Soulbound Odyssey: From Zero to Hero

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Shadows of the Past



Ryan leaned against a tree, his breath still coming in short gasps. The forest was eerily silent now, the faint echoes of the fleeing rogues long gone. The new cloak he had acquired draped lightly over his shoulders, blending almost seamlessly with the shadows around him.

The skill description for [Shadow Step] floated in his vision:

[Shadow Step]: Grants brief invisibility when standing still in shadows. Duration: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

It wasn't much, but it was something. Ryan turned his attention back to the glowing chest, which still sat open in the clearing. Inside, he found a few additional items: a pouch of gold coins, a simple dagger with faint runes etched into the blade, and another health potion. He pocketed everything, his mind already strategizing how to use them.

The quest timer showed he had just over two hours until dawn. With the worst of the night's challenges behind him—he hoped—Ryan decided to find somewhere safer to wait out the rest of the timer.

The forest seemed calmer as Ryan moved cautiously through the underbrush. The glowing mushrooms provided enough light to navigate, though every rustle of leaves or distant howl set his nerves on edge. His newly leveled-up stats made his movements lighter, his footsteps quieter, but he still felt like a novice.

As he pressed deeper into the woods, he came across a winding dirt path, barely visible under the shadows of the dense canopy. A faint breeze carried the scent of smoke and something cooking.

"A campfire?" Ryan muttered. He hesitated, considering his options. The idea of encountering friendly NPCs—or even other players—was tempting, but he wasn't sure he could handle another ambush. On the other hand, avoiding the campfire meant staying in the open, where anything could attack.

Gritting his teeth, Ryan decided to investigate. He followed the scent, keeping to the edges of the path, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. As he drew closer, the flicker of firelight came into view.

The camp was small, consisting of a single tent, a smoldering fire, and a wooden spit where a piece of meat turned slowly. A figure sat by the fire, sharpening a blade with deliberate precision. They were cloaked in dark leather, their face obscured by a hood.

Ryan froze, assessing the situation. His interface didn't display any level or health bar for the figure, which meant one of two things: they were either an NPC or a player significantly stronger than him.

"You've been watching for a while," the figure said without looking up. Their voice was smooth and calm, carrying just a hint of amusement. "Why not come closer? I don't bite."

Ryan's grip tightened on his sword. "Who are you?" he called out, his voice steadier than he felt.

The figure chuckled softly, setting the blade aside. They stood slowly, their movements fluid and unthreatening. As they stepped into the light, their features became clearer: a woman with sharp green eyes, her expression unreadable. Her equipment was far superior to Ryan's—a sleek, well-maintained set of leather armor, and a dagger that practically hummed with energy.

"Name's Zara," she said, folding her arms. "And you are?"

"Ryan," he replied cautiously. "Just trying to survive the night."

Zara raised an eyebrow. "New player?"

Ryan hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. Finally, he nodded. "Something like that."

"Figured," Zara said with a smirk. "You've got that deer-in-headlights look about you. Let me guess: ambushed by wolves, stumbled into a rogue trap, and now you're wondering if this game is worth the pain?"

Ryan's jaw tightened. "Something like that," he repeated.

"Relax," Zara said, sitting back down by the fire. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead. Sit. Eat. You look like you need it."

Ryan hesitated again but eventually sat across from her. The warmth of the fire was a welcome relief, and the scent of the roasting meat made his stomach growl loudly. Zara chuckled and tossed him a skewer.

"So," she said, leaning back, "what's your story, Ryan? Players like you don't just wander into Whispering Hollow without a reason."

Ryan hesitated, trying to gauge whether he could trust her. Finally, he decided to stick as close to the truth as possible. "I was following a quest. Found a map, opened a chest, got ambushed. You know how it goes."

Zara's eyes gleamed with interest. "And survived. Impressive. Most rookies don't make it past their first ambush."

Ryan shrugged. "It wasn't easy."

Zara studied him for a moment before nodding. "You've got potential. Rough around the edges, but potential. Tell you what: the Hollow isn't safe for someone like you, not yet. Stick with me, and I'll show you how to get through the night in one piece."

"What's the catch?" Ryan asked, narrowing his eyes.

Zara grinned. "Smart. No catch—at least, not yet. Let's just say I have a vested interest in keeping new blood alive. You'll find out why soon enough."

Ryan didn't fully trust her, but he didn't have many options. Surviving alone seemed increasingly unlikely, and Zara clearly knew her way around the forest.

"Alright," he said finally. "I'm in."

Zara's grin widened. "Good choice, rookie. Now, eat up. We've got a long night ahead of us."

As Ryan bit into the skewer, a notification appeared in his interface:

Temporary Party Formed: Zara (Level: ???)

For the first time since entering the game, Ryan felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could survive this after all.


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