In the valley of Thistledown, time moved slowly. Birds sang over quiet fields, and mist clung to the thatched rooftops.

You—Kael—stand at the edge of the woods, staring into the trees. Strong. Quiet. No legacy. No name carved into stone. But the dreams have returned. The storm, the voice, the blue gem burning atop Mount Olympus. “Find the Heart… or all will be lost.”
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With nothing but a satchel and small blade, you step into the trees.

You cannot turn back.

The trees twist overhead, their branches clawing at the sky. The wind speaks in a forgotten tongue.

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You keep walking

Ahead, a skeleton stirs. Then another. And another. You draw your blade. It's not much. But it’s all you have.

⚔️ FIGHTING...

ENEMIES: VANQUISHED

STATUS: INJURED
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You press on, the forest darker now behind you than before.

Through the misted trees, you spot an old ruin built right into the side of the mountain. Orange firelight flickers from within, casting shadows that dance across mossy rock.

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Cautiously, you enter

Before you lies a small, pristine armoury. Swords, shields, and armor carefully arranged like a shrine. Dust barely stirs. A plaque reads: THREN, FIRSTBLADE.

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You reach out to touch a gleaming breastplate

A raspy voice breaks the silence..

“He was brave… and foolish.”

The goblin grins — toothless, clever-eyed.

“Gribnock’s the name. You’ll need better steel than that toothpick, hero.”

He upgrades your armor. Hands you a blade etched with runes.

“No charge...Go on now, save the world... and if it’s not too much trouble, bring this back.”

ITEMS ACQUIRED: GOBLIN-FORGED BLADE

You press on through twisted woods, where the trees lean close and whisper with the wind. The path narrows, roots claw at your boots, and distant howls echo through the fog. Hours pass. The forest thins. Ahead, a rusted gate creaks in the gloom. Beyond it—only silence and stone.

The path winds through a broken gate. A cold mist creeps in. Then — movement. Earth splits. Hands rise. The undead.

You slash, dodge, torch your way through. The last falls in ash.

You breathe, but the stench of death clings to your cloak.

You venture on through the field. The fog clears, giving way to a crooked hut.

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You enter

inside a hunched old man tending bubbling vials. He turns slowly. Eyes sharp despite the wrinkles.

“One potion for strength… one for shadow… one for something else entirely.”

He gives you all three.

“Drink what feels right. But beware — not all power comes without cost.”

POTIONS acquired: STONEFLESH, VEIL OF SHADOWS, UNKNOWN

Deep in the forest lies a ring of ancient trees. Their roots are tangled like old fists. Their trunks, towering. This is no arena of stone — this is Hero’s Circle, a gladiator ring born of nature itself. The silence breaks. The warriors step forward. You fight. You bleed. You win.

But the ring has one more test. The ground shakes. The trees groan.

The Minotaur bursts forth, horned and howling.

BONUS REWARD — GIFT OF SPEED

From the roots of the arena, a glowing vine wraps around your legs. It fades to reveal golden sandals — ethereal and fast.

“The boots of Hermes,” whispers the forest.

ITEM UNLOCKED: HERMES' BOOTS OF SPEED