Soul Fragments were one of the defining features of Dreadspire. By consuming these mysterious orbs, players could absorb the power of the corresponding monster—gaining stat increases, one active skill, and one passive skill.

  However, not everyone could use them.

  Certain races, like dragonians, completely lacked Soul Affinity, making it impossible for them to absorb fragments. Some humans, particularly wizards and priests, also avoided them—either due to their magical incompatibility or, in the case of priests, for religious reasons.

  As a druid, I had Low Affinity. That meant I could absorb Soul Fragments, but I lacked Soul Power, the vital resource needed for active skills. There were a few exceptions—some fragments granted spells instead of skills, like the Gravelurker Soul Fragment, which druids could cast like regular magic.

  Another crucial limitation, everyone started with just one Soul Slot by default. Once a Soul Fragment was absorbed, it became a permanent part of the user’s soul. Removing it was possible—but it was a complex and costly process.

  I glanced down at the Horrogoth Soul Fragment in my hand.

  By consuming it, I would lock my only Soul Slot, preventing me from absorbing any other fragments unless I found a way to upgrade my Soul Slot capacity.

  But realistically, there was no better option.

  Soul Fragments from Secret Bosses were leagues above those from normal monsters. Even compared to the Gravelurker Fragment, this one was on a completely different level. Finding anything stronger on Floor One was practically impossible.

  I tightened my grip around the orb, my decision set.

  "Are you sure about this?" Elena asked, her sharp eyes studying me.

  I exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Yeah. This will help us in our next destination. I can’t afford to pass it up."

  Orin grinned. "Then what are you waiting for? Down the hatch!"

  “Thanks, everyone.” I smirked, took one last look at the swirling red-and-black sphere, and then—without hesitation—shoved it into my mouth.

  The moment it touched my tongue, a wave of energy exploded through my body.

  A rush of raw power coursed through my veins. My vision blurred. My heartbeat pounded like war drums.

  [Eryndor Leafshade]

  [Soul Level: 1

  Vitality: 35 → 51

  HP Regen: 3 → 6

  Physical Resistance: 7 → 13

  Magic Resistance: 10

  Fire Resistance: 0 → 12

  Strength: 56 → 78

  Agility: 17 → 19

  Movement Speed: 5 → 8

  Wisdom: 37

  Willpower: 134]

  [Spells: Rejuvenation, Galestride, Inner Beast, Tempest Shield, Gorgroth’s Call

  Skills: Fiery Wrath, Hellfire

  Passives: Ooborosk’s Mantle, Blazing Cinderstorm]

  I couldn’t see the exact stat increases, but I could feel the surge of power coursing through me. I flexed my fingers, adjusting to the newfound power.

  “Feeling anything different?” Elena asked, watching me with curiosity.

  I nodded slowly. “Yeah… I don’t know about the other stats, but I can tell my Strength has gone up significantly.” I spun my staff in one hand, testing the balance. “This thing feels ridiculously light now.”

  My strength had definitely increased—far beyond what it had been, even when I still had the Fangbone Scepter.

  Darwyn whistled. “That’s a good sign. What about your skills?”

  I frowned. “I can’t use the active skill… but I can definitely feel the passive one.”

  There was a strange warmth in my palms, an embers-like heat that wasn’t there before. It wasn’t painful—more like an untapped fire waiting to be unleashed.

  I clenched my fists. This power… it’s different.

  Elena crossed her arms. “Fire-related, huh? That makes sense, considering Horrogoth’s abilities.”

  Muradin smirked. “Well, there’s only one way to find out how good it is—use it in battle.”

  I exhaled, a small grin forming on my lips. I can’t wait.

  ***

  "Can’t we just stick around here for a while? Fight some weaker monsters instead?" Orin asked, glancing between us.

  "That might not be a bad idea," Darwyn agreed. "We’ve already gathered a decent amount of loot, and honestly… I don’t think we’re ready to take on another high-risk adventure just yet. We barely made it out alive last time."

  Elena shifted uncomfortably. "But… Erynd promised to help me find the Soul Fragment," she murmured, her voice tinged with hesitation. It was clear she wasn’t eager to argue against her older brother.

  Muradin scoffed. "Come on, what are you all thinking? This is the Tower. Danger is part of the deal. The more we avoid it, the less we grow. We need to keep pushing forward."

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  I nodded, agreeing with him. "Muradin’s right. We came here to get stronger, not to play it safe."

  That settled it. Majority ruled, and soon we were back on the move—heading toward the Northern Glades.

  As we traveled, I made every effort to test my new passive ability.

  I channeled Mana attack through my staff. Nothing.

  I swung my staff directly at enemies, landing solid blows. Still nothing.

  I even tried punching a monster with my bare fists—desperate at this point.

  Not even a flicker of change.

  Frustrated, I activated Inner Beast and Galestride, hoping they would interact with the passive somehow. But even with my enhanced Strength and Agility, it made no difference.

  There has to be some kind of condition to trigger it.

  The only way to truly understand its mechanics was to let a wizard study it in detail. But that wasn’t an option. We had all agreed to keep this a secret.

  No one could know about Horrogoth, especially not about its Soul Fragment.

  ***

  By the time night fell, we were exhausted. The trek had been long, and despite our victories, a sense of unease still lingered.

  We set up camp in a small clearing, surrounded by towering trees. The soft crackle of the campfire mixed with the distant howls of nocturnal creatures deep within the nearby forest.

  Muradin plopped down onto a fallen log, stretching his arms. "Finally! If I had to walk another hour, I swear my legs would just fall off."

  Orin laughed as she passed him a piece of dried meat. "That’s funny, coming from the guy who boasts about his endurance every chance he gets."

  "Endurance is for battle," Muradin shot back, taking a dramatic bite of his food. "Not for endless hiking through monster-infested woods."

  Elena sat quietly near the fire, checking her inventory lists. Her gaze flickered toward me. "Erynd, still trying to figure out your new power?"

  I sighed, staring at my hand. "Yeah. No matter what I do, it won’t activate. I thought maybe hitting things would trigger it, but… nothing."

  Darwyn tossed another log into the fire, sparks flying up into the night sky. "Some passives have specific conditions. Maybe it only works under certain circumstances—like when you're under attack, or when your health drops below a certain point."

  Muradin smirked. "Maybe you need to get hit first. Want me to punch you? You know, for science?"

  I shot him a deadpan look. "Yeah, no thanks."

  Elena chuckled. "It’s a possibility, though. Some passives don’t work unless they’re reacting to something."

  Orin grinned mischievously. "Or maybe it only activates when you're angry. Try thinking about this afternoon when you dropped all your Mana Stones into a river."

  I groaned. "I told you to never bring that up again."

  The group laughed, the tension from earlier easing.

  Despite my frustrations, I knew I wasn’t alone. Whatever this mystery power was, I would figure it out—with them by my side.

  For now, though, we had earned this moment of rest.

  ***

  We resumed our journey at dawn, pushing deeper into the dense forest. The towering trees around us formed a thick canopy, their intertwined branches allowing only slivers of sunlight to pierce through.

  As we walked, I continued trying to activate my passive skill, experimenting with different movements, different attacks—anything that might trigger it. Still nothing.

  Elena, on the other hand, was honing her control over Silkshade Phantom, her signature skill. She tried to perform combo attacks with her Phantom while avoiding enemy attacks.

  Meanwhile, Darwyn and Orin had been chatting more than usual.

  I tried to ignore them. Focus on yourself, Erynd. You’ve got bigger problems.

  ***

  "Whew, looks like we’re getting close," Muradin said, pointing ahead.

  The forest landscape was shifting. Up until now, we had been traveling through lush greenery, surrounded by thick, vibrant trees. But up ahead, the scenery changed. The leaves on the trees were darker, tinged with deep purples and shadowy greens. The trunks looked drier, their bark thinner and more brittle.

  A strange mist hung low in the air.

  "I don’t like the look of that place," Orin murmured, gripping her bow a little tighter.

  I nodded. "It's already getting dark. If we enter now, we’ll be at a disadvantage. We should wait until morning."

  No one objected. Better to be cautious than reckless.

  As we set up camp in a small clearing, we split up to hunt for monsters since the ones here aren't very strong.

  "Let’s make this quick," Elena said, tucking her hair. "I’d rather not run into anything we’re not prepared for."

  "Agreed," Darwyn said, drawing his bow. "We stay within a one-km radius. If anything goes wrong, we regroup immediately."

  Everyone nodded before scattering into the twilight wilderness.

  By the time we returned, the sun had fully set, and the air had grown chillier.

  Orin and Darwyn had brought back the most Mana Stones, mostly from Shadow Stalkers—small, cockroach-like creatures that thrived in low light. Muradin had taken down a few Stonefang Lizards by himself, practicing his Bastion Strike timing.

  I, on the other hand, had barely contributed. As expected since I didn’t have any strong offensive attack.

  "Tch, this one barely had anything on it," Muradin muttered, tossing a Mana Stone into our shared pile.

  "Still, it adds up," Orin said, counting them. "We have about 3,000 Mana Stones from this hunt. Not bad for just a few hours of work."

  I sat down near the crackling campfire, frustrated.

  Elena must’ve noticed because she nudged me with her elbow. "Still no progress?"

  I shook my head. "Nothing. I don’t get it. I should be able to feel something, right?"

  Muradin smirked. "I keep saying—let me punch you. Just once."

  I glared. "I’d rather keep my teeth, thanks."

  Orin chuckled. "Maybe it requires a specific trigger. Some passives only work in life-or-death situations."

  I sighed. "Great. So I have to nearly die just to figure out what my power is?"

  Darwyn leaned back against a tree, arms crossed. "Well… let’s just hope you unlock it before we run into something we can’t handle."

  His words settled over us, mixing with the fire’s glow and the distant sounds of the dark forest.

  Tomorrow, we'd enter the unknown.