Nightborne returned to Greenwood Hollow just as dawn's first gold touched the treetops. His body ached from the Temple's trials—every muscle throbbed, every breath felt earned—but in his pack lay the Heart of Light and a handful of fresh Tier 1 Crystals. Above him, two moons lingered in the fading dark, yet the new sun rose steady and sure.
Bertha waited at the well, basket in hand. Her warm smile faltered when she saw his limp. "You look worse for wear," she said, helping him settle onto a bench. "Come, let me tend those wounds."
He unwrapped his blood-soaked bandages and allowed her gentle hands to clean and re-dress the cuts with fresh poultices. Around them the village stirred: farmers headed for the fields, bakers stoked their ovens, children chased chickens across the yard. For a moment, the world felt alive again.
Once he was properly bandaged, Nightborne rose unsteadily. "Thank you. I need to rest, then I'll clear the southern marshlands of shadow beasts—just like I promised."
Bertha frowned. "Those swamps have been quiet for years. What's changed?"
He shook out his cloak and tested his legs. "After the Temple, the darkness felt different—wilder. I sensed new currents of shadow stirring across the island. I'll be gone a week, maybe more."
Her hand lingered on his arm. "Be safe."
He moved through the village square, nodding to Garret and Mira, who pressed salt and bread into his hands.
[Quest Update: Clear the southern marshlands of all shadow creatures]
Leaving Greenwood Hollow behind, he followed the old mule track south until the forest gave way to mist-clad wetlands. Reeds swayed like silent sentinels, and dark water pooled between blackened lily pads. Here, daylight felt thinner, as if the swamp existed in its own half-light.
Tucking away his torch, he activated his power.
[Shadow Blend – Active]
The reeds swallowed him as he advanced, senses on high alert. The swamp was eerily silent—no birds, no frogs—only the drip of water and the steady hum of his heartbeat.
A sudden rustle. Then four shapes emerged: a massive shadow-moose, two slavering swamp hounds, and a creeping bog-wraith.
[Wild Encounter: Shadow-Moose; Swamp Hounds x2; Bog-Wraith – Tier 2–3]
He allowed himself a grin. Perfect for testing his Domain upgrade. One brief glance at his status confirmed he was ready.
[Dark Domain – Level 2; Max Targets: 3]
[Magic Power: 950/1200]
He raised his hand.
[Dark Domain – Activated]
The world snapped to absolute black. Even dawn's light receded. Only he and the three chosen beasts existed here—the swamp hounds and moose pulled in, the wraith left prowling at the border.
He struck swiftly. Teleporting behind the moose, he slashed across its flank; steam hissed from the fresh wound. As one hound charged, he blinked aside and severed the other's leg with the Darkness Wire. Mid-air, he drove both ShadowSteel Daggers into the remaining hound's skull. Finally, he teleported back to the moose and ended it with a rip of his Direwolf's Claws.
Three defeats.
[Progress: 25/100]
The void dissolved in a rush of returning light. Heart pounding, Nightborne gathered three Tier 1 Crystals from the muck and rewove the reeds to hide the disturbance.
He knelt by the water's edge, drinking deeply to wash away adrenaline and sweat. The swamp settled back into its silent vigil, and the bog-wraith he'd left outside the Domain drifted away into the mist. Nightborne tore off a piece of flatbread, weighed his next move, then drew comfort from the Heart of Light strapped to his side—its gentle warmth pulsed through him.
[Passive: +15% MP Regen]
[Passive: +20% Domain Duration]
He pressed on through the marsh, following oversized tracks to a flooded cathedral of reeds. There, half-submerged, lay the Shadow Turtle—its shell of black obsidian gleaming. It raised its head, eyes molten silver, and hissed steam.
[Boss Encounter: Shadow Turtle – Tier 4]
[HP: 2 500/2 500]
[Unique Trait: Shell of 1 000 armor; vulnerable only at the glowing runes]
Nightborne didn't hesitate. He activated his power.
[Dark Domain – Activated]
Silence fell. He blink-teleported to the turtle's flank and slashed at its armor—his dagger rang hollow. Then he reappeared at the rune-etched seam and shattered it with the Blade of Forgiveness. Light pulsed briefly in the void, marking its vulnerability.
The turtle roared and swung a massive flipper, nearly knocking him off his feet. He blinked behind it, raked his Claws down its exposed flesh, then summoned the Darkness Wire to bind its legs. In a final, fluid motion, he drove his sword through its temple. The beast's roar echoed, then dissolved into motes of midnight.
The Domain faded. Moonlight returned to the watery reeds. He retrieved five crystals and pocketed the Turtle's Heart.
[Progress: 26/100]
[Shard Acquired: Turtle's Heart (Armor Piercing +25% in Domain)]
Dusk settled as he climbed from the swamp, heading back to Greenwood Hollow beneath a violet sky. When he arrived, torchlight and laughter greeted him. Bertha handed him hot broth; Garret nodded respectfully at the Turtle's Heart; Mira pressed warm bread into his pack.
Nightborne sat by the hearth, muscles aching but heart steady. His Dark Domain count stood at 26—still long from the next level—but his arsenal had never been stronger: armor piercing, light absorption, extended duration, and a three-target Domain.
He opened his notebook and mapped out his next moves:
Hunt the Wraith King in the eastern ruins
Research the Runes of Ceila for ancient warding secrets
Consult Bertha for any legends of Light's return
As the twin moons rose outside the window, Nightborne closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he would venture deeper, testing darkness until he mastered it—and perhaps, along the way, rekindled the light the island so desperately needed.