The deep woods of Verdant Hollow pulsed with a quiet energy as Riku and Kira made their way from the clearing where they'd defeated the crystalline guardian. The remains of the golem glimmered faintly in the grass, its once-menacing form now reduced to shards of glistening magic-infused rock.
Riku inspected the fragment still embedded in his glove.
> [New Item Acquired: Crystallized Core Fragment (Rare)] Properties: Can be used to power minor constructs, amplify certain elemental abilities, or be sold for 300 Points.
"That was more intense than I thought it'd be," Kira muttered, stretching her shoulder. Her sword, a sleek obsidian-edged blade granted from one of Riku's earlier rewards, still pulsed with faint energy.
Riku nodded. "The system wasn't joking when it called this place 'Mythic Potential.' We haven't even touched the tree at the center yet."
She looked ahead toward the massive tree in the distance. It was so large that even from several kilometers away, its branches pierced the clouds. The roots, some thicker than houses, tunneled beneath the ground, occasionally jutting above the soil like coiled serpents.
As they pressed forward, the terrain began to shift. The air turned thick with floral scents and the occasional gust carried strange, echoing whispers. Riku's system pinged softly.
> [Proximity Alert: Zone – Heart of Verdant Hollow] [Environmental Modifier: High Ether Saturation] [Status Effect: Enhanced Perception Enabled for Bonded Companion]
Kira blinked and clutched Riku's hand. "Did you feel that?"
He nodded. "Yeah. It's like... everything around us is alive."
They ventured deeper, soon reaching a moss-laden path flanked by bioluminescent plants and crystalline growths. Each step seemed to trigger a chorus of rustles, not hostile but aware.
Then a new voice echoed.
"Intruders. Or Heirs?"
They stopped. Riku summoned his dagger instantly, and Kira raised her blade. But no physical enemy appeared. Instead, the tree ahead shimmered, and an ethereal silhouette of a woman emerged—her form woven from vines, bark, and starlight.
> [Verdant Spirit Projection – Avatar of the Hollow]
"Speak your intent, traveler," the spirit said, her voice like rustling leaves.
Riku stepped forward. "I've claimed this land. The system granted me ownership. I intend to build here—protect it, nurture it."
The spirit's eyes glowed. "Many have tried. All failed. You, however... bear the scent of destiny. And something else. A system."
Kira tensed. Riku exhaled slowly. "Yes. But I'm not here to conquer. I want to create a sanctuary—for people. For growth."
There was a pause. Then, the spirit extended a hand.
"Prove your worth. The Tree of Beginnings shall grant you its blessing if your soul remains untainted."
> [New Mission: Trial of the Hollow] Objective: Reach the Heartroot beneath the Tree of Beginnings. Survive its illusions and reveal a truth. Reward: Tree's Blessing – Growth Acceleration + Natural Defense Buffs
Riku looked at Kira. "Ready?"
She smirked. "Always."
---
They stepped into the sanctuary.
Inside the tree was a labyrinth of wooden corridors, glowing glyphs, and translucent walls that shifted like dreams. Illusions began immediately—echoes of Riku's past failures, people he couldn't save, shameful memories, even moments of vulnerability with Kira.
He staggered as an image of his parents appeared, arguing, then leaving. Then his days as a loner. As a street vendor mocked by strangers. As a boy longing for purpose.
Kira, too, faced images—her childhood filled with warlike discipline, a lost friend whose death she couldn't prevent, a version of herself alone and bitter.
The hallway pulsed.
> [Mental Sync Protocol Activated – Link Stability: 98%]
Their hands found each other.
Riku muttered, "These are fragments. Not truths."
Kira nodded, lips trembling. "But they're ours. And we carry them together."
A path opened ahead, revealing a glowing heartroot chamber. Pulsing light radiated from the center.
The spirit appeared again. "You have endured. Accepted. Now receive."
Vines encircled them gently, then burst into petals. A wave of warmth and clarity washed over them.
> [Trial Completed] [Tree's Blessing Acquired] Bonuses: Territory Growth Speed +20%, Natural Defenses Activated, Ether Pool Unlocked (Passive)
> [New Point Bonus: 500 Points Earned for Trial Completion] [New Total: 1,750 Points]
Kira leaned against him. "This place really accepted you."
Riku smiled. "Accepted us. Let's head back to the surface."
---
By sunset, they stood at the highest ridge of the Hollow. System-registered structures now surrounded them—basic walls, energy conduits, and natural defense formations shaped from system blueprints. Their home base had begun.
Riku placed his palm against a stone pedestal.
> [Verdant Hollow – Core Activated] Territory Rank: F Upgrades Available: 2
He looked out over the valley. "This is it. Our kingdom's first breath."
Kira took his hand. "Now what?"
He smirked. "Now, we invite others to join."
But far away, in a dark cavern beyond the cliffs, another figure stirred—an envoy sent by an unknown system user.
"The Hollow's claimed," the shadow whispered. "Time to test the new king."