Nyxaris stepped out of the goblin village and onto the open road. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the dirt path ahead. A cool breeze rustled the trees, and the distant calls of birds echoed through the forest.
He pulled up his status screen to review his progress.
[Status]
Name: Nyxaris
Race: Slime (Evolved)
Level: 16
Gold: 3,750
Skills:
Absorption (Advanced) – Can absorb materials, energy, and even entities under the right conditions.
Shapeshift (Intermediate) – Can alter form slightly, but limited to basic humanoid shapes.
Magic Sense – Detects energy signatures, hidden enemies, and magical anomalies.
Draconic Presence (Inactive) – The latent aura of Zeraldris remains, though locked.
"Not bad," Nyxaris muttered to himself. His gold reserves were stacking up thanks to selling materials from past quests, and he had a solid set of skills to work with.
"Still too weak," Zeraldris' voice echoed in his mind. "If you encounter a true monster or an elite warrior, you'll be crushed."
"Yeah, yeah," Nyxaris muttered, rolling his eyes. "I know I need to get stronger."
"Then keep moving. Strength comes from experience."
Nyxaris smirked. "Fine. Let's get going."
The path ahead stretched for miles, winding through dense forests and rolling hills. According to the map, it would take several days to reach Astrid on foot. But the game was full of surprises, and the road wouldn't be peaceful.
As he walked, Nyxaris noticed something in the distance—a small group of travelers moving slowly along the path.
He narrowed his eyes. Magic Sense activated.
A faint red glow surrounded the travelers. Hostile intent detected.
"Bandits?" Nyxaris thought.
Drawing closer, he saw a wagon with broken wheels and several figures surrounding it. A young woman in a hooded cloak was standing protectively in front of an older man, while three rough-looking men armed with daggers and rusty swords sneered at them.
[New Sub-Quest: Protect the Merchants]
Objective: Defeat the bandits and ensure the merchants' safety.
Reward: 300 Gold, Potential Information about Astrid.
"Guess I found my next challenge," Nyxaris muttered.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
"Hey," he called out, making the bandits turn toward him. "You guys really gonna rob a couple of merchants in broad daylight? That's kinda pathetic."
One of the bandits—a burly man with a scar across his cheek—growled. "Stay out of this, stranger. This ain't your problem."
Nyxaris cracked his knuckles, his slime-like body shifting slightly as he prepared for a fight. "Yeah, but see, I hate guys like you."
The fight was on.
The first bandit lunged at him with a dagger, but Nyxaris sidestepped effortlessly, letting the blade pass through empty space.
With a flick of his wrist, he extended his arm, his slime-like body stretching unnaturally. His fist slammed into the bandit's stomach, sending him crashing into a tree.
[Critical Hit!]
The second bandit cursed and swung his sword. Nyxaris absorbed the impact, his body rippling before snapping back.
"Not bad," Nyxaris smirked. "But not good enough."
With a swift movement, he lashed out with a tentacle-like extension, wrapping around the bandit's leg and yanking him off his feet. The man slammed into the ground, groaning in pain.
The third bandit, realizing he was outmatched, turned to run.
"Oh no, you don't," Nyxaris muttered. He raised his hand, forming a small energy blast and firing it forward. The bolt struck the fleeing bandit in the leg, causing him to collapse.
A system prompt appeared.
[Battle Complete!]
Reward: 300 Gold
Nyxaris exhaled and turned to the merchants.
"You guys okay?"
The young woman lowered her hood, revealing silver hair and striking blue eyes. "That was… impressive."
The older man coughed. "You saved our lives, stranger. Please, allow us to repay you."
Nyxaris scratched his head. "I won't say no to a reward."
The old man smiled. "Then allow us to give you a ride to Astrid."
Nyxaris blinked. That would save him a lot of time.
"Deal."
As the wagon was repaired and the journey resumed, Nyxaris climbed aboard, feeling the weight of new possibilities ahead.
Little did he know, this was only the beginning of an even greater adventure.
Nyxaris leaned back in the wagon, the creaking sound of the wooden wheels echoing on the quiet path. The breeze felt cool against his skin, but he could tell the merchants were uneasy. Their eyes darted from side to side as they spoke in hushed tones, nervous after the earlier encounter with the bandits.
The silver-haired woman, Elara, glanced over at him, her gaze thoughtful. "You know," she said, voice low, "you're not like other adventurers I've met. You're... different."
Nyxaris smiled slightly, his attention half on the road ahead. "What gave it away?"
"You didn't flinch when we were attacked," she replied. "You didn't seem to worry, even when things got dangerous. Most adventurers panic a bit, but you didn't even break a sweat."
Nyxaris shrugged casually, not wanting to delve too deep into the matter. "I've got my ways. Not everyone reacts the same to danger."
Gregor, the older merchant beside Elara, grunted in agreement. "Well, whatever your tricks are, they certainly saved our lives. We owe you a great deal."
Nyxaris looked at Gregor, the old man's bushy eyebrows furrowed in concern. "You're welcome. I'd rather not see anyone get hurt."
Elara's eyes were still studying him. "If you ever find yourself in need of goods, don't hesitate to ask. We deal in rare items that might interest someone like you."
Nyxaris chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
[Quest Updated: Journey to Astrid]
Objective: Travel to Astrid with the merchant caravan.
New Encounter: Protect the caravan from unexpected dangers.
The day continued quietly, the sun hanging high in the sky. The merchants were settling into a routine, with some of them chatting quietly, while others kept an eye on their wares. Nyxaris relaxed, leaning against the side of the wagon, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He was getting used to this world, and for a moment, he even felt at peace.
But his Magic Sense suddenly tingled, warning him that something was wrong. A low rumble in the earth reached his ears, followed by a faint, skittering sound from the woods ahead.
Elara noticed his sudden stillness. "What is it?" she asked, concern lining her voice.
Nyxaris stood up quickly, his eyes narrowing. "Something's coming. And it doesn't feel good."
Before anyone could react, the ground shook violently. Massive, black ants with glowing, crimson eyes burst from the earth, charging toward the caravan. They were easily three times the size of a regular ant, with sharp mandibles and spiny, exoskeletal bodies that looked capable of crushing steel.
[New Quest: Protect the Merchant Caravan!]
Objective: Defend the merchants from the Corrupted Giant Ants.
Reward: 500 Gold, Possible Item Drop.
"Corrupted ants?" Zeraldris, the dragon residing within Nyxaris, rumbled in his mind. "Interesting. These aren't ordinary creatures. They're likely being controlled by some dark force."
"Dark force, huh?" Nyxaris murmured, watching as the massive ants swarmed toward the caravan. "Great."
The first of the ants slammed into the front of the wagon, knocking it sideways. Elara cursed loudly and grabbed her dagger. Gregor, though shaken, grabbed his crossbow, preparing to fire.
Nyxaris acted fast, his body slithering through the air, his slime-like form dodging the giant ant that swung at him. He rolled beneath another's clawed strike, absorbing the energy from the creature's strike as it passed.
[Skill Activated: Absorption (Intermediate)]
The creature recoiled, hissing as its energy was siphoned away, and Nyxaris used the momentary weakness to strike back. His arm extended, the shadowy tendrils shooting out like whips, slamming into the body of the nearest ant. The tendrils wrapped around its legs, pinning it to the ground.
Elara threw her dagger at another ant, hitting it squarely in the eye. The creature screeched, thrashing wildly before collapsing.
Gregor, from a distance, began firing bolts with precision, each one finding its mark in the joints of the ants' hard exoskeletons. But still, more kept coming.
"How many of these things are there?!"
Gregor shouted as he reloaded his crossbow.
Nyxaris clenched his fists. These ants weren't just ordinary creatures; they were stronger, faster, and smarter. They weren't acting on instinct alone. Someone was controlling them, and it wasn't just about fighting anymore—it was a matter of survival.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Bind]
Effect: Temporarily immobilizes enemies within a radius.
Nyxaris raised his hand, a pulse of dark energy spreading outward. The magic shot into the ground, and shadowy tendrils erupted from the earth, wrapping around the ants' legs, holding them in place.
"Now, Elara!" Nyxaris shouted.
Elara didn't hesitate. She dashed forward, slashing with her dagger, taking down another ant. Gregor, seeing the opening, fired his crossbow, hitting an ant straight in the head, dropping it instantly.
One by one, they managed to take down the ants, but it was clear that more were still coming.
[Battle Complete!]
Rewards: 500 Gold, [Item Drop: Ant Mandible Necklace]
Nyxaris took a deep breath, his body pulsing with energy from the battle. The giant ants were all dead, their bodies littering the road.
[New Item Drop]
Item: Ant Mandible Necklace
Effect: Slightly increases defense against physical attacks.
"Well, that was fun," Nyxaris muttered, wiping some sweat from his brow. He wasn't injured, but the battle had been taxing.
Elara looked over at him, her eyes wide. "You're… you're incredible," she said, still breathless from the fight. "How did you do that?"
Nyxaris smiled faintly, adjusting the pendant around his neck. "Just some tricks I've picked up."
Gregor, too, looked impressed, though he didn't say much. "We owe you again, young man. Without you, we wouldn't have made it."
Nyxaris shrugged. "I did what was necessary. You're still alive, aren't you?"
The merchant chuckled weakly. "I suppose so. But don't think you're off the hook yet. We'll repay you properly when we reach Astrid."
[Quest Updated: Journey to Astrid]
Objective: Continue traveling with the merchants.
Bonus Reward: Additional Gold upon arrival.
As the caravan continued its journey, Nyxaris felt a sense of accomplishment. But there was something else lurking in the back of his mind—a gnawing feeling that this world was far more dangerous than it first appeared. He was already far deeper into it than he had anticipated.
And he had a feeling the challenges were only going to get harder.