Creation system

"Gather"

The monster's death throes echoed through the forest as Mitch approached the fallen creature.

The Mad Eagle's once-magnificent form now lay crumpled against the ground, its iridescent feathers dulled by battle and blood.

As he activated his Gather skill, a familiar tingling sensation coursed through his fingertips, the magic responding to his will with practiced ease.

The monster's parts began detaching from its flesh with surgical precision, first the curved obsidian beak that had nearly claimed his life moments before, then the razor-sharp talons that glinted like polished steel, and finally the storm-touched feathers that still crackled with residual wind magic.

Each component separated cleanly, as if the skill understood the intrinsic value of every piece.

Only a portion of the meat remained intact, the rest of the mad eagle's massive form dissolving into wisps of azure mist that danced briefly in the dappled sunlight before vanishing entirely.

[1 x Tier 2 Mad Eagle's Beak – the most precious part of its body, a great crafting ingredient for most crafting occupations, has exceptional mana conductivity and natural enchantment resistance]

[2 x Tier 2 Mad Eagle's Talon – razor-sharp bird talons, used for crafting superior weapons, possess excellent mana conductivity and natural durability]

[30 x Tier 2 Mad Eagle's Feather – dense with wind-aspected mana, these feathers shimmer with an inner light, used for crafting flight-enhancing equipment, has remarkable mana conductivity]

[1 x Tier 2 Mad Eagle's Meat – rich in magical nutrients, when properly prepared can temporarily enhance physical capabilities]

"This skill is absolutely incredible," Mitch breathed, carefully storing each component in his dimensional pocket space.

The familiar weight of accumulated materials pressed against the magical boundaries of his storage. "I don't have to waste time butchering the monster or risk damaging the valuable parts!"

Mitch's storage space groaned under the weight of their recent acquisitions, the magical compartment nearly bursting at its seams.

"Mages are so ridiculously overpowered," Leya said, shaking her head in amazement as she watched the flawless dismantling process.

Sweat still beaded on her forehead from their recent battle, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand.

"That would've taken me half an hour of messy work with my skinning knife, and I wouldn't even have managed those perfect cuts. Look at those parts, they're museum quality!"

"I know!" Mitch grinned, the adrenaline from their victory still coursing through his veins.

"Clink! Clang! Raaawr!"

The harsh symphony of steel meeting claw and the guttural roars of combat creatures shattered their moment of celebration.

The sounds emanated from deeper in the forest, perhaps only a few hundred yards away, where the ancient trees grew thick enough to block out most of the afternoon sun.

"Quick, let's get out of here," Leya said, her hand instinctively moving to her sword hilt.

Years of mercenary experience had taught her to trust her instincts, and right now every instinct screamed danger. "We shouldn't interfere with other people's fights. Not in a place like this."

"Shouldn't we help them?" asked Mitch, his voice carrying the earnest concern of someone who hadn't yet learned the harsh realities of the hidden realm. "They might be in real trouble."

Leya's expression hardened, her green eyes reflecting painful memories. "Are all mages this naive? What if they turn on us afterwards? What if they're stronger than us and decide our loot looks better than whatever they're fighting for?"

She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Or they could join us, gain our trust, and then backstab us when we're vulnerable.

Some people are cruel, Mitch. I've heard too many stories in the guild hall, most of them about 'good samaritans' who ended up robbed, beaten, or worse."

Mitch nodded slowly, seeing the pain flickering behind her hardened exterior. He knew Leya had been betrayed by her previous teammate and left for dead in the forest not so long ago.

The psychological scars ran deeper than any physical wound.

"You're right," he said quietly. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about the complications."

"Don't apologize for having a good heart," Leya said, her expression softening slightly. "Just... let's head toward the mountain. Please."

They resumed their journey, boots crunching softly on the carpet of fallen leaves.

The mountain loomed ever larger before them, its snow-capped peak piercing the cloudy sky like a divine spear.

The sounds of battle around them intensified as they drew closer to their destination, a reminder that the hidden realm's treasures attracted desperate people willing to kill for advancement.

"That tree, over there!" Leya suddenly exclaimed, pointing toward a massive oak that dwarfed its neighbors. "It has a door!"

Mitch squinted through the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. Sure enough, carved into the trunk of the ancient tree was an ordinary-looking wooden door, complete with brass hinges and a simple handle.

It looked so mundane that it seemed almost absurd, like someone had decided to build a house and stopped after installing the entrance.

"A tree with a door!?" Mitch asked, confusion evident in his voice. "Do you have any idea what it might be? Is this some kind of nature magic?"

"I've heard of these phenomena," Leya said, her eyes lighting up with excitement for the first time since they'd entered the hidden realm.

"Well, not exactly about trees with doors, but the guild masters always say that strange, inexplicable things inside hidden realms are invariably accompanied by treasure. The more bizarre the anomaly, the better the reward. This must be our lucky day!"

They approached the tree with careful steps, weapons ready despite their excitement.

The oak itself appeared ancient beyond measure, its gnarled bark scarred by centuries of weather and wildlife.

Up close, Mitch could see that the door wasn't simply carved into the tree, it seemed to be a natural part of its growth, as if the oak had been shaped by magic to accommodate the entrance.

Mitch extended his magical senses, letting his mana flow outward like invisible fingers probing for danger.

The familiar tingle of his Mana Sense ability revealed... nothing. No magical traps, no hostile enchantments, no lurking creatures. The complete absence of magical signatures was almost more unsettling than a direct threat would have been.

"I'm not detecting any magic," he whispered to Leya. "Either it's perfectly safe, or it's so well-hidden that my abilities can't penetrate it."

"Only one way to find out," she replied, though her hand never left her sword hilt.

Mitch carefully grasped the brass handle, surprised by how warm it felt against his palm. The door swung open with a soft creak, revealing a wooden staircase that descended into the earth at a steep angle.

The craftsmanship was impeccable, each step had been carved from what appeared to be the same type of wood as the door, and the walls were lined with the living roots of the great oak above.

The stairs plunged deep underground, far deeper than should have been possible given the tree's size.

After they had descended for what felt like several minutes, the natural light from the entrance above faded to nothing, leaving them in complete darkness.

"Create Element," Mitch whispered, focusing his mana into his preferred form.

A small flame danced to life in his palm, casting flickering shadows on the root-lined walls.

He kept the magical fire as small as possible to conserve his mana, in a place like this, he might need every drop of magical energy he possessed.

They continued their descent, the only sounds their careful footsteps and the soft crackle of Mitch's flame.

The air grew cooler as they went deeper, carrying with it the earthy scent of deep soil and something else, something that made Mitch's magical senses tingle with anticipation.

Finally, the stairs ended, opening into a wide chamber that had been carved from living wood.

The walls curved organically, following the natural patterns of massive roots, and the ceiling arched high above them like the interior of a cathedral.

Despite being underground, the air felt fresh and clean, as if the tree itself was breathing life into the space.

The only furnishings in the room were three stone statues positioned in a perfect triangle at the chamber's center.

Each statue depicted a gargoyle frozen in a hunched position, their mouths gaping wide as if caught mid-roar. The craftsmanship was extraordinary, every scale, every claw, every twisted feature had been carved with meticulous attention to detail.

Mitch approached the statues cautiously, his flame casting dancing shadows that made the gargoyles appear almost alive.

As he drew closer, he noticed that each statue bore a different symbol carved into its stone eyes, the marks glowing faintly with their own inner light.

The first gargoyle's eyes bore the unmistakable symbol of flame, a stylized fire that seemed to flicker even in stone.

The second displayed a perfect snowflake, its crystalline structure carved with mathematical precision.

The third bore a spiral that seemed to twist and turn even as he watched, creating an optical illusion that made his eyes water.

"So that one is fire," Mitch said, pointing to the first statue, "and this one is obviously ice." He gestured to the second. "But what does that spiral might mean?"

"That one must be space," Leya said, her voice carrying the confidence of someone who had spent countless hours studying in the guild's library.

"I've seen that symbol in 'Fundamentals of Elemental Magic' by Archmage Thessarian. It represents the space element." Her expression fell as she continued.

"The guys at the tavern must have been lying to me when they said there was treasure in places like these. There is nothing, only strange statues."

Mitch studied the room with the analytical eye of someone who had spent countless hours solving puzzles in games. The positioning of the statues, the symbols, the way their mouths gaped open, it all pointed to one conclusion.

"This is definitely a puzzle room," he thought to himself. "The mouths are clearly meant to receive something, and the symbols indicate which element goes where."

"Create Element," he said aloud, conjuring a small ball of fire in his palm. Without hesitation, he tossed the flame into the fire gargoyle's open mouth.

The reaction was immediate and spectacular. The gargoyle's eyes blazed to life with brilliant white light, and a beam of pure energy shot from them toward the exact center of the chamber.

The beam held steady, creating a pillar of light that illuminated the entire room.

"It worked!" Leya exclaimed, her earlier disappointment forgotten in the face of this magical display.

Mitch nodded, then concentrated on his next spell. "Create Element," he whispered, and a writhing tendril of pure darkness coalesced in his hand.

He fed the shadow into the spiral-eyed gargoyle's mouth, and immediately its eyes began to glow with an eerie purple light. A second beam joined the first, both rays converging on the chamber's center.

"It's your turn, Leya," Mitch said, stepping back to give her room. "I don't have access to the ice element."

"Right," she nodded, understanding immediately what was needed.

Leya drew her sword with practiced grace, the familiar weight of the blade settling into her grip like an old friend.

The temperature in the room plummeted noticeably. Frost began to form along the weapon's edge, and small ice crystals sparkled in the air around the blade.

She approached the final gargoyle and gently touched her frozen blade to its open mouth. The contact was brief, but it was enough. The statue's eyes blazed with icy blue light, and the third beam shot out to join the others.

The chamber shook violently, dust and small pebbles raining down from the ceiling.

The three beams of light converged at the room's center, creating a brilliant nexus of magical energy that pulsed with rainbow colors. The stone floor began to crack and shift, and slowly, a circular hole opened in the exact spot where the lights met.

From the depths of the newly formed opening, a chest began to rise, moving with the stately grace of something incredibly valuable.

The chest itself was a work of art, crafted from what appeared to be silver-inlaid oak, with intricate mountain patterns carved into its surface. The metalwork gleamed with an inner light, and small gems embedded in the design caught and reflected the magical beams above.

"Open it!" Leya shouted, her voice filled with excitement and anticipation. "After all that work, let's see what we've earned!"

The chest radiated a soft silver glow, its lid adorned with raised mountain indents that seemed to shift and change as they watched.

Mitch approached reverently, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for the latch. The mechanism opened with a satisfying click, and the lid swung back to reveal three items nestled in velvet-lined compartments.

[Tier 2 Lustrous Fire Gem – a perfectly cut ruby that pulses with inner flame, can be socketed into a piece of equipment, bolstering its magical strength and granting it powerful fire aspect attributes! The gem feels warm to the touch and occasionally sparks with tiny flames.]

[Tier 2 Fire Oak Shield – a beautifully crafted shield made from fire-resistant oak and reinforced with steel, it has exceptional mana conductivity and offers the user significant fire resistance. The wood bears natural flame patterns that seem to dance across its surface.]

[Tier 2 Shield Bracelet – an elegant silver bracelet inscribed with protective runes, forms a magical barrier around its wearer, able to defend against one tier 2 spell every six hours.]

Mitch handed the shield to Leya and took the bracelet for himself.

She didn't even argue, after everything they'd been through together, the distribution felt natural and fair. Besides, she was more than happy to receive anything of value in this dangerous place.

The shield fit her perfectly, as if it had been crafted specifically for her frame.

It was substantial enough to provide real protection without being so large that it would impede her mobility or sword work. The fire-resistant properties would be invaluable in a realm where magical creatures were common threats.

"How do we use the gem?" Mitch asked, holding the lustrous ruby up to the light. The gem was warm in his palm, and he could feel the fire magic contained within it pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.

"We need some piece of equipment with a socket," Leya explained, her knowledge of magical items serving them well.

"A weapon would be ideal, but socketed armor or accessories work too. The problem is that socketed items are extremely expensive, most adventurers go their entire careers without owning one."

Mitch carefully pocketed the gem, neither of them having any socketed equipment among their gear. It was a valuable find that would have to wait for the right opportunity.

"How did you know about the statues, Mitch?" Leya asked as they prepared to leave. "You solved that puzzle like you'd seen it before."

"I... I've read about something similar in a book," he said, not quite meeting her eyes. The truth was that his experience with games and puzzles had given him an advantage, but he wasn't sure how to explain that concept in a world where such things didn't exist.

"Well, whatever the source, I'm glad you figured it out," she said with a smile. "We got lucky again. We should go now before someone else discovers this place."

They ascended the stairs together, both wearing genuine smiles for the first time since entering the hidden realm.

The weight of their new equipment felt reassuring, and the promise of the fire gem added an extra spring to their steps.

Outside the tree, the afternoon sun blazed with uncomfortable intensity, forcing them to squint and shield their eyes as they adjusted to the brightness. The contrast between the cool, dim chamber below and the harsh sunlight above was jarring, and it took several moments for their vision to adapt.

They had barely taken ten steps away from the tree when death came for them.

The spear materialized from the direction of the sun, its polished steel head gleaming as it shot through the air with deadly precision.

Mitch's enhanced reflexes, honed by weeks of fighting monsters and because of his stats, saved his life by the narrowest of margins.

He threw himself sideways, feeling the weapon's razor edge slice through the air where his head had been a split second before.

The spear grazed his left ear, drawing a thin line of blood, but what followed was far worse than the physical wound.

Lightning magic coursed through the weapon, and the electric current hit him like a physical blow.

The shock traveled from his injured ear through his entire nervous system, every muscle seizing simultaneously as the magical energy overwhelmed his body's natural defenses.

Mitch collapsed to his knees, his vision blurring as the electrical discharge wreaked havoc on his coordination. He could hear his own heartbeat thundering in his ears, irregular and strained from the magical assault.

Leya reacted instantly, her years of combat experience taking over. She leaped in front of her fallen companion, her new fire oak shield raised and ready.

The shield felt reassuringly solid in her grip, and she could feel its magical properties responding to the threat.

"Show yourself!" she shouted into the blinding sunlight, her voice carrying both challenge and authority. "Face us honorably if you're going to fight!"

"We don't want to fight!" she called out, desperation creeping into her voice as she realized how vulnerable they were. "We have nothing of value! Can't you see our tattered clothes? We're just trying to survive like everyone else!"

She knew that pleading with attackers who had already committed to violence was usually futile, but she needed to buy time.

Every second she could delay them was another second for Mitch to recover from the electrical shock. Her eyes darted frantically, trying to count their enemies, but the sun's position made it impossible to see clearly.

A second spear flew toward them, this one aimed directly at Leya's center mass. The thrower had learned from the first attack's near miss and was taking no chances.

What made the situation even more desperate was their positioning, the sun blazed directly in front of them, forcing them to squint and strain to see their attackers.

The spear struck her shield dead center with a ringing clang that echoed through the forest.

Leya's enhanced strength and the shield's magical properties allowed her to deflect the weapon, but the lightning enchantment proved as dangerous as before.

The electrical discharge traveled through the shield's metal reinforcements and into her body, sending painful shocks through her arms and torso.

"Fuck!" she cursed through gritted teeth, her muscles spasming as she dropped to one knee. The shield slipped from her suddenly nerveless fingers, clattering to the ground beside her.