Drake stood at the threshold of the Corrupted Grove, the oppressive atmosphere a stark contrast to the tranquil woods behind him. Level 4 now, with his [Basic Slash] locked at a slightly improved 78% SCR and [Defend] at 76%, he knew it still wasn't enough. The Level 4 Shadow Sprites hit too hard, moved too fast. Progress demanded perfection, or at least something much closer to it.
"No point pushing deeper until these baselines are solid. Need defense first. Aim for 85% on [Defend] minimum."
He began the painstaking grind. He'd aggro a single Shadow Sprite from the edge of the grove, pull it back slightly into safer territory, and focus entirely on defense. He let it attack, concentrating solely on matching the phantom defensive guide provided by the [Defend] skill prompt. His talent ensured he always executed at his current best of 76%, blocking a decent chunk of damage (<< Damage Blocked: 30! >> << Damage Taken: 10! >>), but pushing beyond that required intense focus and perfect timing against the sprite's quick, darting attacks.
Failures were less common now he wasn't caught completely off guard, but achieving a better block felt like threading a rapidly moving needle. He relied heavily on [Perfect Recall] after each block, analyzing the sprite's animation down to the microsecond, comparing it to his own input timing. "Too slow on the upswing... need to anticipate the feint... follow through smoother..."
Hours seemed to blur into a cycle of block, analyze, adjust, block again. He occasionally weaved in 78% SCR [Basic Slash] attacks to finish off a weakened sprite and gain EXP, but his primary focus was defense. Slowly, painstakingly, progress was made.
<< Skill Success! SCR 80%! Damage Blocked: 35! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] updated: [Defend] SCR 80%! >>
"Eighty! Getting there." The block felt significantly more solid now. He continued the grind, the higher baseline making survival easier, allowing more focus on offense. He started deliberately practicing [Basic Slash] again, aiming for cleaner arcs against the sprites' evasive movements.
<< Skill Success! SCR 82%! Damage Dealt: 20! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] updated: [Basic Slash] SCR 82%! >>
He introduced another mob type that roamed the Grove's edges – the Thorn Hulk (Level 5). These lumbering, plant-like brutes were slow but hit like trucks with thorny fists. Their telegraphed attacks were easier to block, allowing him to focus purely on maximizing his [Defend] SCR against heavy hits.
Clang! A perfectly timed block against a Hulk's downward smash. << Skill Success! SCR 85%! Damage Blocked: 45! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] updated: [Defend] SCR 85%! >>
"Eighty-five block! That feels solid. Now for the slash..." He turned his focus back to offense against the slower Hulks and faster Sprites, pushing his [Basic Slash] timing relentlessly. Finally, after what felt like an entire afternoon dedicated to this single patch of corrupted ground:
<< Skill Success! SCR 86%! Damage Dealt: 24! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] updated: [Basic Slash] SCR 86%! >>
He let out a virtual breath. "Slash 86, Defend 85. That... should be enough to actually explore now." His execution was now consistently in the high-80s for effectiveness [50% + (86-60)*2% = 102% potential for Slash; 50% + (85-60)*2% = 100% potential for Defend]. A massive improvement achieved through pure, focused grinding.
Feeling significantly more confident, Drake finally pushed deeper into the Corrupted Grove. The corruption intensified; the air grew thick with spores, visibility dropped, and unsettling whispers seemed to echo just at the edge of hearing. He encountered new threats – Level 5 Corrupted Mire Prowlers that moved erratically, and Level 6 Bloated Thorn Spiders that spat corrosive acid.
His newly honed skills were immediately put to the test. The 86% [Basic Slash] carved effectively into the Prowlers, critical hits flashing more often now thanks to his level ups and stats. His 85% [Defend] reliably mitigated the worst of the Spiders' acid spit, though he still needed careful positioning to avoid the lingering ground effects. Fights were still dangerous, requiring focus, but his guaranteed high execution meant he could handle small groups reliably now.
"Much better flow. Consistent damage, reliable blocks. Now, just need to find that echo source for the quest... and maybe, just maybe, find an upgrade. Drop rates in this game are abysmal though." He knew gear upgrades, especially in the tutorial zone, were incredibly rare. He wasn't holding his breath.
He cleared several packs of mobs, meticulously following the pulsing quest marker deeper into the grove. After defeating a particularly tough pack of three Mire Prowlers, one of them actually dropped a loot bag – a rare occurrence. He eagerly opened it.
<< Item Acquired: [Sturdy Leather Jerkin] (Normal)! >> << Item Acquired: Copper Coins x12 >>
He quickly checked the Jerkin's stats.
[Sturdy Leather Jerkin]
Quality: Normal
Type: Chest Armor (Leather)
Armor: 18
Durability: 60/60
Requirements: Level 5
Stats: +2 Endurance
"Normal quality, plus 2 End... better than the Tattered Vest though!" He equipped it immediately, feeling the slight increase in survivability. HP: 145/145 (due to Level 4 stats + new End bonus). Every little bit helped.
Buoyed by the lucky drop, he continued onward. A short while later, after taking down a Bloated Thorn Spider near a pulsating purple tree indicated by the quest marker, another small loot bag appeared.
<< Item Acquired: [Reinforced Leather Helm] (Normal)! >>
[Reinforced Leather Helm]
Quality: Normal
Type: Head Armor (Leather)
Armor: 12
Durability: 50/50
Requirements: Level 4
Stats: +1 Endurance
"Another one? Maybe my luck's turning." He equipped the helm, replacing the non-stat starter item slot. His defenses felt marginally more solid.
The quest marker pointed directly to the base of the pulsating purple tree. Standing before it was a larger, tougher-looking creature – a Corrupted Treant Guardian (Level 7, Elite). Its bark was dark and twisted, thorny vines writhed around its limbs, and its eyes glowed with the same malevolent purple energy as the grove itself.
"Elite guardian. Figures the quest objective would be protected."
Drake braced himself. The Treant slammed the ground, sending corrupted roots snaking towards him. He used his 85% [Defend] to block the initial impact, then quickly sidestepped the grasping roots. He closed the distance, his twin blades flashing with 86% SCR [Basic Slash] attacks. The Treant's bark was tough, his damage numbers lower than against the spiders or prowlers, but consistent. It retaliated with slow, sweeping branch strikes and launched volleys of sharp thorns. Drake relied on his defense, blocking the heavy sweeps and weaving between the thorns, maintaining pressure with his relentless slashes. The fight was longer, demanding sustained focus, but his reliable execution prevented critical errors. Slowly, steadily, he chipped away the Elite's health bar until it finally groaned and collapsed into inert, corrupted wood.
<< Defeated Corrupted Treant Guardian! EXP +500 >>
With the guardian down, Drake approached the base of the pulsating tree. Embedded in its trunk, almost absorbed by it, was another artifact, this one smaller and shard-like, but radiating the same faint energy as the disc he carried. He reached out and carefully pried it loose. As his fingers closed around the shard, it resonated with the disc in his inventory.
<< Objective Complete! Artifact Resonance Found! >>
<< Quest Complete: [Echoes of the Past]! Reward: 1500 EXP, [Rare Worn Alvari Bracer]! >>
The large influx of quest EXP immediately triggered another level up. Ding! LEVEL UP! You are now Level 5! << Base Attributes Increased! HP/MP/Stamina Increased! +2 Attribute Points Available! >>
He quickly assigned the points and checked the reward item.
[Worn Alvari Bracer]
Quality: Rare
Type: Wrist Armor
Armor: 8
Durability: 75/75
Requirements: Level 5
Stats: +3 Agility +2 Precision +2% crit chance
"Level 5! And a Rare item! Finally! Agility, Precision, and crit perfect!" He equipped the bracer immediately, feeling a distinct boost compared to the Normal quality gear.
Standing victorious amidst the corrupted grove, Drake felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He had faced a significant challenge, overcome it by grinding his execution to a higher level, and earned valuable rewards, including his first Rare item and hints of a deeper Alvari mystery even within the tutorial zone. He was ready for whatever came next.