Rowan emerged from the treeline, his breath still coming in ragged gasps from the near–miss he had with the Clawkin, the monkey‐like monster that had pursued him through the forest until a cloaked stranger intervened and dispatched it with a single, silent arc of his sabre. Although he felt a surge of gratitude toward that mysterious swordsman, he could not linger; his quest still beckoned him onward. The mental heaviness in his chest, from both exhaustion and the adrenaline spike of close combat, weighed him down as he stepped onto a small clearing that the pendant glow of his directional arrow indicated was his destination.
He looked down at the ground, spotting smears of dark red where the Blinker's blood had soaked into the earth. The area was eerily quiet compared to the skirmish he had just faced, and patches of wildflowers trembled in the breeze, giving the place a deceptive sense of serenity. Brushing aside a few overgrown tufts of grass, Rowan found the lifeless form of a Blinker: the tiny, cyclopean goblin‐ish creature he had slain earlier near the village. Its small body lay splayed on the ground, its single, vacant eye glazed over, and there were clean, precise cuts along its torso—several wounds that could only have been inflicted by a blade far more skilled than his feeble swings with the rusted sword. He knelt down, his hand hovering over the creature's throat, and confirmed with a hollow pang in his chest what he already suspected: it had been killed by that hooded stranger, likely in the same decisive stroke that had felled the Clawkin.
[Heyo: Wait, he's looting a dead Blinker? LMAO rookie move 😂]
[Kail: Chill, dude's gotta get his fangs. We need those 5 for the quest!]
Rowan closed his fingers around the Blinker's jawbone, steadily extracting one fang that glittered with cold yellowish light. He slipped it into his small pouch and continued searching along the torso for the other fang, thinking about the morbid irony that the very creature he had initially defeated and collected fangs from had been laid low again so quickly. He recalled exactly how the Blinker's fang had looked on his character's menu back in the game, but seeing it here, covered in gore and bone fragments, made him wince a little. Yet he knew that without five of these fangs, he could not complete the E-Rank quest.
[Hift: Ugh, why didn't hooded guy just hand them over for free? 🤦♂️]
[Dexil: Plot armor, bro. Leave some scraps for Rowan, lmao.]
Glancing around to ensure no other Blinkers lurked in the shadows, Rowan noticed a small patch of blurred movement near a pile of dried leaves and branches to his left. Carefully, he knelt and pried aside the foliage. Two more Blinker corpses lay half‐hidden, each with tidy wounds along its neck and sides, courtesy of the same hooded savior. He retrieved two more fangs, gingerly placing them alongside the first, blinking as he realized he only needed two more to fulfill the quest's requirement. His heart lightened, and he muttered under his breath, "Just one more pair… then I'm out of here."
[Flora: He's basically collecting cheat codes for a real RPG 😆]
[Marx: Not complaining, though. Those fangs are life. 🦴✨]
Rowan moved cautiously to where he thought the final Blinker should be. He spotted its body with its leg twisted at an awkward angle, partially concealed by shrubbery. He approached it, carefully pulling away the branches to avoid startling any living predator lying in wait. As he pried away a twig, he saw both fangs glinting in the sunlight that broke through the dense canopy—tiny, ivory points against a backdrop of dirty crimson. He bagged them quickly, storing the fifth fang, then slid to sit on a mossy stone, cradling his pouch to make sure the fangs stayed secure.
He exhaled in relief. "That's… that's all five," he said aloud, voice wavering with a mix of triumph and lingering anxiety.
[Cavo: FIVE FANGS! HE'S ACTUALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING 🎉]
[Tikis: Now can we never see a Blinker again, pls?]
Suddenly, a low rumble echoed from deeper within the forest—an ominous vibration that seemed to come from the very ground beneath his feet. Rowan's neck snapped up, his blood running cold. He had heard of this sound before, in hushed whispers and fragmentary lore he had scrounged together while studying monster compendiums at night. It was the warning sound of something large, something powerful, something that would immediately make him regret he ever left the safety of Zedi Village. His viewers' chat messages scrolled by in furious anticipation:
[Twara: NO WAY. He's about to face a Grey Bear Possom?!]
[Krav: That's like a mid‐tier mini‐boss at least.]
[Geof: Srsly, a neonate shouldn't be anywhere near this. He's done.]
Rowan stumbled backward, clutching his sword hilt as he tried to peek through the trees. What he saw sent a jolt of adrenaline straight to his toes: a massive, grey bear‐like creature padded into the clearing, its head low as it sniffed at the ground, revealing a mouth full of jagged teeth. But this was no ordinary bear; rows of long, bone-white spikes jutted out of its back, curving slightly toward its hindquarters like a grotesque, living comb. Its snout was shorter than a bear's, more elongated like that of an opossum, but its body mass was at least equal to a full-grown adult bear, though barely a head shorter. The spikes on its back clicked softly together as it moved—an unsettling metallic rasp that reminded Rowan of ancient traps snapping shut.
[Xila: THAT'S THE BEAR POSSSOOM, EVERYONE GO CRAZY]
[Flint: It's so... slow, but that passive tho. He's screwed.]
Rowan hissed, scrambling to his feet and backing up quickly. He surveyed the clearing: trees ringed the area, with no obvious escape route. The Grey Bear Possom raised its head, its small, beady eyes locking onto Rowan's trembling form. There was a terrible stillness in its gaze, a cruel, methodical intelligence. Rowan realized, just as he had learned in the game, that this monster's passive skill would nullify any magic cast from more than thirty meters away—a fact he had never tested in real life, but now he would have to. He swallowed hard, the weight of his untested spells pressing down on him like a heavy stone.
"C‐can't... can't even try my spells," he whispered, voice cracking. "I'm too far. I'll have to—"
Without giving Rowan any time to think, the Grey Bear Possom took a step forward. The ground vibrated slightly under its footfall. Its presence was like a dark cloud blotting out any hope Rowan had of a quick escape. The scent of wet fur and rotting leaves filled his nostrils as it advanced, forcing him to stumble backward against a cluster of ferns.
[Kory: Why is this stuff always happening to Rowan? He's like a magnet for trouble.]
[Elryn: MonkaS intensifies]
Swallowing past a dry throat, Rowan reflexively muttered the only spell name he could think of, hoping to trick fate into giving him enough time. "Long Coming," he hissed, expecting the familiar glowing circle beneath his feet. Instead, nothing happened. His heart sank as he realized that, true to the grey bear possom's passive, his magic words were rendered useless while he was too far away for any skill to function.
"Of fucking course," Rowan groaned, anguish and disbelief roiling through his mind. He raised his rusted sword in a feeble attempt at warding the creature off, but the Grey Bear Possom merely emitted a low rumble and extended one massive clawed paw forward, cracking the earth as it pushed aside a small tree root to make room for its step. Its spikes rattled ominously with each movement, and the thing pressed forward without any hurry, but that deliberate, unstoppable pace was infinitely more terrifying than a roar. It was the certainty of its approach that made Rowan's blood run cold.
"Eat dirt," he muttered, gathering what precious stealth he had left. He dropped to the ground, pressing his palm against the damp earth and inches of decomposing leaves, attempting to remain hidden. His heart hammered so loudly he feared the beast would hear it, but the Grey Bear Possom seemed unimpressed by Rowan's feeble attempt to vanish. Instead, it sniffed the air, its spiky back shifting slightly. Rowan felt its presence a dozen feet away, and he dared not breathe too loudly.
[Koi: Lol he thinks he can hide from a bear with spikes?]
[Tiran: Dead man walking.]
A moment passed, and Rowan prayed nothing would happen. He dared not move. Then, quite suddenly, the creature swung its head toward him and let out a low growl—a vibration that hurt Rowan's eardrums and set his teeth on edge. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to stand up and fight, but he knew better. He had to run.
He rose as silently as possible, slipping off his pouch of Blinker fangs and placing it carefully in his pocket so as not to jingle. He prayed to whatever gods might be listening that the beast did not see him. He exhaled, very slowly, trying to steady his panic. Then, jaw clenched, he pushed off the ground and sprinted—imperfectly, as fast as his legs could carry him—down a crooked trail that led deeper into the forest.
[Ebon: RUN YOU IDIOT RUN]
[Tril: He's about to get spiked back there, lol]
The Grey Bear Possom's heavy footfalls echoed behind him, each pace devouring ground slowly but inexorably. Rowan's lungs felt like he had run a marathon, and he gasped for air, dribbling sweat down his face. Branches whipped against his cheeks, and dirt kicked up behind him. He swung his head over his shoulder, accusing the forest itself of trapping him in this nightmare.
"Why is it so slow but so OP?" he panted between breaths. "This is ridiculous!"
His viewers' chat scrolled frantically:
[Lupo: It's like a tank disguised as a teddy bear]
[Zeel: Fast enough to kill him eventually lmao]
[Mir: Rowan, I'd just drop the fangs and bolt back to town 😂]
He forced his legs to push harder, tearing through low‐hanging vines and dodging protruding roots. He nearly tripped over a mossy log, but managed to catch himself with a quick backward leap. When he refocused, he saw the Grey Bear Possom only twenty meters behind him—still far too close, and still blocking any chance he had to cast magic. Arcs of panic rushed through his mind. He knew that if he could reach just under thirty meters, he might cast a spell to slow it down or blind it long enough to escape. But his map's indicator was gone, and the forest seemed to repeat itself in every direction: trees, shadows, and potential traps.
He wove around a thick tree trunk, leaning close so the bark rubbed against his side. For a moment, his mind flashed to the hooded swordsman who had saved him before—if only he were here now. He stumbled into a small clearing, half‐glad because the ridge of an old stone wall rose ahead of him, creating a makeshift barrier between himself and the beast. He paused behind the wall's corner and peered around. The Grey Bear Possom had not lost track of him; its massive form lumbered into view. He let out a shuddering breath, balancing his weight on the balls of his feet.
[Orin: Lol that wall's not gonna save him for long]
[Valu: It's gonna shove him against that crap and munch on him]
Rowan sucked in a deep breath. He cursed his luck—no spells, no backup, just a rotted sword and a brain full of fear. Despite his desperate situation, a manic spark flared in his mind. If he couldn't use magic beyond thirty meters, maybe he could get close enough to render the passive useless. If he could close the distance to under thirty meters… he might try a close‐range spell. But the moment he took a step forward, the Grey Bear Possom plunged its head beneath the wall, sniffing at the ground like a predator sizing up its prey.
Rowan froze. He did not dare move an inch. The creature grunted, steam pouring from its nostrils as it sniffed air and dirt. The air was damp, and the morning mist still clung to the underbrush, but the Grey Bear Possom seemed unaffected. Then it rose its head, eyes fixed on Rowan's hiding spot, and its long, spiked back scratched against the rough stone surface with a scraping noise that made Rowan's skin crawl.
He inched back. His foot pressed against a loose pebble, which clattered against the wall. He nearly froze outright, expecting the beast to lunge through. Instead, it pawed at the corner of the wall, sensing his presence, and let out a low, rumbling snarl.
"Shit, shit, shit," Rowan whispered, heart hammering. His mind raced for any possible tactic. The rusted sword was heavy and barely sharp, but if he timed a strike to its eye, he might buy a few seconds. Yet, the Grey Bear Possom's passive still disabled magic beyond thirty meters, and he was currently too close to even consider his spells. His palms were slick with sweat, and the rough stone wall behind him pressed into his back. He took a shaky step to the right, carefully avoiding stepping on any twigs that could betray his location.
The Grey Bear Possom followed his movement with unsettling precision, its ears twitching. Rowan tried to hold his ground, but he felt foolish standing still. With nowhere else to go, he darted around the corner and plunged into a narrow path lined with brambles.
[Kreep: He's making the stupidest decisions ever 😂]
[Holg: Keep running, Rowan. Maybe you'll survive.]
As he sprinted down that passage, he realized the brambles clung to his legs, tugging at his clothes. He let out a short gasp as he yanked his pant leg free, but then immediately pressed onward. The Grey Bear Possom emerged from behind the stone wall, took a slow step forward, and let out a bone‐shaking roar—an orchestral symphony of hunger and malice.
Rowan darted into a slight depression in the forest floor—an old, dried‐out creek bed whose sides were steep and lined with loose stones and fallen branches. He crouched low, pressing himself against the ground as much as he could. The Gray Bear Possom, his gigantic gargantuan predator, lumbered down into the creek bed behind him with an almost casual, crushing slowness that seemed to shake the ground. Its spikes clicked together, sending vibrations through Rowan's teeth.
He felt each step as a small quake.
[Zeta: He's in the hole. It's gonna stomp him.]
[Tarr: He sees him! LUNGE TIME.]
The Grey Bear Possom raised its head, sniffed the air, and caught sight of Rowan in the dim light. It let out a roar that echoed off the trees, a sound of pure, unfiltered dominance. Rowan flinched, but decided he had to act, no matter how terrifying the situation was. He looked around desperately—there was no easy path upward, the stone walls of the creek were too steep and slippery. He would have to make a stand, or else be trampled.
He gripped his rusted sword, holding it in two hands. He took a deep breath, eyes flicking up at the nauseating sight of the beast's spiked back filling the narrow sky above. He felt his knuckles go white, and he shook from head to toe.
"Alright, Rowan," he muttered to himself. "You've beaten a Blinker. You've nearly died to monkeys. You… you can't just… die here."
He took one step forward, wavering on the loose stones. Each move he made sent pebbles skittering down the embankment. The Grey Bear Possom bared its teeth, inching closer. Rowan's mind raced with images of his chat's teases and encouragement: "You can do it," "Just slash once," "LMAO, good luck!" But amid the laughter, a few messages shone through:
[Sashi: No matter what, you got this.]
[Prax: Don't give up, Rowan.]
He felt a flicker of determination. He raised his sword overhead, knuckles trembling, and let out a shaky battle cry. The Grey Bear Possom lunged, its momentum carrying it forward in a terrifying display of power. Rowan dropped to one knee and swung his blade in a desperate upward slash, aiming for the creature's downward‐jutting jaw as it charged. The rusted sword struck home, but only against the thick bone of one of the Grey Bear Possom's spikes. A loud clang rang through the creek bed, and the impact reverberated up Rowan's arm, nearly driving him to the ground. He yanked his sword back, staggering.
[Kila: Oof, that's a spike hitting metal. A good sign?]
[Thran: Good thing he's got durabilty armor. 😬]
Despite his pain, Rowan tried to capitalize on his swing—he took a quick step forward, expecting to push deeper into the monster's side. But the Grey Bear Possom's hind legs kicked out, catching him in the ribcage and sending him scrambling across the gravel. His breath whooshed from his lungs as he sprayed gravel and dust into his face. He coughed, spat out dirt, his chest burning with agony.
"Shit, shit, shit… can't… can't let this thing finish me," he panted. His mind scrambled for any alternative tactic. He tried to recall any game knowledge: Grey Bear Possom's weakness to ice spells? But he couldn't cast ice spells at this range—magic was sealed outside thirty meters. The only advantage he had was his durability stat of 5, thanks to the robe and shoulder pads. He had to rely solely on his resilience and quick thinking.
He groped in his mind for a plan: what if he could get around the back, cause it to trip on its own spikes? But the creek bank still loomed behind him, and there was no cover. He braced himself, trying to hold his ground, but the Grey Bear Possom, undeterred, thundered forward once more.
Rowan rolled to the side, avoiding a claw swipe that gouged a chunk from the rocky bank behind him. He felt the hot breath of the creature sweep over him as it roared again, mouth gaping and teeth dripping with saliva. He pivoted, sword clanging against stone, and slashed at a rear spike—this time, his blade sank into a gap between two bony protrusions, drawing a thin line of blackish fluid. The Grey Bear Possom snapped its head back, and the weight shift caused it to lose balance momentarily.
[Rehn: He actually did damage!! PogChamp]
[Maro: Now's his chance!!]
Rowan seized the moment. He pressed his back against the far wall of the creek bed, gripping his sword with trembling hands, and closed his eyes for a second. He imagined the blade vibrating with energy, channels of pure determination fueling his arm. When he reopened his eyes, he saw the Grey Bear Possom recovering, but he refused to back down. He lunged forward, aiming his sword for the beast's underbelly, hoping to hit a less armored spot. The creature reared up, jaws snapping, and Rowan's blade met its flank with a thud. The Grey Bear Possom let out a howl of pain and pain, staggering backward a few steps. Rowan tightened his grip, sweat pouring down his face.
[Kami: OMG HE ACTUALLY HIT A VULNERABLE SPOT]
[Hella: THE BOY DOES HAVE SOME SKILL]
Despite the victory, the creature let out a tortured roar and charged again, ignoring the bleeding wound. Rowan barely had time to scramble backward. He tripped on a loose stone and tumbled over, landing face‐first in a small puddle of muddy water. For a moment, his world went black as he tucked into a ball, dizzy from the fall. He could feel the Grey Bear Possom looming, its heavy forepaw casting a monstrous shadow over him.
His chest pounded so hard he feared he would pass out. He twisted his head, trying to keep an eye on the beast. Its great maw was open, dripping with saliva as it prepared to strike the final blow. Rowan closed his eyes, barely daring to breathe.
[Durion: I CAN'T WATCH THIS closes eyes]
[Purix: He's got like 2 HP left, haha]
He whimpered, unable to muster a single spell or movement. Suddenly, a loud crash from above reverberated through the creek bed. The Grey Bear Possom reared up, caught mid‐strike, and let out a confused growl. Rowan's eyes shot open in surprise as a gust of wind rustled the treetops.
Then, without warning, the Grey Bear Possom let out an anguished bellow and collapsed mid‐roar, its massive body hitting the ground with a bone‐shaking thud.
Rowan scrambled out of the puddle to see the monstrous beast lying motionless—splattered blood seeping into the damp earth—its spikes no longer twitching. He looked up, squinting through the rising dust, and saw a flicker of blue energy rippling through the leaves. A figure stood on the ridge above—a silhouette wrapped in a cloak, a long sabre glinting in its hand, the same person who had saved him from the Clawkin.
"Get back to your feet," the cloaked figure called in a voice colder than winter wind but still laced with concern.
Rowan pushed himself up, legs shaking, as he realized he had been saved once more. He stared at the cloaked savior, heart pounding, and the dust settled around them like a curtain falling at the end of a performance.
[Eno: HE REALLY CAN'T CATCH A BREAK LOL]
[Kylo: This guy's personal guardian angel?]
He walked toward the cloaked stranger, who extended a hand to help him up. Rowan hesitated for a second, then took it, feeling the firm grip of someone who had practiced saving others countless times. As he stood, he wiped mud from his face and muttered thanks, voice cracking. He could barely believe he had survived yet another near‐death encounter with a creature far beyond his skill level.
The cloaked man sheathed his sabre and tilted his head, revealing only a sliver of his face. He didn't smile, but there was something in his dark, unreadable eyes that suggested faint approval.
"Our paths cross often," the man said quietly. "But do not mistake my help for kindness."
Rowan blinked, confused by the cryptic words. The man turned and began walking away, disappearing into the undergrowth once more.
"Wait," Rowan called, but the stranger was already gone. He swallowed, gripping his rusted sword, now slick with mud and droplets of bear blood. He turned back to the fallen Grey Bear Possom, then to the chat window that hovered before him:
[Talin: Well at least the ghost swordsman is still around to bail him out 🙄]
[Jibo: A for effort, Rowan, but please stop dying so much lol]
Rowan felt a lump in his throat. "Yeah," he whispered, staring at the beast's corpse. "I guess I still have a lot to learn."
Deep down, he knew this was only the beginning. The world of Eon was far more dangerous than any game he had ever played, and every narrow escape reminded him how fragile his human life truly was. With five Blinker fangs safely in his pouch and two near‐death encounters already in a single day, he realized that he could not rely on chance or strangers forever. He needed to grow stronger—faster.
He closed his eyes, took a steadying breath, and opened the map once more. The arrow to Zedi Village flickered back into existence, pointing him toward the village.