Strongest Mage of the Forgotten Realm

The glow of the monolith grew brighter as Zeth limped closer, each step an agonizing reminder of the wounds he'd sustained. The shard he clutched was no longer a crude weapon; it was a symbol of his survival. Every inch of this barren wasteland had tested him, and the world ahead promised no reprieve.

He paused to catch his breath, his legs trembling under his weight. The shimmering blue light of the interface appeared before him once more.

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Name: Zeth

Class: Arcane Combatant

Level: 3

Mana: 70/70

Abilities Unlocked: Arcane Bolt

Zeth closed the screen with a wave of his hand. The progress brought little comfort. The wraith knight's brutal attack still echoed in his mind, its cleaver cleaving the air with lethal intent.

"I need to find answers,"

he muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the wind whipping across the barren plains.

As he drew nearer to the monolith, a faint hum resonated in the air. The structure towered above him, its surface smooth and black as obsidian, yet faintly translucent. Strange symbols writhed across it, shifting and twisting as though alive.

When Zeth placed his hand against the cold surface, the humming intensified. The runes glowed brightly, and the world seemed to tilt. A surge of energy shot through his arm, sending a jolt of pain through his body. He gritted his teeth, refusing to pull away.

The ground beneath him trembled as the monolith pulsed with light. A circular platform materialized at its base, etched with symbols he couldn't decipher. Without hesitation, Zeth stepped onto it.

The world exploded in light.

When the brilliance faded, Zeth found himself in an entirely different place. The barren plains were gone, replaced by a massive, domed chamber. The walls shimmered like liquid metal, reflecting a distorted image of himself. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, atop which floated a glowing orb. Its light pulsated softly, casting eerie shadows on the polished floor.

'New objective: Claim the Core Fragment. Hostiles will engage.'

The system's announcement echoed in his mind, cold and precise.

Zeth didn't have time to ponder the meaning of the core fragment. A deep rumble reverberated through the chamber, and shadows began to pool along the edges of the room. From the darkness emerged creatures unlike anything he'd seen before.

They were humanoid in shape but unnaturally tall, their limbs elongated and sinewy. Their skin was a mottled gray, and their eyes glowed with a malevolent red light. Each carried a weapon—spears, swords, and maces forged from dark, jagged metal.

'Hostiles detected: Abyssal Sentinels. Threat Level: Moderate.'

Zeth tightened his grip on the shard, his free hand already glowing with the beginnings of an arcane bolt.

The first sentinel lunged, its spear aimed directly for his chest. Zeth sidestepped the attack, the tip grazing his side, and fired the bolt at point-blank range. The impact sent the creature staggering back, but it didn't fall.

"Great. They're tougher,"

he muttered through gritted teeth.

The sentinel recovered quickly, its glowing eyes locking onto him. Zeth ducked under another swipe and retaliated with a slash from the shard. The makeshift weapon cut through its arm, causing the limb to dissolve into shadow.

The creature let out an unearthly screech before collapsing, its body disintegrating into ash.

Another sentinel charged from his left. Zeth turned and fired a bolt, the blue energy streaking through the air to strike the creature's chest. This time, it faltered and fell.

'Abyssal Sentinels defeated. Experience gained: +50.'

Two down. Four more to go.

Zeth scanned the chamber as the remaining sentinels closed in. His heart raced as he realized they were learning, their movements more coordinated with each passing second.

He fired another bolt, striking one sentinel in the leg and crippling it. Before he could finish it off, another came at him from behind. Its mace swung in a wide arc, the heavy weapon aimed for his back.

Zeth barely managed to roll out of the way, the mace slamming into the floor with enough force to crack the polished surface.

"Not good,"

he muttered, pushing himself to his feet.

The remaining sentinels surrounded him, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Zeth's breathing was ragged, his stamina nearly spent. He raised his hand, summoning another arcane bolt, but his mana reserves were dwindling.

'I need to end this now,'

he thought, his gaze flicking toward the glowing orb on the pedestal.

The sentinels moved as one, their attacks coordinated. Zeth's mind raced. He couldn't fight them all at once, not like this.

Then he remembered the shard.

Gripping it tightly, he hurled the makeshift blade at the nearest sentinel. The sharp edge struck its chest, embedding itself deep. The creature let out a guttural roar before dissolving into ash.

The momentary distraction was enough. Zeth sprinted toward the pedestal, his legs burning with the effort. The sentinels gave chase, their screeches echoing through the chamber.

He reached the pedestal just as one of the sentinels lunged. Zeth ducked, grabbing the glowing orb with both hands.

The instant his fingers touched it, a surge of power coursed through him. The orb shattered, its energy flowing into his body. The chamber shook violently as the sentinels disintegrated into nothingness, their forms consumed by the light.

'Core Fragment claimed. Level increased.'

The system's voice was distant, overshadowed by the roaring energy that filled the chamber. Zeth collapsed to his knees, his vision swimming as the room grew quiet once more.

'Congratulations, Zeth. You have unlocked a new ability: Arcane Shield.'

'Arcane Shield: Summons a protective barrier of pure arcane energy. Absorbs up to 25 damage for 10 seconds or until broken.'

_______________________________

Name: Zeth

Class: Arcane Combatant

Level: 4

Mana: 90/90

Abilities Unlocked: Arcane Bolt, Arcane Shield

When the light faded, Zeth found himself alone in the chamber. The pedestal was empty, the runes etched into its surface dim and lifeless. He staggered to his feet, his body trembling from exhaustion.

He glanced at his hands, which still glowed faintly with residual energy from the core fragment. Whatever power he had gained, he knew it was only the beginning.

"Looks like I'm in this for the long haul,"

he muttered, his voice tinged with both determination and dread.

The chamber's walls rippled, and a new doorway materialized ahead of him. Beyond it lay only darkness, a void that seemed to stretch endlessly.

Zeth took a deep breath and stepped forward, his resolve hardening with each step. The Forgotten Realm had thrown its first trial at him, but he was far from finished.