forest of Time, I began to build my camp.
I carefully selected a suitable location, taking into account both security and strategic layout.
The items I bought came in handy at this moment.
The tent is made of high-quality materials and even includes a shower. The heating system is also excellent; I never felt cold, even when it snowed.
After the tent was set up, I began to set up a series of traps and alarms to detect any approaching monsters.
This extra layer of security provides alerts, ensuring I can respond quickly to potential threats.
After setting up the defenses, I turned my attention to my main purpose in entering the Forest of Time, while training my mana control and physical abilities.
This unique environment, with its fluctuations in mana density and the monsters that appear when necessary, provides me with the perfect opportunity to hone my skills.
I started putting down the necessary equipment, simple clothes, cushions, and some training dummies, and then continued making potions to improve efficiency.
'Alchemy potion—Corleone.'
A special alchemical potion, its recipe inspired by the secretions of a monster from a specific location. This monster uses the magic in the air to train its body and become stronger.
And this place, filled with abundant magical power, is the most suitable place.
Once it was ready, I swallowed it in one gulp.
Feeling my pores slightly open, I closed my eyes and began trying to draw magic power from my head. However, at first, it all seemed impossible.
In a sense, the magic I use comes from my own characteristics, but how exactly does it work?
This is a perfect place to study how my magic works.
I intend to investigate and learn about each color of my magic and its properties here. I even brought the book "The Gathering of the Moon: The Legend of the Moon's Power" to study its contents more deeply.
In the past, I had limited time and too many things to consider, but now the situation is different.
I have never questioned my own characteristics, and now I am using them unconsciously again, but this time, it feels like walking in a quagmire.
The density of magic power is too high, and due to the unique properties of space, even primal magic power is difficult to move.
'But that's even more interesting.'
The more difficult the task, the more clearly the differences between the colors of magic and their characteristics become apparent.
Now all I need to do is what Senior Maya taught me back then.
"Don't just try to feel the magic; circulate it within your body. You need to live in harmony with it."
And so, recalling her words and the phenomena I observed, I began my training.