The silvery light of the consumed Rune of Ephemeral Knowledge still seemed to hum within Kael's very essence. The world felt sharper, brighter, pregnant with potential. Every rustle of a leaf, every distant bird call, every subtle shift in the air currents resonated with a new clarity, a new depth of information that his mind, supercharged by the rune and his own high INT, eagerly processed. The 24-hour timer was a relentless pressure, a silent drumbeat urging him to action.
His first priority was to exit this ancient, subterranean complex. The Watchers' cavern was a place of immense power and danger, and traversing it again, even to leave, was fraught with risk. He couldn't afford a confrontation now, not when every second counted towards maximizing his XP gain.
He moved back into the narrow passage connecting the hidden study to the Watchers' cavern, the Attunement Shard once again held ready, though its insistent pulsing had calmed somewhat after he'd entered the study. The Sylphwing Quill behind his ear vibrated with a low thrum, its sensory amplification now working in concert with the rune's effects, making him feel almost hyper-aware.
Reaching the edge of the vast cavern, he paused, peering out from the curtain of Shadowmoss. The Silent Watchers were still there, their ethereal forms drifting in their slow, enigmatic dance around the central root and the black pool. The psychic pressure was still immense, but Kael felt a subtle shift in his own resilience. The rune's power, or perhaps his own heightened state of being, seemed to create a thin buffer against the oppressive atmosphere.
He activated 'Silent Step' and 'Shadow Meld (Basic)'. His AGI of 22, combined with his B-Rank Stealth, made him a whisper in the darkness. He chose his path carefully, retracing the route the Quill had guided him on earlier, skirting the cavern's edge, moving from one deep shadow to another. The Watchers did not react. Their attention remained fixed on their ancient ritual, or perhaps they simply didn't register his fleeting presence as a threat worthy of their notice.
The journey back through the Watchers' cavern and then up the sloping passage towards the surface felt both agonizingly slow due to his caution and incredibly fast due to the ticking clock of the rune. He passed the spot where the desiccated spearman lay, a grim reminder of the hollow's dangers, but he didn't pause.
Finally, he saw it – the faint, natural light filtering through the mossy entrance of the root-choked hollow. He pushed through the Shadowmoss curtain and stepped back into the deeply shadowed part of the forest, the air here feeling fresh and clean after the ancient staleness of the complex below.
Corvus let out an anxious caw from a high branch, then swooped down to land on Kael's shoulder, a rare gesture of familiarity and relief.
"It's alright, Corvus," Kael murmured, reaching up to stroke the crow's sleek head. "We're out. For now."
He didn't linger. The rune's 24-hour timer was paramount.
"Now, the hunt begins," he said, a new, almost predatory gleam in his eyes. "And we need to make every second count."
His plan was simple:
High-Level Prey: He would target the highest-level creatures he could find and dispatch quickly and efficiently using his bow and 'Aimed Shot'. Cave Bears (Level 15) were a good target. Perhaps he could find something even more challenging if the opportunity arose. Each kill would now yield double XP.Crafting Burst: Between hunts, or if he needed a break from stalking, he would tackle the tanning of the Heavy Deer Hide from the adult buck. It was a complex, multi-stage process that the System had indicated would give good XP. With the rune active, that XP would also be doubled. He also considered attempting to craft something with the Direhorn Wolf horns, perhaps reinforcing his axe or creating new arrowheads.Skill Usage: He would consciously use his active abilities like 'Aimed Shot', 'Power Strike', and 'Silent Step' as much as his stamina allowed, as successful skill usage often contributed to proficiency gains, which sometimes came with small XP bonuses or faster skill progression.
He set off at a brisk pace, Corvus soaring ahead to scout. The forest, once a place of constant, pressing danger, now felt like a vast hunting ground teeming with potential experience points. The world was vibrant, alive, every detail magnified by the rune's power. Kael felt a surge of adrenaline, a focused intensity he had never experienced before.
The next 23 hours and change would define his immediate future.